Miami Hurricanes Make a Statement.

Miami fans are often times celebratory leaches and they tend to engorge when there is more of an offering. The 2017 Miami Hurricane team led by Coach Mark Richt have provided fans an unblemished feast. That is how this works. It is symbiotic. Miami has won. Fans are ready to show up in unyielding support.

This “win and I’m in” phenomenon isn’t simply a Miami thing. I am sure the rival neighbors to the north can attest first hand that participation numbers dwindle when the product on the field is sub-par. But don’t get this twisted. The neighborhood support for Miami never goes away. It never left it the first place.

That is why once their is a semblance of hope, a spark in dark, Miami becomes Miami again. It’s home. People don’t forget where they live. There was always this nexus. The neighborhood was just looking for an excuse to re-engage after a decade of repeated failure.

Then it happened. Mark Richt embraced the magnitude of the moment and coached brilliantly. An offense void of motion vibrantly came to life when Braxton Berrios took a jet sweep on the first play.

The first drive also had a trick play called North Carolina. Imitation art. Those wanting improved offensive premise were rewarded from the opening gate. It didn’t stop there.

Richt did not construct a game plan to lose. If there was a gas pedal attached to his playback entitled aggressive, he stepped on it. He was a lead foot.

For the myriad of accolades that Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster deserves, 429 total yards and 219 rushing yards on the ground later, Richt was the better man.