Okay people, it's homecoming week. Time to bring out the fireworks and football. But more importantly, we are undefeated and ranked top ten this deep into the season for the first time in years. On Saturday, it will be a war. Miami vs. Virginia Tech has always flown between the radar in a world full of FSU's and Notre Dame's and UF's, but the Canes and the Hokies have a historic rivalry that often decided the best team in the Big East Conference until 2003 and the ACC Coastal division through today.

The Virginia Tech Hokies may be more unlike Miami than any other peer college football program. Small town Blacksburg tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains compared to the shining, bright lights of South Florida. Quite a difference. And the two teams that represent these towns are also starkly contrasted. VT has been historically known for playing defense, focusing on field position and being disciplined. Miami has had an image of deliberate celebrations, penalties, scandals, fights and other off-field incidents. While Mark Richt has helped turn that image around, many causal fans may subconsciously associate the U with what it may have been in the past.

One of the most recognizable brands in college football has always been played tough by Virginia Tech. Last year, the Hurricanes suffered their worst loss of the season at Tech in terms of margin of loss. In 2001, when Miami beat everyone and were casually rolling over top fifteen teams by 50-60 points en route to a rout win in the National Title, the Hokies came within three points of beating the Canes.

To return to those glory days, the big games must be won. That will get us over the hump. FSU was nice, but a win this Saturday essentially makes the Miami Hurricanes ACC Coastal Division Champions and gets Miami to Charlotte for the conference title, where they will play for a chance to make it to the College Football Playoff. For a big game against a good team like this, all hands must be on deck. First, be in the stadium by kickoff. If that means you have to get up early to cram all the pregame festivities in like you cram for your exam, so be it. Number two, be loud, especially when we are on defense. Keep the noise level down when we are on offense unless the play has begun, this is so the team can hear the snap count. And finally, please stay at the game until the game is over, or at least until we can tell for sure who is going to win. I get sitting out the Bethune-Cookman game, I get being tipsy when we play Toledo, but this one just means more.

When we win, we can turn our focus to Notre Dame and an ACC title game. But in order for the U to be "back" wins over teams like VT are needed, and they start with you.