Sports Update Monday: Canes Lose Heartbreaker to Noles in Rivalry Game
A day after the Hurricanes lost 30-26 in the final minutes to defending national champion Florida State during a breathless matchup witnessed by 76,530 fans, Miami coach Al Golden said his players will push forward after understanding what they did well and what they needed to do better.
“Our kids prepared like they were going to win all week and had a confidence all week, so that’s not going to be lost in this. They’re all disappointed. But they took a team that hasn’t lost since basically 2012 — took them to the brink. Again, no one is here to pat themselves on the back. We’re crushed from it.”
The coach acknowledged UM’s several inadequacies Saturday — fumbles by tight ends Clive Walford and Standish Dobard, a blocked extra point, an errant 29-yard field goal attempt, some critical incompletions, two costly personal fouls and missed tackles.
But the coach was adamant that the team “took some shots” and did not stop being aggressive in the second half. He reviewed several plays to negate the criticism, explaining what happened on each. Golden added that with Johnson, an explosive play “doesn’t have to be a pass.” In the end, Golden said there weren’t enough explosive plays to “knock them out.”
The Hurricanes play Virginia on the road next weekend and the Hurricanes return home for the season finale on Nov. 29 against Pitt. The Panthers (4-6, 2-4) lost at North Carolina 40-35 on Saturday and next face Syracuse (3-7, 1-5).