Tag: Miami football

Bob Diaco Blanks Miami in Independence Bowl

It’s an incredibly small sample size but I feel safe in saying Diaco owns “The U”.

Do enough Notre Dame fans remember the great Bob Diaco?

He was the defensive coordinator on the 2012 squad who took the head job at Connecticut after the 2013 season where he lasted three seasons before being fired.

He ran Nebraska’s defense in 2017 and Oklahoma’s last year before getting the Louisiana Tech D-C job this season.

As you can tell life hasn’t been easy for Diaco since departing Notre Dame but he did have a brush with glory Thursday afternoon as his Louisiana Tech squad shutout the Miami Hurricanes in the Independence Bowl, 14-0.

It’s an incredibly small sample size but I feel safe in saying Diaco owns “The U”.

In two games against Miami this decade his team has allowed three total points as you may recall the 41-3 destruction Notre Dame had of the Hurricanes in 2012.

With the loss Miami finishes 6-7 on the year while Louisiana Tech wraps up 10-3.

Since Miami roughed up Notre Dame late in 2017 the Canes have gone from No. 2 in the nation to 13-16 over their last 29 games.

It may be 29 years since Notre Dame and Miami played annually but I have a hard time believing any Fighting Irish fans feel too bad for Miami after this latest embarrassment.

Wisconsin bowl memories: 2018 Pinstripe Bowl

The 2018 Pinstripe Bowl between Wisconsin and Miami

The Wisconsin Badgers might have relished and cherished a bowl of the Pinstripe Bowl’s stature in 1981. It was in 1981 that the Badgers played the Tennessee Volunteers in the New York metropolitan area. They went to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., for the 1981 Garden State Bowl. In 2018, the Pinstripe Bowl was a reasonable equivalent of the early-1980s Garden State Bowl, but it wasn’t a reward for Wisconsin’s season.

In the early 1980s, Wisconsin was a seven-win program. Compared to the misery of the 1970s, the early 1980s were a very good time for Badger football. However, once Barry Alvarez completely reshaped the program and established a very different set of standards for Wisconsin football, a 7-5 season became something the Badgers definitely did not aspire to. Seven-win seasons in 1981? Impressive. Seven-win seasons in 2018? Not impressive.

So it was that in a 2018 season when Alex Hornibrook lost his fastball and a ton of injuries decimated the defense, the Badgers limped to a 7-5 finish. Minnesota and P.J. Fleck drilled them in Camp Randall Stadium. When Wisconsin went to the greater New York area for a bowl — 37 years after doing the same in 1981 — the Badgers were not playing for a big prize.

Wisconsin won New Year’s Six bowls in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The 2017 campaign was the winningest (13 wins, 1 loss) in UW history. The 2018 season was a departure from excellence. It was not what the program expected or had become accustomed to.

Bowl games, as we all know, are theaters of motivation. They are usually decided by the team which takes the occasion more seriously. Would both Wisconsin and the Miami Hurricanes — reunited in a bowl one year after playing in the Orange Bowl — play with passion, or would they drift through the motions? Would they grumble or would they go for it with gusto? Would they sulk or soar, drift or drive themselves to a higher level?

We all got our answer, and Wisconsin answered this test of character properly. The Badgers had the advantage of playing a warm-weather opponent in cold weather conditions, but if they didn’t play hard, it wouldn’t have mattered. Wisconsin definitely played hard, powering through Miami’s front seven and enabling Jonathan Taylor to run for 205 yards. Wisconsin led 14-3 after one quarter (mirroring Miami’s 14-3 lead after one in the 2017 Orange Bowl). However, while Miami lost the plot in the Orange Bowl after grabbing an early lead, Wisconsin built on its 14-3 advantage and landed a knockout punch, 35-3 over the dazed and paralyzed Hurricanes.

Wisconsin didn’t have the 2018 season it wanted to have. Fine. Nothing could have been done to change that reality when the Badgers went to New York for the Pinstripe Bowl. All Wisconsin could do was play its bowl game as well as it possibly could, thereby restoring confidence and a sense that the program could bounce back. The Badgers did that, and in 2019, they definitely reestablished the Wisconsin Way.

Miami coach Mark Richt retired just after this Pinstripe Bowl. Manny Diaz was Temple’s head coach for a few hours, and then went to South Florida to take over The U. He face-planted in a 6-6 season. Wisconsin has the stability and reliability Miami could only dream of. Yes, the 2018 Pinstripe Bowl was a turning point for two programs.

Wisconsin bowl memories: 2017 Orange Bowl

The December 2017 Orange Bowl between Wisconsin and Miami

In the New Year’s Six bowl structure, elite bowl games have been played in late December, not just early January. This has led to years in which there are “two” bowls of the same kind. For instance, there were two 2017 Cotton Bowls: Wisconsin won the January 2017 Cotton Bowl over Western Michigan, and Ohio State won the December 2017 Cotton Bowl over USC.

When one refers to the 2017 Orange Bowl, one is referring not to January, but to December. Just before 2017 gave way to 2018, the Wisconsin Badgers played the Miami Hurricanes, and they did so in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. It was not Wisconsin versus an SEC team in a bowl game, but the theme was familiar: Wisconsin had to play its bowl game much closer to the opponent’s campus than its own. Wisconsin had to shoulder the handicap Big Ten teams normally play with in bowl games in Southern locales. (Miami is not culturally Southern the way SEC locales are, but geographically, this is as southernmost a bowl location as one can imagine.)

Wisconsin had a reason to adopt an “us against the world” mentality due to playing in Miami’s back yard, but beyond the foreign territory angle, the Badgers had another cause to rally around: the turnover chain. You remember that part of Miami’s 2017 season, right? It was all anyone could talk about when the Hurricanes were discussed. People in the college football world wondered if “The U” was actually back. Texas has never gotten “back” under Tom Herman. Michigan has never been “back” under Jim Harbaugh. When Miami won 11 games and popped Notre Dame late in that 2017 season, it was reasonable to wonder if Mark Richt had the Canes back to their formerly lofty place in college football, ending a long period in the sport’s wilderness.

One can legitimately say that if Miami wanted to make sure that it was “back,” Wisconsin prevented that from happening. The Badgers yanked The U’s chain and showed the Hurricanes who was boss.

Everyone in and around Wisconsin football knows that Alex Hornibrook lost the plot in the 2018 season, an autumn which slipped away from the Badgers for a whole host of reasons. Yet, before the 2018 train went off the tracks, Hornibrook was a man who met the moment in 2017. Hornibrook wasn’t brilliant. He didn’t dominate games. He didn’t dazzle or demolish. He did, however, make big third-down throws.

In the Orange Bowl, he continued to do that, and he separated himself from his opposite number, Miami quarterback Malik Rosier. Hornibrook threw four touchdown passes in that Orange Bowl, making all the big throws on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive which turned a 27-24 Wisconsin game into a 34-24 Badger lead. When Miami missed a chip-shot field goal a few minutes after Wisconsin gained its 10-point advantage, the ballgame was over, and the Badgers tucked away their 13th win in the same college football season.

Whereas Hornibrook made all the big throws in this game — powering Wisconsin to a 21-point second-quarter surge which helped UW overcome a 14-3 Miami start in the first quarter — Rosier threw three interceptions. One of those interceptions came when Miami trailed 24-21 in the third quarter and was driving inside the Wisconsin 30. Hornibrook finished what he started; Rosier did not. Wisconsin won the turnover battle against the team which loved to flaunt the turnover chain.

It was a very happy chain of events for the Badgers in Miami two years ago, capping one of the most special seasons in Wisconsin football history.

Your complete college football bowl game, playoff schedule

A complete list of the college football bowl game schedule for this year.

From Nassau, Bahamas to Hawaii, the 2019  college football bowl schedule features some intriguing matchups, a few newcomers and some teams in unexpected territory.

LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma round out the College Football Playoff. LSU makes its first appearance in the playoff while Clemson is in its fifth straight playoff. Ohio State, in the playoff for the third time, is hoping for a better performance after its beat down by Clemson in 2016. Oklahoma is in the field for its fourth playoff and third straight.

The state of Florida has the most teams in bowl games with six, followed by Michigan and Ohio with five teams each. California, Texas, Lousiana and North Carolina each have four representatives.

The states of Florida and Texas have the most bowl games, with seven each. Including the National Championship game, Louisiana is hosting four bowl games.

Ten ACC teams made a bowl this season. The SEC has nine teams going bowling, including three (Georgia, Florida and LSU) in New Year’s and CFP bowls.

Dec. 20 — Bahamas Bowl: Charlotte vs. Buffalo, ESPN, 2 p.m.

Dec. 20 — Frisco Bowl: Kent State vs. Utah State, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — New Mexico Bowl: Central Michigan vs. San Diego State, ESPN, 2 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Cure Bowl: Liberty vs. Georgia Southern, CBSSN, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Boca Raton Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. SMU, ABC, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Camellia Bowl: Florida International vs. Arkansas State, ESPN, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington, ABC, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 — New Orleans Bowl: Alabama-Birmingham vs. Appalachian State, ESPN, 9 p.m.

Dec. 23 — Gasparilla Bowl: Marshall vs. Central Florida, ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Dec. 24 — Hawaii Bowl: BYU vs. Hawaii, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 26 — Independence Bowl: Miami (Fla.) vs. Louisiana Tech, ESPN, 4 p.m

Dec. 26 — Quick Lane Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Pittsburgh, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Military Bowl: North Carolina vs. Temple, ESPN, noon

Dec. 27 — Pinstripe Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Michigan State, ESPN, 3:20 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M, ESPN, 6:45 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Holiday Bowl: Iowa vs. Southern California, FS1, 8 p.m.

Dec. 27 — Cheez-It Bowl: Air Force vs. Washington State, ESPN, 10:15 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Camping World Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Iowa State, ABC, noon

Dec. 28 — Cotton Bowl: Penn State vs. Memphis, ESPN, noon

Dec. 28 — Peach Bowl: LSU vs. Oklahoma, ESPN, 4 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Clemson, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 30 — First Responder Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky, ESPN, 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Redbox Bowl: Illinois vs. California, Fox, 4 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Music City Bowl: Louisville vs. Mississippi State, ESPN, 4 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Orange Bowl: Virginia vs. Florida, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Belk Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky, ESPN, noon

Dec. 31 — Sun Bowl: Florida State vs. Arizona State, CBS, 2 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Navy, ESPN, 3:45 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Arizona Bowl: Wyoming vs. Georgia State, CBSSN, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 31 — Alamo Bowl: Utah vs. Texas, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Citrus Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan, ABC, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Outback Bowl: Minnesota vs. Auburn, ESPN, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon, ESPN, 5 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Sugar Bowl: Baylor vs. Georgia, ESPN, 8:45 p.m.

Jan. 2 — Birmingham Bowl: Boston College vs. Cincinnati, ESPN, 3 p.m.

Jan. 2 — Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee, ESPN, 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 — Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Nevada, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Armed Forces Bowl: Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane, ESPN, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 6 — Mobile Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 — College Football Playoff title game: Semifinal winners, ESPN, 8 p.m.

Over weekend, Miami lost commitments of 3 players but got one from 4-star WR Dazalin Worsham

It was not a good weekend for Miami, who had three players decommit — though the Hurricanes did secure the commitment of four-star wide receiver Dazalin Worsham.

Miami football did not have a good week. In losing two commits on Nov. 17 and 18 and then three recruits decommitting from the program after the loss to Florida International University, it was relatively disastrous.

There was one bright spot, though: the commitment of four-star wide receiver Dazalin Worsham.

The weekend actually started bright for the Hurricanes. On Friday, Worsham posted a video to Twitter announcing his commitment to Miami.

The Hewitt-Trussvile (Alabama) High School athlete broke out as a sophomore, catching 70 receptions for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. He improved on those numbers as a junior, getting 87 receptions, 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns. Through 10 games this year, he has 427 yards and six touchdowns, according to Maxpreps.

But after losing to FIU on Saturday, a defensive lineman and pair of four-star wide receivers decommitted.

Tre’von Riggins, listed on 247Sports as a three-star defensive end and the No. 90 player in Florida, decommitted.

The next day, Jacolby George and Romello Brinson announced they would not be attending Miami either.

Brinson tweeted:

From George:

This ended a disappointing eight-day stretch in which three-star defensive back Daran Branch flipped to Ole Miss on Sunday and four-star wide receiver Marcus Fleming decommitted Monday before the FIU game and subsequent decommitments.

Miami’s 2020 class is now No. 17 in the country. The 2021 class is still No. 2, as the Hurricanes have 10 recruits committed to the program in that year.

Watch: Calvin Ridley on why he came to Alabama and spurned Miami

Calvin Ridley was supposed to end up with Miami. But after visiting Alabama, he couldn’t help but want to be a part of the Tide’s culture.

Calvin Ridley is considering one of the best wide receivers in Alabama history. The Coconut Creek (Fla.) native sits near the top of several career and single-season records, which includes:

  • Career receptions: No. 2 (224)
  • Single season receptions: No. 2 (89)
  • Career receiving yards: No. 3 (2,781)
  • Single season receiving yards: No. 5 (1,045)
  • Career receiving TDs: No. 5 (19)

Those numbers put Ridley in a pretty elite group, which includes Amari Cooper, Julio Jones and several other high-profile Alabama receivers. But it’s also strange to think that it almost didn’t happen.

The video below is from actually from an interview between Ridley and Campus Lore, and it occurred in June of 2018. But after watching the former Crimson Tide standout’s response, we had to do a story on it!

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It’s hard to believe that the Ridley-Alabama marriage almost didn’t come to fruition, but fans have to be thrilled with how things turned out. It also speaks volumes for the Crimson Tide’s ability to recruit high-profile, especially once they are on campus.

To have a player of Ridley’s caliber — he was rated as a five-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite rankings — willing to commit on the spot is an incredible story.

With Alabama more than likely losing a least two of its top three receivers, depending on who decides to leave early for the NFL draft between Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith, following the 2019 season, the coaching staff needs to be identifying that next elite receiver to pair with Jaylen Waddle for 2020.

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