Tyler Van Dyke aims to be fifth Miami QB in five years to beat FSU, with help from first
Last year at Hard Rock Stadium it was Miami quarterback D’Eriq King helping to put the biggest Hurricanes whupping on the Seminoles (52-10) since the fierce rivalry began in 1951.
In 2019 it was quarterback Jarren Williams leading Miami to a 27-10 win over FSU in Tallahassee — the night before former Seminoles coach Willie Taggart was fired.
In 2018 it was N’Kosi Perry leading UM back with three consecutive second-half touchdowns to seal a 28-27 win at home.
And in 2017 it was UM’s Malik Rosier who helped snap FSU’s seven-year win streak over UM with a 23-yard completion to Darrell Langham with six seconds left at Doak Campbell Stadium for a 24-20 Canes victory.
Make way for second-year freshman Tyler Van Dyke, who at 3:30 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) will attempt to become the fifth different Miami quarterback in five years to lead the Hurricanes (5-4, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) over the Seminoles (3-6, 2-4).
“Looking back on the history of it, that’s why I came here,’’ Van Dyke said this week. “That’s why a lot of people are here. It’s a great rivalry game. We’re definitely preparing like we haven’t before — working harder, preparing even better than we were the last couple weeks. We’re really excited.’’
Malik Rosier
And to bring the attempt at a five-year UM streak full circle, Rosier, the ‘17 winner who began it all, has been meeting with Van Dyke every Wednesday night through FaceTime to go over practice and game film, share tips and help him with the nuances of each challenge. Rosier, who graduated from UM in 2019, is now based in Orlando as a quarterbacks coach for the Mobile, Alabama-based company Quarterback Country. He and Van Dyke met during the summer through the quarterback’s marketing agent Shawn O’Dare, and Rosier said the two have been working together ever since.
“This game means a lot to us because it’s for bragging rights in the state of Florida,’’ said Rosier, who last year worked in the Georgia recruiting department and assisted former UM tight ends coach Todd Hartley and offensive coordinator Todd Monken there. “There have been so many greats out of Tallahassee and Miami. We’ve got to respect our ancestors that made this rivalry so great, and we’re doing that by taking back the domination.
“Hopefully, we keep this streak going.’’
No matter how good or bad these teams are when they meet, the game is always intense, and usually defined in streaks. Should UM win Saturday, it would be its longest streak over FSU since a stretch of six victories from 2000 to 2004 (including a win in the Orange Bowl game to conclude the 2003 season).
Rosier told the Miami Herald that his all-time favorite win as a UM quarterback was at home against Notre Dame in 2017, when ESPN’s College GameDay was on campus and the No. 6 Canes beat the No. 3 Irish 41-8 to rise to 9-0 and a No. 2 ranking. But the month before that at Florida State, he said, was a close second.
Fan ‘hatred’
“After we beat them it was crazy,’’ Rosier said. “I’ve never felt a feeling like that. I remember how loud the stadium was and how much hatred there was. Right before I threw the touchdown they were so loud, and as soon as Darrell caught it the whole stadium got silent. The corner in which he caught the touchdown was the student section. I ran over there and talked a little trash.
“I told Tyler to embrace it. ‘They’re going to hate you. They’re going to boo you. But you’re going to love it, because at the end of the fourth quarter those same fans should be walking out of the stadium quietly.’’’
Van Dyke’s growth
In the past three games during UM’s winning streak, Van Dyke has completed 79 of 109 passes (72.4 percent) for 1,142 yards and 10 touchdowns, with one interception — earning him ACC Rookie of the Week honors after all three games against NC State, Pitt and Georgia Tech.
For the season he is 124 of 195 for 1,879 yards (63.6 percent) and 15 touchdowns in seven games (including garbage time in the opener, when he attempted one incomplete pass), with four interceptions. He has started the past six games.
He said he’s “trying to not pay attention’’ to the national attention. “Yeah, I’ll go on a radio show or whatever just to answer questions,’’ Van Dyke said. “I’m happy to do that. Other than that, I just try not to even pay attention to Twitter or Instagram or whatever. I just try to stay straight, stay cool and continue on to the next game.’’
Different animal
UM offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rhett Lashlee said he coached in six Iron Bowls (Auburn vs. Alabama) when he was a graduate assistant and later offensive coordinator at Auburn. He knows a rivalry game like this isn’t your typical road situation, and that Van Dyke has never been to Tallahassee.
“When you play in those types of games there’s just an electric atmosphere, especially on the road,’’ Lashlee said. “A lot of these guys grew up playing against each other and were recruited by both schools. There’s just a different level of intensity and urgency and you feel it in pregame warmups.
“I felt it here last year before our game and that was in a COVID year and there was hardly anybody in the stands. However, I do think now that [Van Dyke has] got five straight league games under his belt, he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s got to go out and keep doing what he’s doing. He doesn’t have to perfect. He’s not going to be.
“He’s seeing everything really well now. Keep giving guys opportunities and distributing the ball.”
FSU’s Norvell
Last year’s rivalry game was also out of the ordinary because FSU coach Mike Norvell, who had replaced Taggart, contracted COVID-19 and was quarantined and unable to be at the game.
“It’s been a long time coming,’’ Norvell said of Saturday’s matchup. “A lot of excitement from our players and staff. Miami is on a three-game win streak, playing with a lot of confidence.’’
But for this rivalry, Norvell noted, “you take all records out of it. It’s about everything we do this week. Come 3:30 on Saturday, there’s gong to be a ton of passion...’’
Is Van Dyke aware that a win not only would make Miami bowl-eligible but would prevent the Seminoles from being eligible for a bowl this season?
“We haven’t really talked about that but we all know that,’’ Van Dyke said.
Is it in the back of his mind?
“Yeah, it is,’’ he said with a grin.
Rosier, who was born in Tallahassee and lived his first three years there before moving with his family to Mobile, said he won’t make the trip to the Doak but will be watching every second of the game. His father and father’s family still lives in Tallahassee, as does most of his mom’s family.
“Trust me,’’ Rosier said, “I’ll be strapped to the TV on Saturday afternoon.’’
