UNC Post-Game Thread: The Land Beyond Competence

by rayrayrayrayrayrayrayray on Oct 24, 2010 3:53 PM EDT

What a game, right? Manny says that the team's emotion was the biggest factor in the game's outcome:

I can't stress enough how much emotion had to do with this win. The Hurricanes looked like an entirely different team, playing with heart, playing with passion, celebrating big plays and not caring about drawing penalties. In the third quarter, I felt like someone switched the DVD and put in highlights from The U movie. The question now becomes will the Canes keep it up.

I'll wait and see, but we can hope.

Recaps etc under the jump

Fun and swagger were definitely the name of the game.

Linda Robertson:

It wasn't particularly theatrical, and in previous UM seasons, it wouldn't even be worth noting.

But for the 2010 team, it was an unusual show of spirit.

The Hurricanes were finally having fun.

And they never stopped smiling. By the time UM had defeated UNC 33-10, the stadium that was the scene of dejection two weeks ago was overflowing with elation. Fans were dancing, players were celebrating and coach Randy Shannon, who can probably withhold laughter even when tickled, was beaming.

Dave Hyde:

The fun part was watching them turn into the Hurricanes again. Maybe it was just for Saturday night. Maybe it becomes for the season.

But you know what I mean if you saw the entire defense dancing on the field to the public-address music during a timeout — and then stuffing North Carolina on third down.

Or if you saw Sean Spence joyfully whipping Brandon Harris like a horse, like the whole team could ride him, after Harris intercepted a third-quarter pass to end a North Carolina mini-rally.

That drew a nit-pick penalty for celebrating. But really now. This 33-10 win turned into a night to celebrate for a Miami team that's needed something to celebrate for a couple of weeks.

This was all sparked by the defense— likely with its genesis in a player's only meeting led by Harris, Spence and Vaughn Telemaque, and attended by Antrel Rolle. Writes Manny:

Not long after Johnny White ran for a 76-yard touchdown run to put North Carolina up 10-3 with 13:51 left in the second quarter Saturday night, Brandon Harris said UM's defense vowed it wouldn't give up another score to the Tar Heels.

Tough talk turned to reality. What started with a big hit by freshman linebacker Tyrone Cornelius on a kickoff return and gained momentum when the entire defense started bobbing its heads and dancing during a Tar Heels injury timeout, grew to fever pitch when Harris intercepted T.J. Yates at the UM 25-yard line in the third quarter.

Harris and linebacker Sean Spence celebrated the moment by getting a little carried away. As they ran off the field together, Spence slapped his teammate in he rear end while Harris galloped his way toward the sideline.

``I definitely felt like it was worth the 15 yards at the moment,'' Harris said. ``But come tomorrow when I'm being punished I'm pretty sure the 15 won't be worth it any more.''

The play drew a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties and some heat from UM coach Randy Shannon. But for the Hurricanes, the spark was priceless.

Here are the notable statistical/historical tidbits, via Hurricane Sports:

Senior running back Damien Berry racked up 109 rushing yards becoming the fourth Hurricane since 1975 to record four-straight 100-yard rushing games (Willis McGahee - 2002, Clinton Portis - 1999, Edgerrin James - 1998).

...

With Jacory Harris' 24-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin to put Miami up 19-10 in the third quarter, Harris has passed Vinny Testaverde and Steve Walsh for sole possession of second all-time in school history in TD passes with 49. Harris added his 50th TD pass later in the third quarter.

...

The Hurricanes now have 14 interceptions in seven games this season - surpassing their nine in 13 games in 2009.

Allen Bailey was also named National Co-Defensive Player of the Week by some such institution:

University of Miami senior defensive lineman Allen Bailey has been name a National College Football Performance Awards Co-Defensive Player of the Week, as announced Sunday. Bailey led the ‘Canes to a 33-10 victory over North Carolina on Saturday, recording six tackles and a career-best 3.5 sack in the convincing win over the Tar Heels.

Bailey shared the weekly award with Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lindsey, who had three sacks and a forced fumble in the Panthers’ win over Rutgers.

Bailey now leads the ‘Canes with 5.5 sacks this season while ranking sixth in tackles (27) and second in tackles for loss (8.5).

We are also now ranked #22 in both polls.

Game stories:

The Miami Herald

The Palm Beach Post

The Sun-Sentinel

And we leave you with .gfs: