SHREVEPORT, La. _ That "bridge to 2020," to which Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz referred heading into the Independence Bowl, hopefully, for the Hurricanes' sake, has been obliterated and is under construction.
Diaz thought the Hurricanes had "one more really good performance" in them, but reality said the opposite Thursday in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the Hurricanes fell 14-0 to Louisiana Tech at Independence Stadium in front of an overwhelmingly pro-Bulldogs crowd of 33,129.
Miami's third consecutive loss marked its first losing season (6-7, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) since 2014, when the Canes also finished 6-7 with a loss in the same bowl. And it was UM's first shutout loss since the 58-0 debacle to Clemson, which precipitated the firing of former coach Al Golden _ and only its third shutout loss of the century.
The Canes, who lost for the sixth time this season as the pregame favorite, are now 1-9 in their past 10 bowl games, winning only in 2016 in the Russell Athletic Bowl and before that in 2006 in the MPC Computers Bowl.
Since last season, the Hurricanes are 13-13 overall, 8-11 against Power 5 conferences and 5-2 against non-Power 5 schools.
Except for UM's high point of the season, a three-game winning streak against Pittsburgh, Florida State and Louisville that teased fans into believing Miami's offense had finally blossomed, the Hurricanes have seemingly regressed game by game.
Just before kickoff, the Associated Press reported that "barring a significant change in plans, the Miami Hurricanes and offensive coordinator Dan Enos are expected to part ways after (the) Independence Bowl." UM did not respond with a comment.
All three UM quarterbacks played, beginning with starter Jarren Williams, continuing with one series by Tate Martell, and ending with backup N'Kosi Perry.
The Hurricanes are now 0-5 in games for which they have had more than a week to prepare: against Florida, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, FIU and Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs sealed the victory with an 8-yard touchdown run by quarterback J'Mar Smith with 1:15 left.
La. Tech scored its lone first-half touchdown at 9:34 of the second quarter on a 26-yard screen pass from J'Mar Smith to Israel Tucker, who was completely uncovered and sprinted down the left sideline into the end zone.
After one half, the Bulldogs led Miami 7-0 and the Canes had a paltry 135 total yards _ 82 passing and 53 rushing. And that was with Miami possessing the ball nearly five minutes more than Louisiana Tech.
The most intriguing part of the first half, maybe the only part that created a buzz, was when redshirt sophomore Tate Martell, who transferred to Miami last January from Ohio State, got his first chance all season at quarterback. But alas, the drive went 7 yards in six plays, though Martell did complete his first and only career pass _ 7 yards to K.J. Osborn.
Early in the fourth quarter, UM striker Gilbert Frierson picked off Bulldogs quarterback J'Mar Smith, then ran 34 yards to the La Tech 45-yard line. Frierson's subsequent would-be lateral to Te'Cory Couch was ruled an illegal forward pass. So instead of starting the drive at the La Tech 29, UM, behind quarterback substitute N'Kosi Perry, began the drive at midfield with 12:15 left in the game.
But the Perry-led Canes could only get as far as the La Tech 39, UM's Lou Hedley was forced to punt and the Bulldogs took over at their own 10-yard line with 9:03 left.
