South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Knowles becomes member of ’Canes’ Chain gang
MIAMI GARDENS — After filling in admirably against North Carolina the week before, Miami Hurricanes redshirt senior safety Robert Knowles started on Saturday against Bethune-Cookman in UM’s home opener.
Knowles made a big first-half contribution, picking up a fumble, forced by junior cornerback Trajan Bandy, with 16 seconds left before halftime. It was the fifth-year senior and Miami Edison High grad’s first time wearing the Turnover Chain.
The fumble recovery led to a quick-strike touchdown after two passes from quarterback Jarren Williams to receiver K.J. Osborn.
Knowles earned his second career start after he played the most snaps he has in his college career at Carolina last week following junior safety Amari Carter’s ejection for targeting.
Knowles started opposite of Carter at safety and ahead of sophomore Gurvan Hall. On the second drive, Hall came in for Knowles and Knowles played Carter’s post, so the rotation of UM safeties was on display within two drives. Hall got a sack on that drive.
“I think Rob Knowles has really been a success story, a guy who has had some ups and downs throughout his career,” Miami coach Manny Diaz said this past week. “But here’s the rare thing: [He’s] a guy that stayed, a guy that loves Miami.
“In this day and age, everyone in the outside world would say transfer, go somewhere else, do something else, [but] he loves Miami. He hasn’t done that.”
With DJ Ivey again starting at Hurricanes senior safety Robert Knowles wears his first Turnover Chain after recovering a fumble against Bethune Cookman during the first half of Saturday’s game.
cornerback opposite Trajan Bandy, Al Blades Jr. rotated in at corner on the Hurricanes’ second drive.
UNC’s ACC loss that wasn’t: With Miami’s easiest path to the ACC Coastal Division title being to win out and have North Carolina lose two conference games — after the Tar Heels beat the Hurricanes in their ACC opener — all UNC
losses against a conference foe are welcome.
And that’s what the Tar Heels did Friday night, losing to Wake Forest 24-18. Except it’s not a conference loss for UNC.
The two scheduled the matchup as a nonconference game, outside of their eight games against ACC opponents. The rival schools from Carolina are only slated to play each other in conference
once every seven years because they’re in different divisions — UNC in the Coastal and Wake in the Atlantic.
Every team has one cross-division rivalry that occurs annually (like FSU for UM). North Carolina’s is N.C. State, while Wake’s is Duke.
So to keep their in-state rivalry alive and avoid facing so many years between meetings, the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons used one of their four nonconference games this season. They are set to do the same in 2021.
Fortunately for Miami, UNC’s first ACC loss is likely to come Sept. 28 when the Tar Heels host No. 1 Clemson.
More field-goal woes: Make it three consecutive games where Miami sophomore kicker Bubba Baxa has missed a field goal from 30 yards or closer.
In the first quarter, Baxa missed one from 30 after missing other kicks from 27 and 26 in the opener against Florida, and last week against North Carolina. Diaz said the one at UNC was partially blocked.
Baxa also had an extra point blocked at UNC and missed the potential game-tying field goal from 49 yards away with five seconds left. But he did connect on a career-high 50-yarder earlier in that game.
A bright spot for Miami’s special teams: Punter Lou Hedley’s first attempt went 51 yards to pin Bethune down at the 1-yard line, while his second also went inside the 10, fair-caught at the 7-yard line.
Bolden still out: Hurricanes redshirt sophomore safety and USC transfer Bubba Bolden is still waiting to make his UM debut.
He was seen watching warmups in a jersey, shorts, no pads and no helmet.
“The University of Miami is working with the NCAA on Bubba Bolden’s behalf to clear his transfer requirements as soon as possible,” a UM spokesperson said. “Any change in his playing availability will be announced.”