Canes Nation Feeling the Whipple Effect
Whipple Ball has Jacory Harris in the Heisman trophy discussion
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 3:00 PM EST, Fri, Sep 18, 2009
While the Hurricane bandwagon continues to be overloaded with fans who want to sing the praises of Jacory "Be Cool" Harris, the person really driving the stage coach wears a headset and white hair.
Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple's arrival on campus has put the swag back in the University of Miami's step, that's if he knew exactly what swag was. Either way, "Whipple Ball" has translated into points on the scoreboard and a return to the wide-open, vertical passing game that made Miami a powerhouse.
"The offense has taken his mentality," head coach Randy Shannon said after Miami's 33-17 win over Georgia Tech. "Coach Whipple is a guy who feels he can score 100 points each and every game. He feels like if he calls a certain play, it's always going to work."
During Thursday's impressive offensive showing against the Stumbling Wreck, Whipple dialed up pass pays on first down with regularity and mixed in screens to keep the pass rush off of Harris. And when Whipple called for play action, his goal was the big strike, which Harris executed to near perfection.
But helping quarterbacks shine is nothing new to Whipple, who groomed Big Ben Roethlisberger with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004 and also coached Donovan McNab in Philly last year before taking on the challenge of turning Harris from raw super talent, to poised superstar.
Mission accomplished.
The transformation has been instantaneous, kind of like the change from the Hurricanes' yawn offense in recent years to Whipple ball excitement.
Under Patrick Nix, Miami had to depend on risky trick plays to break a big plays. No longer. Whipple has brought a playbook and an attacking philosophy that has the nation wondering just how dangerous the U really is and has thrown Harris into the Heisman conversation after three weeks.
Harris said he planned on wearing a pink pimp suit and a diamond-studded goblet if he gets that invite to the Heisman. If he does make the short list to New York, Harris should ask his tailor to make a suit for Whipple, too.
First Published: Sep 18, 2009 1:33 PM EST
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