After seven frustrating and fruitless seasons chasing an ACC Coastal Division title, the Miami Hurricanes finally hit paydirt on Saturday.
Paced by freshman running back Duke Johnson, the Hurricanes (7-5, 5-3 ACC) out-pointed Duke 52-45 at Wallace Wade Stadium to claim the division crown for the first time since the ACC went to divisional play in 2005.
But in some respects, the 2012 season may go down as the most disappointing campaign since UM left the Big East to join ACC. Instead of preparing to meet Florida State in the conference championship game, Miami’s season ended prematurely on Saturday.
The decision Monday by UM’s administration to self-impose a second consecutive bowl ban in the wake of a booster scandal and the ongoing NCAA investigation will have the Hurricanes watching next Saturday’s ACC title game and not playing in it. Georgia Tech, which finished in a tie for first place with UM in the Coastal Division, will face FSU even though the Yellow Jackets would have lost a tiebreaker if the Hurricanes hadn’t opted out of the postseason. UM beat Georgia Tech 42-36 on Sept. 22 in Atlanta.
“This was tough,” coach Al Golden said. “Don’t diminish for a second how hard it is to get guys motivated and focused after getting [a chance at an ACC title] ripped out of them. … Emotionally, we didn’t have much left in the tank.”
Luckily for UM, the needle read “full” as far as offense went.
Johnson capped a sensational first season by rushing for 176 yards against the Blue Devils (6-6, 3-5), finishing the year with 957 yards and shattering the UM freshman rushing record set by Clinton Portis in 1999. Johnson scored on touchdown runs of 18, 6 and 65 yards and may have done enough to secure the ACC’s Rookie of the Year award, an honor that has never gone to a UM player.
“That’s awesome,” UM offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said of Johnson breaking Portis’ record. “(Johnson) is a phenomenal player. We all know that.”
Stephen Morris isn’t too shabby, either. The junior quarterback continued his recent stellar play, completing 15 of 25 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns while directing the Hurricanes to 646 yards of total offense, the fourth-highest total in UM history.
“Yeah, it was a fine day,” said Morris, who threw for 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions in his last four games. “We’re on the field to score and we did a great job of that.”
UM needed every point its offense put up thanks to another horrendous defensive performance in a season full of them.
The Blue Devils trailed from start to finish but were never out of the game because of the pinpoint accuracy of quarterback Sean Renfree, who tortured UM with a short passing game that accounted for 432 yards and four touchdowns. Included in Renfree’s output was a 99-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder early in the fourth quarter.
Duke registered 583 yards of total offense, the fifth most ever accumulated against Miami, while the Blue Devils’ 45 points tied a record for most points scored by a UM opponent in a loss. The Hurricanes’ defense this season has allowed program records in points, rushing yards, passing yards and several other statistical categories.
.
Last year, UM was in a similar position after the school’s administration chose to self-impose a bowl ban before the regular-season finale. The Hurricanes responded with their worst outing of the year, a 24-17 loss at home to a 3-8 Boston College team.
“Last year, we weren’t ready to play,” Morris said.
With its season complete, UM now begins preparing for 2013. Of the 22 players who started Saturday, 20 are expected back next season. The only wildcard is the NCAA investigation into an improper benefits scandal involving rogue booster Nevin Shapiro. Miami is expected to receive its notice of allegations from the NCAA soon with a final judgement on sanctions coming some time next year.
“I think the worst is over,” Morris said. “We’re moving forward. Hopefully the NCAA will be on our side.”
About the Author
