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Miami vs. Nebraska: Six things you might have missed

 
Published Sept. 20, 2015

MIAMI — Six things you might have missed in Miami's 36-33 overtime win over Nebraska:

1. Al Golden remains under fire. "C'mon, #FireAlGolden" read one of the two anti-Golden signs that flew over Sun Life Stadium before the game. "These banners are expensive." It's unclear what Saturday's performance will do for fan support: Will they fixate on the second 3-0 start since 2004 or on the 23-point lead the Hurricanes blew in the fourth quarter? Golden will likely draw criticism for three bench penalties, two for crossing the sideline and an unsportsmanlike conduct call charged to the UM bench. "I'm not discussing bench control," Golden said after the game.

2. Those sideline penalties weren't the only ones that nearly derailed UM. RB Mark Walton had two would-be TDs called back because of holding calls, including a 47-yard catch that could have iced it. S Deon Bush and backup Jamal Carter were both ejected in the fourth quarter for targeting receivers; both will also miss the first half of the Hurricanes' Oct. 1 game at Cincinnati.

3. Golden said he wanted to celebrate the win before dissecting the negatives, but he can start with the missed red zone chances. UM faced three third downs inside the 10 in regulation. Each ended with QB Brad Kaaya throwing a fade — a lob to the far corners of the end zone. The first two were incomplete and the third was intercepted by CB Joshua Kalu on the one play Golden said he wished he could take back.

4. Linebacker depth remains a concern. The 'Canes are already without Darrion Owens (knee), but their depth chart took another hit when starter Jermaine Grace left with an injury. More information on his condition was not immediately available. He will have a bye week to get healthy.

5. UM has gained an unwanted reputation for poor attendance, and Saturday's gathering won't help. A showdown between traditional powers drew an announced crowd of 53,580. Although that figure is 10,000 higher than for UM's home opener against Bethune-Cookman, it's the third worst in the rivalry's history. Only the 1953 meeting in Lincoln (38,000) and the famed 1962 Gotham Bowl (6,166) drew fewer. FSU assistant Tim Brewer took the opportunity to troll his school's rival, tweeting: "Wow....Is anybody at (the) Miami game??"

6. Golden likes fast food. According to Kaaya, Golden chooses an interesting metaphor for his players during team meetings: "Be a McDonald's cheeseburger. A McDonald's cheeseburger is the same. Everyone buys it because it's consistent. It's the same thing every time. It's always good, tastes the same way. Be a cheeseburger."