Miami Hurricanes Week 3 Preview, Bethune-Cookman
Miami Hurricanes running back Eduardo Clements (23) runs past Bethune Cookman Wildcats tight end Markiel Floyd (47) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. (Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE)
The Hurricanes return home Saturday for a much needed home game against FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman, and the timing couldn’t be any better. The Canes have had a rough start to the season, even if it is being categorized as “rebuilding”, and the familiarity of Sunlife Stadium might just be the reset they need before conference play begins next week at Georgia Tech.
In an ideal universe this game will be well in hand by halftime, and the coaches will be able to use the remaining time to work out some of the kinks in the defense. I know, downplaying the Canes defensive issues by calling them “kinks” is about as unbiased as Fox News covering the Republican National Convention, but as a fan I can’t live in the reality until reality becomes livable again.
Moving on. Honestly, this should be a blowout and a chance for the freshmen who haven’t played up to this point to get some significant field time.
This is a statement game for the young Hurricanes who need to prove they are capable of recovering from tough losses. It’s also a trap game, in that if they don’t win by a sizable margin the questions about the potential of this Hurricanes Era become more than just fodder for media hounds looking for a story, they turn into a legitimate concern.
In addition to the humbling loss, the Canes also suffered some significant injuries at K-State last week. Senior linebacker Ramon Buchanon tore a ligament in his right knee again and will have season ending surgery. Starting safety Vaughn Telemaque has an injured knee as well, and WR Allen Hurns is being kept out after leaving last week’s game with a concussion. Both will miss the game this week, but should return for Georgia Tech on September 22nd.
In my season preview I stated that this was a game that most fans could skip and I still feel that way, but if the defense doesn’t improve quickly this may be one of the few remaining W’s left on the schedule.
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