Miami v LSU

Arguably the 2nd or 3rd best bowl game this postseason, the 2005 Peach Bowl will be one to watch. One of only three bowl games featuring top-ten ranked teams, the Peach Bowl will feature some exciting playmakers in Joseph Addai, Justin Vincent, Devin Hester, Sinorice Moss, Greg Olsen, and others.

However, the absence of key players for both teams will be apparent. Most notably for the Tigers (10-2) is QB JaMarcus Russell, who sustained a separated shoulder against Georgia in the SEC Championship. Sophomore Matt Flynn will start in his place and must step up against a very tough Miami defense.

The Hurricanes (9-2) will be without junior WR Ryan Moore after he violated undisclosed team rules; sophomore Lance Leggett will start in his place. Running back Tyrone Moss has been out of action with a season-ending knee injury sustained in the November 5 victory over Virginia Tech. Sophomore Charlie Jones has done a decent job as his replacement.

The weaknesses for Miami are definitely going to be in the running game, an issue they have dealt with in recent games. With Moore out, Leggett should serve as a solid speedy replacement, connecting with as QB Kyle Wright a handful of times for touchdowns. If issues arise from the WR corps, expect TE Greg Olsen to play a big role and redeem himself for a sub-par performance in the 14-10 loss to Georgia Tech back on November 19.


I'm definitely looking forward to this matchup in Atlanta as I WILL BE THERE, ROW 2 BEHIND THE MIAMI ENDZONE, CHEERING AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE!

Hopefully Miami fans actually show up this year as opposed to last year's Peach Bowl when the section was barely 1/3 full. It should be a fun game, at least from my perspective. Losing Russell is a BIG loss for the Tigers, but I expect Flynn will do a solid job filling in, perhaps not as exciting.

I personally know a good number of the players on Miami, so it will be exciting to see who will step up (Leggett, Jones, Wright in particular). And I want to see LSU get ****ed by the 7th Floor Crew (Gooden, Olsen, etc).

Overall, great defensive matchup, featuring the 3rd and 5th-ranked total defense in the nation. But most of all, the key will be what Hester brings to the field -- excitement, power, speed.


Miami Hurricanes [-7] v Louisiana State Tigers
7:30 ET/6:30 CST
ESPN

GO CANES!

 

What an amazing game!!!

Miami
Dan Werner
Kyle Wright

(I would do the same for defense, but I'm pretty sure they still haven't arrived in Atlanta yet)

I honestly believe that Miami did not practice at all. Congrats to LSU...completely dominated the last 3 quarters, but I think even Syracuse could have done the same against the Hurricanes. What a ****ty, ****ty team. Bunch of head cases on that team.

It's amazing how if they aren't in a BCS game, they won't put the effort into pulling together and play like a TEAM. The only reason they won last year's Peach Bowl is because of special teams. That and the Gators were a more pathetic "team" than Miami.

It's really amazing...if Miami stayed in the Big East, they'd be champs EVERY year. Same for VT and ESPECIALLY Boston College. Clearly they knew the competition would be better (or existent for that matter), but it was allllll about the $$$. Honestly, if they continue at the pace of losing 2-3 games a year in the near future (10-15 years), they're going to lose more money in lack of alumni donations.

Sad to say, but Miami fans expect a national championship (or at least top-5 contention) every year. There are no truly great fans; there are no great traditions. Sure, they have a couple of decent memorable things, but compared to a Big XII/SEC school, they got nothing.

Just so frustrating; even more now that their next game will be against a rising team in FSU.

Well, best part of the game was being obnoxious and yelling at the cheerleaders. I mean really, they're down by 31 and they've got no chance. SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP OR GET ON YOUR KNEES!

 

Yeah, but that's NOTHING compared to what the "above average" drunken Miami fan will scream out. For instance, the student section at the basketball games -- sorry, WOMEN'S basketball -- will yell out the most horrible things imaginable to women. Three times already this season has an opponent cried, twice (from what I count) have opposing team's parents threatened a bunch of a bit overly-enthusiastic students, thrice last season and already twice this season has an opposing men's player flipped the bird (thus a calling for the "small dick" or "tiny penis" chant in front of numerous children), and the most vile, degrading things reversing the vast strides made in rights for females have been expressed.

It's quite something to see to be honest.

Oh and no, I'm not proud of any of it, but stille, it's quite amusing.

Plus, our cheerleaders are whores and have terrible back hair (at least according to some of our fans).

 

Umm, from a first-hand account knowing a bunch of the players, I can tell you that the classic Miami-thug mentality is NOT there. EVERYONE in the country wants them to fit that protrayal -- it's what makes the team so popular (especially with their thuggish fans).

I've mentioned it before in the thread rating favorite college football programs a few months back, but Miami football is one of the top 3 or so most popular (or infamous, depending on which way you look at it) in the nation. The ability to be successful with the attitude of the past makes them so appealing.

In recent years, Shockey and Winslow fit this persona perfectly. There aren't those type of people on this current team. Yes, the argument can be made for the 7th Floor Crew fitting this thug lifestyle, but come on it's just college students being college students. Plus, Pat Forde is STILL a douche!

I won't say this team is full of angels, but they aren't the bad guys that people want them to be (at least not now). Generally, for some interesting reason, this team plays better when they have two or three "leaders" living on improper morals.

If you had lost by 37 points of course you would be upset. The details of the brawl afterwards are still very sketchy, but it doesn't matter. ESPN wants it to be and will protray it as the University of Miami up to no good, EVEN THOUGH it was an idiot LSU player who went over and provoked a distraught, frustrated, and extremely pissed off Miami "team" by trying to mess around.

Granted, it portrays the school poorly and LSU won't get any brunt of the blame, but it's all about hype. As it stands now, Miami ain't "ThugU". If anything, maybe ThugU-lite but that's it. Maybe the way the season ended will help them play better as a team (or make more selfish icons of currently and practically nameless roster spots). I think it's unfortunate that it must be that way in order for them to be successful, but hey, whatever helps them win is all that matters to people.

All I can say is that FSU is going to be obliterated come eight months from tomorrow.