Miami still trying to solve North Carolina hex
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) -- The way North Carolina coach Butch Davis was throwing around hyperbole this week, one would wonder if the Tar Heels had any chance to beat No. 25 Miami.
He raved about the Hurricanes' receivers, then their quarterback, running backs, defensive line, secondary, returners, speed, even their schedule. In short, Davis was delivering the same ominous message as he has just about every time he's had to face Miami.
By the way, since taking over in Chapel Hill, Davis is 3-0 against the Hurricanes.
"They've got our number now," Miami coach Randy Shannon said, "and we've got to find a way to change it."
That chance comes Saturday night, and if Davis is trying to lull Miami into a false sense of security, it likely won't work -- not with what's at stake this week. The Hurricanes (4-2, 2-1) and Tar Heels (4-2, 2-1) are basically playing an ACC elimination game.
The winner won't be in the driver's seat in the Coastal Division, but the loser will see its league title hopes take a colossal hit.
"This will probably be the biggest challenge that our football team's had this season," Davis said.
On the field, maybe.
In actuality, not even close.
North Carolina has had 16 players sanctioned during an NCAA investigation originally focused on agent-related benefits, then expanded to include possible academic violations. Cornerback Charles Brown learned this week that he's been barred for the season, the sixth Tar Heel to meet that fate. And cornerback Kendric Burney -- who had three interceptions against Miami last season -- originally was to sit six games, but won't play Saturday because of unresolved issues.
Shannon and Davis are good friends, a bond that began when Davis was coaching at Miami, a place he still holds in high regard. So when the investigation fallout began, Shannon sent Davis an e-mail with a few words of support.
This week, the Hurricanes will try not to give Davis any help.
"It definitely means a lot to him because he used to coach there," said North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates, who will try to lead to lead the Tar Heels to their first five-game winning streak since 2001. "And that energy kind of flows through the team because everybody knows coach Davis' situation."
To say the last three Carolina-Miami games have been odd wouldn't be an overstatement.
In 2007, North Carolina took a 27-0 lead after 20 minutes, then held on for a 33-27 win. In 2008, Cameron Sexton threw two touchdown passes in the final minutes, the last with 46 seconds left, as the Tar Heels erased a 14-point deficit and won 28-24 -- a game where Miami's Robert Marve threw an interception in the end zone on the final play.
And last year, Burney's 77-yard interception return for a score late in the half proved crucial as the Tar Heels prevailed 33-24.
The difference in the series of late? Turnovers. Miami had 10, North Carolina just one in those three games.
"It's been rough, I know," Miami left tackle Orlando Franklin said. "I want this game bad. My last year, lost to them last three times in a row. It always seems like it's been a pretty close game, but somehow in the fourth quarter they seem to pull away from us. Definitely want to win this game real bad and take care of what we've got to take care of."
Health-wise, North Carolina took another shot this week. Tight end Zack Pianalto, the team's leading receiver, will miss the remainder of the season with a broken right leg.
And that could lead to bigger concerns for the Tar Heels: They have the most efficient passing game in the ACC, but will be without their most dependable receiver for a game against a Miami defense ranked fourth nationally against the pass.
"We've got to try to find a way to manufacture catches and yards from somebody else," Davis said.
This is Miami's first home game since the 45-17 beating against Florida State two weeks ago, and although the Hurricanes insist they're looking forward instead of lamenting over that missed opportunity, they know that loss took away all their margin for error.
If the ACC title trophy is finally going to find its way to Coral Gables this season, a way must finally be found to beat Davis.
"We're looking at this as a game-by-game challenge," Shannon said. "North Carolina is a big challenge and step for us. We figure if we can take care of the things we have to get done this weekend, we'll look to the next opponent."
Received 10/22/10 11:19 am ET