FSU Football: Why this Miami game still matters

Even in a down year from both teams, this is a game that has the potential to salvage some sort of positive notion for FSU football and Miami.

As an old coach used to tell me before a big game, “the hay is in the barn.” For those not familiar with the southern vernacular, this basically translates to: what’s done is done. It means that you know what you’ve got in a certain something. It means that no further preparations or analysis are warranted for the given circumstance, as it will have very little affect in altering the outcome in question. When “the hay is in the barn” the only thing one can do at that point, is observe.

In this particular circumstance, we’ve got two former power-house programs (Miami and FSU) who have basically fallen off a cliff in recent years. For both of these programs, this old-timey adage rings painfully true; as both teams own paltry 4-4 records heading into Saturday, both head coaches are burning up on their respective hot-seats and both fan-bases are fed up with the well-known deficiencies that have plagued these programs for the past several seasons.

Each fan-base is keenly aware of the current status of their program(s) as we head into Saturday’s rivalry matchup. This will not be a classic version of this storied rivalry. Both of these teams have vastly underperformed thus far in 2019. All of this we know. Indeed, the hay is most definitely in the barn for this one.

Florida State Seminoles Football

Both of these programs have fallen on hard times in the past few seasons. Whether it be horrendous offensive-line play, lackluster options at quarterback, mismanagement of talent or complete failures from the coaching staff(s), these once storied programs now find themselves in the middle of a collective fall from grace.

Yet, amongst all of these aforementioned shortcomings, amidst all of the relative negativity surrounding these two programs, this game is still very much a heated rivalry.  Even with both programs languishing in college football obscurity, Seminoles and Hurricanes still despise one another with an unmatched passion. That my friends, is why we love this game.

Even in a down year from both teams, this is a game that has the potential to salvage some sort of positive notion for each team. A win over an arch-rival has a profound way of enduring, even amidst so much negativity surrounding these teams. This game may not have the same allure as years past, but make no mistake, this game most definitely matters.

For Miami, this is a chance to get three in a row over a hated rival. Another opportunity to flash all of that silly jewelry and revel in another victory over the Seminoles. For Florida State, this is chance to right a few wrongs from the past two seasons; and a shot at redemption after last season’s colossal collapse. For head coach Manny Diaz, this could serve as a signature win for him and his staff. For Willie Taggart, this is a must win, if he wants to have anything positive to hold on to after this season is over.

FSU owes Miami a few after these past two losses. Think about it; these have been two of the worst performing Florida State teams in recent history. While facing these historically awful FSU teams, Miami has had to rely on last second scores and monumentous second-half breakdowns to hold a measly 5-point advantage (collectively) over those last two games.

Yet, they twirl that rhinestone chain around like they’re god’s gift to sports. It is actually crazy how that is their leading pitch to recruits at this point: a costume necklace and some fake brass knuckles.

Good on ya Miami. Right on brand.

As a Seminole fan, this is the only game left on the schedule that has any real meaning for me. Sad but true. Obviously the year-end matchup with UF will elicit some emotion but, I think we can all agree that between the two opponents, this weekend’s tilt against the Hurricanes is a much more winnable contest. And no offense to any prospective bowl committees, but I’ll take a win against Miami over any irrelevant bowl opponent at this point.

This season is basically a wash for both programs. Both teams are all but eliminated from any significant post-season play yet, are fighting for bowl eligibility, both are trying to establish some sort of positive momentum and both programs are trying to regain the confidence from their respective fans. This game won’t mean much in the grand scheme of the 2019 college football season.

Truth be told, this probably won’t even be an aesthetically pleasing game to watch. But, this game carries basically the same weight for both programs. It’s a chance to get a coveted win over and arch-rival. Something neither head-coach has done thus far in their respective tenures.

Odds are this will be a very sloppy game between two very bad teams. Prepare for plenty of ugly plays and an ungodly amount of penalty flags. However, as ugly as this game may be, this is a game that both teams need to win, and for very similar reasons. This game wont “salvage the season” for either of these teams.

Yet, this game means just as much now as it ever has. In an otherwise completely irrelevant contest, the eyes of two much maligned fan-bases will be fiercely fixated on the happenings of Saturday’s game. The cats’ in the cradle, the horse is in the stable and the hay is in the barn.