Miami Hurricanes ready for key Coastal Division game vs. Virginia Tech

As the Hurricanes proclaimed they had shifted their focus to Virginia Tech, what has now become known as “the Florida State hangover” loomed menacingly at week’s start.

Would Miami, as it has the past two seasons, crumble after investing so much into its ultimately losing effort against its arch rival?

Or would the Hurricanes finally overcome that albatross, look ahead to the Coastal Division goal they’ve been espousing since fall camp, and, as a popular saying goes, “Keep calm and carry on?”

The college football world will learn the answer Saturday when the Canes (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) meet the Coastal Division rival Hokies (3-3, 1-1) at 3:30 p.m. at Sun Life Stadium.

Virginia Tech rebounded from losses to East Carolina and Pittsburgh with a come-from-behind victory a week ago Friday over then 4-1 North Carolina State.

UM has lost two in a row after a 3-0 start.

“Yeah, we’re still not happy about it,” receiver Braxton Berrios said Tuesday, the first day of availability after UM’s 29-24 loss in Tallahassee. “We’re trying not to think about it. We’re moving on.”

Trying not to think about it?

“It’s not something that you just walk away from,” conceded Berrios. “It’s a consistent effort to stay focused on Virginia Tech and that’s what we’re doing around here. You want fuel, and that was it.

“Nobody is supposed to be used to losing. That’s a problem if you are. We’re trying to keep each other up and keep each other focused on the Coastal. We’ve got to win the Coastal, that’s the goal. If that doesn’t happen that’s a major disappointment.”

This will be UM’s first Coastal Division game of six on the schedule. The other two ACC opponents — FSU and No. 5 Clemson next Saturday — are in the Atlantic Division. They all count, but defeating the Coastal Division teams is imperative to get to the Dec. 5 ACC Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Miami was a 4 1/2-point favorite as of Friday.

Last year’s 30-6 UM victory in Blacksburg had the Canes rushing for 364 yards — 249 by departed all-time Miami rusher Duke Johnson and 115 by Gus Edwards, out for the season with an injury.

The Canes struggled in the run game last week at Florida State, netting 20 yards, and are expected to make changes in the offensive line. The lethargic running, in turn, necessitated an imbalanced offense that had Brad Kaaya passing 49 times.

“It’s not a secret that we want to be a balanced team,” UM coach Al Golden said this week.

Offensive coordinator James Coley was asked if given the recent run-blocking, would he consider having the tight ends stay in more.

“Absolutely. 100 percent,” said Coley, who described the Virginia Tech defense as fast with “violent players.”

But the biggest question for the Hurricanes in preparing for the Hokies is whom they will face at quarterback. Former starter Michael Brewer broke his left collarbone in the season opener against Ohio State and has been cleared to practice the past two weeks. But despite being listed as probable, he didn’t play against North Carolina State, and likely won’t start Saturday.

Former backup Brenden Motley has continued to improve the past five weeks, throwing for 1,213 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions — three against Pitt. Motley, a 6-3, 221-pound redshirt junior, likes to run, and is the type of dual threat the Canes have struggled against for several years.

Another matter to consider: Although Motley was not on the Hokies’ injury report this week, he sustained an ankle injury against N.C. State that had him in a walking boot last weekend, the Roanoke Times reported.

“We’ll see what the doctors say at the end of the week,” Hokies coach Frank Beamer said of Brewer. “We’re fortunate right now that we’ve got two quarterbacks that can win games for us.”

Beamer, the winningest active coach (276-141-4) in the Football Bowl Subdivision, is 2-2 against the Canes since Golden took over in 2011. Both coaches are feeling the heat from the outside and need to keep winning for job security. Each admires the other.

“The one word that I’d use for Virginia Tech concerning Miami over the years is respect,” Beamer said. “We’ve always respected what a history they had, what a great program they are, and the talent level they’ve got.”

Golden used the same word.

“I have a great deal of respect for Coach Beamer and [his] staff and how they operate and the type of football they play,” he said. “That’s all we need to get our attention.”

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 6:41 PM with the headline "Miami Hurricanes ready for key Coastal Division game vs. Virginia Tech."