Hurricanes looking to thrive as favorites
CORAL GABLES — Ahead of last week’s game at Notre Dame, Miami Hurricanes coach Mark Richt felt he needed to make a point to his team.
So Richt put together a video featuring some of the nation’s well-known college football experts sharing their thoughts — and predictions — for Saturday's game between the Hurricanes and the Irish. Few had anything good to say about then Miami’s chances.
The motivational spark worked out just as Richt had hoped. The Hurricanes went out and put together a dominant performance against Notre Dame, the defense forcing four turnovers for the fourth consecutive week, the offense moving the ball nearly at will in the Hurricanes’ eventual 41-8 win.
Miami’s performance last week helped the Hurricanes jump four spots to No. 3 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Miami rose to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 for the first time in more than a decade. And some of those critics who spent weeks tweaking the Hurricanes — including ESPN’s Paul Finebaum — have had nothing but praise for Miami since.
So what will the Hurricanes use as motivation as they prepare for their home finale against Virginia today at Hard Rock Stadium? One big factor, of course, is working to secure a playoff spot, something the Hurricanes will likely accomplish if they win the rest of their games.
But Richt has issued a new challenge of sorts. He wants to see how well his team can handle success, how it can rise to the challenge of going from hunter to hunted, from disrespected to favorite. Can they handle prosperity, he’s asked.
His players — including the seniors who will be honored ahead of today’s game and have endured ups and downs during their time at Miami — say they’re ready to show they can.
“Nothing has changed from last week to this week if you go in the locker room or go in the meeting rooms. The preparation is the same. Everybody’s attitude is the same. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing an undefeated team or a team that doesn’t have any wins. Everything is going to be the same with this team,” said receiver Braxton Berrios, who leads the Hurricanes with 38 catches for 484 yards and eight touchdowns. “I’ve seen us be consistent throughout this year, no matter who our opponent was, no matter if it was home or away, this or that, Senior Night or not. Our preparation has been the same and we try not to listen to whatever it is. If it’s brought to our attention, you hear it and maybe you use it for motivation here or there, but we try not to listen to whatever it is that’s being said out there. I think this team will be able to handle [success].”
The Hurricanes (9-0, 6-0) will get their first chance to prove Berrios right today as they host a struggling Virginia team that has lost three of its last four.
What looked at the beginning of season like a game that could help decide the Coastal Division is now less important. Miami won the Coastal outright last week, although Virginia (6-4, 3-3) is still trying to improve its bowl stock and could potentially play the role of spoiler.
“It's an awesome opportunity for our program to play another ACC opponent that's having success. And I felt like we performed beneath our potential this past week,” Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall said of a 38-21 loss to Louisville last week. “That's the next step for this program: to learn to play as close to your potential as you can week in, week out and just stay up there.”
For the Hurricanes, one key will be handling a trio of solid defensive players that have been major contributors for the Cavaliers all season.
Linebacker Micah Kiser has an ACC-high 106 tackles this season, and safety Quin Blanding isn’t far behind with 97 stops.