Winning tomorrow is NOT redemption for 2002

[Canesq]

I’ve seen a lot of posts here framing this Ohio State game as some kind of “redemption” opportunity for 2002, and I get it because it’s easy to make that connection, but I don’t really agree with it at all.

Don’t get me wrong, beating Ohio State would be a big win for this program. It just wouldn’t be redemption.

That 2002 title game wasn’t a normal loss. It was a national championship game at the absolute height of our early 2000’s dynasty, with a roster that defined an era of college football. Losing that game didn’t just cost us a title, it marked the end of our era. What followed was 2 decades of instability, drifting identity, coaching churn, and a gradual slide from being THE standard-setter in college football to somewhat of a nostalgia brand (from a national perspective). You can argue about causes all day, but that night clearly closed a chapter.

That’s why it still stings. Not because of Ohio State specifically, and not even just because of the terrible call (**** you Terry Porter). It stings because of everything that came after. Miami stopped being the program everyone chased and became the one constantly trying to get “back.” That’s not something you can undo with a single win, no matter how satisfying it would feel in the moment tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, not a national title game. It’s a meaningful stage, but it’s not the same one. Winning tomorrow would continue to validate progress, signal real improvement, and show that the program is trending in the right direction under this staff. But I’d likely feel the same way if we play in a close loss tomorrow.

To me, this game is about progress, not closure. It’s about whether Miami is building something sustainable again, not about settling a 23-year-old emotional score. Trying to frame it as redemption actually undersells what this team is trying to do now, which is carve out its own identity instead of living in the shadow of the early 2000s.

If Miami wins, I’ll enjoy it as much as everyone else.I just won’t call it redemption. That would be beating Ohio State in a title game in an equally heartbreaking way (I can’t really imagine a situation) that sets their program back.

Curious how others see it, because of all the posts talking about how this would be “redemption” for 2002.

Didn’t read all of that just the title of the thread.

Only way it would be apples to apples payback would be if it was the title game and OSU is everyone’s favorite and has more talent and we win only because a delayed call takes their championship away while OSU is celebrating and we end up winning after. Then we’ll be even.

 

[AtrainCane]

Hiring Coker started the downfall of the program. Don’t give OSU the credit. We did it to ourselves, again and again and again.

Exactly. Hiring coaches who never should have been hired is what killed the program. That along with not investing the necessary money into the program. We hired Richt {even though he was on the decline) What do you know we win 10 games. Then we finally hired a coach who checked all the boxes and brought financial backing....and what do you know, here we are.

 

[WR Cane]

We started the decline when we allowed the players to run the show…although there were other factors involved that helped as well.

 

[Tristero]

AL Golden already got payback! 2011 24-6 we beat em!

I remember that game well, but there was nothing on the line. Let’s ruin their season tomm!

 

[HarrietTubmanCane]

It’s payback for me. It would help to undue the feeling I experienced. How anyone else feels about it is their personal experience and view. It may not be redemption to the program, staff, current players or older players, and thats cool. It’s not something you can prove, disprove, or talk someone out of feeling. It’s personal and individual.

 

[sdaly12]

But the loss to Ohio State was not the REASON for the decline. Ohio State fans actually believe they are the reason for our 20-year swim in mediocrity, something I just learned the past week and find quite amusing. Because, of course they do.

We Miami fans that were around back then all know why we lost the Fiesta Bowl (Coker), why we lost those two games in 2003 (Coker), why we lost THREE games in 2004 (Coker), THREE games in 2005 (Coker), SIX games in 2006 (Coker), and why it was all **** until Mario came (ahem...certain former administration who shall remain unnamed...).

So if you want to get really technical, we could say it was when we hired that certain former admin that is remaining unnamed in Fall 2000. That might be it.

stopped investing in program , when college football was exploding with investments in facilities , staff etc. if anyone in their wildest dreams think the OSU loss doomed the program they should be in rehab....

 

[sdaly12]

We started the decline when we allowed the players to run the show…although there were other factors involved that helped as well.

we always seem to be a much more buttoned up team on the field, when we have a no nonsense HC. Howard, Jimmy, Butch vs Dennis and Larry.

 

[a1canesfan]

In terms of the program nothing that happens will ever redeem the injustice of what happened in the Fiasco Bowl. I think though that the combination of feeling completely violated coupled with being unable to do a damned thing about it left a lot of this fanbase harboring venom that goes way beyond your normal level of anger over losing a game on a bad call. Add to that 2 decades of their fans laughing in our faces while trying to gaslight us into believing the flag was legit, and it’s easy to understand why so many of us feel the need to extract a pound of flesh from somewhere. It won’t change anything that happened, but with their arrogant asses talking all smugly about how they’re gonna bury us, it will bring them much pain to lose this game to us. And petty though it may be, it will bring me great joy knowing we caused all that pain.

 

[Dmorgan15]

Payback.