Miami will play their last regular-season match against BC. Hurricanes: Will they “turn the tide”?
Alumni Stadium victory keeps the team from going winless following a 5-7 campaign the previous year.
For the University of Miami, the football season that began with optimism and has since progressed through promise, suffering, and, more recently, frustration, is almost over.
After UM’s 5-7 performance the previous year, a victory at Alumni Stadium would prevent another losing season. Should UM win its unannounced bowl game, the season may end at 8-5. The Canes would enter the bowl at.500 after a defeat.
It is currently uncertain if Tyler Van Dyke, the starting quarterback, will play in that bowl. The fourth-year junior was questioned on Tuesday about if he plans to return to UM in 2024. This season, he has passed for 2,413 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
“Still day-to-day,” Van Dyke said. “Focused on this practice, tomorrow’s practice and the game on Friday. I’m just staying in the moment. That helps me play my best football, staying in the moment and not thinking about the future.”
Van Dyke, who could transfer to another program or enter the NFL draft, said it’s a decision he will make with his family.
“You talk to people that you’re close to and see what the best options for you are, I guess.”
When asked if he could say with certainty that he would play in the bowl game, Van Dyke’s reply: “Like I said before, I’m in this present moment right now. When I start thinking about the future, that’s when I don’t play my best football.”
Van Dyke and his teammates agreed that despite the disappointing season, the next two games could significantly boost their outlook.
“Obviously, we wanted to have a better record, but that’s all in the past,” said UM freshman running back Mark Fletcher Jr. “It’s going to be a great game, tough battle. We know what we’re capable of and we have to finish strong — and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Sixth-year senior defensive tackle Branson Deen, who transferred from Purdue before the season, said the past few weeks “haven’t gone the way we want, but finishing strong is really important because it keeps our guys optimistic, keeps our guys looking ahead for the future in a good way.
“We really have a great opportunity to turn the tide.”
The Hurricanes and Eagles have similar trajectories of late, UM with losses in five of the past seven games; and Boston College on a two-game slide after a five-game winning streak.