Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward was asked in his postgame press conference if his team had just made a statement.
“I believe we did,” he said.
That might be an understatement.
The 41-17 drubbing of Florida in The Swamp on Saturday wasn’t just a statement to a hated in-state rival, but a national coming-out party for a program that has been desperately seeking a return to national relevance.
Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal concurred, adding in his postgame media availability in Gainesville that “these guys have been through a lot. They made the decision that that’s it. It was enough. And they were going to prove that by the way that they played the game. And they did that.”
The monumental road win — one of the biggest headlines of Week 1 across college football — was an early test for the No. 12 Hurricanes, and they’ll likely now be favored in every remaining game on the schedule.
They get Florida State at home this year, and with the Seminoles falling from No. 10 in the country to unranked after back- to-back losses to open the season, that rivalry game looks more and more winnable.
Clemson, the other preseason favorite to win the ACC, opened its season on the wrong end of a 34-3 shellacking at the hands of Georgia in Atlanta.
Miami, which avoids Clemson this season, might see its biggest tests in the regular season in road trips to Georgia Tech and Louisville. Survive those and Miami is in pole position to win its first ever ACC title and secure its place in the newly expanded College Football Playoff.
Even with a loss the new 12-team format might have a place for the Hurricanes should they stumble once along the way.
Photo credit: Associated Press
Ward, the Washington State transfer, also announced himself to the nation. No longer playing in the late hours of the Pac-12, he threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns in front of a national audience. He made a number of highlight throws and looked very comfortable extending plays with his legs.
But even after a stellar debut, his coach says he can be even better.
“You guys were probably wondering, right? They talk a lot about Cam Ward, is he really that good,” Cristobal said. “He’s just scratching the surface.”
Ward’s name had been whispered about in Heisman Trophy conversations, but after his performance last weekend, the volume — and the pressure — is turning up.
But he isn’t worried.
“I’m not really into the pressure stuff, at the end of the day, football’s a game,” he said. “I’m more hard on myself than anybody can ever be on me.”
Photo credit: Associated Press
Up next for Ward and the Hurricanes is Florida A&M on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, an opponent they should control. But Cristobal is focused on managing the expectations regardless.
“Miami’s had a chance to play a big-time game to start the season, and now we’ve got to show we can handle that success and go get better,” Cristobal said. “That’s really the most important thing.”
Even though the Rattlers are coming off a season where they won the HBCU national championship, they are an opponent who is levels below the Hurricanes. All that said, Cristobal believes the home opener is a good opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the season.
“We want to make Hard Rock an intimidating place to play. We want to make Hard Rock a true home field advantage,” he said. “And these guys feel equipped. They feel prepared and ready to do so.”
Kickoff against the Rattlers is 6 p.m. Saturday.
