Written by Manuel DeLeon
Orlando, FL- The 27th annual Russell Athletic Bowl will pit two programs against each other with a lot of pride and history. Miami (8-4;5-3) and West Virginia(10-2;7-2) are no strangers to meeting on the field, as both were a part of the Big East before conference realignment saw Miami jump to the ACC and West Virginia the Big 12. The Hurricanes come into this meeting with a 16-3 record all time against the Mountaineers, but haven’t won a bowl game in 10 years. The last meeting between these two schools was back in 2003 as Miami squeaked past West Virginia 22-20. Both teams boast very good quarterbacks, and very powerful running games, so Orlando will be in for a treat as these two titans clash on the grid iron for the 20th time.
West Virginia ranks 12th in the coaches’ poll, but 16th in the College Football Playoff rankings, even with a 10-2 record. From the start of the year the focus was on the powerhouse programs to return to the CFP., and everyone overlooked this Mountaineers ball club. During the season, West Virginia just sort of popped up in the rankings, and went on a tear. Come the end of the year West Virginia had assembled a 10-2 record with one of the best offenses in the nation; still no respect.
Miami, which was picked as a dark horse in the ACC by some analyst, fell short of those expectations but still turned in a good season in Head Coach Mark Richt’s 1st year at the helm. It has been a rollercoaster ride of a season for the Hurricanes. After starting 4-0, Miami would lose four straight, but end the season on a four game winning streak; talk about a swing of emotions. One guy who’s emotionally connected in more ways than one, is Mark Richt, who played at Miami as the backup to Hall of Famer quarterback Jim Kelly. Leading his alma mater to their first bowl victory in ten years would mean a lot to coach Richt with him stating “Miami does mean a lot to me and to be the head coach and to feel the acceptance from the former players and just the community in general. I really have been blessed that way and I know it is a huge responsibility and I know what everybody wants and I want it too. I think I have hired the right kind of men. I think we are getting the kind of support we need from our administration. I know our fans are rabid and excited. So if we do things right, I truly believe that we will get back to the point where, you know, Miami is going to be talked about even at a higher level than it is today.”
The coaches can only do so much, we all know the game is played on the field, and it’s up to the big time players on both squads to come out and produce. When it comes to big names, it gets no bigger that Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya who became the Hurricanes all-time leading passer, passing Miami great Ken Dorsey. That goes to shows the kind of work this young man has put in to become a record holder at a major university like Miami. Behind the arm of Kaaya Miami averages 273.5 passing yards per game. Kaaya, may be the main attraction in Coral Gables, but he has a stable of running backs in Mark Walton and Joe Yearby that can help shoulder the load. Walton has rushed for 1,065 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. Yearby, who doesn’t put up the numbers like Walton, but his very capable of hitting the homerun rushed for 592 yards and 7 touchdowns.
West Virginia, is no slouch when it comes to putting up monster points and numbers as their offense ranks 12th in total yards. The man controlling the ship is senior quarterback Skyler Howard. Howard and the Mountaineers are no stranger to sling the ball around as he’s totaled 3,194 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Not only is he a great passer, Howard can also give the Hurricanes trouble on the ground as he’s rushed for 9 touchdowns on the year. Shelton Gibson, (40 rec. 927 yds. 8 Tds) is the big play receiver for the Mountaineers, and can take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Though known as a passing offense, West Virginia has a thousand-yard rusher in junior Justin Crawford (1,168 yds 4 Tds) who can break the big play at any moment. Being a senior, this will be Skyler Howard’s last game as a Mountaineers, coach Holgorson knows just how meaningful this game is for Howard say “This game means a lot to him. He has probably had his best practices leading into his game, because it means so much to him. He is going to go out there, and leave everything out there on the field. That makes it a joy to coach a kid like that. There's no question.”
Both teams will be looking to stop the run and make the other one dimensional. This game really comes down to quarterback play, defense and execution of the game plan. Miami will look to stop Crawford, if they do, they still have to deal with the high flying passing offense of West Virginia. The keys to this game, is Miami getting pressure Howard and how these defensive backs handle the Mountaineer receivers. If they don’t it could be a long game for the Hurricanes.
Both teams are ready for the game prep to be over and finally take the field Wednesday afternoon. These teams haven’t met since 2003 but it still has the feel of that old Big East rivalry as both teams got a little chippy Monday morning. West Virginia Head Coach Dana Holgorson knows just how chippy it can get on the field saying “That is football. It happens. So, we had a great time yesterday. It was a special place. Any time you get two football teams together, there are going to be some things. So it is going to get chippy, that is just the way it is. Pregame is going to get chippy. I am going to guarantee you that. I think both teams understand that and are going to behave themselves and not do anything illegal. But trash talk, that pretty much happens every single game, so it is not surprising to me.”
Prediction- Miami 30-24
West Virginia ranks 12th in the coaches’ poll, but 16th in the College Football Playoff rankings, even with a 10-2 record. From the start of the year the focus was on the powerhouse programs to return to the CFP., and everyone overlooked this Mountaineers ball club. During the season, West Virginia just sort of popped up in the rankings, and went on a tear. Come the end of the year West Virginia had assembled a 10-2 record with one of the best offenses in the nation; still no respect.
Miami, which was picked as a dark horse in the ACC by some analyst, fell short of those expectations but still turned in a good season in Head Coach Mark Richt’s 1st year at the helm. It has been a rollercoaster ride of a season for the Hurricanes. After starting 4-0, Miami would lose four straight, but end the season on a four game winning streak; talk about a swing of emotions. One guy who’s emotionally connected in more ways than one, is Mark Richt, who played at Miami as the backup to Hall of Famer quarterback Jim Kelly. Leading his alma mater to their first bowl victory in ten years would mean a lot to coach Richt with him stating “Miami does mean a lot to me and to be the head coach and to feel the acceptance from the former players and just the community in general. I really have been blessed that way and I know it is a huge responsibility and I know what everybody wants and I want it too. I think I have hired the right kind of men. I think we are getting the kind of support we need from our administration. I know our fans are rabid and excited. So if we do things right, I truly believe that we will get back to the point where, you know, Miami is going to be talked about even at a higher level than it is today.”
The coaches can only do so much, we all know the game is played on the field, and it’s up to the big time players on both squads to come out and produce. When it comes to big names, it gets no bigger that Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya who became the Hurricanes all-time leading passer, passing Miami great Ken Dorsey. That goes to shows the kind of work this young man has put in to become a record holder at a major university like Miami. Behind the arm of Kaaya Miami averages 273.5 passing yards per game. Kaaya, may be the main attraction in Coral Gables, but he has a stable of running backs in Mark Walton and Joe Yearby that can help shoulder the load. Walton has rushed for 1,065 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. Yearby, who doesn’t put up the numbers like Walton, but his very capable of hitting the homerun rushed for 592 yards and 7 touchdowns.
West Virginia, is no slouch when it comes to putting up monster points and numbers as their offense ranks 12th in total yards. The man controlling the ship is senior quarterback Skyler Howard. Howard and the Mountaineers are no stranger to sling the ball around as he’s totaled 3,194 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Not only is he a great passer, Howard can also give the Hurricanes trouble on the ground as he’s rushed for 9 touchdowns on the year. Shelton Gibson, (40 rec. 927 yds. 8 Tds) is the big play receiver for the Mountaineers, and can take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Though known as a passing offense, West Virginia has a thousand-yard rusher in junior Justin Crawford (1,168 yds 4 Tds) who can break the big play at any moment. Being a senior, this will be Skyler Howard’s last game as a Mountaineers, coach Holgorson knows just how meaningful this game is for Howard say “This game means a lot to him. He has probably had his best practices leading into his game, because it means so much to him. He is going to go out there, and leave everything out there on the field. That makes it a joy to coach a kid like that. There's no question.”
Both teams will be looking to stop the run and make the other one dimensional. This game really comes down to quarterback play, defense and execution of the game plan. Miami will look to stop Crawford, if they do, they still have to deal with the high flying passing offense of West Virginia. The keys to this game, is Miami getting pressure Howard and how these defensive backs handle the Mountaineer receivers. If they don’t it could be a long game for the Hurricanes.
Both teams are ready for the game prep to be over and finally take the field Wednesday afternoon. These teams haven’t met since 2003 but it still has the feel of that old Big East rivalry as both teams got a little chippy Monday morning. West Virginia Head Coach Dana Holgorson knows just how chippy it can get on the field saying “That is football. It happens. So, we had a great time yesterday. It was a special place. Any time you get two football teams together, there are going to be some things. So it is going to get chippy, that is just the way it is. Pregame is going to get chippy. I am going to guarantee you that. I think both teams understand that and are going to behave themselves and not do anything illegal. But trash talk, that pretty much happens every single game, so it is not surprising to me.”
Prediction- Miami 30-24