Wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms. - from King Henry VI
"The U is back" is a yearly joke.
The ACC was arrogantly dubbed by fans the "All 'Canes Conference" after Miami joined in 2004.
The Hurricanes have never played in the ACC Championship Game. Miami's last conference title was 2003 and haven't been in a National Championship game since the controversial contest against Ohio State in 2002.
Since then, the U hasn't come close to even resembling the early 2000's teams.
Randy Shannon once had the Hurricanes "back," leading Miami to a 9-4 record in 2009. He did so with a brutal schedule, surpassing all expectations. Prospects were high for 2010.
He was fired the next season after a Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame and a 7-6 record.
Not back.
Al Golden also had the Hurricanes "back," starting the 2013 season 7-0 and reaching No. 7 in the AP poll. Golden's Hurricanes were soundly beaten by Florida State and finished the year 9-3 - losing to Louisville 36-9 in the Russell Athletics Bowl.
With a couple of solid recruiting classes, expectations were once again rising.
He was fired in 2015 after losing to Clemson 58-0.
Miami was "back?"
Enter Mark Richt.
He had the U back in 2016, beginning the season 4-0 with hated FSU coming to Miami.
A blocked extra point led to a Seminole's victory and the Hurricanes would lose four straight.
The memes and jokes were back, but this was different. Miami would rebound, winning five straight including a victory against West Virginia in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Perhaps the weather in South Florida was changing.
The 2017 Hurricanes weren't impressing anyone.
They struggled in the first half against Toledo.
They needed a last-minute touchdown against the worst Florida State team in 40 years.
They needed a last-second field goal against Georgia Tech.
They needed a fourth quarter to seal victories against a pesky Syracuse and stingy North Carolina squad.
There's no reason for the 'Canes to be 8-0 and ranked 7th in the AP poll. Not with late-game heroics. Not against inferior competition.
These were the games they were losing when pundits pegged them as "back."
But here they are. Dismantling a good Virginia Tech team and setting up a potentially epic top-10 match-up against Notre Dame.
This team is resilient, plays hard, doesn't quit, and most importantly they're having fun. Look to the sidelines and watch the players with the "turnover chain" and laughing it up with their team mates. They play for each other. They're a family.
They're the U. It's what has been missing the last 15 seasons. That continuity. That passion.
"The U's back" hasn't been uttered yet. Perhaps ESPN is waiting for Miami's first ACC Championship Game appearance. Maybe FoxSports will wait and see if Miami defeats Notre Dame this Saturday.
Regardless, the joke's over. Put the memes away.
Miami's for real.
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