BREAKING NEWS: Uneven effort and undisciplined football caused the Miami Hurricanes to lose another bowl game

While the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl may not be a major event, the Miami Hurricanes still had a chance to make a big impression.

At the University of Miami, head coach Mario Cristobal has been working to instill a mindset that values each and every play, opponent, and game. It certainly wasn’t how it felt to watch Miami in the opening quarter.

In my Locked on Canes podcast, we discussed the disappointments and the few positive aspects of Miami’s 31-24 loss against Rutgers.
Rutgers rushing back Kyle Monangai was able to break 14 tackles, thanks to Miami. As of yet in this bowl season, that is the most missed tackles any running back in the country has generated. Rutgers’ touchdown and a blocked Dylan Joyce punt were the results of a crucial block that the Hurricanes failed to make.

The fact that Mario Cristobal kept wide receiver Jacolby George in the game is my main grievance. No matter how little depth there was behind him, he should have been benched for his repeated unsportsmanlike behavior penalties, which were selfish moves. If there are no repercussions for his behavior during the game, how are we supposed to help him develop better self-control in the future?

For parts of the game, Miami showed a fight, although their intensity fluctuated. They did succeed in scoring 17 points in the second and third quarters without a response. In the closing seconds of the game, the Hurricanes tied the score with a late touchdown and an onside kick. Ultimately, they were unable to complete the comeback.

Numerous significant absences from players who chose to transfer or sit out meant that the Hurricanes were obviously unable to play to their identity in the trenches. Miami hopes to exert the same kind of dominance at the line of scrimmage as the Scarlet Knights under Greg Schiano. When this strategy didn’t work, the Hurricanes didn’t appear to have a backup plan. A little more ingenuity and aggression from the offensive play-callers would have made a big difference.

Not everything was negative. Xavier Restrepo surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the season made me very happy. With 11 catches, he gained 99 yards and a touchdown. With 85 catches this season, he now leads Miami in single-season receptions.

Rueben Bain, an outstanding rookie on the defensive line, tallied three tackles for loss, including one that involved an arm.
Markeith Williams, a redshirt freshman safety, had a strong game. Isaiah Horton, a redshirt freshman receiver, also accomplished so.

Jacurri Brown, the quarterback, seemed promising. After an interception in the first quarter, he responded brilliantly. He’s becoming more accurate. He hit Restrepo with a well-placed touchdown pass. The other TD to Restrepo that was overruled was also in this category.

The following are the key lessons I took away from the Pinstripe Bowl:

1. Miami has yet to overcome the problem of not being psychologically prepared for every game it plays. In their last 13 bowl games, the Hurricanes have a 1-12 record.

2. This team’s depth is not what I had anticipated. Seventeen players that had an impact in the regular season were absent for Miami. I thought they would overcome it. Hopefully, the Hurricanes close off their transfer portal strongly and their successive top 10 recruiting classes progress as intended.

3. A veteran quarterback is still needed by the Hurricanes via the Transfer Portal. While Brown is getting better, he still needs another year of experience. This also applies to Emory Williams. Miami has to acquire a good quarterback to help them reach their goals if they hope to progress greatly from their seven wins the previous season.