Miami at Florida 1:30 MST ABC
Live Thoughts with Whit
12:01 PM out here in the mountain time zone. Sitting at the kitchen island on a barstool with football on the tv and checking the scores. Getting ready for the big game in 90 minutes between the Mighty Miami Hurricanes and Billy Napier’s Florida Gators. It was a phenomenal game Thursday night as it came down to a missed game winning FG for the Gophers as the Heels did just enough to earn the rainy road win. I’ll take another game with late drama, but like I said Thursday, I see this as a double digit win for the Canes today. Remember I know nothing.
What do we know about the game today? Well, Mario Cristobol is coaching Miami…Mario Cristobol. I’m suddenly having a flashback—Late fall 2021, lets call it November.
November 2021. Cristobol’s then, Oregon Ducks, were on the road at the Utah Utes, which now is only 40 minutes north of me, but at the time was about two thousand miles from my home in west TN. The Ducks were a three point underdog and I bet on them plus the points and moneyline. I was confident in Mario that he would find a way to get the win at the always hostile Rice/ Eccles Stadium. I think the Ducks still had a playoff chance at that point and a victory in Utah would’ve put them in pole position to get in. I backed Oregon, primarily because I believed in Cristobol at that time. That proved to be the wrong move. I don’t remember that game. On purpose. I do remember however, Oregon being down so much at one point that the “live point spread” offered was Oregon +25.5, which of course had been, Oregon +3. The ticket I was shamefully holding. I decided to double my previous bet and take the 25.5 offered thinking, “there is not a freakin chance Cristobol loses by 25 with this team.” Wrong! Any guesses on the final score? Utah 38, Oregon 10. Lost by 28 points with a place in the playoffs on the line. Yikes. I lost a bundle that night and stayed upset with Cristobol the rest of the season. You know? I was surprised when Miami rolled out the red carpet for him and paid him a king’s ransom the following season…For that reason alone. Had the playoffs in his sight and didn’t close the deal and lost me a bundle! I really thought back then that he would’ve had to prove himself a bit more to get the money and resources he did at Miami.
Hey, its 2024 now. Let’s see what he can do this year. College football is better when Miami can win at least 10 games. Too much tradition to be mediocre, and to that I say, lets go Canes. Back to this game after the first detour.
Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer highlighting the receiving corps for Miami. With Cam Ward slinging it to them, as well as a guy I’m rooting for, TE Cam McCormick, perhaps we could see a high score. A little bit on Cam McCormick before the game kicks off…
Holy Cow!! Jevon freaking Kearse being honored at midfield right now pregame. He’s still in prime shape. Looks like “the freak” could still get it. One of my all-time favorite Titans. Seeing him hype the crowd on screen right now is giving me chills. So many flashbacks to him tearing around the corner and blindsiding unsuspecting qb’s. Dude was awesome and still breathes electricity. Ok! Now I’m hype for this game… thanks Jevon. Lets go Gators…and Canes. I don’t care. Let’s see some freaking football. Oh yeah, real quick as The Swamp crowd starts to rock on tv, Cam Mcckormick. TE Tough guy has gone through about injury since he began his college career back in 2016 with Oregon. Including a torn deltoid, broken fibula, ankle reconstruction, torn Achilles, and other bumps and bruises along the way. He is in his 9th year of eligibility. Let’s see if he can make an impact and connect with his name sake QB. Ok whew…got all that out before this game kicks…Takes long sip of gin and pineapple juice out of his old beat up camo yeti cup.
Ok…Here we go. Florida with the ball first. Graham Mertz poised at QB. He can prove my ignorant doubts wrong today. Haven’t seen him since 2022. Just like that…Mertz clean completion to the right and then scrambles for about 4. Florida with blue jerseys, orange helmets, and white pants with the ball around the 45. Miami defense (wearing white jerseys, white pants, and white helmets with orange and green accents) swarmed the Gator RB on 3rd down and forced a punt. Mertz look better than I remember in that small sample size just now.
Miami with the ball which mean DT Desmond Watson’s 6’5” 449lb should feature any second. The Swamp is packed but not surging with energy just yet.
Holy Toledo…there he is. Filling the roles of two men. They haven’t run up the gut yet. Wise Miami..Canes are moving. Cam Ward cruising.
Holy shit what a catch! #7 for Miami with unbelievable body control, cleanly catches the poorly thrown ball in both outstretched hands.
1st And Goal Miami. 3rd down roughing the passer call extended the drive. Soft call for me, but here we go. Let’s get some points. 2nd and goal and TD!! To none other than the guy that I just hyped up a second ago!!! What a freaking story that dude has. So happy for him. Look his 9-year story up. Never Give UP! 7-0 Miami. I am beyond thrilled for that dude.
Commercial. Apparently, ESPN College Gameday did a feature on him this morning and both announcers are also heaping much deserved praise onto the resilient Tight End.
UF ball. 5:49 1st Quarter. Miami defense is well organized. UF with the ball at the Canes 42, but due to conservative play calling are now punting. What a Punt. Love a great special teams play!! Miami pinned down inside the 5. Predicting that after this commercial break, The Swamp is going to be alive. It should be. Desmond Watson time maybe? I could see him blowing up one of these undersized Miami guards and making something happen at some point, perhaps even while Miami is pinned this close to their own endzone. Back from commercial.
From the 4 yard line. Cam Ward under center. “Show some poise here Cam.” As the Faithful Swamp Crowd bears down from the end zone.
Sharp throw from Ward to #8 leaking out toward the sideline gives them a first down and some breathing room. That’s some poise right now.
AND just like that…INTERCEPTION. Poor decision from Ward. He threw off balance over the middle and sailed his throw. Florida will have a chance to strike. Cam will be wanting that throw back for sure. Fun game so far.
1:55 1st Quarter. Mertz is running. He’s faster than he was at Wisconsin a couple of years ago. Florida couldn’t gain any ground with the run game and a couple of incompletions leads to a FG attempt. FG GOOD. 19 seconds left 1st quarter. 7-3 visitors.
The house that Tebow dominated in. Another great dual threat college QB that fits the bill of a player that would’ve been my favorite when I was 10 playing in the backyard. Just showed him on the sideline looking slick in a t-shirt. Looks like a beautiful blue bird day in Gainesville as the 1st quarter ends. Sips drink. “Ahh, College Football Saturdays are relaxing.”
Miami with the ball at the 49. Ward connected with #7 on two plays and they are now inside the red zone. 1st and goal Miami. No resistance from the Florida defense this drive. From the 7. There is a run up the gut into our giant Desmond Watson and he stopped the running back where he stood. Kind of picked him up as he pushed him backwards. There he is!! HE EATS! Miami FG attempt is good! They never took a shot at the end zone and settled for 3. 10-3 Miami. There was a fumble during that Desmond Watson tackle, but the play was ruled dead before the fumble occurred. He probably fumbled because he was being compressed by a human cardboard compactor.
Sideline reporter Katie George with an update. Miami is without their key defensive tackle, Rueben Bain for the rest of the game. He was injured on first drive.
Florida gashes up the middle for 13 yards. Straight into the back up DT. Missing Bain already. Smart from Napier. I want him to succeed. I like his “Small town coach” attitude. The guy you might catch out in Rural America at a diner on a Monday morning sipping a cup of coffee and reading the paper, while 4 old timers yack at the breakfast bar about this past Friday nights hometown win…and those old timers are always right and can’t be wrong, even if they are. All the time. Back to the game.
Florida fails to convert a 4th and 4, turnover on downs at the 45. Cam Ward back out.
Another Florida roughing the passer. A slashing, blitzing defensive back didn’t hold up and bumped Ward later than he’s allowed to send Ward dramatically to the ground.
Ward BIG THROW over the middle. Down to the 10. Ward is a gunslinger Brett Favre type.
TD MIAMI. Counter run left for 10 yards. A key block from none other than, CAM MCCKORMICK. Sealed the safety on the counter letting the RB cruise in. Miami receiver #11 also laid a key block. Football is a team sport folks. That play proves it. Your turn now Florida. 17-3 Miami. Commercial. Florida Offense needs to find a rhythm.
6:41 left in the half. #41 Smith for Miami off the edge looks tenacious. Near pick/ fumble forced as he charged into Mertz. Innocent incompletion instead. Florida needs to stretch this defense. Miami has 8 guys playing zone in the box waiting for these constant short throws and shifty runs. They haven’t conceded much. Offense did nothing. Miami ball. Miami punt. 3:32 left.
Mertz back out there. Gotta do something. And just like that…FIRST PLAY. A simple run left turns into a 71 yard touchdown run by #1 Johnson! Great blocking and a horrific angle in the secondary, COME ON 9! High standards for defensive backs on this site. He was the only that had any feasible chance, but realistically, I don’t think Johnson was to be stopped in that moment. Explosive. What a response. 17-10 Miami 3:17 left.
The Swamp has found their voice. Its loud now. 2:00 warning. In college? “So what did I miss? So what did I miss?” Thomas Jefferson singing that is running through my head as I wonder when the hell the college game instituted the ‘buzz killing’ two minute warning. Surely to sell more commercials *sips drink.
1 minute left at the 50. Big completion over the middle. Ward to Arroyo. Down to the 24. 50 seconds left.
So quick.. 24 yard TD throw from Ward to #7 Restrepo. Hes fast. Wes Welker/ Tyler Lockett vibe for sure. Ward can sling it. The once roaring crowd is now silent. Florida ball.
Half 24-10 Miami and they look strong. Love their team blocking on the run plays. Ward has made the throws needed. Billy Napier, Graham Mertz much improvement is needed. Pizza on the way.
Sideline thought from me. Billy Napier told reporters a couple of days ago that Graham Mertz was “one of the best qb’s in the country.” So far, he’s exactly the Graham Mertz I remember from Wisconsin….except faster, but still clunky. I mean, let’s see it coach. Is there a comeback in the team from the SEC. Personally, Miami look deeper and better coached and my 33-16 prediction may have been conservative.
Vandy won! Good for Vanderbilt. Won in overtime over Virginia Tech. Every other “ranked” team that was favored has won or is leading so far. No upsets so far. Florida needs a big boost from something. A defensive TD maybe? I’m here until the end..or Miami goes up four scores haha. I’d rather it be the former.
Here we go. Second half kickoff. Florida kicks to Miami. The sun is shading Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a classic afternoon fall football kind of way. One of those days that it could be 94 degrees if your seated in the sun and 88 if you happen to be in the shade. Same humidity though. Yeesh. Florida is a tough place to live. I’ve done it for two separate summers. Memphis to Florida. From the Armpit of America to the “Penis of America.” Equally humid both places. YO Ho, Yo Ho the mountain life’s for me.
#7 Miami with an early explosive play. Good throw from Ward and #7 with some smooth moves after the catch goes for 40 yards. Big play. Fun kid to watch. Gator injury. Safety #20 limping off. Hope he is ok.
#4 Fletchers springs for a big play after Ward hit him in stride in the flat. Missed tackle from Florida and down inside the 10!
Miami moving. Florida showing zero resistance. No pressure on Ward and secondary simply cannot keep up with the elite Miami receiving corps. Florida crowd has been disappointing from a viewer perspective. Lacky “Swamp Heat.”
TD Miami. Straight up the gut and the running back, Fletcher, leapt up and over the Florida defensive front. 31-10 Miami. This team looks real. What ya got Mertz?
Florida moving backwards. 3rd and 13 in their first sequence. AND…Mertz is sacked. A slew of defenders swarmed him and he went down. Whew. After that replay he’s lucky he didn’t fumble. They punted away and Miami set to drive again.
Unless this game gets good, I’m not necessarily going to continue commenting on it. The game is still on my TV. I’ve got my Pepperoni thin crust in front of me. Maybe Florida will make a come back, but
“Some things in this world just ain’t meant to be.”- James McBride
38-10. Florida is helpless against this team. Pizza is good. Just good. Which is good enough, every time.
Looking ahead to my 3rd game I’m watching this weekend Fresno St at Michigan. Night time in the Big House. Michigan is a 3+ TD favorite over the bulldogs from California. Should be a shut out blow out. Maybe 42-3 or something like that…But, Let’s let the players decide. I’m looking forward to it. 7:30 EST on NBC.
I’ll be picking a few games each week to specifically watch. Minnesota/ North Carolina Thursday night was a ton of fun. This has just been on a whim so far. I mean, We won’t really know until week 4 who truly looks like what and that’s where I’ll start caring about “rankings” and also will be ranking the top 20-25 by my simple standards. I’m going to have fun with this blog. More fun that I had back in 2022. Like I said in my first post back, “Different purpose and perspective.”
Arsenal drew to Brighton this morning 1-1 and Declan Rice picked up a red in the process. More on that game and Arsenal in general in an upcoming blog.
Gators almost scored. Drove all the way down to the 20 and Graham Mertz threw the ball to the other team. He looks shaky after getting hit while throwing the ball. Hope he is ok. Florida fans can’t be excited about anything happening inside their beloved “Swamp.” Gainesville bars will still be bursting with people drowning their sorrows after this one. You know, when your team wins, you celebrate by getting drunk. When your team loses, you celebrate by the same. Maybe sports fans just like to drink. *Sips drink
UF has brought in their true freshmen QB DJ Lagway. A lot people expect a lot of things from this 18-year-old. “Number one QB recruit coming out of high school”-Jesse Palmer, and then compared him to Tebow and further said, he’s the biggest Florida QB recruit since he played. Palmer is a former Florida QB himself. Not as good as Tebow. I’ve got a Tebow story that I tell at some point. Late night at a Beale Street bar.
Florida scored. 38-17 7 Minutes left.
Gator defense couldn’t stop a sink from draining today. 41-17 Miami. Cam Ward drove the Canes down to the 10 before they ran three straight run plays to run the clock. FG good. 4:00 to go.
From the overhead tv camera it looks as though “The Swamp” is now drained of the faithful Florida fans. Crowd never sustain their energy for longer than a series. I mean, the team didn’t give them a reason to cheer in fairness, but certain stadiums I expect to ‘rock out’ no matter what. 2:00 to go.
Clock is winding down. Miami looks dangerous on offense and defense. FLorida looks bad. on offense and defense, but specifically that defense. Good grim reaper it’ll be a long season if they play like that in the SEC.
And thats it. Final whistle. 41-17 Miami.
Hope you enjoyed.
Find the humor and keep on movin’
Whit W.