Hunting a streak
After breaking one habit against FSU last year, UM looks to end another
CORAL GABLES — The celebration lasted long after the game ended.
Last October, in a corner of Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, after Darrell Langham’s improbable touchdown catch gave the Hurricanes a stunning 24-20 win over the rival Seminoles, Miami’s players and coaches reveled.
An orange and green flag was waved over Florida State’s garnet and gold end zone. Some Hurricanes climbed up the stadium’s brick wall to take pictures with the Miami fans that had traveled north. And as coach Mark Richt walked off the field to a raucous locker room, his arms were raised high, his hands joined in the Hurricanes’ famed “U” gesture.
Wins in rivalry games are almost always memorable. But winning after having lost seven straight in that rivalry game? That’s something else.
Still, as much as that moment meant to Miami’s coaches and players, it didn’t come on their home field. Most of their fans watched the game and its ensuing celebration from hundreds of miles away.
This time around, those fans have the potential to be part of what the 17th-ranked Hurricanes hope is another special moment when the Seminoles come to Hard Rock Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for the next matchup in one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
As competitive as Miami-Florida State has been during its 67-year history, the Hurricanes find themselves in an unenviable spot.
Miami (4-1, 1-0 ACC) hasn’t beaten Florida State in Miami since 2004. And even in that game, the Hurricanes needed overtime and an 18-yard touchdown run from Frank Gore to escape with a 16-10 win.
The Hurricanes, 131⁄2-point favorites, are eager to end the six-game home losing streak to FSU (3-2, 1-2).
“That’s not very good. It’s about as bad as the seven losses in a row that we were dealing with going into last year’s game,” Richt said. “That’s a meaningful
FSU at No. 17 Miami
When: Where: TV: Weather: Online: Quick slant: About FSU (3-2, 1-2 ACC): About Miami (4-1, 1-0): Three things to watch bit of history that we need to change the course of.”
Added linebacker Zach McCloud, “We know we haven’t won at home against FSU since 2004. We can’t keep repeating those kinds of mistakes. Miami, we’re getting back to where we should be and it has to show when we play FSU especially.”
While for Miami, a win Saturday will mean ending that maddening home losing streak, for Florida State, a victory could be a springboard of sorts.
The Willie Taggart era hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts. Florida State lost two of its first three and struggled against FCS Samford before eventually managing a 36-26 win.
The Seminoles, though, have won two straight, including last week’s 28-24 come-from-behind win over Louisville.
FSU’s offense — which ranks near the bottom of the ACC in several categories — will have to contend with a Hurricanes defense that is coming off one of its best performances since Richt and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz took over the program three years ago.
Miami quarterback N’Kosi Perry finds himself ready to step into the spotlight of a game that has, throughout so many times in its history, been defined by memorable plays.
Richt says the redshirt freshman is ready for the moment. Perry said he’s hopeful the Hurricanes won’t need any last-second heroics this time around.
What the young quarterback does know for certain is that it doesn’t really matter what either team has done to get to this point in the season.
It’s Miami versus Florida State and it will bring out the best in both the Hurricanes and the Seminoles.
“I just expect them to play harder than they play against anybody else,” Perry said. “No matter what their record is, I know they’re going to play hard.”