Coker, Miami upset Eagles
It may have been the final game for the embattled Hurricanes coach.
MIAMI (AP) -- If this was Larry Coker's final game at Miami, at least the Hurricanes sent him off with a victory.
Kirby Freeman threw for 181 yards and a touchdown, Javarris James' 2-yard run in the third quarter put Miami ahead to stay, and the Hurricanes' defense stifled No. 18 Boston College in rallying for a 17-14 win Thursday night.
The Hurricanes (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped a four-game losing streak and became bowl-eligible.
Soon, they'll know if they'll actually get an invitation to the postseason -- and if the embattled Coker will be coaching. A decision on his future at Miami could be announced as early as today, and speculation has been widespread for weeks that his six-year tenure leading the Hurricanes is about to end.
But after a season in which Miami endured the death of a senior standout, the fallout over a sideline-clearing brawl and a litany of injuries, something finally went Coker's way.
DeJuan Tribble had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown for Boston College (9-3, 5-3) -- which saw its hopes of winning the ACC championship end. The Eagles' loss means the winner of Saturday's Maryland-Wake Forest game will meet Georgia Tech on Dec. 2 in the league's title game.
Andre Callender had a 5-yard touchdown run for the Eagles, who were denied their first 10-win regular season in 66 years.
Another loss
It was Boston College's 15th straight loss in the series, its last win coming exactly 22 years earlier -- when Doug Flutie's miracle pass was caught by Gerard Phelan as time expired and the Eagles escaped the Orange Bowl with a 47-45 win.
Flutie was back at the stadium Thursday for the first time, part of the broadcast crew.
And the Eagles could have used another one of his storybook finishes. But Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan was intercepted by Glenn Sharpe with 2:19 left, and Miami held on.
Despite the upset, UM might not get into a bowl game. Virginia, Florida State and Miami are vying for two bowls: the Dec. 27 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco and the Dec. 31 MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho.
Saturday, the Cavaliers play at No. 17 Virginia Tech, and the Seminoles will host No. 4 Florida.
The Eagles' only other losses came at North Carolina State and at Wake Forest.
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