By now you’ve probably heard about a potential proposed trade between the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. Miami wants to try to trade with Cincinnati for the top pick in next month’s draft. It is pretty clear that they are trying to make a push for the LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. However, would that be the right move?
We have seen the Miami Dolphins accrue assets over the last year or so, and build their team in free agency. They are in a very good spot right now in terms of their roster. Sure, there are holes that need to be filled. However, they are in a better spot right now than they were a year ago. When you really think about the prospect of the Cincinnati trading away their chance at a potential franchise quarterback, it seems highly unlikely. For now, anything is on the table.
Do I think the Miami Dolphins should make a push for Joe Burrow? My answer is a little bit complicated. First, I’ll go on the record and say that I believe he is a better quarterback than Tua Tagovailoa. I believed that before Tua suffered his unfortunate injury, and I still believe it now.
The Miami Dolphins should stay put on potential trade
In terms of logistics however, the Dolphins would be wise to stay put. Should an opportunity for this trade arise, I wouldn’t do it.
Miami has a ton of draft capital this year. they have the fifth overall pick, the 18th overall pick, and the 26th overall pick. For a franchise looking to build, that’s a lot of capital to rebuild a team with. Miami would probably have to give up those assets in order to acquire the LSU star.
Cincinnati would undoubtedly want a king’s ransom in return. I wouldn’t blame them.
This draft is particularly deep with talent this year, and Miami would have a ton of opportunities to grab impact players. It doesn’t make sense to sacrifice a chance at significantly rebuilding an organization, in one draft, for one quarterback. It’s tempting, it really truly is.
Burrow is an extremely good signal caller. However, my sticking point is what it would take to get him. Miami would be wise to just let this draft play out, and use the picks they have. Leveraging them all for one player would not be worth it. Burrow seems like a sure thing, but it would be wise to not mortgage the future.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/burrow.png10801942Danny Jaillethttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDanny Jaillet2020-03-31 18:03:102020-03-31 18:03:10Miami Dolphins shouldn’t risk future for Joe Burrow
This is part of a series on Canes football games that have been lost to history. Information on the series including other articles is available here.
The Year
The year is 2008. President George W. Bush is entering the final few months of his presidency. The week of November 1st, 2008 saw Whatever You Like by T.I. top the Billboard Hot 100 list. And The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly was #1 on the New York Times fiction best seller list. Gas was $2.40 a gallon. The top news story was the upcoming Presidential election, which would take place 3 days after this game.
The Combatants
Miami came into the game at 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference. They had lost games to Florida (who would eventually win the National Championship), North Carolina by 4, and Florida State by 2.
Virginia was also 5-3 but 3-1 in conference. They started the year with an expected blowout loss to USC, then had surprising consecutive road losses to Connecticut and Duke to start the year 1-3. But they’d since won 4 consecutive games, and entered the Miami game having won consecutive games against ranked opponents.
The Context
Both teams were on win streaks. For Miami, it was 3 games and for Virginia, it was 4 games.
The big story for the Canes was the QB controversy. Both Robert Marve and Jacory Harris had split time. Early in the year, Marve took a majority of the snaps and played a majority of the downs. But increasingly, Jacory Harris was eating into Marve’s time. Marve was still the starter, but it was now week-to-week to determine who would be the “main” quarterback.
For both teams, the ACC Coastal was there for the taking. The Canes had 2 conference losses, but only one was in division. At this juncture, both teams were in the mix, with Miami still to face Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech (2 of the teams in front of the Canes) and with Virginia only having the one conference loss, both teams virtually controlled their own destiny.
The Game
This was actually a big game, and it showed with nerves early in the game. On the opening kickoff, Virginia fumbled but recovered.
The Canes were not as fortunate, as Travis Benjamin let a punt bounce, and the punt hit him for a muff, recovered by Virginia. But Miami held the Cavaliers to a FG, and only trailed 3-0.
Robert Marve got the first drive and delivered. He hit Thearon Collier on his first throw for 43 yards on a diving catch, and after Graig Cooper carried the Canes into the red zone, Marve ran into the end zone on 3rd and 5 from the 6 on a fantastic scramble where he eluded several defenders for the go ahead TD to put Miami up 7-3.
It didn’t take long for Virginia to take the lead again. On the next possession, Virginia ripped off 3 chunk plays in a row: (1) a 33 yard completion, (2) a 16 yard run by Cedric Peerman, and (3) a reverse to Kevin Ogletree to put the Cavaliers up 10-7.
The teams then exchanged 4 punts, but Miami had Matt Bosher, and he was (and still is in the NFL) a weapon. That 4-punt exchange allowed the Canes to start a drive at the Virginia 43. And into the game came Jacory Harris. Harris hit Davon Johson for 18 yards, but the drive stalled a yard short of the 1st down when Jacory Harris hit Kayne Farquharson for 7 yards on 3rd and 8. Bosher did make the 33-yard FG to tie the game at 10.
Once again, Virginia immediately responded behind Ogletree, Peerman, and QB Mark Verica. The 9 play, 80-yard drive ended with Verica throwing a 2-yard TD. The Canes only forced one 3rd down on the drive, which was converted via a pass interference. Virginia would take that 17-10 lead into the half, with Jacory Harris finishing the half.
At the half, Virginia was moving the ball well, and Miami really just had the one drive. Neither Miami QB was playing well, but they did have some success on the ground through Graig Cooper.
Marve started the second half, and threw an interception on the first possession near midfield. The Miami defense was strong, however, and forced a punt after the Cavaliers only gained 4 yards despite taking over at the Canes’ 44-yard line.
The next Miami drive was a disaster. after a completion to move the ball out to the 20, Graig Cooper fumbled and and it was recovered at the Canes’ 33 by Virginia. The back-to-back turnovers should have sunk the Canes. But once again, the defense held strong and forced a 38-yard FG, which Virginia missed.
Miami had escaped 2 turnovers in their own territory, still down only 17-10. Miami’s offense didn’t respond, but Bosher did, uncorking a 58-yard punt that gained the Canes some valuable field position and at least had the Cavaliers starting at their own 30.
After Virginia punted, pinning the Canes inside their own 10 again, Jacory Harris entered the game, and Marve would not play again. But that didn’t solve the Canes problems as a sack after one first down had Miami punting again.
Virginia put another drive together, but this time missed a 48-yard FG at the beginning of the 4th quarter. This time the Canes drove to midfield, but punted again. UVA’s next drive took them to the Canes 27. But Allen Bailey had a huge sack on 3rd-and-2 which pushed Virginia out of FG range. The Cavaliers punt was perfect, and they downed it at the Canes 5-yard line.
At this point, with 8:01 left in the game, Miami was 95 yards from the tying TD. Virginia had 4 drives into Canes’ territory in the 2nd half, and hadn’t scored.
Randy Shannon had no good choices, but his choice, to give the true freshman Harris the ball in the shadow of his goalposts, lead to one of the great forgotten drives in Miami history.
On the first 2 plays of what would eventually be a 15-yard play, 95-yard TD drive, Miami threw incomplete and then lost 2 yards on a run. At 3rd-and-13, and facing the prospect of another punt, Harris hit Sam Shields (still playing WR at this point in his career) for a big conversion at the sticks.
After a false start once again put Miami behind the sticks at 1st-and-15, Harris hit Shields for 6 yards and fullback Patrick Hill for 10 yards to move the Canes to their own 26. There was still time to punt if the drive went wrong, but when Harris hit Davon Johnson for 17 yards on the next play, this drive went from a chance to tie the game to the chance to tie the game.
Consecutive Cooper runs took Miami into Virginia territory at the Virginia 47 before Reggie Youngblood false started to knock Miami back again. But on 2nd-and-14, Harris hit Aldarius Johnson for 18 yards and a 1st down.
But once again, the Canes lost yards on 1st down, this time falling back to 2nd-and-12 on the UVA 35 before before Cooper ran for 14 yards and took the ball to the Virginia 21 with 1:15 left. The Canes called a timeout.
If you thought the Canes were done going the wrong direction, you’d be wrong. Miami false started to go backward to the 26, and then Harris threw consecutive incompletions. Miami called a “planning” timeout with 1:04 on the clock and 3rd-and-15 on the Virginia 26.
Whatever the plan was, it worked. Harris hit Laron Byrd in the corner of the end zone who made a leaping catch while being interfered with to tie the game at 17.
Virginia still had a chance to win in regulation, and drove to the Canes’ 42 yard line, but Sean Spence forced a fumble and miraculously, the Canes now had a chance to win. And Harris immediately hit Travis Benjamin for a huge gain to the Cavaliers’ 38 yard line. After Cooper got the Canes closer. Bosher had a chance to win the game from 51 yards away. But he missed and the game went to OT.
In OT, after one first down, the Canes once again false started and found themselves at 1st-and-15. After Cooper got the Canes to the 9-yard line and a convertible 3rd down, Jacory Harris hit Aldarius Johnson for a TD in the corner of the end zone to put the Canes up 24-17.
On Virginia’s first play, Peerman broke into the clear for 10 yards but Lavon Ponder stripped the ball out, Romeo Davis recovered, and the Canes had miraculously won 24-17.
Honestly, this game is pretty much ho-hum and borderline garbage until there are 9 minutes left in the game. Then it got crazy. Allen Bailey’s sack prevented a FG that would have put the game out of reach. On the full game highlight, you might want to start with the Bailey sack.
What else can be said about the Canes offense, and in particular, Jacory Harris on the last drive and OT?
The Canes earned 1st downs after being at 3rd-and-13, 1st-and-15, 2nd-and-14, 2nd-and-12, 3rd-and-15, and 1st-and-15. You’re not supposed to be able to do that, period, and especially not with a true freshman QB.
So many of the Canes young players stepped up and made plays. There wasn’t really a pecking order, so many players rotated in and made plays. 10 players had catches, with no player having more than 3 catches. The only star on the day offensively was Cooper, who had 24 carries for 131 yards.
This game was also memorable for being a classic ACC affair. The estimable, late, great Mike Hogewood was on the sideline. And who can forget Doc Walker in the booth? The effusive Walker just loves football, and makes those watching his games love it as well. He labeled half the players on each team a “Baller” and even upgraded Graig Cooper to “Primetime Baller.” Walker closed the game by yelling “checkmate!” when the Canes recovered the winning fumble.
To cap off the ACC-ness of this game, Ron Cherry was on the field, reffing the game.
This just felt like a classic ACC game on Raycom Sports…which is something we’ve lost with the ESPN family of networks holding the entire broadcast package at this point.
The Aftermath
The Canes won the following week against Virginia Tech at home, and found themselves one win away from their first ACC Coastal title, with a team primarily leaning on freshman.
Miami went to Atlanta and got absolutely destroyed by Georgia Tech. They could not stop the option (the last and only time that would happen until Al Golden broke the Miami defense).
But for this week, after this game, with the youth on the team, and the character they showed, this really felt like the beginning of something special. As the players came off the field, they were celebrating, throwing up the U. And that includes Robert Marve, who was benched in the 4th quarter. This team was growing together and it’s really hard to imagine this would end in so much failure a few years later.
This season would end on a 3-game losing streak, with a loss to NC State after the GT game, and a bowl loss to Cal. Marve was gone at season’s end, transferring to Purdue. This was technically as close as the Canes came to playing in the ACC Championship Game under Randy Shannon. The 2009 was better and more mature. But these 2008 Canes played a game in Atlanta to win the ACC Coastal (an NC State loss would not have mattered had they defeated GT because of tiebreakers).
For Virginia, this game was part of a complete collapse. The Cavaliers never recovered from this loss, and would drop their last 3 games to finish 5-7 and miss a bowl game.
But that drive…we should never forget that drive and that moment when a bunch of young kids, fresh out of high school, disproportionately from South Florida, went 95 yards and restored our hope in this program. That the hope was fleeting, that the dawn was false, does not diminish this moment.
This is part of a series on Canes football games that have been lost to history. Information on the series including other articles is available here.
The Year
The year is 2009. President Barack Obama is in the first year of his first term in office. The week of October 31st, 2009 saw I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas top the Billboard Hot 100 list, which it had done so since July 11th. And The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown was #1 on the New York Times fiction best seller list. Gas was $2.64 a gallon. The top news story in America was the so-called “Balloon Boy Hoax” where parents claimed their child was in a homemade hot air balloon that had been mistakenly released. After a search found the balloon with no child inside, the parents were found to have fabricated the entire story.
The Combatants
Miami entered the game at 5-2, and 2-2 in conference.
Wake Forest was 4-4, and 2-2 in conference.
The Context
The previous week, Miami had essentially thrown away their best chance at an ACC Coastal title, and without a standout powerhouse team in the conference, they had also likely lost a chance at an ACC title. In a classic game that included several Hurricanes mistakes, including playing Sean Spence with a torn ACL while trying to cover CJ Spiller with him and a botched squib kick, the Canes ultimately fell in OT.
The Canes were still officially in the ACC title race (they would be eliminated 2 weeks later with a loss at North Carolina), but they now needed a lot of help. The disappointment of a team that started the season brightly and then threw away a special season on a mistake-filled afternoon was palpable. The Canes started the year with 4 consecutive games against ranked teams, and went 3-1, with the only loss being at Virginia Tech. The Clemson loss was in an easier stretch of games and was a shock to the system.
For Wake Forest, they were coming in on a losing streak, and needed 2 wins for bowl eligibility. They came into this game on a 2-game losing streak, including a disappointing 3-point loss to Navy. They were looking to turn that around here.
The Game
We were worried about a Miami hangover from the Clemson game, and boy did we get one.
Or, more succinctly put: Wake Forest was by far the better team on the day.
After a Miami punt, Wake Forest marched down the field going 78 yards, but the Canes held inside the 10-yard line and forced a FG. After another Canes’ punt, Wake Forest went the full distance going 53 yards to take a 10-0 lead with 2:23 left in the 1st quarter. But they weren’t done yet, going 80 yards for their 3rd consecutive score, and now were up 17-0 with 10:21 left in the 1st half.
At this point, in addition to being up 17-0, Wake Forest had outgained Miami 211-87.
To try and change momentum, the Canes went to a no-huddle offense. The change of pace caught Wake Forest off guard, and the Canes went 67 yards in 5 plays to pull within 10. Aldarius Johnson caught the 35-yard TD pass after the Canes went no-huddle and snapped it against a confused Wake Forest defense.
Wake Forest did respond, however. After both teams exchanged punts (the first Miami had forced all day), Wake Forest once again drove, this time for a FG.
The Canes got the ball with 33 seconds at their own 36. A FG seemed like a long shot with the way they’d failed to move the ball, but Jacory Harris hit Thearon Collier for 29 yards, then Graig Cooper rushed for 29 yards before Harris hit Collier again down to the 3-yard line with 8 seconds left. Miami still had a timeout, and therefore the luxury to attempt a run, which they did and which Damien Berry scored on with 3 seconds left to cut the lead to 6 at the half.
Wake Forest had thoroughly dominated the game, but Miami’s quick strike ability had kept them in the game. Ultimately, those themes of Wake Forest minimizing points and Miami’s ability to score quick would decide the game.
The second half looked like it would follow the first half when Wake Forest immediately strung together a drive, taking the ball inside the Canes 35-yard line. But, on an 11-yard completion, Sam Shields stripped the ball and Vaughn Telemaque recovered, keeping the deficit at 6.
After 3 consecutive punts (2 by Miami, 1 by Wake Forest), the Demon Deacons got the offense going again. Wake Forest went 82 yards in 9 plays, capped off by a 44-yard TD pass to go up 27-14.
When Harris followed that up with an interception, this game felt over. But Miami’s defense held without giving up yardage for one of the few times on the day, and Miami continued to hang in the game. After more punts, Wake Forest received the ball near the start of the 4th quarter and promptly drove to the Canes 27-yard line. But they missed the FG, and miraculously, the lead was still only 13.
After yet another Miami punt (the offense was going nowhere), the Canes were bailed out by a muffed punt. The ball bounced inside the Wake Forest 5-yard line where Sam Shields recovered. One play later, Harris hit Tervaris Johnson in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 27-21.
The total yardage in the 2nd half at that point was Miami 24, Wake Forest 186…and yet the score for the 2nd half was 7-7.
The Demon Deacons went on the march again, hoping to restore a 2-possession game. But after crossing midfield, Riley Skinner threw a pass into coverage which was batted in the air and intercepted by DeMarcus Van Dyke.
With just under 9 minutes left, and the ball in decent field position starting at their own 36-yard line, now was the time for Miami to seize the game. They promptly gained a solitary yard on 3 plays and punted. Wake Forest put together a decent drive, eating clock and moving out of deep in their territory. A holding penalty killed the drive at midfield, but a solid punt put Miami at their own 18 with 2:36 left and only one timeout.
Miami had to go the end zone on this drive, or it was game over. Jacory Harris fired 2 incompletions, then hit Collier for 29 yards on a beautiful corner route. On the next play Harris was sacked, and then threw 2 more incompletions. It was 4th and 16 at their own 41, but the Canes had to go for it anyway with only 1:32 left. Harris stood in the pocket, taking a hit as he lofted the ball to Aldarius Johnson, who made a leaping catch for 29 yards at the Wake Forest 30. The stunned Demon Deacons struggled to lineup as Harris hit Travis Benjamin on consecutive plays for 17 and 13 yards, the latter of which resulted in Benjamin making a sliding catch in the front corner of the end zone to score the go ahead TD and put Miami up 28-27 with 1:08 left.
With backup QB Ryan McManus having replaced Riley Skinner (who left with a concussion on the previous drive), Wake Forest tried to get the ball into FG range. Wake Forest did move the ball, but was fighting the clock. When McManus scrambled to the Canes 43-yard line, then fired an incompletion on the following play, Wake Forest had 4 seconds left. Rather than try the Hail Mary, they opted for a 60-yard FG, which was nowhere close.
It’s hard to imagine a less deserving win. Miami stole this game. We’re actually used to be on the wrong side of one-sided games, where the Canes gain a ton of yards but can’t finish drives. This was the opposite.
Wake Forest outgained Miami 555-356. They had ample opportunities to put this game away.
Yet the Canes made a handful of plays that ultimately finished drives and won them this game. The names contributing to this win…Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Graig Cooper, Thearon Collier, Damien Berry…they bring back memories of hope and what could have been. On the day, Miami ran 21 times for 26 yards, Jacory Harris was sacked 6 times, and yet they persevered.
Perhaps, the most shocking stat is the combined time of possession on Miami’s 4 TD drives was a total of 3 minutes and 55 seconds. And they literally did nothing the rest of the game. They had multiple drives that gained negative yards. Meanwhile, Wake Forest had multiple 40+ yard drives that yielded no points.
Jacory Harris did throw for 330 yards, but it was really a handful of drives where those yards came. We also should not forget Aldarius Johnson, who ended up never playing another down for Miami in the aftermath of the Nevin Shapiro scandal. He was fantastic in this game, and his leaping catch on 4th and 16 by itself makes this game memorable.
In the end, Miami converted multiple 3rd and 4th and longs, had 14 of their 28 points come via 2-minute drills at the end of halves, another 7 on a 2-yard drive off a muffed punt, and the final 7 come via a no-huddle attack…and Wake Forest basically dominated everything else and lost.
The Canes didn’t deserve to win, but did.
The Aftermath
Miami blew the 2019 season. There’s no other way to put it. They somehow navigated this start to the schedule:
Still can't believe Al Golden complained about playing at FAU when Randy Shannon once started the season like pic.twitter.com/E7cQQn7NYA
In position to win the ACC Coastal and probably the conference, and then imploded against Clemson. In a game in which the Canes’ outgained Clemson, they gave it away with 4 turnovers, a botched squib kickoff, and a busted coverage…and found themselves in overtime. In OT, Miami drove inside the Clemson 5, couldn’t punch it in and kicked a FG. They then somehow gave up a 26-yard TD pass on 2nd-and-11 when it looked like they might force a long FG. That really blew the season.
In the aftermath of that, this Wake Forest game became a footnote, but likely balanced out the record since Miami did not deserve to win this game. The real question is, had they held on against Clemson, do they then win this Wake Forest game more easily, do they win at North Carolina later in the year, do they win the ACC Coastal and the ACC? We’ll never know.
In hindsight, the 2009 Clemson game was the one that told the story of the Randy Shannon Era. He brought in talent, got it to the precipice, and blew it at inopportune times. The Wake Forest game was a reminder of the heart of those teams, and their ability to make plays.
This team ended up being the best of the Randy Shannon Era, losing the Champs Sports Bowl to Wisconsin. But on paper, and the way they played much of the year, they were the ACC’s best team. It’s unfortunate that the results didn’t show it.
For Wake Forest, they were midway through a 5-game losing streak that ultimately saw them miss a bowl game at 5-7. In addition to this loss, they had two 3-point losses, and 2 overtime losses. So all told, 6 of their 7 losses came by a FG or less, with 2 in OT. This was likely not even Wake Forest’s most heartbreaking loss of the year.
It will happen in a way we have never seen before.
We can’t wait!
Fill out your mock drafts until your hearts are content.
Even if they are unconventional, or irrational.
Enjoy a newfound camaraderie with fellow sports fans.
Maybe even reach out to your favorite athletes and say hi.
Well.. giving out your number can be a bit interesting.. but I love it! I have thousands of texts, but I’m doing my best to reply to all of them! If you reached out, please tweet me here and let me know your first and last name if I haven’t replied! 🙏🏼🤝🔨
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/F93C4BC1-B9BA-4CB2-99FC-F3AD51AF8D30-scaled.jpeg17112560David Eversolehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDavid Eversole2020-03-30 07:30:262020-03-29 16:19:30Why We Should Care About Sports
This is part of a series on Canes football games that have been lost to history. Information on the series including other articles is available here.
The Year
The year is 2012. President Barack Obama is in the final year of his first term in office. The week of September 22nd, 2012 saw We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift top the Billboard Hot 100 list for the 3rd week in a row. And Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James was #1 on the New York Times fiction best seller list. Gas was $3.83 a gallon. In addition to the ongoing US Presidential Election, the top news story was worldwide attacks on several US Embassies, with the most notable being in Benghazi, Libya, where 4 Americans were killed.
The Combatants
The Canes entered this game at 2-1, with the loss being a 39-point blowout at Kansas State.
Georgia Tech was 2-1, having lost an overtime game to Virginia Tech.
The Context
For the Canes, the story was Al Golden. The Nevin Shapiro scandal was the new normal, but even with that context, the previous season’s disappointing record did have one silver lining…all 6 losses were one possession games. The thinking was that with marginal improvement, the Canes could turn those losses into wins.
That narrative collapsed in the second game of the season when the Kansas State Wildcats demolished Miami. The gap between Miami and a decent team (which is what Kansas State was at the time) was startling.
In hindsight, all the signs of Golden’s demise were present, but at this juncture, it was still a situation where most fans were trying to balance the scandal with the play on the field and figure out what represented the true quality of an Al Golden team.
The Game
This game is absolutely crazy.
For Miami, this game was about Stephen Morris, Mike James, and Phillip Dorsett.
Morris got going early, and threw a 65-yard TD pass to Dorsett on the game’s 3rd play. The Canes would then drive for a FG, which was set up by another 40-yard completion to Dorsett.
And this is where Georgia Tech had a mental breakdown. On the kickoff, the GT kick returner broke the plain with the ball and knelt it, resulting in a safety and putting the Canes up 12-0. With the short field (the Canes started at the GT 48 yard line), Miami drove for Mike James’ first TD of the game to put the Canes up 19-0, literally on the last play of the 1st quarter. That drive also featured the injury that would short-circuit Malcolm Lewis’ career.
On the subsequent kickoff, once again, the Canes stuffed GT, this time inside their 10-yard line. Up by 19 on an option team, the Canes appeared to be in control. But D’Onofrio happens.
In a stunning 2nd quarter explosion, The Yellow Jackets started to methodically destroy the Miami defense. The Canes caught a seeming reprieve when offsetting penalties wiped out an 80-yard run. But it didn’t matter as GT capped off a 91-yard drive with a TD.
The Canes offense appeared to get back in gear on the next drive, but Dorsett fumbled at the end of another long catch (this one for 32-yards) and GT immediately had the ball back. They went 57 yards in 6 plays to cut the lead to 5 at 19-14.
Next it was time for Miami special teams to fail. On the next possession, Miami punted and it was returned 56 yards to the Canes’ 23. The defense shut down GT’s option, and put the Yellow Jackets in 3rd and 11…where they promptly gave up a 17-yard completion to a team that could not pass. But they weren’t done giving up long 3rd down plays. 3 plays later, on 3rd and goal from the 10, the Canes allowed the GT QB to run, Tevin Washington, to walk into the end zone, almost untouched. To rub salt in the wound, GT went for 2 and completed a pass on it, to go ahead 22-19.
The rest of the half featured Stephen Morris forcing a deep ball into coverage for an INT, and the half essentially running out from there. Miami won the first quarter 19-0, but somehow lost the 2nd half 22-0 and was down 22-19 at the half.
If you expected an inspired halftime reaction, adjustments to stop the offense that everyone knew GT would be running, or even a competitive response coming out of the half, you would be disappointed. It took only 4 plays for GT to go 65 yards and go up 29-19.
The Canes did finally put a solid drive together, but had to punt from midfield. Once again, the Canes did a poor job in punt coverage, and GT returned it to their own 40. On the next play, they completed another long pass, this one for 58 yards, and were in the end zone one play later.
From 12 minutes left in the 2nd quarter to 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Yellow Jackets scored 36 points in a row, and took a commanding 36-19 lead.
But the Canes did not sink. They embarked on a long, methodical drive that went 74 yards on 17 plays, culminating in a FG that cut the lead to 14 points and at least stopped the 36 point streak.
Miami’s defense also finally settled in, and forced a GT punt. 82 yards from the end zone, the Canes went on another long drive, this time all the way to the end zone, with Mike James picking up the TD, and cutting the lead to a one TD game at 36-29.
It seemed like Miami was back in the game, and immediately forcing another punt put the Canes in great shape to tie the game. Starting from their own 8, the Canes once again put together a long drive, going 88 yards in 10 plays. But they couldn’t punch it in despite having 1st and goal at the 3-yard line. And then Jake Wieclaw missed a 22-yard FG.
That should have been game over. One gut punch too many. And when GT was able to run 8 plays before punting, and drop the ball inside the Canes’ 10-yard line again, Miami found themselves 91 yards from the tying TD with only 2 minutes left.
Stephen Morris promptly completed 4 consecutive passes to Davon Johnson, totaling 50 yards and taking Miami to the GT 41. From there, Morris hit Duke Johnson for 25 yards. Two Yellow Jacket penalties took the Canes to the GT 10-yard line with 27 seconds left. Mike James scored his 3rd TD of the game on a middle screen pass from Morris and miraculously, the Canes had tied the game at 36 and sent it into OT.
On the first possession of OT, GT drove inside the Canes 5-yard line. On 2nd and 5 they got 2 yards, then another yard on 3rd down, setting up 4th and an inch at the 1. GT trusted their option attack…and shouldn’t have. Eddie Johnson destroyed GT QB Tevin Washington and stopped him just short of the 1st down.
Miami just needed a FG, but Mike James ended the festivities on the 2nd play of the Canes’ possession, going 24 yards for the game clinching TD, his 4th of the game. The Canes won 42-36.
Where to start? First, I linked the half highlights above because it a “no huddle” cut, meaning you get through both videos in roughly an hour and fifteen minutes. I encourage anyone with some spare time to do that.
This game featured huge performances from Stephen Morris and Phillip Dorsett, who totaled 436 and 184 yards, respectively. Mike James scored 4 TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving). Duke Johnson also had an impact on the ground and through the air.
Davon Johnson came out of nowhere to step up. He had 107 yards receiving, but 50 came on 4 consecutive plays on the last drive of regulation.
And time and again, both teams look like they were down and out, and then came back. Eddie Johnson had the highlight reel hit in OT to stop GT, but in regulation, on GT’s last true possession, Anthony Chickillo made 2 consecutive, huge tackles to hold GT short of the 1st down or they would have run the clock out without Miami having the opportunity to drive for the tying TD.
On the negative, yet uplifting side, this game will also be remembered for the horrific injury that Malcolm Lewis sustained, and Al Golden’s compassion in that moment. That moment was Golden’s finest as the Miami Head Coach.
In the end, this was a game that saw the Canes score the first 19 points, GT come back and run off 36 points in a row, and then the Canes digging deep to score the last 23 and win OT. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a game that streaky and one in which a team lost despite scoring 36 points in a row. But that is what happened on this day.
The Aftermath
Neither team was good, and this would show up repeatedly. The Canes would run their record to 4-1 before imploding with 3 straight losses, tacking on a heartbreaking loss at Virginia late in the year, and finishing 7-5.
This was the “transition” year in the Al Golden tenure. One in which the Canes took their final bowl ban, and entered the offseason for the last time not knowing what their sanctions would be. It was also the year that Golden transitioned from close losses to blowout losses. In addition to the aforementioned Kansas State blowout, the Canes lost badly to Notre Dame and Florida State.
For Georgia Tech, they would recover to “win” the ACC Coastal, but ultimately finish 7-7, losing the ACC Championship game to Florida State.
Miami, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech ended up in a 3-way tie atop the ACC Coastal. North Carolina had the tiebreaker, but received a postseason ban from the NCAA. This made it a 2-way tie between Georgia Tech and Miami, and this 42-36 OT classic could have conceivably sent the Canes into a rematch with FSU and their first ACC title game. Ultimately, Miami opted (correctly) to self-impose a postseason ban. At 7-5, getting slaughtered by FSU for a 2nd time and then losing a bowl game didn’t seem wise when they could sacrifice those games for less restrictions later (this worked as the Canes received a slap on the wrist less than a year later).
So, Georgia Tech was the last team standing for not being banned from postseason play, and ended up making it to Charlotte. 2 years later, Georgia Tech would win the ACC Coastal again, this time with a much better team. They lost a nailbiter to FSU there, 37-35, but recovered to blowout Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl, which was the best season of Paul Johnson’s tenure.
For Miami fans, this was probably Al Golden’s second best season, and perhaps the one that most filled the fans with a false sense of optimism. Performances like this were a mirage that made everyone feel good about wins, but were ultimately huge warning signs of an impending implosion, particularly on defense.
Here is Mock Draft 2.0, and in a Draft where the Miami Dolphins own the 1st round with three first round picks, many options exist to improve the team. The possibility exists that Miami can stay put and get their man at QB in Tua Tagovailoa, so this Mock Draft allows for this. In reality, the Lions will surely leverage their draft position for an asset or two, or three.
One issue that will remain is this, if the Lions move down to #5, is there a player they would be targeting that will go off the board at #4 and thus make the trade down a bad idea? Isaiah Simmons, Jeff Okudah, Tristan Wirfs?
Here is the view of the 1st round from one third of the Trio that makes up the Three Yards per Carry Podcast:
1. BENGALS – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
There has been rumors and innuendo of Burrow not wanting to go to Cincinnati, but all of that got put to rest at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Bengals get a “local” boy to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future.
2. REDSKINS – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
New Head Coach Ron Rivera gets his Julius Peppers. The clear cut best defensive prospect goes to a team in desperate need of a reset, and all the rumors of a QB being taken at #2 to compete with Dwayne Haskins prove to be head fakes designed to entice a team into unloading a haul of assets to get up to #2.
3. LIONS – Jeff Okudah, CB,Ohio State
I originally had Isaiah Simmons going here, but with the trade of Darius Slay, drafting the best CB prospect of the last 3 drafts is elementary. Okudah plays right away and excels. Matt Patricia’s defense is much improved this offseason already, and gets a further boost here at #3.
4. GIANTS – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
I was tempted to put any one of three Tackles in Wirfs, Becton or Thomas here, so I went with Andrew Thomas who was for the better part of the last 18 months the near consensus top Left Tackle prospect for the 2020 draft. Nate Solder’s stint as the LT for Big Blue comes to an end soon, due to price tag and age (he is 32 years old), and Andrew Thomas steps right in.
5. DOLPHINS – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
The worst kept secret anywhere. For the better part of two years, the Miami Dolphins have committed considerable resources to the pacific northwest contingent at QB (Herbert, Love) but with a keen eye on what is going on in Alabama. No secret they like him, and would take him here. Had it not been for Tua’s hip injury, he was a serious consideration at #1. Tagovailoa is not particularly athletic, and does nto posses a rocket arm. What he does have is uncanny anticipation, football smarts, and great intangibles that have traditionally translated well to the NFL.
6. CHARGERS – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Jordan Love here made a little sense due to rumor, and all the takes coming out of #DraftTwitter, but I’ll just go with the older consensus that Herbert was a top 3 QB prospect and the Chargers get theirs here at #6.
7. PANTHERS – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
This team is essentially starting over and Matt Rhule needs a leader on his defense. I can make an argument for Simmons being the best defensive player in this draft, and getting him at #7 is a gift. Newly minted at #7, this is a great beginning on the big rebuilding job being undertaken in Carolina.
8. CARDINALS – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Cardinals just finished locking up their young LT, D.J. Humphries to a 3 year $45 Million extension, and now they get the best Right Tackle prospect in this draft.
9. JAGUARS – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
The complete makeover of the Jags defense continues. This time with a mammoth Defensive Tackle to compliment edge standout from the 2019 Draft, Josh Allen. This is a pretty good 2 year start on a makeover of what was once a talent laden defense.
10. BROWNS – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Browns have been rumored to be in on any of about 4 different Tackle prospects, and this is as good a fit as any. With their previous LT Greg Robinson facing Free Agency and possible jail time, Becton falls nicely to the Browns at #10.
11. JETS – Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
A reach here in my estimation, but the run on Tackles gets the Jets a bit nervous, and they make sure they get some OL help for Sam Darnold in what could be a make or break year for the QB, and Coach Adam Gase.
12. RAIDERS – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Raiders were much improved in 2019, but the disaster that was the WR corp. after the Antonio Brown debacle gets remedied by a guy that can do it all. Lamb will be a welcome addition for Derek Carr, or..Marcus Mariota?
13. 49ERS (via COLTS) – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
How do you keep a position of strength from deteriorating due to age, departures? You inject new talent. The talent injections into San Francisco continue this year with a rangy, long, physical corner in Trevon Diggs. Diggs did not run at the combine, but speed is not an issue. His comparisons range from everything from Aqib Talib to Xavier Rhodes. There is a Richard Shermanasque look to him, and the fit here is just too good.
14. BUCCANEERS – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
The Bucs have a lot of the elements for a successful offense already in house, and I believe Arians just added Tom Brady to run the entire show. On defense, Devin White, Shaquil Barrett (he is a FA), Vita Vea and now Kinlaw to pair with Vea up front is a helluva start on improving what is an underrated defense.
15. BRONCOS – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Broncos continue their hot streak of finding offensive talent after unearthing undrafted Free Agent Phillip Lindsay, and drafting WR Courtland Sutton, OT Dalton Risner and TE Noah Fant. 2nd year QB Drew Lock gets even more help in Jeudy. Good looking and young offense, being built in Denver.
16. FALCONS – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
The Falcons need a lot of help on defense, and after taking two offensive linemen in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary in the 2019 draft, they turn their attention and resources to the defense with their 2020 1st round pick. An Edge player like Chaisson fits the bill.
17. COWBOYS – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The Cowboys are in dire salary cap straits this offseason as all world CB Byron Jones leaves for Miami, Robert Quinn is gone to Chicago, and Randall Cobb goes to the Texans. This team suddenly has holes, and none bigger than at corner back. In Kristian Fulton, the cowboys get a highly intelligent, twitchy, speedy corner, adept at man to man coverage. In Fulton, the Cowboys soften the blow of losing Byron Jones.
18. DOLPHINS – Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The Dolphins brought in egde players, an all world CB in Byron Jones, and sprinkled in interior line help. They are severly lacking at Tackle and the run on tackles makes them a bit nervous, and they snap up Josh Jones out of fear, here at #18. Yes, the blind side is the RT. But free rushers right into your face as a left handed QB can be a bit distracting. Jones is a skilled, sleek, “Tunsil like” Lineman. He can be your left tackle for 10 years. You gotta do it.
19. RAIDERS – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
The first WOW moment of the draft. The rumblings surrounding the Raiders and Tom Brady were loud enough where you gotta think that Derek Carr’s job isn’t all that safe. The upside for Love is immense and a QB guru (or somebody that fancies himself a QB guru) like Jon Gruden would love to work with a prospect such as this.
20. JAGUARS – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Justin Jefferson joins DJ Chark to form a “all LSU” WR Tandem, and Chris Conley to form a pretty good WR group. Gardner Minshew gets more help with the trade of Nick Foles clearing the deck for the 2nd year QB.
21. EAGLES – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Eagles have serious issues in the secondary due to possible defections and injury, so it makes sense that they take what most consider, the best safety on the board. Many options for the Eagles here, but they save corner for later rounds and make sure their safety group is squared away with McKinney, and maybe…Rodney McLeod? (with the exodus of Malcolm Jenkins).
22. VIKINGS (via BILLS) – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
With the trade of Stefon Diggs, the Vikings have weakened what was a position of strength last year. They replenish the position with the Clemson standout to go with All Pro Adam Thielen. Kirk Cousins returns, and he returns to a healthier offensive line, and little turnover on his skill guys save for the trade of Diggs. This pick softens that blow.
23. PATRIOTS – Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
With Tom Brady gone, do the Patriots package a bunch of picks to move up and take one of the top prospects at Qb? No. Not enough assets. The Patriots and Belichick are arrogant enough to think that they can just get a highly intelligent QB, adapt him to their system and move on. They may be right. They could be galactically wrong. But they are gonna try. Fromm is the perfect, consummate game manager with some sneaky arm talent that shows up from time to time. Patriots target, and land their QB of the foreseeable future.
24. SAINTS – Grant Delpit, S, LSU
The Saints are still in Super Bowl or Bust mode, and could lose some bodies in the secondary. Safety is a desperate need for New Orleans, even after the return of Malcolm Jenkins, to continue what will be a very defense heavy offseason.
25. VIKINGS – Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota
How much sense does this make? A Winfield and Harrison Smith Safety tandem is pretty attractive. He played at Minnesota. His father was a 3x Pro Bowler at Corner for these very Vikings. What a match.
26. DOLPHINS – J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
They struck out with Melvin Gordon, probably to no fault of their own, but they have Jordan Howard in the fold now at a modest price. That leaves some carries to be had and Dobbins fits the bill. Dobbins is the best one cut back in this draft for a system that will require it. This begins a run on Running backs and the Dolphins get the pick of the litter. Why Dobbins? Anecdotal evidence. As I reported in December, certain elements of the organization have identified J.K. Dobbins as the best of this RB group. Namely Dolphins RB Coach Eric Studesville who seems to be enamored with him (met with him for nearly 2 hours at the combine). I say that the smoke proves there is fire, and Dobbins is the pick.
27. SEAHAWKS – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
The Seahawks have tried a lot of different things to “solve” the RB position, including using a 1st round pick on Rashaad Penny a couple years back. Taylor is a very nice addition to a pretty stacked skill position group.
28. RAVENS – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
What do you give the team that has everything? How bout shore up that RB position on the best running team (mostly Lamar Jackson) in pro football? As time goes by, Lamar will run less out of self preservation, so it would be nice to have aback like Swift to take the reigns from an aging Mark Ingram.
29. TITANS – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Titans already have a sledgehammer run game, (Henry is a FA however), and a superstar in the making at WR in A.J. Brown. Ruggs would compliment this group perfectly, especially since good deep ball thrower (never thought you would hear that right?) Ryan Tannehill returns.
30. PACKERS – Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
So many ways you can go here. Packers have aging Tackles, and can use interior linebacker /Safety help. But we are in Aaron Rodgers last stand and run at another Super Bowl, and this is a tempting pairing. Shenault, to go with Davante Adams gives Rodgers an imposing pair of pass catchers. Super Bowl or bust for the Packers. This pick reflects that.
31. 49ERS – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
The run on WR’s hurts what would likely be a target for the 49ers in this spot. So they go BPA, and double up at cornerback. Bryce Hall as late as a year ago, was considered the #2 ranked CB prospect according to many. This is not overkill in the sense that Hall could redshirt a year, and be ready for 2021 as some, including Richard Sherman (he is a UFA in 21′) leave. An ankle injury clouded Hall’s future and drops him to #31 to a very lucky defending NFC Champions.
32. CHIEFS – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
The defending champions replenish a unit that is unsettled as of free agency. CJ Henderson is versatile enough to play multiple coverages for Steve Spagnuolo. Kansas City is a talent laden team but a bit thin on the defensive end. They get a good start in the secondary with the drop of CJ Henderson to #32.
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
This is part of a series on Canes football games that have been lost to history. Information on the series including other articles is available here.
The Year
The year is 2004. President George W. Bush had been re-elected to a second term 11 days prior. The week of November 13th, 2004 saw My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keys top the Billboard Hot 100 list for the 3rd week in a row. And Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich was #1 on the New York Times fiction best seller list. Gas was $1.96 a gallon. In addition to the recently concluded election, the Middle East topped the headlines, as the War in Iraq saw insurgents capture Mosul, while in an unrelated Mideast matter, Iran was working on a deal over their nuclear arms program (some things stay the same).
The Combatants
This was a Top 20 matchup.
The Canes were 6-2, with 2 conference losses.
Virginia came into this game at 7-1.
The Context
The Canes were reeling coming off consecutive losses. Having peaked at #4 in the polls, the Canes had lost consecutive games to North Carolina by 3 on a last-second FG and to Clemson by 7 in overtime. They had fallen to #18 in the AP Poll.
Virginia had only one loss, to Florida State.
But the Seminoles had already lost twice. With Virginia Tech leading the ACC, but also having a loss, and with both teams still having to play Virginia Tech, the winner of this game controlled their own destiny in the ACC.
This was the last year before the ACC switched to divisions, so whoever finished on top of the regular season standings won the conference. This was also Miami’s first year in the ACC.
The Game
The best word to describe this game is intense. Miami actually never trailed, and yet the entire game felt like it was on razor’s edge.
Miami had 2 long drives in the 1st quarter. The first resulted in a missed FG, but the second lead to a Frank Gore TD.
Virginia answered immediately with a TD to tie the game. Roscoe Parrish (much more from him later) returned a punt 45 yards to set up another Canes TD.
The Canes took the 14-7 lead into the half, but one of the themes of the day began to present itself as the Canes drove to the UVA 27, but went for it on 4th down and got stuffed. That, coupled with the earlier missed FG, meant the Canes had left at least 6 points on the field.
The second half saw both teams exchange punts before UVA tied the game late in the 3rd quarter with a 3-play, 67 yard drive capped off by Alvin Pearman’s 34-yard TD run.
Miami answered with a 43-yard FG (a similar distance to the FG that the Canes neglected to kick earlier) to take a 17-14 lead into the 4th quarter. After forcing a punt, the Canes had an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the Cavaliers, but Larry Coker chose to punt from the UVA 34-yard line. Miami’s John Peattie was a reliable kicker, and the overall decisions to pass on FGs, as well as an uncharacteristic miss, saw the Canes up by 3 instead of 9.
On the next UVA punt, Roscoe Parrish once again got loose, breaking a few tackles, and this time took the return all the way to the house, putting the Canes up 24-14 with 7:38 left. On the next play, Brandon Meriweather picked off a pass and that sealed the game, except it didn’t.
Instead, the Canes lost 4 yards on 3rd and 1 at the UVA 41 and punted. Then UVA scored a TD in 4 plays and 79 yards in less than a minute to cut the lead to 3. All of a sudden, it was game on with 3:22 left.
Frank Gore had been the Canes’ offense on the day carrying 28 times for 195 yards and a TD. But with UVA stacking the box, he netted 5 yards on 2 plays. Brock Berlin, who was having an efficient, conservative game, was called on. His play-action completion to Talib Humphrey not only got the first down, but picked up 34 yards after Humphrey ran through several tackles. The Canes picked up 6 yards on 3 plays, getting down to the UVA 25 with 58 seconds left and the Cavaliers out of timeouts.
Miami had the option of kicking the FG, throwing underneath to ice the game, or…going for broke and throwing it to the end zone.
At first, Coker sent out the FG team, but was waiting to take a timeout with 1 second on the play clock. He did so, but Peattie took and missed the FG anyway. The play didn’t count because of the timeout, but perhaps that convinced Coker to go for it, because he, and his team went for it all.
On a play action pass, Parrish showed up again, making a twisting 25-yard TD reception, which this time finally ended the game, with the Canes winning 31-21.
This was the first time since 1999 that the Canes were out of the National Championship picture, so there is certainly that element. The game had an odd feeling.
Miami’s 2 big time players carried them. Frank Gore, playing with a bad ankle, carried 28 times for 195 yards and a TD, and also had a reception for 4 yards, which means 29 touches and 199 yards…while injured. It’s hilarious to look back on this game and hear the commentators talk about how Gore’s 2 ACL injuries have slowed him down. They were almost nostalgic about what could have been. 16 years later, Gore is still playing and is a lock for the NFL Hall Of Fame. And you know what? He actually COULD have been better. Gore is ridiculous.
And if this series of articles is about anything, it’s about greatness forgotten, and Roscoe Parrish fits that bill. Roscoe is an all-timer at Miami, but he lived in Devin Hester’s shadow as a returner, and was a little too diminutive to be a true NFL superstar, which is often how Miami’s players are measured. Yet this game showed just how great Roscoe was. Parrish had 4 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving, and 121 yards in returns for a total of 175 yards.
This game was also a throwback to when the Canes used to know how to effectively use the FB. Talib Humphrey had 3 critical receptions for 49 yards, including a huge late 4th quarter 3rd down conversion and a TD reception.
But this was also just a great college football game, and a reminder of why we love the sport. Packed house, perfect football weather. Both teams kept trading blows, the momentum swung wildly back and forth, and eventually, the Canes landed the knockout blow.
As color commentator Tim Brandt exclaimed toward the end of the 3rd quarter, “What a football game!”
The Aftermath
Oh, what could have been.
For the Canes, this was their best chance to win the ACC. The Canes jumped up to #9 in the polls, and subsequently crushed Wake Forest setting up a de facto ACC title game at home against Virginia Tech.
But Miami lost that game 16-10, and with it, the ACC. With the ACC switching to divisions and 2004 being a transition year, this was the last time there was not a conference championship game.
At the time, the assumption was Miami would be a regular participant in that game, but it would be 13 years until the Canes made that expected appearance, and in the 15 years since the 2004 VT loss, they’ve been unable to win the conference. A home win against Virginia Tech could have ended that narrative before it started, and if it had, this 2004 Virginia game in particular would be pointed at as the game that propelled them.
The Canes would recover to beat Florida in the Peach Bowl, and finish the year ranked 11th, but in hindsight, the ACC was there for the taking.
For Virginia, the season crated a bit from here. They did recover to win against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, but lost badly to Virginia Tech and then lost in overtime to Fresno State in the MPC Computers Bowl. A footnote to this game is that both of Virginia’s coordinators would go on to be head coaches, and fail miserably.
Ron Prince went to Kansas State, where he was fired after 3 years. He’s currently the head coach at Howard. And Virginia’s Defensive Coordinator is a major contributing factor to both the Canes’ 13-year ACC Title Game drought and overall inability to win the ACC. Suffice it to say that those are 5 years of our program we’re never getting back.
Probably the most ridiculous oddity surrounding this game is that the Canes head coaches from 2001-2015 were all coaching in this game with Larry Coker (Miami HC), Randy Shannon (Miami DC), and Al Golden (Virginia DC) all participating.
This is part of a series on Canes football games that have been lost to history. Information on the series including other articles is available here.
The Year
The year is 1997. President Bill Clinton was in the first year of his second term. The week of October 18th, 1997 saw Elton John’s Candle in The Wind top the Billboard charts for the second week in a row. And Flood Tide by Clive Cussler was #1 on the New York Times fiction best seller list. Gas was $1.23 a gallon. The big news story was Bill Clinton using the line-item veto on a military spending bill. A year later, line-item vetos were declared unconstitutional.
The Combatants
Miami entered the game at 1-4, on a 4-game losing streak. The previous week, the Canes had been destroyed by Florida State, 47-0.
Boston College was also struggling, and entered the game at 2-4.
Combined, both teams had lost 7 in a row. This was only the 2nd year that college football allowed for overtime, and it would be needed.
The Context
The Canes were struggling under the weight of probation and were seriously threatened with finishing the year with a losing record.
Boston College was not in any better shape.
Both coaches, Butch Davis and Tom O’Brien, were huge question marks.
The Game
The Canes came out inspired, motivated to wipe out memories of being dominated by Florida State. Immediately, Edgerrin James housed a 69-yard TD and the Canes were up 7-0.
The Canes weren’t done yet, as Reggie Wayne made a diving TD on a pass from Ryan Clement to make it 14-0. Shockingly, in the 6th game of the season, that was the first TD that a Canes’ WR had caught all year.
James scored again in the 1st quarter, and Miami eventually lead 24-3. A late TD by BC at the end of the 2nd half cut the lead to 24-10.
Both teams were unable to stop the run and each team ended up with well over 300 yards rushing. James set a school and conference record with 271 yards, while Boston College had 2 runners go for big yardage, with Omari Walker going from 185 yards and Mike Cloud adding 157 yards.
James notched his 3rd TD of the game late in the 3rd quarter, and with the Canes up 31-17, the game felt over.
It. Was. Not.
BC responded on the back of Cloud, who ripped off several big runs, including a 37-yard TD to cut the lead to 7.
More troubling for the Canes was that James hurt his shoulder and had to leave the game. Without James, the Canes tried to ice the clock. With 3:37 left in the game, on 3rd and 7 near midfield, the Canes were a conversion away from pretty much putting the game away. Instead, Clement had a miscommunication with Bubba Franks and BC collected an easy interception, which was returned to the Miami 33. Walker punched the ball in to tie the game and send it to overtime, which was the first time that either program had played in overtime.
BC won the toss in OT and the Canes had the first position, they scored easily with Trent Jones getting into the end zone. The Eagles answered with their own TD, again with little resistance.
In the 2nd OT, on the first play, Walker went 25 yards to put the Eagles up 44-38. This is when Tom O’Brien made the curious decision to go for 2. The Canes defense stiffened and forced an incompletion.
Miami didn’t make it easy. Needing a TD to tie (and XP to win), the Canes immediately moved inside the 15 yard line. But that’s when things seemed to derail. Clement took an awful sack, losing yardage back to the 22-yard line. But Clement would make up for it. On 3rd and 17, he threw this strike to Darryl Jones who made a diving catch in the end zone. Andy Crosland nailed the XP after an interminable wait involving multiple timeouts, and the Canes won 45-44.
This was the first OT in school history. It was also a huge learning experience for a young Canes’ team that would eventually bring the program to the top of college football.
It’s also really interesting to see so many of the young, great Canes’ players before they were great. Santana Moss wore #48 in this game, and was behind Darryl Jones on the depth chart. You could see the talent in Bubba Franks and Dan Morgan. The team was young, but flashed ability.
And then there was Edgerrin James. 32 carries 276 yards, 3 TDs. James would break that yardage record a year later against UCLA, but what a performance.
For a program reeling on a losing streak, and for a young team that had been kicked multiple times, this win was crucial.
There is also a huge BC angle, and the newness of OT in college football might have played a role in this game. It is quite possible that BC Head Coach Tom O’Brien was unaware that he could kick an extra point in the 2nd OT. After the game, he said the official, while neglecting to name which one, told him that BC had to go for 2, but that he knew that wasn’t the rule, but went for 2 anyway. It was a confusing explanation that didn’t really make sense. That decision helped the Hurricanes to a character-building victory.
The Aftermath
Both teams would miss a bowl game, but Miami actually played decently down the stretch of the season. After starting 1-4, they finished the year 4-2, with this game being a turning point. While this Canes team finished 5-6, they were clearly better than some of the recent 6-6 Canes teams, but in the early 90s, you had one less “free” win (“free” is in quotes because let he does not lose to FIU cast the first stone).
For Boston College, they would finish the year 4-7, but they were also starting to build something.
Probably one of the more interesting things is to look how things worked out for the respective coaching staffs.
Butch Davis went on to rebuild Miami into a National Power, leaving a year short of a National Championship to go to the NFL. Larry Coker, Davis’ Offensive Coordinator, would take over for Davis and win a National Championship.
Meanwhile, Tom O’Brien built Boston College into a consistent winner. By 1999, BC started to consistently make bowl games. And win those games. Between 2000-2005, Boston College would win 6 consecutive bowl games. O’Brien would leave BC for NC State after the regular season with 7 consecutive winning seasons and only one of those seasons with less than 8 wins. His offensive coordinator in this game, Jeff Jagodzinski, would return to BC to take over for O’Brien after spending several years in the NFL. He was unceremoniously fired in retribution for interviewing for an NFL head coaching job.
So, despite both teams struggling in 1997, and this game being a matchup between 2 teams that failed to make bowl games, both programs were on the ascendancy and would player bigger, more meaningful games in years to come.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/MiamiBC1997.png404679Vishnu Parasuramanhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgVishnu Parasuraman2020-03-25 14:45:542020-03-25 14:45:54Recollected Dozen, Game 11: 1997 Miami @ Boston College
With the first wave of free agency essentially over, we are left to examine the one unit that everybody that watched the Miami Dolphins last year thought needed the most attention.
Most Dolphins fans expected a move that could land an Andrus Peat, Graham Glasgow, and/or a big ticket item such as Joe Thuney or Jack Conklin. Of them all, there is only some circumstantial evidence that they approached Glasgow (he was locked into Denver early) and that interest in Thuney was strong till the Patriots tagged him.
So we were left with the signings of Ereck Flowers to play left guard, and Ted Karras to play center. A modest improvement, but these are moves that are based on hope /projection rather than accolades and reputation. Ereck Flowers, as has been said in print on these pages, and on the Three Yards Per Carry Podcast, is a guy that has essentially played a very good 8 games in his 5 year career. Karras is a guy who found himself at center for 15 games for the 2019 New England Patriots, and has remarkable “counting stats” (2 penalties, and 1 sack allowed in 15 starts for the Patriots). Both can be good, if all goes well, but we know it hardly ever works out that way.
Ereck Flowers in 2019
Weeks 1-8: 5 penalties committed, 1 game with a pass blocking grade over 70.0
Weeks 9-17: 1 penalty committed, 1 game with a pass blocking grade BELOW 70.0#Dolphins pick up a player trending up heading into 2020 https://t.co/UplbmJl0T0
So what do they have in house as of now, and what do they need? Let’s start with the two signees. If these two are not hopeless busts they are at the very least, upgrades over what they had there before, so lets pencil in Flowers at LG and Karras at Center. That leaves Jesse Davis as the possible RG, or even the returning starter at Right Tackle. Michael Dieter is now displaced from his LG spot, and is now interior line depth and the likely backup at center, where he can receive further development. Shaq Calhoun, Julian Davenport, and Danny Isidora can only be considered camp bodies and bottom of the roster guys, so let’s go shopping shall we?
TRADE FOR ONE
Trade for Trent Williams. He’s available. You have the assets. So what’s the holdup? Well, it is as easy as snapping your fingers, since his agent is requesting that Washington release him, so if you pony up an asset, the Redskins will likely part with him. The Dolphins had inquired this past season, and no deal could be had due to what was reported to be a pretty fat ask of what was at the very least a 2nd round pick. The other hold up I can foresee is that he wants to get paid. $20 million a year on a 3 year deal is not out of the question. You can make the case that (if healthy), Trent Williams is easily a top 3 Tackle in the NFL, and you can make a pretty good case that he might be the very best at left tackle. Trent is also versatile, and capable of making a switch to Right Tackle, just in case Miami drafts a left handed Quarterback in the first round. At #5 or higher. From Alabama. Via ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Trent makes too much sense.
DRAFT ONE, OR TWO, OR THREE.
This is the harder part of the equation. There are 4 strong tackle prospects in this draft that all figure to go before the Dolphins use their 2nd pick of the first round at #18. They are, in no particular order: Andrew Thomas (Georgia, LT), Mekhi Becton (Louisville, LT), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa, RT), Jedrick Wills (Alabama, RT). You gotta think that the decision is made rather easy at #18 if any of these four drop to you. But let’s operate on the assumption that all four get taken before #18 (likely), and the Dolphins don’t have the appetite to package picks to move up (also likely). I have two “VONTAE MACK, NO MATTER WHAT” guys. One for the first round, and one for the second round, and possibly for that #26 pick.
JOSH JONES, HOUSTON LT, 6′-5″ 319 lbs.
Josh Jones is a dancer, and an athlete playing tackle in the mold of former Miami standout Laremy Tunsil. The advanced metrics love him as evidenced by the video above, and his senior bowl week was top notch. Jones has consistently improved almost game for game leading up to his last at Houston, despite having 4 Offensive Line coaches in 4 years. He is quick out of his stance, and moves effortlessly to the second level in the run game. A tell tale sign for these guys on tape in the run game is if they can find guys to hit, or do they tend to wander aimlessly when they are asked to make those reach blocks. Jones always seems to find his man. Jones is asking for coaching, as his technique is not as polished as you would like for a day 1 starter, but if his current “arrow up” trajectory means anything, he will take to NFL coaching and be a starter in year 1 in the NFL. I take him at #18 without hesitation (if the “big 4” are gone).
LUCAS NIANG, TCU RT, 6′-6″ 315 lbs.
Ok, this is probably a reach at #26, but in the 2nd round, you can find yourself regretting it down the road if you pass on him at #39 or #56. Now, he is coming off a Hip Injury/Surgery as he only played in 7 games in 2019. I can hear you grumbling. He is expected to make a complete recovery and be ready for workouts as soon as this summer. Niang is a very aware people mover, that plays with a great deal of intelligence and technique. He drops to anchor and stonewall the bull rush consistently on tape. He is also the type to find people to hit and he finishes blocks in space which is impressive for such a big man. He has had success against the bigger names he has faced throughout his career. What pops immediately as you watch Niang is how aware he is, and his professional demeanor. The best way I can put it is this: “Lucas Niang, plays like an adult.” Easy take for me with either pick in the 2nd round, strong debate at #26 if there is a run on tackles.
Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that hosts the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svg00Alfredo Arteagahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlfredo Arteaga2020-03-25 09:17:332020-03-25 11:14:36THE EXTRA YARD: Under Construction, The Dolphins Offensive Line
Hope still exists that the 2019-20 NBA season resumes and the Miami Heat can make a playoff run. Heat Nation is looking forward to finding out who this team is, as is the organization. Unfortunately, that day may not come any time soon, if at all.
If the season does not resume, the reality is the Heat may currently be equipped with all the data they are going to get heading into the off-season.
So while playoff runs and real basketball are still the hope, this down time inevitably provides valuable moments to evaluate options related to the NBA draft and free agency.
When games are not being played and practices are at a halt, it gives top level executives and coaches a unique opportunity to work cross functionally with the scouting department more than usual.
2020 NBA Draft Notes
Should the Heat elect to keep its 2020 1st Round Pick, which is probably 50/50 if I had to put odds on it at this way too early of a moment, here are some names I think Heat fans should be keeping close tabs on for now:.
Kentucky Wildcat Guards Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans are both on the Heat’s radar if either were to be available when Miami selects (in the first round or elsewhere) according to a league source. Riley loves his Kentucky players.
The POA defensive chops of Duke’s Tre Jones appeal as a back-court player to supplement the already potent offensive young core in Miami.
The Heat are especially enamored with the potential of Florida State’s wing Devin Vassell according to a league source. However, Vassell is currently projected to likely go before Miami picks in the first round.
Duke freshman center Vernon Carey Jr. and Minnesota big man Daniel Oturu are among the frontcourt players the Heat have registered interest in as prospects according to a source.
The Heat may shift more focus to the front-court in this draft it they plan to move on from Kelly Olynyk and unrestricted free agent Meyers Leonard. In that case the list of viable big man prospects will expand in the next few weeks/months.
This all operates under the assumption that the Heat even keeps this 2020 first round pick.
Summer Strategy
League circles suggest the Heat may attempt to package the 2020 1st round pick with a useful player/expiring contract such as Kelly Olynyk to consolidate for multiple purposes.
Those purposes include:
Trading up or down in this draft to acquire a player they like (Vassell or Oturo are speculative examples of players they could target in pre-arranged trades to be executed after new league year)
Shed the $13.6 million left on the contract of Olynyk along with the salary associated with the 2020 1st Round Pick. In efforts to clear over $40M in cap space for this summer.
This could help the Heat get extra creative and retain all the current core FAs it desires – on 1-year contracts – and remain out of the luxury tax. (Core FA for 1 year deals = Goran Dragic, Jae Crowder & Leonard)
Derrick Jones Jr. projects as the only potential multi-year contract player considered viable. But only if the per year salary number is in line with 2021 spending. Dragic, Leonard and Crowder are all candidates to receive 1 year maybe-just-maybe-slightly-above-market-value offers. All in efforts to not sacrifice flexibility for Summer 2021 and remain out of the luxury tax next season.
Create additional flexibility to pounce if Joel Embiid, Victor Oladipo, CJ McCollum or Bradley Beal become available via trade. Those are the names to watch closest from the star trade market by my view. A lopsided salary swap, where the Heat absorbed additional salary along with any of those noted All Stars is one path the Heat will explore. Some folks around the league think these targets appear far more realistic than Giannis Antetokounmpo for Miami. Not sure I’m buying that personally.
After almost trading Dragic last summer, only to have him come back to Miami and embrace his bench role in 6th man of the year fashion, the Heat are looking to find a way to make it work with its former All Star. The Dragon & Jimmy Buckets bromance has only reinforced the sentiment to find a way to retain Gogi. However, don’t rule out the possibility of Dragic being open minded to working with the organization from a salary perspective if it were to allow for a significant upgrade to the roster. Goran wants to win.
