UNC learns from Duke-Miami ending, prepares for inspired Blue Devils

Larry Fedora tends to watch college football games on television like a fan, he said on Monday, but not so much as a coach. So on Saturday night, he found himself flipping the channels from game to game, before settling in to watch Duke and Miami.

He saw what happened. He saw the finish. The eight laterals, the penalty flag, the lengthy review and then, finally, the call that Miami’s improbable, wacky kickoff return stood for a touchdown, giving the Hurricanes a win amid one of the wildest finishes ever.

Fedora’s first thought: “It’s like, college football’s a crazy game,” he said. “Anything can happen.”

Then, though, he began thinking like a coach. And thinking about how he might use what happened between Duke and Miami to benefit his team.

Fedora and his coaching staff have been busy this week preparing the No. 21 Tar Heels for their game against Duke. At some point, though, Fedora will gather his players and talk about what happened at Wallace Wade Stadium.

The teaching moment is likely to come at some point before the start of next season, during preseason practice. Fedora keeps a highlight reel of unlikely, unfathomable plays, and the past three weeks have offered a few of them.

Like what happened between Duke and Miami. And on Oct. 24 between Georgia Tech and Florida State. And on Oct. 27 between Michigan State and Michigan.

Three weeks. Three games decided by the most unusual of circumstances. Georgia Tech defeated Florida State after blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown as time expired. Michigan State beat Michigan by returning a botched punt snap for a touchdown as time expired.

“I use just about every crazy thing that happens in a season to anybody in the country; I mean, I use it all the time,” Fedora said. “That right there (between Miami and Duke), will be a teaching moment during camp next year.”

There was a bit of glee in Fedora’s voice when he said, “Now I’ve got some live film to also show you that you (can) win or lose a game with that play.”

“It hits home,” he said, “a little bit more when you have a real good visual from a game of it actually happening.”

It hits home for the Tar Heels because it happened 8 miles down the road to the team UNC will face Saturday.

The Tar Heels had the weekend off after their victory at Pittsburgh last Thursday, which gave players an opportunity to do something they rarely have a chance to do: spend a whole Saturday watching college football.

Sophomore running back Elijah Hood was also tuned in to the Duke-Miami game.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw it,” he said. “I mean, it was just, ‘What?’ Honestly, that’s all I could say – was, ‘What just happened?’ It was insane. I mean, it’s all I could just say. That was a mess. Insanity. Yeah.”

Quarterback Marquise Williams wasn’t watching the game, but by Monday he’d seen the replays and pictures, including a photo of what appears to be a Miami player’s knee hitting the ground during the eight-lateral play.

“Coach (Gunter) Brewer always (says), ‘Never leave it in the refs’ hands.’ Me, I would have found a way. If I was a guy on the sideline, I probably would have ran out on the field and tackled one of the guys, man,” Williams said with a laugh.

But 8 miles down the road, there’s likely been little laughter while Duke prepares for its game at UNC. All of a sudden, the Tar Heels’ final four games appear even more formidable than they did before.

UNC will play against a Duke team that shouldn’t lack for motivation. On Nov. 14, the Tar Heels face an apparently rejuvenated Miami, which fired head coach Al Golden on Oct. 25. Then comes a Nov. 21 trip to Virginia Tech, which will be celebrating the final home game of longtime coach Frank Beamer. And then it’s the regular season finale against N.C. State on Nov. 28.

First things first, though: the game against the Blue Devils, whose plight has offered others an opportunity to learn and teach.

“They’re going to bounce back,” Williams said, “and they’re going to be excited to go come Saturday.”

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "UNC learns from Duke-Miami ending, prepares for inspired Blue Devils."