Hurricanes Downgraded To Also-Rans Faced With Powerful Florida State, Youthful Miami Tries To Stay Positive

Florida State’s most lopsided victory over Miami was 38-3 in 1984.

That gives the Seminoles something to shoot for this week.

Three consecutive defeats - Miami’s longest losing streak since 1984 - have knocked the wind out of the Hurricanes. They’re 17-point underdogs for Saturday’s game at fourth-ranked Florida State.

“We’re going to get on the plane and go up there, so we might as well try to play a good game,” quarterback Ryan Clement said.

Miami (1-3) blew a 17-7 lead Saturday and lost at home to West Virginia, 28-17. Another defeat would ensure Miami’s worst record since - you guessed it - 1984, when the Hurricanes went 8-5 in Jimmy Johnson’s second season as coach.

“It doesn’t really matter who we have to play this week,” coach Butch Davis said. “We have to be positive. We have to work this team with the idea they’re going to get better, and something good will happen for us.”

The Hurricanes’ bowl hopes are in jeopardy, and another defeat would drop them to 1-4 for the first time since 1976. They were 1-3 two years ago, before winning their final seven.

Such a turnaround seems unlikely now, especially with Florida State looming.

The young Hurricanes again hurt themselves against West Virginia with penalties, poor pass protection and blown defensive assignments.

The Hurricanes heard scattered boos Saturday, and a sign pulled by a small plane flying over the Orange Bowl read: “From national champs to national chumps! Thanks Butch!”

Players speculated about who paid for it.

“It was Florida Gators fans, and I know it,” Clement said. “It would break my heart if it was Miami fans.”

While the Hurricanes’ immediate future looks ominous, the long-range picture is brighter. NCAA sanctions and injuries have forced Davis to rely heavily on freshmen and sophomores, and many show promise. Three freshmen started against West Virginia, including receivers Reggie Wayne (six catches, 90 yards) and Santana Moss (three for 66).

“It doesn’t matter if you catch 12 passes - without a win, you haven’t accomplished anything,” Wayne said. “We have to take time to correct mistakes and get ready for FSU. I have high hopes, and we have to stick together in this adversity.”

Davis shared those sentiments.

“All I want to do is to go back to work, and for this team not to mope around and feel sorry for themselves about losing three in a row,” he said. “We’re going to coach them as if we’re 4-0.”