This shall not be a subcutaneous dive into Miami’s back and forth 52-45 survival Saturday afternoon at the L&N.

Some because the game exhausted me.

Partially because of its nature.

It was a great football game.

The kind which are dubbed these days to be an “instant classic.

Also because the Louisville Cardinals went toe to toe, punch to the solar plexus punch to the solar plexis with the Hurricanes. Who, make no mistake, are a legitimately really good team, legitimate Top 10, legitimate Final Dozen.

Cards lost.

I’m bummed.

But disinclined to play coulda woulda shoulda.

Both teams made big plays.

Both teams made major gaffes.

Both teams were jobbed as is come to be expected by sketchy ACC zebras.

Both teams caught a break by the come to be expected sketchy ACC refs.

How even Stephen (Steven?) were the Cards and Canes? Other than the final tally.

Louisville was 3/3 in the Red Zone. Miami was 4/4 in the Red Zone.

Each team turned it over once.

Each team took advantage of the gift for a TD.

Louisville sacked Cam Ward thrice. Miami sacked Tyler Shough three times.

Ward was 21/32 for 319 yards with 4 throws for a score.

Shough was 31/51 for 342 yards and four TDs.

The only pertinent offensive statistical disparity came with the rushing totals.

242 vs. 145. Favor the victors.

There were times when the Cards just couldn’t bring down the Hurricane ballcarrier (or receiver). None more telling or important than Damien Martinez’s 30 yard rush with 4:05 left to increase Miami’s lead to 14. A couple of Cardinals flat out whiffed. Martinez carried three Cardinals the last five or so yards to paydirt, said Cardinals trying to strip the runner of the ball instead of getting him to the turf.

There were lots of worthy moments for Louisville. On both sides of the ball. A number, not so.

Same can be said about Miami. The Cards did score 45 points after all.

There were those 67 seconds of magic. It and plenty of other scintillating positives weren’t enough.

Louisville didn’t back down.

They just couldn’t close the deal.

— c d kaplan