’Canes still feel sting from last year’s loss to UNC
With the Miami Hurricanes set to play North Carolina (3-3, 2-3 ACC) on Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C. for the first time since last season’s embarrassing defeat, coach Manny Diaz ensured the sting from last year’s blowout loss to the Tar Heels was still fresh on the players’ minds.
Before UM’s practice ended and players spoke with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, the Hurricanes watched the end of their 62-26 loss to UNC from last December that effectively ended their chances of making an appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game and started a five-game losing streak to FBS teams that’s stretched into this season.
Miami players not only had to rewatch former Tar Heels running backs Michael Carter (308 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and Javonte Williams (236 rushing yards and three touchdowns) dismantle the Hurricanes in that Dec. 12, 2020 matchup, but they had to listen to the criticisms directed towards them from the ABC broadcast crew for that evening’s primetime game.
“I just can’t figure out how Miami showed up the way they did,” said ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who was the color commentator for the matchup.
“There’s really no explanation. This team looked like they were getting over the hump … to have this kind of performance at the end of the year, it’s just shocking.
“It’s like they didn’t get on the bus to come over to the stadium. It’s like they’re not even here.”
Herbstreit’s criticisms, among
others, stuck with UM players.
“We just watched the end of the game — announcers talking crap about us or whatever,” said Van Dyke, who’ll be UM’s starting quarterback against the Tar Heels with D’Eriq King sidelined for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. “We’re going to have that in the back of our minds. We’re going to get revenge on them, for sure. Got to.”
In that UM loss, the Tar Heels finished with 778 yards from scrimmage and 554 rushing yards, which remains the worst marks the Hurricanes have allowed in a single game in both statistical categories in program history.
“They hung at least 500 yards of rushing on us last year,” said second-year linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. “That’s something that’s still in the back of our minds. We know.”
Even though he was playing for Oklahoma at the time and hadn’t transferred to Miami yet, wide receiver Charleston Rambo has seen his teammates more motivated in recent practices leading into Saturday’s matchup.
Miami (2-3, 0-1 ACC) is coming off a bye week after dropping its ACC opener to Virginia, 30-28, on Sept. 30.
“Obviously, there should be an edge,” Rambo said. “We got blown out last year. The edge is there.”
The Hurricanes’ loss to UNC last season had a significant influence on how Miami reshaped its run defense — which has shown improvements at times this season but took a step back against the Cavaliers by allowing 5.2 yards per carry.
Keontra Smith, who’s expected to be available on Saturday after missing Miami’s past three games with a leg injury, was moved from striker to starting weakside linebacker during the offseason to give UM’s defensive front more speed.
Amari Carter, who’s also expected to available against UNC after missing the past two games, was moved from safety to starting striker.
Flagg moved into the starting middle linebacker role for this season after fifth-year redshirt junior Bradley Jennings Jr. started all 11 games at the position last season.
Even though the results haven’t been consistent for the defense, Flagg’s noticed improvements since the humiliating loss to UNC.
“I think this spring started off with [inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Jonathan] Patke getting us to play more sideways and downhill,” Flagg said. “We’re playing better at [linebacker]. I feel like we’re playing really well. The defensive line is playing phenomenal.
“We have to play a little bit better. Our communication should be better, and this bye week showed that. We did good this bye week communicating and being on the same page. Last year was a lack of that, and this year’s better.”