Junior quarterback Kyle Wright finished second to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Calvin Johnson in voting for the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
After back-to-back 9–3 seasons at Miami, where expectations are to compete for a national championship every year, it was widely believed that Coker was on the proverbial hot seat and needed to take the Hurricanes to a BCS bowl to keep his job.
See also 2006 NCAA Division I-A football rankings The following Hurricanes were named to preseason awards watch lists: (Total Yrs.
After this humiliating loss in the rain to Louisville, Miami became unranked for the first time in 107 weeks – the then-longest current streak in college football.
Four other teams (East Carolina, South Florida, Cincinnati, and Rutgers) had stomped on the logo in the past, and each wound up losing the game.
Prior to the game, a number of airplanes hired by Miami fans unhappy with the team's poor start circled over the Orange Bowl while carrying banners demanding the firing of the embattled Coker, as well as Athletic Director Paul Dee.
Pregame line: Miami -20.5 Freshman Javarris James further solidified his hold on the starting running back position by rushing for over 100 yards for the second consecutive week.
After trash-talk between players from both teams during the opening minutes, and an incident in which FIU wide receiver Chandler Williams dove helmet-first into a prone Kenny Phillips after Miami intercepted a pass, the game turned truly ugly in the third quarter.
After James Bryant caught Wright's second TD pass, he pointed to the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his act.
During the melee, Canes safety Anthony Reddick ran across the field and swung his helmet at FIU cornerback Robert Mitchell, hitting him.
Coach Larry Coker also indefinitely suspended Meriweather and Reddick for their parts in the fracas, plus Bryant for his taunting gesture that arguably triggered the melee.
Faced with a 4th-and-2 from Duke's 34-yard line with inside 2:15 remaining, Miami head coach Larry Coker elected to punt and rely on his vaunted defense rather than go for it on fourth down or attempt a long field goal.
On third down and with time expiring, Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis' threw a pass intended for wide receiver Eron Riley in the left side of the endzone.
However, Miami safety Willie Cooper was lying in wait and was able to jump the route and intercept Lewis' pass at the goal line.
Duke wide receiver Jomar Wright was impressive in defeat, catching 10 passes for 170 yards against Miami's makeshift secondary.
Georgia Tech answered with a 12-play, 53-yard drive on its ensuing possession, highlighted by a 43-yard pass from Ball to receiver Calvin Johnson that set up a 39-yard field goal from Travis Bell, cutting the Miami lead to 10–3 at the end of the first quarter.
Georgia Tech later intercepted a Kyle Wright pass in Miami territory, which enabled the Jackets to add a game-tying field goal before the half.
On its first possession of the second half, Miami moved the ball 69 yards before the drive was ended when receiver Lance Leggett fumbled at the Georgia Tech 10-yard line.
Miami forced Georgia Tech to go three-and-out before embarking on a long 14-play, 54-yard drive that ate up 6:59 and ended with another Peattie field goal, putting the Hurricanes back in front, 16–13.
The Jackets forced Miami to punt, and, on its next possession, Georgia Tech went 74 yards in 9 plays, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ball to Johnson.
Two plays later, running back Tashard Choice ran for a 25-yard touchdown, giving Georgia Tech a 30–16 lead with 3:30 remaining, seemingly sealing the game.
With the loss, Miami fell to 5–3 (2–2 ACC) on the year, causing the already intense criticism of coach Coker and quarterback Wright to intensify.
The first led to what would prove to be Virginia Tech's game-winning touchdown, while the second came on the first play of Miami's ensuing possession, essentially sealing the defeat.
Quarterback Kirby Freeman, making his second collegiate start after Kyle Wright underwent season-ending thumb injury, completed 11 of 18 passes for 152 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
On November 29, 2006, Miami accepted an invitation to play against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the MPC Computers Bowl at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho on December 31.
[8] Playing in 20 degree temperatures, quarterback Kirby Freeman completed 11 of 19 passes for 272 yards and led Miami to a 21–20 victory in coach Larry Coker's final game.
The win was clinched when Nevada quarterback Jeff Rowe was intercepted by Chavez Grant at the Miami 33 yard line with :18 remaining in the game.
[11] The Miami-Dade Police Department declined to release further information about the specific circumstances of the shooting until they finished interviewing witnesses; the death was ruled a homicide.
Pata, who was projected to be a third-round selection in the 2007 NFL draft, also harbored dreams of one day possibly joining the FBI when his football career was over.
As expected, Coker was dismissed on November 24, 2006, the morning after his Hurricanes closed the regular season with a 17–14 upset win over #18 Boston College.