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Remember the blocked punt!

Too many losses against Miami, a few of the really painful variety. I don't want to be reminded of the defeats, they've been tough to forget as is.

Instead, let's remember one of the few positive moments: The last time we did manage to beat the Hurricanes in 1997, it snapped a 111-game winning streak for Miami when leading after three quarters.

They compiled some remarkable achievements throughout their heyday, but I was always proud we were able to end one of them.
 
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John Sofi-had to have pictures of Trained Geese doing the nasty with Meatball Marinatto after the Graves fiasco that got Tommy Orr and who else was it on our side kicked out of the game.
I think it's nuts that the 3rd String qb from Cuse was ejected and not Graves who rifled the ball after the play in the back of Orr's head.'

As for the blocked punt, I was in that end zone (seating section 100) at the time. I remember rain and rain and more rain for much of that day. I told my dad before that play we are gonna take a safety right? He's like yeah, we've had 3 blocked punts already this year. A safety with our D is the way to go with 100 seconds left.

I next remember the block and then Jack Hallman to Tremain Mack where Hallman was down and there was a fed lateral to Nack. Either way, the play should have been dead. Given our D in 96, I think we'd have held on to a 7-6 win had their been instant replay.

Of course in 97, WVU wins in Miami with the aid of a run by Amos where he stepped out of bounds. I don't ghibk that was one of those evens out though.
 
Not sure everyone knows this, but the Miami coach(I think it was Butch Davis), instructed the guy next to Tremain Mack to reach out and hold our blocker on the end of the formation, so Mack could come in unblocked. Blocking the punt was his only chance, so he didn't care if the defense got called for holding our guy (which they didn't) Davis actually came out and said this after the game. Still don't know why our punter didn't catch it and do a quick kick, hell a 20 yard punt would have sealed the game.
 
I've heard that story and given how little league the officiating was in the Big East, It was a smart move.

By comparison WVU and any team in that situation should have held or done whatever was necessary to get that punt off. I know it was 20 years ago, but I don't think a quick 1 step punt was even common place back then.

Nobody punted from a spread formation. No rugby style kicks. This was a time right when "Beamer Ball" started winning the Hokies a lot of games. Maybe that's why all these schools do that now.
 
My memory is not what it used to be, but I think it was Alvin Swoope that was very close to getting the first down on that last drive, to where we would have run out the clock. Game of inches sometimes.
 
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