This is for all the baby CANES, this is how it feels when the Canes are rolling.....
Real talk, if the Canes were really rolling—would never have been down 33-10 to those jokers (7 of those points on the opening kickoff.)
Epic game and one of my favorite nights ever at the old Orange Bowl—and sticking to "The Gator" is always a godsend—but 2003 was really the beginning of the backslide.
Defense was a monster that year—better than 2002, but not quite 2001-level—but the offensive line took a step back and Brock Berlin, while a gamer, wasn't Dorsey-level.
Lots of stalled drive and a lot of field goals to eke out that last second win against West Virginia .... smoked 31-7 at Virginia Tech .... never found the end zone a week later in a 10-6 loss to Tennessee. Ugly, defensive, rain-soaked win at Tallahassee, 22-14—Sean Taylor responsible for seven of those points and field position on the others.
Canes lost Frank Gore against the Mountaineers, which left Jarrett Payton as the go-to back—which was definitely a massive step down (just like his fourth quarter work for Willis McGahee in the Fiasco Bowl.)
Miami's sweet spot was really that 2000-2002 run—35-2, which should've been 36-1 and three title game appearances (with a potential three-peat.)
Crazy how that 2000 squad had Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Jeremy Shockey—with DJ Williams as a pass-catching fullback. Insane the talent over those three years.