’Canes ready to crush Rockets’ upset plan
CORAL GABLES – Against LSU two weeks ago, a slow start proved too much to overcome. Against Savannah State, there were boos from an antsy crowd eager to see their Miami Hurricanes romp in their home opener.
And even last year, against the same Toledo team they will face this afternoon, a sluggish start — even if it was partially caused by a 21-day Hurricane Irma induced layoff — had the Hurricanes sweating things out early. Eventually, though, they rallied for their second victory of the year.
Needing more than a few possessions to get things together offensively has been a challenge for No. 21 Miami, and now, as the Hurricanes travel to Toledo for their first real road test of the season, they know finding a way to strike first will be key — for several reasons.
One of the biggest? Scoring early — and often — will be crucial in silencing what is expected to be a frenzied, capacity crowd at Glass Bowl Stadium, eager to see if their high-flying Rockets (1-0) can upend the Hurricanes.
“It’ll be wild,” Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said of the environment he expects Miami will have to contend with at Toledo, which has not hosted a Top 25 team since then-No. 22 Missouri visited in 2014. “We’ll get everything they’ve got. I’m sure they’ll have every single seat sold, and they’ll be standing room only. Their fans are going to be ready for a great battle. They’ve been excited about this for a while.”
Because of the financial quirks that often come into play when college football schedules are put together, the Hurricanes (1-1) are no strangers to the concept of playing road games at smaller programs.
In 2016, they traveled to Appalachian State and had to silence a sellout crowd that crammed into every corner of Kidd Brewer Stadium. And last September, were it not for Hurricane Irma, the Hurricanes would have traveled to Arkansas State for what was being billed for weeks as the biggest home game in Red Wolves history.
A win today would mark Toledo’s 10th victory over a Top 25 team. It would also give the Rockets their first victory over the Hurricanes.
It’s not, though, something Miami wants. Quite the opposite, actually.
“We’re built to crush dreams,” running back DeeJay Dallas said. “That’s what we do.”
This week, Richt has tried to downplay the fact that Miami is a 10-point favorite heading into Toledo and has stressed that no matter what outsiders may think, this isn’t an easy, guaranteed victory for the Hurricanes.
He’s pointed to the fact the Rockets are coming off a bye and have had the opportunity to put together some new wrinkles ahead of the Hurricanes’ visit. He’s had high praise for fourth-year coach Jason Candle, who has led Toledo to a 22-7 record since 2015. He’s highlighted the Rockets’ offensive prowess and their knack for big plays, including the ones they had in a season-opening 66-3 win over VMI that marked the sixth time under Castle the Rockets have scored at least 50 points.
They are messages he hopes haven’t been heeded merely by fans outside the Miami locker room, but by the Hurricanes themselves.
Early on, it seems his players have listened.
“I think they’re a good offense They move the ball quite well. They have a type of cadence we’re not used to,” Hurricanes defensive tackle Gerald Willis said.
He continued, “We really don’t have much film on those guys except for last year since they had an off week. I guess we have to come out and punch them in the mouth really.”
Added quarterback Malik Rosier, who is looking to improve his numbers after completing just 49 percent of his passes in Miami’s first two games of the season, “They’re not going to be a team you can just go in and roll over.”