Miami Hurricanes eager, confident for opener against Bethune-Cookman

Last year’s University of Miami football season started poorly, ended poorly and had enough discouraging moments to test the patience of even the most devoted fans.

Could the 2015 season come soon enough?

Finally, at 6 p.m. Saturday, a new Hurricanes team will begin a new season in, basically, a new Sun Life Stadium that will bring fans much closer to the action.

The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, a Football Championship Subdivision program that finished 9-3 last season but has nine new starters on defense — its strength in 2014 — will meet the Hurricanes at the shiny, fresh, renovated Sun Life.

“Everybody has been talking about the renovations and stuff,’’ safety Dallas Crawford said. “We’re just excited to get over there and interact with the fans and have them feel close and get the stadium louder.’’

Despite the energy exuded by fans 24 feet closer to the field, the Hurricanes are mostly excited by their own spirit and unity.

“I can’t wait until Saturday,’’ slot receiver Braxton Berrios said in a video released Friday by UM. “This team, this bond we have is something special, something I’ve never experienced in any team. We’re together more than we’ve ever been and coming through that smoke on Saturday is going to be insane.”

The Hurricanes have been feeding for months on their newfound closeness, which they say, in turn, has begotten a group finally prepared to win the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time,’’ said H-back David Njoku, a 6-4, 240-pound redshirt freshman who could be one of more than 20 Hurricanes to compete in a college game for the first time. “Finally, it’s time to show out. As long as we’re a family, as long as we’re all in it together, I don’t think anyone can stop us.’’

Miami finished 6-7 last season, including four consecutive losses to end it.

The Canes will begin 2015 without the services of 6-4, 256-pound redshirt sophomore rush end Al-Quadin Muhammad, who missed all of last season because of suspension and again will be suspended on Saturday, a source confirmed late Friday night. The reason for the suspension was not revealed.

UM coach Al Golden said Wednesday that any suspensions would be announced game day. Some are still wondering if running back Joe Yearby, named the starting tailback in the season-long absence of the injured Gus Edwards, will be on the field Saturday.

Yearby was suspended for the spring game and had some personal struggles that took him away from campus for part of the summer.

Either way, true freshman Mark Walton, a former four-star recruit who rushed for 1,472 yards and 22 touchdowns last season at Miami Booker T. Washington High, will be asked to share the load.

UM coach Al Golden said consistency “every day with our approach, our plan, with how we practice’’ should help the youngsters not be overwhelmed with their first game. “Everything is going to be the first time — first time at the stadium, first time at the hotel, first time in pregame meetings. We really need good leadership.’’

The Canes will face many former teammates from high school and youth leagues, as the Wildcats, a fast-paced team that runs a spread offense, have two dozen players from Miami-Dade and Broward — a lot more locals if you include Palm Beach County.

“I don’t think it’s a tough way to start the season,’’ said BC-U coach Terry Sims. “I think it’s a great way to start the season. It’s a measuring stick to see exactly where we are.’’

The Wildcats, based in Daytona Beach, have faced the Hurricanes only twice, a 45-14 UM victory in 2011 and 38-10 UM victory in 2012.

Last season, the Canes, behind then-new quarterback Brad Kaaya, went into hostile Louisville for a 31-13 opening-night defeat.

Saturday, Kaaya — the 2014 ACC Rookie of the Year — expects a different result.

“This is the hungriest I’ve ever been,’’ Kaaya said. “We’re going to have to come out hard and make a statement right away.’’

Sophomore tailback Trayone Gray got right to the point.

“We’ve been all grinding since camp,’’ Gray said, “and now the season has come. We’re ready to show the U is back and put a whoopin’ on Bethune.’’

This story was originally published September 4, 2015 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Miami Hurricanes eager, confident for opener against Bethune-Cookman."