AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 05
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Out of the FSU-Miami wreckage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Leftovers from Monday night’s Florida State-Miami game:
1) This is the last time these two teams will open the season against each other for a while and that’s a good thing. Early in the season the defense is always ahead of the offense but last night’s 13-10 win by Florida State was ridiculous. The two teams combined for exactly three total yards of rushing. The classic games in this series were always played in October after the offenses had had time to jell.
2) Having said that, you may have seen the best two defenses in the country Monday night in Little Havana. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said it was the best Miami defense he has seen in 30 years. I think he might be right.
3) Having said that, the offensive woes of both teams were not just because the defenses were so good. There is an obvious lack of playmakers on both teams, particularly at the wide receiver position. I didn’t see a Peter Warrick or a Michael Irvin out there turning short passes into big plays. And both offensive lines are very, very average.
4) The ACC hasn’t announced it yet, but look for Florida State to open the 2007 season on Labor Day night, but instead of Miami it will be against Boston College.
5) Think Larry Coker is feeling the heat? His team loses a three-point game to the No. 11 team in the nation and his second sentence in the post-game news conference was: “I hope our fans don’t give up on this team.”
Huh?
I think what he meant was: “I hope the fans don’t give up on me.” The guy is 53-10 in five years and some ‘Canes fans are going bonkers. The Hurricanes’ trip to Louisville on Sept. 16 is now huge. Lose that one and things could start to unravel very quickly down in Coral Gables.
6) If I’m Georgia Tech, I now believe that the ACC Coastal Division is wide open. Miami looks like a beatable team if you can get 14 points on the board. Tech gets the Hurricanes at home. Virginia Tech has a new quarterback. The Sept. 30 trip to Blacksburg now looms larger than ever for Georgia Tech.
7) Finally, and this is strictly an opinion, but the ACC and the University of Miami just can’t keep playing meaningful college football games in that dilapidated structure known as the Orange Bowl. The ACC expanded to add Miami in order to raise its football profile. But every big national game that is played in that ancient facility is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done if the ACC wants to be considered on the same level with the SEC in the sport of football. It’s not just about the game on the field. It’s the total presentation and fan experience. And the presentation at the Orange Bowl leaves a lot to be desired.
The University of Miami does the best it can with what it has at the Orange Bowl, but the bottom line is that it is a bad venue and simply not befitting the ACC and what is supposed to be its marquee football rivalry. It’s time for Miami to move its home games to ProPlayer Stadium (a.k.a. Joe Robbie) in Fort Lauderdale.
