Miami needs strong finish in 2008-09

By: Dan Kukla

Posted: 8/26/08

Last year the RedHawks gave Miami fans more twists, turns (and unfortunately falls) then an Olympic U.S. women's gymnastics team event. At one point, the RedHawks had a legitimate chance to complete the triple crown of mid-major sports: a trip to a bowl game, the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the Frozen Four. In the end, however, they each lost their balance and fell to a quite agonizing defeat.

The football team started the emotional rollercoaster with a surprising run at the MAC championship game. After a fair share of both successes and failures during a rigorous non-conference schedule, Miami then managed to win all of the right games down the stretch to clinch a spot in the title bout. Up by 10 at halftime against archrival Ohio University in the final game of the regular season, all signs pointed to the 'Hawks bowling in December. Instead, 31 second-half Bobcat points sent them stumbling into the championship game where a superior Central Michigan team slapped them with an embarrassing 25 point loss. End result: no crown and no bowl.

On the hardwood, the RedHawks again played a less-than-spectacular regular season but still did just enough to be in position for postseason glory. With the same record (15-14) as the 2007 Miami squad that ran the table in its MAC tournament as a No. 4 seed, the fifth seeded 2008 'Hawks looked to renew their mid-March magic. Wins against Buffalo and Ohio in the first two rounds sent them to the semifinals and had the Miami faithful hoping. A Kenny Hayes lay-up that evened the score against the No. 1 seeded Golden Flashes with 34 seconds left had them believing. Once again, however, the RedHawks fell short as a 15-footer by Kent State guard Al Fisher kept Miami's dancing shoes packed up for good. End result: no championship and no NCAA berth.

Watching these two teams stall in the clutch proved painful enough. Even though they each surpassed their otherwise modest pre-season expectations, the unforeseen success only made RedHawk fans hunger for more. Needless to say, they were none too happy when the manna from heaven stopped falling.

Even more agonizing, however, was watching the demise of a hockey team that not only could have, but should have, reached the postseason promised land. Ranked No. 1 in the nation for 10 weeks throughout the season and awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, Miami stood in line for its first Frozen Four appearance in school history. It was fate. It had to be. Up by two against Boston College, the team that eliminated them from the past two tournaments, the 'Brotherhood' appeared to be writing a dream ending to their fairytale story.

Unfortunately, that's all it was: a dream. When Miami somehow lost that game, the excuses went flying. Yes, the No. 1 seeded RedHawks essentially played a road game against the Eagles. Yes, a soft non-conference schedule may not have fully prepared them for such a demanding test. Regardless of the circumstances, all anyone can really say, however, is that Miami choked. End result: no trip to Denver for the Frozen Four and a chance to play for the national championship.

We as fans are now posed with an important question: do we celebrate the success of each team rising as far as they did or do we condemn their failure to finish? The answer is both. It would be foolish to overlook and discount these teams' notable achievements. Nevertheless, I can't help but feel like a groom that has been stood up at the alter; getting here was truly wonderful but that only makes the resulting disappointment exponentially greater.

For the same reason, the American women gymnasts will tell you that losing the gold medal in the team final overshadowed the significance of winning silver. Both literally and figuratively, the experience can be a likened to a dazzling routine followed by a stumbled landing. Later that week, however, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson triumphantly won gold and silver in the individual all-around competition and on the balance beam, displaying their real talent for the entire world to see.

Miami's hockey, football and men's basketball teams all need to follow suit. They need to pick themselves off the mat of last year's defeat and this time make sure to stick that perfect landing.