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Canes Face Critical Game Vs. Wolfpack

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The Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2007

MIAMI - North Carolina State did Miami a favor last weekend, springing an upset that helped the Hurricanes in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship chase.

Not surprisingly, the Wolfpack won't be getting any thank you notes.

Miami (5-3, 2-2) knows the only realistic way to reach that ACC Championship Game is to win its final four games, and N.C. State (3-5, 1-3) is the first foe on that list.

The Wolfpack visit today in Miami's next-to-last game at the historic Orange Bowl.

"We're a little more motivated now," Miami defensive end Calais Campbell said. "All we have to do is win, and everything takes care of itself."

Both of Miami's losses in conference games - to North Carolina and Georgia Tech - came in situations where the Hurricanes openly acknowledged they didn't take their opponents that seriously. Being two-touchdown favorites against a team with a sub-.500 record would indicate Miami could make the same mistake again.

So, that was the first issue Miami coach Randy Shannon addressed Sunday at the week's opening practice.

His team got the point.

"Every last one of them said we can't take them lightly," Shannon said.

It's a surprisingly critical game for both teams.

Miami needs a victory to stay close to the top of the ACC Coastal Division. And N.C. State - a winner over then-ranked Virginia last week - is looking for its third straight win, which would give the Wolfpack a huge boost toward becoming bowl-eligible.

"The guys and the coaches, there's a little more pep in our step," N.C. State running back Jamelle Eugene said. "We're feeling like, really, it's a new season."

Funny. Miami feels the same way.

Beating Florida State 37-29 on Oct. 20 snapped a five-game road losing streak, and a two-game slide overall, and brightened the mood in Coral Gables considerably. A two-week gap between games hasn't doused that.

"We had to forget about the past and just move forward," receiver Darnell Jenkins said. "The opportunity is back open for us to achieve one of our goals from the beginning of the season. Everything happens for a reason."

Kirby Freeman came in at quarterback and rallied Miami to that win against Florida State, going 3-for-3 with a touchdown pass on the final drive. He came in after Kyle Wright sprained his left ankle and a tendon behind his left knee in the second quarter. Those injuries haven't fully healed.

So the same question Miami heard throughout the summer - Kyle or Kirby? - is popping up again. Wright has been a bit limited in practice this week, so that suggests Freeman will start against N.C. State.

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