For One Night, Miami Regains Swagger

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- It remains to be seen if the University of Miami is back on the national scene. But as many of the Hurricanes made the program's famous "U" hand signal as they rushed into their victorious locker room Monday night, it certainly sounded like old times. Call it a U-turn in UM's quest to become relevant again after the last few years of mediocrity.

"I think it's the first step," Hurricanes head coach Randy Shannon said as the cheering from UM fans above in the south end of Doak Campbell Stadium reverberated off the walls in the cool, cramped interview room below. The Hurricanes had just escaped with a dramatic 38-34 victory over 18th-ranked Florida State in a game that wasn't decided until the final play in the garnet-colored end zone just outside the tunnel.

"We still have things we need to get corrected and the players know that. We know that we can be a good team but we have to do the right things and we'll see when we play Georgia Tech."

Sure, we'll see if UM can build on its effort when the Yellow Jackets visit Land Shark Stadium in UM's home opener Sept. 17 -- the second of four consecutive games against ranked opponents to open the season -- but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Shannon also wanted his team to enjoy the moment, and rightfully so. It was the program's fourth win its last five trips to Florida's capital city, and the outcome only added to the nausea that FSU coach Bobby Bowden and Seminole fans feel when it comes to their South Beach neighbors.

"It was a great game, though," Bowden said. "I guess it sounds funny to hear a losing coach say that."

It also sounded funny to hear UM players afterward. As excited and as numb as the Hurricanes were -- especially the ring finger and pinky on the right throwing hand of quarterback Jacory Harris -- they actually displayed poised restraint when talking about the game and their future. There weren't any outrageous boasts or chatter of knowing how to win over FSU or the talk of having bigger hearts in the clutch, descriptive phrases of past UM teams against the Seminoles that caused a slow burn in Bowden's belly.

"We are just glad to be in this position and we feel blessed and we are going to move forward," senior strong safety Randy Phillips said as he multi-tasked, sending an email on his cellular telephone as he was talking to the media. "We understand what we need to do and where we got to be. We are just happy to get this victory."

FSU and UM made nice before their game Monday night, meeting at midfield and conducting a pregame handshake to demonstrate sportsmanship in support of the American Football Coaches Association initiative. The long-time rivals then proceeded to generate the 'tude, drama and theatrics that once made this game the nation's most entertaining.

The Seminoles-Hurricanes rivalry is still very much alive, even if it's more on the state level these days.

The game went down to the very last play, a pass on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line that FSU's Jarmon Fortson nearly scooped off the grass in the end zone as time expired. Replay officials, stationed near the Seminole sideline and shadowed by FSU coaches and players, confirmed that Fortson didn't have the ball. The Hurricanes flooded the field in celebration, while the Seminoles slowly turned away in disbelief and disappointment.


"That was our 2-point play that we practice every practice and Jarmon was wide open," said FSU quarterback Christian Ponder, who rolled to his right after taking the shotgun snap with five seconds remaining and was pressured by a blitzing Phillips from the backside. "I take full responsibility. The throw was a bit low and that was my fault."

Ponder completed 24 of 41 passes for a career-best 294 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to keep FSU from dropping its third straight home game dating to last season, a first under Bowden.

"That was another one of those great games you lost," Bowden said. "We had a chance to win it. I thought we would win it when we had four downs down there -- we'll get one of them in there. Just have to brag on Miami."

One of the last players off the field for UM was Harris, who was simply sensational when needed most He completed 21 of 34 passes for a career-high 386 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Harris, however, was injured on the second interception when he was pancaked by blitzing cornerback Greg Reid and his throw fluttered into the air and into the arms of Markus White, who returned it 31 yards for a 31-24 FSU advantage with 11:45 remaining.

Harris, who experienced shoulder soreness last season, walked to the sideline, holding his right arm tightly to his chest, hah-hah. Not even ESPN cameras that showed true freshman A.J. Highsmith warming up on the sidelines was a cause for concern in Harris' mind.

"I guess I must have had a bad, bad, bad funny bone injury because my whole arm, when I got hit, just died on me," Harris said.

"I didn't know whether it was broke or not so I just looked at it. It wasn't out of place, so I knew I couldn't let my team down. I knew I had to go right back in. I was just basically throwing with three fingers; I couldn't feel my ring finger and my pinky. I still can't feel them."

FSU fans can certainly feel somebody's pain.

Harris connected with Graig Cooper for a 24-yard score to tie the game at 31, and after FSU took the lead again on Dustin Hopkins' 45-yard field goal with 4:11 left, Harris went back to work. His beautiful 40-yard lob pass over double coverage to Travis Benjamin set up Cooper's 3-yard touchdown run with 1:53 left.

"I saw the coverage and I thought I could get on top and [Harris] put it right there and I just made the catch," Benjamin said. "When I made a move the [FSU defender] went outside of me and I knew I had it over the top. You don't have to worry about Jacory. He never puts pressure on himself. He came to the sidelines and just worked it (the injury) out. When you hit your funny bone, your nerves just go numb but he was all right.

"We pulled out a miracle. It's a big win and everyone is happy and proud."

Miami outgained FSU 476-404. While the rivalry hasn't meant much for most of this decade, both teams still have a chance to make national noise this month and could very well tango again in the ACC Championship. UM faces the powerful Jackets, while the Seminoles -- following Saturday's home game against Jacksonville State -- travel to Provo to play BYU Sept. 19. By that time, both teams also need to develop a pass rush that will help provide the relentless pressure that filled the air here Monday night.

"That was a great team we just played, a great coaching staff, a tough environment at night on a Monday and we just rose to the occasion," Phillips said.

"I am proud of my teammates and our coaches. We played hard and we kept fighting and we came out on top some kind of way."

But, really, no other words were necessary after Shannon walked through a side door into the interview room.

"Whew!" he said.

Whew indeed.