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Coral Gables, Florida -- The University of Miami football team staved off virtual elimination from the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal race with its 27-21 win against Virginia on Saturday, but with this week against No. 17 North Carolina — the word virtual can be removed from that sentence since with North Carolina unbeaten conference play, a loss in Chapel Hill at 3:30 p.m. Saturday would put the Hurricanes three games behind the Tar Heels with two remaining, and — eliminated.
Indeed, UM Coach Larry Scott will have to make soup better than Dan Campbell with his band of offensive players on offense, and his defense will have to contain UNC high octane offense who broke out with 61 points on Duke University. As UM players celebrated the homecoming victory over the Cavaliers last Saturday night, coaches got right to work on preparations for the Tar Heels (8-1, 5-0) hours after the win.
“We definitely know that we have a big challenge ahead of us,” UM interim coach Larry Scott said in a Sunday night conference call with reporters. “Offensively, they’re explosive, and defensively, they’re a much-improved unit from a year ago.”
North Carolina ranks atop the ACC in both passing offense and passing defense. The 158.8 passing yards per game they allow rank second in the nation. The Tar Heels average margin of victory is 21.5 points. They also come in hot. On Saturday against Duke — the same team the Canes needed a miracle eight-lateral kickoff return as time expired to defeat — the Tar Heels won 66-31 in a game in which quarterback Marquise Williams threw for a school-record 494 yards. The Tar Heels run an up-tempo style of offense, and the Canes have struggled against other up-tempo teams, notably Clemson and Cincinnati.
“We’re going to do what we have to do to put our kids in position to be successful against their tempo,” Scott says. “Obviously, we’re going to look at it, examine it, put together a great plan — one that puts our players in the right situation to make the plays they need to make.”
While UNC stops what UM does best offensively — the passing attack — the Hurricanes may find holes in the ground game, like was seen in the concerted effort to run the football in the second half against Virginia. UNC is vulnerable against the run, giving up 218.6 yards per game. Scott already has beaten a ranked team on the road (at Duke) — something Al Golden never did in 4 1/2 years at the helm. To keep Miami’s ACC Championship aspirations afloat, he’ll have to do it again and beat the 17th ranked team in the Nation in the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
These Tar Heels totally dominated Duke on a record breaking day and put themselves in the Coastal driver's seat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu5XVtcWijE
The final score really doesn't matter here, unless one is a North Carolina fan who can't wait to taunt for state bragging rights the Blue Devils. Potentially being one win away from clinching the division is the important part and that starts with Miami. The Tar Heels can still win the Coastal division if they win two of their remaining three games. Up first is Al Golden's old team Miami, a talented team with "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" tendencies. Then the Tar Heels go to Blacksburg, where emotions will run high for Frank Beamer's final home game as head coach of Virginia Tech; no easy task to overcome. And oh yeah, visiting Carter-Finley Stadium for the regular season finale, where NC State would just love to ruin North Carolina's championship aspirations, which again won't be a walk in the park for UNC.
So it ain't over for the Tar Heels, but they have been nothing short of impressive since saving their season in Atlanta with a dramatic comeback against Georgia Tech. They've answered the bell against Pitt and Duke, games with huge implications, and now have Charlotte in their sights.
As for North Carolina's win over Duke, what can you really say other than the Tar Heels flat out dismantled the Blue Devils? While Duke's defense hasn't looked the part of a highly ranked unit the last couple weeks, they've still got talent. It's not like the Blue Devils didn't know what the Tar Heels were bringing to the table on Saturday. They just couldn't stop North Carolina, with the tone set from the very first play of the game. While Duke's defense hasn't looked the part of a highly ranked unit the last couple weeks, they've still got talent. It's not like the Blue Devils didn't know what the Tar Heels were bringing to the table on Saturday. They just couldn't stop North Carolina, with the tone set from the very first play of the game.
Quarterback Marquise Williams only played in three quarters and still set a school record with 524 total yards of offense.
The 66 points are the most North Carolina has ever scored in an ACC game and the 704 total yards of offense are the third-most the Heels have put up in a single game. All in all can the Larry Scott-revived UM team, now playing more loose and with much greater passion & fervor than with its old coach Al Golden, upset the favored NC Tar Heels?
Miami Injury updates
Left tackle Trevor Darling received treatment for soreness on the top of his foot that caused him to exit the Virginia game in the second half. He will undergo treatment again Monday as his status will be evaluated throughout the week.
“Right now, I don’t think anything will keep us from having Trevor this week,” Scott said.
Guard Joe Brown (concussion), who was out against the Cavaliers on Saturday, will continue to go through the concussion protocol this week.
Scott said outside linebacker Trent Harris (shoulder) is “doing really well.” Harris left momentarily in the first half on Saturday before returning for a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) and a sack.
Coral Gables, Florida -- The University of Miami football team staved off virtual elimination from the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal race with its 27-21 win against Virginia on Saturday, but with this week against No. 17 North Carolina — the word virtual can be removed from that sentence since with North Carolina unbeaten conference play, a loss in Chapel Hill at 3:30 p.m. Saturday would put the Hurricanes three games behind the Tar Heels with two remaining, and — eliminated.
Indeed, UM Coach Larry Scott will have to make soup better than Dan Campbell with his band of offensive players on offense, and his defense will have to contain UNC high octane offense who broke out with 61 points on Duke University. As UM players celebrated the homecoming victory over the Cavaliers last Saturday night, coaches got right to work on preparations for the Tar Heels (8-1, 5-0) hours after the win.
“We definitely know that we have a big challenge ahead of us,” UM interim coach Larry Scott said in a Sunday night conference call with reporters. “Offensively, they’re explosive, and defensively, they’re a much-improved unit from a year ago.”
North Carolina ranks atop the ACC in both passing offense and passing defense. The 158.8 passing yards per game they allow rank second in the nation. The Tar Heels average margin of victory is 21.5 points. They also come in hot. On Saturday against Duke — the same team the Canes needed a miracle eight-lateral kickoff return as time expired to defeat — the Tar Heels won 66-31 in a game in which quarterback Marquise Williams threw for a school-record 494 yards. The Tar Heels run an up-tempo style of offense, and the Canes have struggled against other up-tempo teams, notably Clemson and Cincinnati.
“We’re going to do what we have to do to put our kids in position to be successful against their tempo,” Scott says. “Obviously, we’re going to look at it, examine it, put together a great plan — one that puts our players in the right situation to make the plays they need to make.”
While UNC stops what UM does best offensively — the passing attack — the Hurricanes may find holes in the ground game, like was seen in the concerted effort to run the football in the second half against Virginia. UNC is vulnerable against the run, giving up 218.6 yards per game. Scott already has beaten a ranked team on the road (at Duke) — something Al Golden never did in 4 1/2 years at the helm. To keep Miami’s ACC Championship aspirations afloat, he’ll have to do it again and beat the 17th ranked team in the Nation in the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
These Tar Heels totally dominated Duke on a record breaking day and put themselves in the Coastal driver's seat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu5XVtcWijE
The final score really doesn't matter here, unless one is a North Carolina fan who can't wait to taunt for state bragging rights the Blue Devils. Potentially being one win away from clinching the division is the important part and that starts with Miami. The Tar Heels can still win the Coastal division if they win two of their remaining three games. Up first is Al Golden's old team Miami, a talented team with "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" tendencies. Then the Tar Heels go to Blacksburg, where emotions will run high for Frank Beamer's final home game as head coach of Virginia Tech; no easy task to overcome. And oh yeah, visiting Carter-Finley Stadium for the regular season finale, where NC State would just love to ruin North Carolina's championship aspirations, which again won't be a walk in the park for UNC.
So it ain't over for the Tar Heels, but they have been nothing short of impressive since saving their season in Atlanta with a dramatic comeback against Georgia Tech. They've answered the bell against Pitt and Duke, games with huge implications, and now have Charlotte in their sights.
As for North Carolina's win over Duke, what can you really say other than the Tar Heels flat out dismantled the Blue Devils? While Duke's defense hasn't looked the part of a highly ranked unit the last couple weeks, they've still got talent. It's not like the Blue Devils didn't know what the Tar Heels were bringing to the table on Saturday. They just couldn't stop North Carolina, with the tone set from the very first play of the game. While Duke's defense hasn't looked the part of a highly ranked unit the last couple weeks, they've still got talent. It's not like the Blue Devils didn't know what the Tar Heels were bringing to the table on Saturday. They just couldn't stop North Carolina, with the tone set from the very first play of the game.
Quarterback Marquise Williams only played in three quarters and still set a school record with 524 total yards of offense.
The 66 points are the most North Carolina has ever scored in an ACC game and the 704 total yards of offense are the third-most the Heels have put up in a single game. All in all can the Larry Scott-revived UM team, now playing more loose and with much greater passion & fervor than with its old coach Al Golden, upset the favored NC Tar Heels?
Miami Injury updates
Left tackle Trevor Darling received treatment for soreness on the top of his foot that caused him to exit the Virginia game in the second half. He will undergo treatment again Monday as his status will be evaluated throughout the week.
“Right now, I don’t think anything will keep us from having Trevor this week,” Scott said.
Guard Joe Brown (concussion), who was out against the Cavaliers on Saturday, will continue to go through the concussion protocol this week.
Scott said outside linebacker Trent Harris (shoulder) is “doing really well.” Harris left momentarily in the first half on Saturday before returning for a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) and a sack.
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