Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Diaz: ‘UNC will have our full attention’
Despite being out of the ACC race, Hurricanes still have a lot to play for
The one downside to Saturday night for the Miami Hurricanes — because there really wasn’t any from their play in a 48-0 win at Duke — was that UM was eliminated from contention for an ACC Championship Game berth by way of Clemson’s win at Virginia Tech.
It was something that seemed inevitable since Notre Dame beat Clemson on Nov. 7 after the Hurricanes couldn’t do the same against the then-top-ranked Tigers on Oct. 10. Despite the ACC’s Tuesday decision to shorten determination for a title game berth to a ninegame conference slate, it didn’t make a difference as Notre Dame would’ve clinched its spot with its Saturday afternoon win over Syracuse anyway.
With that out of the way, Miami (8-1, 7-1) can now just focus on winning its final two regular-season games to secure a 10-win season and a spot in a New Year’s
Six bowl game outside of the College Football Playoff, possibly the Orange Bowl.
In order to get there, the Hurricanes, No. 10 in last Tuesday’s College Football Playoff rankings but No. 9 in Sunday’s AP Poll and 8 in the latest Coaches Poll, face their toughest test since Clemson — North Carolina, ranked No. 17 in the College Football Playoff rankings at 7-3, 6-3 in the ACC. There will be no shortage of motivation to face the Tar Heels in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium after last season’s loss in Chapel Hill in the ACC opener.
“UNC will have our full attention,” Diaz said. “Obviously, remember the game a year ago; left a bad taste in our mouth. Our players will be highly motivated for North Carolina coming into our stadium. Make no doubt about that.”
The Hurricanes need not be reminded about how the 28-25 loss to UNC in 2019 got them off to an 0-2 start. A comeback from down, 17-3, to take a 25-20 lead went awry after giving up a fourth-and-long conversion that led to a go-ahead touchdown with a minute remaining and a missed field goal as time expired.
“That loss last year had me so upset,” junior tight end Brevin Jordan said. “It’s just another hate game. We’re going to try to go out here — we’re not worried about New Year’s Six bowls or ACC Championship. We’re worried about now. We’re living in the now. We’re trying to focus on one game at a time. We just handle that, and everything will take care of itself.”
The “now” before this Saturday’s matchup of ranked teams is getting some of the 15 unavailable Hurricanes healthy in time to face the Tar Heels while not adding any new names to UM’s COVID19 issues.
Being without defensive tackles Jonathan Ford and Jared Harrison-Hunte, linebackers Zach McCloud and Sam Brooks and cornerback Al Blades Jr. will be much more of a challenge against UNC quarterback Sam Howell and the running back duo of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams than it was against Duke.
But with players out, Hurricanes deeper on the depth chart were able to see the field for quality experience in Durham.
“More fun than playing, honestly, is seeing all of the young boys get in there and get some burn,” defensive end Jaelan Phillips said. “We’ve been telling them from the beginning of the season, honestly, that they need to be ready whenever. It’s always the ‘nextman-up’ mentality. So, the fact that they came in and stepped up like they did ... was huge, and I can’t be more proud of them.”
Miami can confidently play freshman linebacker Corey Flagg more snaps if need be in a close game. Although not a young player, the same goes for redshirt junior linebacker Waynmon Steed and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jordan Miller, both who started against Duke. Sophomore cornerback Te’Cory Couch had already supplanted Blades in the starting lineup in the Nov. 14 Virginia Tech game, but freshman Isaiah Dunson played on the boundary in nickel packages, allowing Couch to cover the slot and Marcus Clarke showed his ball-hawking abilities with his late interception.
“It felt real good to know that my teammates trust me, like Jaelan Phillips, Jade Silvera, Gilbert Frierson. All of those guys trust me to get the call and give it to them,” Flagg said. “I think we’re the best [freshman] class in the nation. Mentally, you hold yourself accountable off the field and on the field. It’s showing on the field. The whole world is seeing it now.”
While running back Jaylan Knighton went down early with injury, as did left guard Jakai Clark, Cam’Ron Harris and Donald Chaney Jr. showed their physical running style and senior offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson was his old physical self at left guard. Donaldson made his season debut after coming back from knee surgery from an injury suffered on the same field at Wallace Wade Stadium in the regular season finale last year.
“How heroic is that, at this field around this time, that he hurt his leg, and he was able to play a game [Saturday night]?” center Corey Gaynor said. “That is a blessing. … He showed how much he loves Miami, how much he loves this team by being out there when Jakai went down.”
With 10 conference games in the revised 2020 season instead of the usual eight, UM can set a program record for conference wins in a season if it beats UNC. The Hurricanes went 7-1 in the ACC in 2017. After the Tar Heels, they wrap up the regular season against Georgia Tech on Dec. 19.