Miami takes baby steps of confidence in easy opener that Florida couldn’t

MIAMI GARDENS — I could write about the University of Miami’s 38-3 mauling of Miami University, but what can I say that the score doesn’t?

I could write about how Miami’s now ready for Texas A&M next week, but Friday night was a flimsy subplot for the game coming to Hard Rock Stadium next Saturday.

So, I’m going to just write why Miami wrote a $1.5 million check for their namesaked doppelganger to open the season as a small-school sacrifice:

Utah 24, Florida 11.

That’s it. That’s why Miami had a scheduled workout Friday with new offensive and defense coordinators, a new offensive line and the second uncertain season of Mario Cristobal.

Don’t bring up the outlier of Miami losing to Middle Tennessee State last season. Embarrassments happen. But Florida opening Thursday night at 14th-ranked Utah was exactly the kind of game fans want, television covets and underdeveloped programs avoid.

Florida and Miami are both undeveloped, too. Neither program is ready for the kind of winning their fans expect. Both need to grow up and possibly grow into some of those weighty hopes across this season.

Florida looked lost at times, giving up six sacks, going 1 for 13 on third downs, having eight men on the field for a Utah field goal and two players wearing the same jersey number for a penalty on a punt.

Coach Billy Napier talked afterward of “correcting some problem areas” and “taking the necessary steps every team must after the first game of the season.”

Here’s the mental grease Florida needs this September after struggling last year: Confidence. Scoring just 11 points and getting beat by Utah’s backup quarterback doesn’t help matters. Nor does revisiting some of the same problems it had against good teams last season.

Miami, by contrast, got the opening measure of confidence it needs against a lesser team. It doesn’t mean much in the big picture. It might not even set the table for next week.

But it’s the kind of routine first step unsteady programs want to take. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke worked in a new system and completed 17 of 22 passes for 201 yards with a touchdown and interception.

“I know he’d like to have that interception back,’’ Cristobal said.

Making mistakes is part of any first game. But what stood out more was Van Dyke not being sacked which, when combined with 250 yards rushing on 36 carries, made a good night for the revamped offensive line. With two transfers and two five-star recruits, this line shows the direction Cristobal wants to take the program.

“A massive difference up front,’’ he said.

Cristobal also discussed the cast of running backs by pointing to the big names who shared the load when he blocked in the late-1980s and early 1990s and, “the next wave, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore.”

Can Miami get back there? Not this year. Not with a defense full of questions. But, again, the run defense gave up minus-3 yards rushing at half and 51 yards for the game. The secondary never broke against a decent quarterback, Brett Gabbert.

Baby steps. But ones of confidence, too.

“I saw a team that played to their training since January,’’ Cristobal said.

It doesn’t mean any corner is turned, or even that it carries from one week to the next. Miami beat Bethune Cookman 70-3 and Southern Miss 30-7 in the opening games at Hard Rock Stadium last year. It then didn’t win in its final five games at home.

This was business being conducted between Friday night. nothing less. One Miami scheduled a win. The other Miami cashed a check. Miami (Ohio) didn’t bring band, cheerleaders or sports-information staff that would drag down the profit margin.

It knew its role. For all the changes in college football, this role hasn’t changed. The last time Miami U. came to town was in 1987. The school had an alumni luncheon on Miami Beach during the summer. As an alum, I went. The football coach, Tim Rose, took questions.

“Coach, are you going to kick the Hurricane butt?” one alum said.

“Are you on drugs?” the coach answered.

That game ended 54-3. This one had the same feel to it. What does it mean? It means a Hurricane team trying to find its way got a measure of confidence playing a weaker opponent than a Florida team that struggled in its opener.

“A good night’s work,’’ Cristobal said.

Final score: University of Miami 38, Miami University $1.5 million.