Hurricanes
Linebacker Pinckney says doubters won’t hold program back.
In the 1980s, Miami made a name for itself as the team most outside of South Florida loved to hate.
While it’s easy to argue the Hurricanes regaining relevance would be a good thing — it’d raise the ACC’s profile, and hey, maybe
college football could use a villain — sophomore linebacker Michael Pinckney thinks the rest of the country doesn’t want to see “The U” be great. Reviewing the Hurricanes’
undefeated start after his team beat Syracuse 27-19 on Saturday, Pinckney offered a window into his motivation. “All the games were tight” in UM’s 6-0 (4-0 ACC) start, he said, but the team “finished as a unit” and “kept our heads high.”
Then he added this:
“We just try to come every week
and prepare like it’s the biggest game of our life because every
body is doubting us right now and we just have a chip on our
shoulder. We want to come out and prove we’re one of the best in America.”
The Hurricanes’ last three wins, over Florida State, Georgia Tech and Syracuse (aggregate record: 10-10) came by a combined 13 points. That may be one reason to wonder if Miami is good enough to be considered a College Football Playoff contender, and why poll voters ranked one-loss Clemson ahead of UM this week, despite the Canes beating Syracuse the week after Syracuse beat Clemson.
Pinckney was asked why people are doubting Miami.
“You want to keep something great down,” he said. “A school like this, they don’t want to see us back on top. That’d be bad for college football. I feel like we can take over. We just have to keep pushing and keep fighting. Just got to do our job.”
Why would it be bad for college football?
“Have you seen our fans, man?” he said. “Our fans keep us in the game. I feel like in the Georgia Tech game, I felt the emotions in the stands ... it was more emotions than the Florida State game to me. It felt good to come to the game as a fan, looking at the fans.”
After Miami beat FSU 24-20 in Tallahassee, a proud visiting corner of the stadium celebrated with players. Those who remained in their soaking-wet seats for a 25-24 win over Georgia Tech two weeks ago had lots to cheer. Last week, UM announced a crowd of 56,158 for Syracuse.
If UM beats North Carolina this week, as expected, its return home to Hard Rock Stadium could be a sellout. Or should be, with 13th-ranked Virginia Tech (6-1, 2-1) in town. Ninthranked Notre Dame (6-1) visits the following week.
Irvin suspended: Sophomore tight end Michael Irvin II wasn’t in uniform or on the sideline for UM’s win over Syracuse.
“Irvin just hasn’t done what he’s supposed to do off the field and until he does, we won’t let him play,” coach Mark Richt said Sunday.
Irvin, the son of the former UM Hall of Fame receiver known as “The Playmaker,” was the Hurricanes’ No. 2 tight end before this indefinite suspension, the second of his short career. He sat out the Russell Athletic Bowl last year for an unspecified violation of team rules.
He has three catches for 39 yards as a reserve this year, after struggling to win the backup job ahead of walk-on Malik Curry and true freshman Brian Polendey.
Richt said “the only guy right now we have a lot of faith in, not only that he knows what to do and can execute” is starter Chris Herndon, who caught a career-high 10 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Orange. “As much as he can handle, we’re going to give him,” Richt said.
Redshirt sophomore Scott Patchan was the No. 2 last week. Recently converted from defensive end, “he’s still learning the position,” Richt said.
Injury update: Defensive end Chad Thomas (left shoulder) and receiver Mike Harley (left ankle) left the game with injuries but both returned. Fellow receiver Ahmmon Richards (hamstring) was limping around. Richt didn’t comment on their statuses other than to say trainer Vinny Scavo “feels pretty optimistic about everybody right now.”