ESPN College Sports

Updated: May 29, 2009, 12:10 PM ET

Miami needs turnaround at regionals

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By Ryan McGee
ESPN The Magazine
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DURHAM, N.C. -- Forgive the fans of Miami Hurricanes baseball if they seem to be squirming uncomfortably in their seats, but the good people of Coral Gables aren't used to reconstruction projects.

This year they've had to deal with two at once.

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Richard C. Lewis/Icon SMIJim Morris' embarrassment following the ACC tourney needs to resonate with his team -- fast.

The first was a much-needed multimillion-dollar renovation and rededication of Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, thanks to a $3.9 million contribution from the Yankees slugger who initially committed to the Canes out of high school, but went pro instead. That rebuild everyone was more than happy to embrace.

The second? Not so much.

"Yeah, our fans have become a little spoiled and we've been proud to spoil them," coach Jim Morris said as his team filled the dugout for its ACC tournament game with Boston College last Friday. "But they aren't accustomed to struggling."

Keep in mind that "struggling" is a relative term. The U has posted an amazing 26 come-from-behind victories during a season in which it's been ranked among the top 25 all year, rising as high as second in some polls during the first half. It's the second stanza that has the green and orange army's members looking like they've forgotten their sunscreen.

The nightmare 12-15 slide included a series sweep at North Carolina, series losses to Clemson and Bethune-Cookman(!) and a crushing 1-2 showing in the conference tourney that included an always-hard-to-swallow loss to archrival Florida State.

"Going into the season, I talked to our team and our fans and told them at times it might get rough," said Morris, who is known simply as "3" around campus. "We lost eight players from last year's College World Series team to the draft -- three in the first round and six in the first four. We had some guys hurt this year. But these guys used all the preseason talk about us being down and played with a real chip on their shoulder. That led to our great start. But as soon as we had a little success, the fire seemed to go out."

Then he invoked the names of 2009 ACC upstarts Duke and Virginia and pointed across the field to the day's opponent. "These guys that have something to prove, they still have that chip on their shoulder and they have it at the right time of the year. We've had teams like that before. But time is running out on this team to prove they have that kind of fire."

Three hours and 15 minutes later, BC had handed Miami an emasculating 10-1 beating that not only sent the Canes home early, but wiped away their hopes of hosting a first-round regional.

"I don't know if you guys know this," Morris told a group of reporters after the loss, "but there's a 10-run rule in this deal. In the seventh inning, I gathered the team together and told them I had never had to worry about that rule in my entire coaching career. … It's embarrassing. I'm embarrassed for the program."

This is, after all, not just a program. It is The Program. The undisputed best college baseball team of the past three decades (at least outside of Austin and Baton Rouge). Beginning Friday, the Canes will make their record 37th consecutive postseason appearance with an eye on their 24th College World Series berth and fifth CWS title -- and first since 2001.

Boston College has made four trips to the Series. The last was in 1967. When Morris pointed to the Eagles last Friday and talked about the look in their eyes, he talked about hunger. It's a look that his team hasn't displayed in nearly a year now, dating all the way back to what many observers described as a "so what?" indifference as they were sent home early from Omaha last June.

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Richard C. Lewis/Icon SMIAs a team leader, Kyle Bellamy has the weight of the Hurricanes on his shoulders.

After seeing that sadly recognizable look in the eyes of his team as they loaded the bus to leave Durham -- or rather the lack of a look -- Morris openly admits that the once short distance between Miami and Omaha now seems far enough that he may need to check the expiration date on his passport.

Unlike his legendary predecessor at The U, showman Ron Fraser (he who convinced ESPN to start televising college baseball and introduced the world to the Miami Maniac and "Heart Transplant Night"), Morris isn't one for fiery Knute Rockne speeches. Instead, he likes to pluck former Hurricanes out of the stands for impromptu pregame pep talks, a job reserved for only the best of the best. The latest victim was last year's team leader and soon-to-be Cincinnati Reds first baseman Yonder Alonso.

"Former players, trainers, equipment managers, it doesn't matter," Morris explained when asked for his selection criteria. "The only requirement is that they have to have a ring to wear into the locker room with them. That ring makes a great talk all on its own. And it applies a little pressure and pride when you need it."

This week, however, as the Hurricanes prepare to travel to Gainesville, Fla., for an NCAA regional, they need not bring their autograph book in the hopes of meeting Pat Burrell, Ryan Braun or Aubrey Huff. When asked for his plan to save the season after the BC loss, the coach pointed to his two leaders: pitcher Kyle Bellamy and first baseman Jason Hagerty.

"There are definitely some things that need to made clear," Hagerty admitted, smudges of postgame eye black literally underlining a pair of disillusioned eyes. "But this far into the season, they shouldn't have any questions about what we're doing. … Something needs to be switched on so that our guys come out focused and find that chip on our shoulder.

"If we don't play like we're down, who knows what's going to happen."

To Morris, his players and the uneasy grandstand residents of South Florida, it's pretty obvious what needs to happen, no matter how frustrating that reality may be.

It's time for another round of reconstruction. And the clock is ticking to get it done.

Ryan McGee is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. His new book, "THE ROAD TO OMAHA: Hits, Hopes and History at the College World Series," which chronicles the excitement and passion of the CWS, is now available.