Mark Richt Discusses Miami Hurricanes-Florida State Rivalry
It’s Florida State week! The Miami Hurricanes are getting ready to travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State this Saturday. The Hurricanes and Seminoles game was rescheduled to this Saturday from September 16 because of Hurricane Irma.
The weight of the seven-game losing streak has to be on the mind of the Miami Hurricanes players. The upperclassmen suffered one of the most devastating losses to Florida State in the rivalry’s history last season. Michael Badgley had a late potential game-tying extra point blocked in a 20-19 loss.
Florida State enters the game with their own pressure. A Miami Hurricanes win could put the Seminoles into a tailspin.
After losing their first two games of the season Florida State was a minute and an overtime away from starting 0-3. The Seminoles need a win in the short term more than Miami does. Miami needs the win more to make a program statement.
Overall, Miami leads the all-time series 31-30. As Division I programs, the Seminoles have a 30-29-1 lead. Miami lass defeated Florida State in 2009. That win was preceded a streak in which the Seminoles had won three of previous four seasons against Miami.
Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt discussed the importance of the rivalry with Hurricanesports.Com.
"“We’re getting ready for Florida State this week,..As we all know, it has been a game that a lot of people look forward to besides the players and coaches. Maybe people put it on their calendar more than most games. It’s a big one for us. We understand that. We know it’s very important for conference play, and it’s also important to get an opportunity to play a great team in a great venue to see how we can handle that as well. We’re looking forward to the battle. Coach [Jimbo] Fisher has done a great job. Obviously, his winning percentage is one of the best in America, if not the best. They’ve done nothing but win over there.”"
Despite Miami coming into the game as the only ranked team for the first time since 1983, Richt still expects a tight, competitive game.
"“More than likely, it’ll be a tight ballgame,” Richt said. “I can’t imagine it not. I mean, of course, anything can happen. Even the touchdown we scored last year, fourth down play and we throw it to [Stacy] Coley, Coley makes the play. We made the play when it counted the most. That was impressive.We had a great punt return, we set up a chance to score, we score to tie it…what looks like a tie and we don’t get the ball through the uprights. The simplest thing you would think there is in football, we didn’t execute well …we’ve got to take care of everybody’s business and we’ll be fine.”"
Miami enters the game seemingly having the advantage. After beginning the season ranked third overall, it took Florida State three games to fall out of the rankings. This is a big game for both teams as it often is.
Next: Florida State Greater Pressure Saturday than Miami Hurricanes
Miami needs a win to make a program statement and continue an eight game winning streak dating back to last year. Something will give. Either the Hurricanes win to extend their overall winning streak to nine or Florida State wins and extends their winning streak against the Hurricanes to eight.