Is There a F*cking Echo in Here?

Hello All,

Nothing is worse than watching as your worst case scenario plays out before your very eyes.

I was worried before the Kansas State game that the ‘Canes would undo themselves against a team that was just good enough to make them pay for it.

Miami lost to K State, less than a full week after an emotional, statement victory, because they could not keep it together when they needed to.

The ‘Canes moved the ball at will on their opening possession, but on 3rd and 1 false started. They settled for a field goal when they should have had a touchdown, and as the saying goes, you don’t win many games by kicking field goals. This would set the tone for the rest of the game.

It is unnerving to watch the ‘Canes because they are so capable of looking like world beaters in flashes (backing the Wildcats up to the goal line twice in 3rd and Long situations) and then, just as quickly and with just as much ferocity, desperately overwhelmed (giving up a first down both times).

It is hard to watch because this is a team that seems constantly on the verge of showing true greatness and yet at the same time stuck on that verge due to their own mistakes.

Ramon Buchannan twice made good reads on touchdown passes. Both times he came up centimeters short of interceptions. 4 times (really, 5, but who’s counting…) Miami forced fumbles. 4 times K State recovered. The ball eluded the ‘Canes, and so did the game.

Miami is the faster team. Miami is the better team. It didn’t matter. Much like against Maryland, the game was lost because of stupid penalties and poor execution. The team fought, and came up 6 inches short of a win. It was all in a losing effort, however, and therefore any positives ring hollow.

It seems like the good always comes with equal bad for this team. Jacory Harris played his best game in at least a year but was booed by his home crowd. Lamar Miller had another great game but left with another shoulder injury toward the end. It has gotten to the point where anytime I say something nice about this team (or any player on it) I knock on wood. In fact, it has been such a theme that my roommate said during Saturday’s game “If we don’t turn this around soon we’re gonna have to f*ck this bookshelf.”

There are plenty of positives around this program right now, but also this loss. The losses will start coming with less frequency; that I am sure of. It will only happen after the ‘Canes get out of their own way, however, and stop falling victim to the traps stretched out before them.

Always guard the inbound passer.