Miami Hurricanes can Save the ACC by Upsetting the Florida Gators

Now is the time for head coach Randy Shannon and the Miami Hurricanes to become legendary.

Big Daddy Kane, one of the greatest hip-hop emcees of all time, once rapped “You’re just a butter knife, I’m a machete, that’s made by Ginsu, wait until when you try to front, so I can chop into, your body.” In this song, properly titled “Ain’t No Half Steppin,’” Big Daddy Kane became legendary.

If the Atlantic Coast Conference is as soft as we all think it is, than the Miami Hurricanes are a “machete” intertwined with 11 other butter knives. As condescending as this may sound, especially for a Miami team that went 5-7 last season, it holds some merit.

The ACC is just 1-9 in BCS bowl appearances, with their last victory coming at the conclusion of the 1999 season, where then Big East champion Virginia Tech got stomped by the Florida State Seminoles in the Nokia Sugar Bowl/National Championship 46-29.

Only four schools have represented the ACC as a conference member in the Bowl Championship since its inception: Florida State (1-5), Virginia Tech (0-2), Wake Forest (0-1), and Maryland (0-1).

Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes are 3-1 in BCS bowl games but have yet to make the trip as a member of the ACC.

Today, the young and inexperienced Hurricane playmakers will make a trip up north to duke it out with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators. The Hurricanes are 21-point underdogs, the largest margin in over a decade for the five-time National Champions.

Last week, we seen the ACC get pushed around like a shopping cart by legitimate talent. The Virginia Tech Hokies, the defending ACC champions, were stunned by an East Carolina Pirates team that outhustled and outlasted the shifty Hokies. The Pirates won 27-22.

In the premier match-up of opening weekend, star Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper looked like a true freshman against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ranked ninth overall, the Tigers were expected to compete for a national title, but their hopes got dashed as the Crimson Tide hammered Clemson 34-10.

The USC Trojans trounced the Virginia Cavaliers 52-7 in Charlottesville. At home, the Tar Heels of North Carolina barely escaped by McNeese State by means of a 35-27 victory. All in all, the ACC fluttered against BCS, non-BCS and FBS competition.

On the heels of such mediocrity, the ACC will now look upon the Miami Hurricanes tonight for help in garnishing some national respect. With no wins since the 1999 season in the BCS, the ACC will need the Hurricanes to at least compete for four quarters with the Florida Gators. If Tebow and Co. trash Miami like the Oklahoma Sooners did a year ago, the ACC will continue to lose the little bit of respect it may have left.

The Miami Hurricanes have more national titles (five) under their belt than anyone else in the conference. The next closest is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with three, but two of them came in 1917 and 1928 with the most recent in 1990.

The Miami Hurricanes also have more speed than anyone else in the ACC. While the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are now considered favorites to win the ACC, a strong performance against Florida could boost the confidence of the young ‘Canes and they could end up going full stride into the ACC championship later this year.

Like the hip-hop icon Big Daddy Kane, there will be no “half steppin” for the Miami Hurricanes tonight in Gainesville. While the ‘Canes appear to be on the right track to national title contention in several years, it could all begin tonight.

Florida’s offensive line is ripe with mediocrity. The linebacker trio of Spencer Adkins, Darryl Sharpton, and Romeo Davis could play an integral part in limiting the big play ability of Tebow.

The defensive line is young but hungry. Led by super-freshman Marcus Forston, the ‘Canes could draw Tebow into dangerous waters early and often.

The play of the front seven will bode well for the Hurricanes if they mesh from the get-go. Building on a teasing performance against Charleston Southern, where they dominated the FCS school, is mandatory for a program that is trying to get back onto its feet.

The Florida Gators have a ton of speed on offense with wide-outs Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy, and running back Chris Rainey. On defense, especially in the secondary, the ‘Canes will be able to match that speed. It all comes down to being in the right position to make the play, from cutting on the correct angles and wrapping up the ball carrier.

The sub-plot will be the battle between quarterbacks Tim Tebow and Robert Marve. Marve, the ‘Canes redshirt freshman will be making his first career start in a hostile environment, under the lights, in “The Swamp.”

Tebow and Marve have some history between them. Marve broke some of Tebow’s in-state high school passing records while quarterbacking for Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. They were both highly coveted quarterbacks coming out of the Sunshine State as well.

On offense, Marve may be spelled out at times by true freshman Jacory Harris. Harris has a “Vince Young-like” nostalgia about him. The Hurricanes offensive line should be able to maintain some of the pressure from the unproven Gators defensive line.

Florida has plenty of speed though and a tough, physical linebacker by the name of Brandon Spikes. Spikes missed the Gators opener due to an injury.

If, and this is a big if, the Hurricanes can upset the Florida Gators, they will single-handedly put the ACC back on the map.

If they compete with the Gators, they will boost the conference’s respect nationally. If the ‘Canes get thrashed, like many are predicting, the ACC will continue to see its respect go down the toilet.

This is the opportunity Miami head coach Randy Shannon has been waiting for since his inception as the head coach for the Hurricanes. Miami has a good chance of pulling off a great upset if they can execute in the trenches and down the field. Execution is key.

Tonight, the Miami Hurricanes could posture themselves back into the national title scene and help save the floundering Atlantic Coast Conference.

Pete Dymeck is proud to be a Bleacher Report contributor. He is also the man-in-charge at Pro Draft Guide, home of the Insider Monthly.