'Canes Say It's Time To Let Emotion Show
Oct. 24, 2010
By Tim Reynolds
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Back in the locker room after the biggest win of Miami’s season, quarterback Jacory Harris presented coach Randy Shannon with a game ball from his players.
It almost served as an apology.
Knowing Shannon and his staff have been under fire, the Hurricanes called a players-only meeting and vowed to make changes. Emotions came out in that Tuesday get-together, and kept coming out Saturday when Miami scored the game’s final 30 points to beat North Carolina 33-10.
“We’re brothers and we’re all we’ve got in this situation,” said cornerback Brandon Harris, one of those who called the often-heated meeting. “A lot of things go on when games are not won or when things may not work out as planned. A lot of people turn their back on you at that point, and we understood that.”
And a lot more people surely would have alienated the No. 22 Hurricanes if they hadn’t finally figured out a way to beat North Carolina. A loss would have doomed Miami’s chances in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but the win ensured the Hurricanes (5-2, 3-1) control of their destiny in the Coastal Division. Keep winning, and they’re headed to the ACC title game.
“The whole team got together and showed that we are still the University of Miami,” tight end Asante Cleveland said.
At times, the Miami of old, too.
Shannon played for the Hurricanes when their on-field antics played a big part in changing the rules of college football, and he’s been leery of seeing his players act in that fashion.
He saw plenty of it Saturday.
“They were high-fiving and chest-bumping and that’s part of the game,” Shannon said. “They called us on one because Brandon was going off the field and Sean Spence was dragging him off, and officials saw it as a taunting thing.”
Miami got penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during one celebration, sometimes had players angrily screaming and finger-pointing at each other on the sideline, and saw most of its defense dancing on the field during one time-out.
All good signs, according to the Hurricanes.
“We try to show that we do have class, but we do have it in us,” running back Damien Berry said.
Shannon said the flag on Harris and Spence — a play where Brandon Harris made an interception and Spence pretended to be a jockey whipping him toward the sideline — came because officials thought their celebration was rehearsed.
“It wasn’t rehearsed,” Brandon Harris said. “But it was discussed before the game.”
There was more for Miami to celebrate than the on-field antics.
For the second straight week, the Hurricanes had just about perfect balance offensively. After running for 224 yards and throwing for exactly the same last week against Duke, Miami rushed for 225 yards against the Tar Heels and threw for 217 more.
The Hurricanes held the ball for a season-high 34 minutes, went 3 for 3 on fourth-down conversions and are 3-1 in the ACC for the first time since 2005.
Plus, Miami had five sacks — its most in a league game since November 2008 — with Allen Bailey collecting 3½ himself.
“It was huge, taking the next step in the ACC,” said Shannon, whose team goes to Virginia next weekend. “It really was a big victory for myself and this university. We were 0-3 playing against North Carolina and having an opportunity the way we did was unbelievable.”
If nothing else, the Hurricanes hope Saturday’s win slows the negativity for the next week.
Players knew fans have been restless, remembered the booing that serenaded them off the field following the home loss to Florida State and were aware that some have been calling for coaching changes.
Typically when things like that happen, the Hurricanes try to say it doesn’t affect them. Turns out, it did — and they weren’t afraid to let that show against Carolina.
“It was hurtful to a lot of the guys,” Brandon Harris said. “But they understand how this business works. It’s a win-first business. When you win, you’re on top. When you lose, obviously you get pushed to the side. And we heard it more for our coaches than ourselves.”
