Canes Ready to Write Next Chapter in FSU Rivalry
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It just feels different this week.
The excitement is just a little bit more evident. The preparation is more diligent. The nostalgic memories are adding to the anticipation that has grown exponentially with every passing day at the University of Miami because the Hurricanes are set to face the rival Florida State Seminoles this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and everyone who roots for the Canes or Noles is eager to see what the latest installment of this historic rivalry will bring.
“It’s Florida State week, which creates a little bit of a different atmosphere in the building, a little different sense of urgency,” head coach Manny Diaz said. “It’s one of those games that you come to Miami to play in, to coach in. It’s a legacy game. It’s a game that you’ll remember. You’ll always be asked what your record is against Florida State while you’re here at Miami.”
The rivalry is the longest running consecutive series for the Hurricanes, with Saturday’s matchup representing 51 consecutive seasons where the two programs have met at least once, dating to 1969. The Canes carry a 33-30 all-time series lead against the Seminoles heading into Saturday’s game, but trail by a 20-17 mark in games in Tallahassee.
“It’s a rivalry and it’s one of the best that I’ve ever seen and been able to be a part of,” linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. “Going up there is crazy. It’s packed … It’s the type of environment that college football really excels in. I love being able to be part of it these last three years.”
Miami has won back-to-back rivalry matchups against the Seminoles. In last year’s matchup at Hard Rock Stadium, the Hurricanes overcame a 20-point second-half deficit to capture a 28-27 win over the Noles. In its last trip to Doak Campbell Stadium in 2017, a last-minute touchdown pass from quarterback Malik Rosier to wide receiver Darrell Langham snapped Miami’s seven-game losing streak to Florida State in a thrilling 24-20 victory.
“It was a play-by-play game and that’s what it always comes down to,” Quartrerman said. “It’s never by a lump sum of points. It’s always a possession or by a couple of points. Knowing that’s how every rivalry game comes down, you have to play every play. You can’t take a play off because a play could determine a win or a loss like the Langham play.”
In a rivalry that has featured its share of streaks, the Hurricanes will look to start a new winning streak with a victory on Saturday. Miami has not won three straight against Florida State since a stretch of winning six straight games over their rivals from 2000-2004.
“You’ve just got to control your emotions,” wide receiver Mike Harley said. “It’s a rivalry game. It’s the reason why you came to Miami. If you practice and focus on your preparation, watch film and lock in, it’s just another game. Do your job and get the W at the end of the game.”
Florida State is under the direction of second-year head coach Willie Taggart, who has led the Seminoles to a 9-11 record in his first 20 games as coach. Both Miami and Florida State enter Saturday’s contest with a record of 4-4. Diaz, who is in his first year as Miami’s head coach, is making sure his Hurricanes are ready for a hard-fought battle against a talented Seminoles team.
“They had probably their best performance this past Saturday,” Diaz said of Florida State’s 35-17 win over Syracuse at Doak Campbell Stadium. “They’ve been hard to beat at home since the opener…four straight wins at home. They’re in Year 2, we’re in Year 1. I think we’re both kind of waiting for that kick-start to get things going. But I know this, I know they’ve got outstanding personnel. I know they have game-winning type players that can beat you alone. They’ll have our full attention, and we don’t really pay attention to what their record is and it certainly shouldn’t affect us and our record.”
Running back Cam Akers (917 yards, 12 touchdowns) and wide receiver Tamorrion Terry (606 yards, six touchdowns) lead the Florida State offense, while quarterback James Blackman has thrown for 1,340 yards with 11 touchdowns.
“Cam Akers is, without a doubt, the best back we’ve seen and probably will see all year,” Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “He is a phenomenal back, as good as I’ve seen on tape. He does a great job with his pad level. I think he is about 215, 220 pounds. Explodes through the hole and he’s able to bounce runs. He is a complete, every down back.”
Akers is averaging 114.6 rushing yards per game and has scored an ACC-leading 12 rushing touchdowns. A supremely gifted athlete, Akers is a challenge for any opposing defense to stop and the Canes know they will be in for a tough assignment on Saturday as they will try to keep him in check.
“It’s no secret he is their best player,” Diaz said. “He’d be almost everybody’s best player in the entire country. They’re going to line him up at quarterback, they’re going to hand it to him, they can throw it to him. They can give him the ball in so many different ways. And you’re not going to hold him to like seven yards. It’s about not giving up the explosive plays, not allowing him to score touchdowns, those type of things I think will be the big challenge.”
FSU’s defense is led by defensive back Hamsah Nasrildeen (58 tackles) and defensive lineman Marvin Wilson (41 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, five sacks). Wilson and his fellow defensive linemen will look to disrupt Miami quarterback Jarren Williams as he leads the Hurricanes’ offense for the first time against the Noles. But Williams and the Canes are eager for the chance to try and earn a third consecutive win over the rival Seminoles.
“Florida State is a very talented team,” Williams said. “They have very talented guys up front. They’ve got good size. It’s going to be a physical battle. It’s going to be a game that we are going to go from the first to the fourth quarter and it’s going to be a battle. I feel like everybody knows that we’re going to have to fight because we’re going against a very talented team.”
Williams is one of several Hurricanes who will get their first taste of the UM-FSU rivalry this Saturday. While he was in attendance for Miami’s win a year ago, Williams is excited for his first chance to face the Noles.
“I think it will really hit once I step foot on the field,” Williams said. “I think about it all the time. It’s constantly on my mind. … This is a business trip. I’m fired up and can’t wait to get out there on that field.”
The Hurricanes coaching staff has been preparing the newcomers for the raucous atmosphere inside Doak Campbell Stadium by blaring the Seminole War Chant throughout practice all week. Redshirt senior receiver K.J. Osborn has gotten hyped up by the song, while freshman offensive lineman Jakai Clark has learned to tune it out.
“I think it’s going to be loud and a hype game,” Clark said. “Both teams are going to be hyped up and ready to go. It’s going to come down to who wants it more.”
Osborn, who hails from Ypsilanti, Mich., knows all about big college football rivalries. The graduate transfer wideout is looking forward to taking part in one of the greatest rivalries in college football.
“It’s a big time rivalry game,” Osborn said. “I’m from up north, so I am used to Michigan-Michigan State and Michigan-Ohio State. This is a little bit different. I am happy to be a part of it and I’m really excited.”
Defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau thinks his first game against the Seminoles will be extra special because it is at Doak.
“This game is really cool because it’s a rivalry game, but road games, I like them in general because I get to see a new place I’ve never been before and it’s a different atmosphere,” Rousseau said. “It’s like everybody is against us. I feel like it brings our team even that much closer. We’ll be in the locker room and we just embrace each other, we link up, everybody is ready to go and we fight even harder.”
The Canes, who earned their first road win of the season a week ago at Pitt, will look to make it two in a row away from home this week. But they know it will not come easy. Wins in the UM-FSU rivalry rarely do.
“We’re going again, on the road in a Miami – Florida State game,” Diaz said. “What do we know about that game? The last three years, it has been decided by three points. You factor that in, you factor a little bit about who we are, you factor sort of the craziness of 2019, the expectation of this coming to anything other than who has the ball last, or who makes a play, who makes a stop…I think you’d be foolish to expect anything less. Our guys understand, again, that the victory lies in the details. I think we’re learning that. I think our leadership is beginning to emerge on this team and step up. I love the way that we played connected last Saturday on the road. Sometimes we talk about there are some good things that can happen when you go on the road and you get in a hotel, a little bit away from your comfort zone. We’ll do the same thing up in Tallahassee this weekend.”
