Whenever the Canes hooked up with Oklahoma when I was a kid, it was one of the most exciting games to get up for -- right up there with Notre Dame, Florida State, Penn State and the hated Gators.
But a lot has changed since the Brian Bosworth-Vinny Testaverde days. The Sooners don't run the wishbone anymore and Miami doesn't play the kind of defense it used to. Tonight's game will pit an eight-ranked Sooners team that has one of the best defensive front sevens in the country and a do it all offense (even with redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones at the helm) against a UM team looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss at Virginia Tech.
Before the season started, I expected Miami to go 2-2 against its tough opening four-game stretch. I thought that would be good enough to show us this team has improved. But the closer we get to kickoff, the more I see this game as a giant measuring stick for Randy Shannon and his staff. This is year No. 3 and its time for UM to start showing signs it can really compete against the nation's elite teams. I know they're shorthanded on defense (safety, defensive end). But it feels like crunch time to me.
REWIND: UM owned the Sooners back in the 1980s when both teams were regular national title contenders. Their 2007 meeting in Norman was good for a half before the Sooners pulled away 51-13.
FAST FORWARD
> UM wins because: Jacory Harris plays like a Heisman candidate again and LandShark Stadium rocks like the Orange Bowl. That means UM's offensive line plays lights out and protects Harris and his receivers don't drop balls like they did last week. Defensively, UM is going to be hard pressed to shutdown Oklahoma's balanced offense. But the key for the Canes will be eliminating big, deflating plays and creating a few turnovers to slow the Sooners down at least a little.
> OU wins because: Quarterback Landry Jones doesn't make mistakes and the Sooners don't have breakdowns in the secondary. Pound-for-pound, Oklahoma is the better team in this matchup. The only place UM really has the advantage is at quarterback and receiver. That means unless the Canes outplay them or OU makes a few gaffs, the Sooner should win this.
> My pick: Oklahoma 30, UM 21. Last week, I picked with my heart. I really was beginning to believe Miami had something special going. They still could if they win tonight. But what Virginia Tech did was unmask a lot of the Canes' deficiencies. Like it or not, the Canes' offensive line -- and running game -- still has a long way to go. The defense has to prove it can do the basics -- like tackling -- consistently. Those aren't the type of troubles a team about to beat a Top 10 ranked team has to deal with. Then again, here's to hoping I'm dead wrong.
> Game balls - Offense: Jacory Harris. If UM's going to win, he'll be the triggerman. Defense: Eric Moncur. If the UM defense is going to surprise us tonight, create turnovers and turn the tables, the key will be getting pressure on Jones. It would be nice to see a kid like Moncur provide a lot of that. Special teams: Matt Bosher. He's missed a pair of field goals against Georgia Tech and had a punt blocked last week. A game-winning field goal would be nice wouldn't it?
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UM gets called for illegal shoe tying
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Jester, I was classmates with barrow and Darrin smith when the D was stellar
Posted by: NigerianCane | October 03, 2009 at 10:55 PM
shields owes us a pik
Posted by: Mj | October 03, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Big D comes up big
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 10:57 PM
R we still on O?
Posted by: NigerianCane | October 03, 2009 at 10:57 PM
the refs are keeping oklahoma alive i swear
Posted by: abdonel | October 03, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Joe Joseph nice play!
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Back on O now
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 10:58 PM
D is playing out of their minds!!!!
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Drive and TD is what we need now
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Yep
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 10:59 PM
We need to throw those slants or to jimmy
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Run the ball down their throat!!!!!!
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 10:59 PM
That Blue Moon beer is good
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Just saying
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:01 PM
How much time left jester?
Posted by: NigerianCane | October 03, 2009 at 11:03 PM
That was pro quality. Jacory is the man
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:03 PM
How much time left?
Posted by: NigerianCane | October 03, 2009 at 11:04 PM
9 mins
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:04 PM
That hurt
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Refs missed a block in the back, imagine that!!!!
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Jacory WTF !!!!
Posted by: GoCanesMF | October 03, 2009 at 11:07 PM
What happened?
Posted by: NigerianCane | October 03, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Yep saw that
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Yellow must be stuck in the pocket
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Ok, D's gotta step up
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:09 PM
If we don't go for the throat on O we will lose
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:10 PM
you can see it slowly slipping away. The Canes just don't keep their focus for 4 quarters. They justdon't have the heart to finish a game
Posted by: canesfansc | October 03, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Welcome back Colin
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:13 PM
I hear you, OU is pounding it, draining the clock, Stoops has been hear before
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Watch the fake
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:14 PM
21-20 Canes
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Offense HAS to close out the game now, 4:18 left, 21-20 canes
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:16 PM
FG Sooners 4 minutes left
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:16 PM
So , what's going to be the final score
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Jacket earns his stripes this next drive
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Jacory
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Whip it good!!!!
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Run JJ run
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Nice push by the O line
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Like I said baby j time!!!!
Posted by: GoCanesMF | October 03, 2009 at 11:21 PM
I cant watch
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:22 PM
oklahoma got a free B when our defense line men never touched the kicker and gave a free touch down to the gay sooners. Everybody hates Miami even the sportscasters and more laws should be brought to the game where a coach can challenge a Ref's call when it comes to roughy the kicker..Oklahoma should have been a 10-21. I hope the herald speaks more highly of the canes...fan
Posted by: robert | October 03, 2009 at 11:22 PM
baby j is ballin tonight
Posted by: abdonel | October 03, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Play action time
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Not good
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Draw play? I hope not
Posted by: Jetster777 | October 03, 2009 at 11:23 PM
OK uses last TO, 3rd and 6, first down wins the game
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Here is the game
Posted by: Ibis1973 | October 03, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Miami TO same sit
Posted by: Mikepete24 | October 03, 2009 at 11:24 PM