The Miami Hurricanes have had a successful season this year, and as they hit their bye week, they must convince themselves that it can still be great, despite the loss that ruined their perfect season.
Though they struggled at times on both sides of the ball, Miami was able to dispatch Duke, Florida State and Louisville in its previous three ACC games, but ran into a wall against Georgia Tech last Saturday in Atlanta.
The 28-23 loss to the Yellow Jackets broke the team’s nine-game winning streak, and sent Miami into the bye needing to correct issues on both offense and defense.
This loss did damage in the polls, as well, as the Hurricanes dropped from No. 4 in the 12-team College Football Playoff rankings to No. 9, and in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, they dropped from No. 5 to No. 12.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal spoke on several matters after the loss, but made sure to tell reporters that the loss was a team effort. No one unit or player was responsible for the result.
“It hurts, it stinks,” he said. “It’s a really tough loss that we brought upon ourselves.”
For the Hurricanes (9-1) to rise in the rankings, they will need to win their two final games, against Wake Forest (4-5) and Syracuse (6-3), which will also be the determining factor in whether or not the team proceeds to the ACC Championship game.
That’s where Cristobal’s thoughts lie now. Despite encountering the loss, he’s elaborated on where the team currently stands.
“I have complete faith in this team and everybody in it, every coach on this staff and every member of the organization,” he said. “Being hard on another during a loss is a must. You must demand the most of each other during difficult times, and this is a difficult, difficult day that we have to handle, and we will handle. And we’ll come together and shut out everything else and go to work.”
The team has many things to work on as they rest and recover within this bye week. Miami is aware that work needs to be done as it evaluates the loss.
Cristobal was quick to present the team’s focus ahead of the next two games. The team needs to focus their attention on defense first. In the loss, the Hurricanes allowed Georgia Tech to collect a total of 271 rushing yards, which ultimately played a big role in their ability to score.
“I credit Georgia Tech. I don’t disrespect other opponents when we lose a game, but we brought this upon ourselves,” he said. “And we’re going to dig ourselves out by doing the things that we do well and getting better.”
His players agreed, and have spent this week in the film room preparing for Wake Forest. Quarterback Cam Ward is one of them.
“We’re not really worried about the future. We can’t get to the future unless we control the present,” he said. “So, we’re going to continue to go day by day. Both sides of the ball we just got to come ready, play on Saturday and play together.”
Offensive lineman Markel Bell also voiced his stance highlighting where the team’s attention is.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time, you know, and it all starts with practice and preparation,” he said. “That’s been our biggest focus. We’re not focusing on the outside noise, not focused about the praise. We actually ignore the praise, and focus on our flaws that we have as a team, and as an individual.”
It appears everyone is focusing its attention on improvements and defeating the Demon Deacons and the Orange. If they do so, a spot in the ACC title game awaits. And keep in mind, Miami, which joined the league in 2004, has never won an ACC crown.
