UM Coach Larry Scott ekes out his coaching philosophy.
“The Return” is in the books. It can’t be taken away. Last Saturday’s game is officially in the ‘win’ column, and that makes five for Miami (5-2, 2-2) now one victory shy of becoming bowl eligible in one of the most turbulent seasons in the program’s storied history.
The Hurricanes are hoping that victory comes on Saturday when they host Virginia at 3 p.m. in Sun Life Stadium. It’s a rather mediocre Cavaliers team (3-5, 2-2) that Miami will face, certainly a winnable game. Virginia is 0-3 on the road so far this season. But the Cavaliers are coming off a 27-21 victory over Georgia Tech.
Virginia is Miami’s focus sole focus right now, and it should be, but get a win on Saturday and not only do the Canes become bowl eligible, but now begin to think the unthinkable – challenging for the Coastal Division title, which at the beginning of this tumultuous season was the goal all along.
In the weekly ACC coaches conference, Miami interim head coach Larry Scott said that while a Coastal Division crown is still mathematically feasible, he can’t look at that right now; not with Virginia coming to town.
“We control the rest of the schedule that’s ahead of us,” Scott said. “Right now we’re 2-0 in the Coastal, and all we can do is control our play in the next one, which is Virginia on Saturday. So that’s our focus. That’s our concern. That will continue to be our focus each and every week.”
A visit to conference unbeaten and Coastal Division leader North Carolina follows the Virginia game, and then it’s home to Georgia Tech before finishing at Pitt.
“From a week-to-week basis, that’s all we really can control is our next opponent,” Scott said. “It just so happens that each opponent is a Coastal Division game for us. That’s our approach. That’s going to be our philosophy, and that’s how we’re going to proceed each and every week.”
They would need some help, but the Canes certainly have the opportunity to still make some noise in the ACC Coastal. Over the last three years, the division winner has claimed the top spot with two losses.
Scott said he can’t concern himself with all of that. One week, one game, one practice at a time is how he believes that could still be accomplished.
“I try to keep the guys just in the moment,” Scott said. “We talk about two things, be where you are and stay in the moment. Right now we’re in our Virginia week and we need to get our bodies back fresh and start to focus on the mental aspect of the game so we can stay in the moment on Saturday.”
As of Wednesday, Scott said he did not know whether he would have the services of starting quarterback Brad Kaaya, who left the Clemson game with a concussion and did not play in last week’s victory at Duke. As of mid-week, Kaaya was still listed as questionable as he continues to go through the arduous concussion protocol.
If he can’t go, freshman QB Malik Rosier will get the nod.
Rosier was brilliant in his first career start for Miami last Saturday. The 6-1, 212-pounder from Mobile, Al. completed 20-of-29 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns and finished with an impressive QB rating of 163.6.
