This summer was one
from hell for the University of Miami Hurricanes to say the least. Nevin
Shapiro, a former booster for the team, was caught giving money and benefits to
at least 72 former and current Miami football players from 2002-2010. Shapiro
is serving a 20 year prison sentence for operating a Ponzi scheme and that only
helped make the allegations seem more credible. The school was more focused on
fielding a team rather than making sure it was ready for competition because
there was a chance that the ‘Canes would receive the “death penalty”, similar
to SMU. In the end, they were allowed to continue this season and play for a
bowl game.
Many people thought
that The U would let the off season scandal influence their on-field
performance. And after a 32-24 loss to Maryland in the first game of the season
it looked as though those doubters may be right. The Canes then had Buckeyes of
Ohio State lurking in week two at #17 in the polls. But the Hurricanes were out
to prove that they were not some slack team distracted by off the field
scandals. They came out and dominated the Buckeyes, defeating them 24-6 and
winning the time of possession battle by almost 10 minutes.
QB Jacory Harris has
proven that he is good enough to lead the team, keeping a 65% completion
percentage and tossing 18 touchdowns and only four interceptions all season.
Harris and the team did not have the best of seasons losing to a then
underrated Kansas State, Virginia Tech, and Virginia. But the team did get
statement wins over Duke, UNC, and then #22 Georgia Tech.
The team comes into
the home stretch with five wins and three games left to play, all against
unranked opponents. Needing only one win for bowl eligibility, the Canes are
now in control of their own destiny. Can they make something of a season that
many considered lost? Or will they stumble across the finish line? For The U,
this is “go time” and senior QB Harris and the crew look as though they are
ready to go bowling against all odds.
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