When did you know this team was different?

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I’ll be honest after SMU like most fans I was like same Miami **** different year but what gave me a glimmer of hope that we’d exercise some demons was during/after the NC State game. We manhandled them after they ran all over GTech and I began to think well well well we might have something here as we finish the season. The Pitt game was a culmination of building throughout the year and playing our best ball down the stretch.
 
November was impressive, No way I thought they’d run the table and make the playoffs after those two losses. Mario and the team deserve a ton of credit. I’m officially off the 8-4 into perpetuity wagon. They’ve grown a lot, and Saturday for me, being a defensive minded guy, was **** near a Picasso, a work of art. To go to Kyle field and hold that team to a field goal…… i mean, a guy knocked himself out making a tackle and knocking the ball out on the goal line with the game on the line. That’s Hurricane football. I was an undergrad at Miami in the 70’s, so I’ve seen some good defenses, this one has my attention.
 
When they blasted a ranked Pitt team in the cold to close the season out. They were even down 7-3 early. Former Canes teams might have been shook at that point. This team regrouped and mopped the floor with them.
This!! The past 22 years or so has dictated that the Canes lose that Pitt game. No matter what happens the rest of the way during these playoffs I can finally believe that this team and the leadership behind this team is heading in the right direction.
 
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I felt it in my bones back in August.

I’m sure it was due to reading posts here, annd watching the pod, and discussing the team with all of you, but I started to get that same feeling back that I haven’t had since 2002. That confidence, that trust that this team had the talent to go far. Even after SMU, something in me said they were going to win out, although I truly did not think they would get into the CFP.

If this is a dream, then I don’t ever want to wake up.
 
Definitely Pitt. It was amazing to see Miami beat them by more than ND did, even though Coach Narduzzi had basically conceded the ND game since it didn't impact the ACC standings and the Pathers just rolled over for the Irish.
 
Thought it was the best team we have had since early 2000s from the jump, but normally Miami would lose or have an ugly win against Pitt. The fact we blew the doors off them made me say we have to get in the playoff there is no way they can leave us out after that performance we removed the doubt and completed the head to head and common opponent sequence.
 
I’ll start by saying I thought this team was better than last years very early on. I also enjoyed this team and season way more than last year even before the playoff announcement.

Last year was a disgusting 10 win season and just deflating it didn’t even feel like a 10 win season.

I didn’t truly think this team was different until late November and really Pitt blowout. That’s where I said **** this team is legit and if they get in could make some noise.

I didn’t realize how good the defense was and just assumed it’s cause they played weak offenses but every media is telling you how talented they are. Just a punishing high energy defense. It’s been fun to watch. Miami is really hurting not having another top WR or TE on offenses. Seems to really be the only weakness heading into OsU.
 
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Honestly? Saturday.

I knew they were a good team. That 4 game stretch with Notre Dame, USF, Florida, and FSU was great but we had seen something similar in 2017 with the Va Tech and Notre Dame games. But Saturday was an absolute war, both physically and mentally. None of the 12 games that came before reached that level of competition. That is the apex of college football, in my opinion. Being able to play a game like that. Miami may not be the best team remaining in the playoffs but they have entered the highest tier of college football.
 
The Louisville game.

Threw 4 picks and took their best effort and still barely lost. In the past, we get blown out with that performance.

After SMU, I knew 100% the problems were more coaching than talenr, as usual. but when Dawson switched it up and we caught fire, I was sure we could win it all if we somehow made the playoff.

Dawson is the most important factor to a title run. He has to be on top of his game.
 
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