Canes Morris to Start Against Virginia Tech Saturday

Jacory Harris

Stephen Morris will be making his third straight start when No. 24 Miami hosts Virginia Tech (No. 16 BCS, No. 14 AP) on Saturday with the ACC Coastal Division championship hinging on the outcome. Former Cane starter Jacory Harris suffered a concussion that has kept him out since Oct. 30.

"Concussions are serious," Miami coach Randy Shannon said Tuesday. "And a lot of fans, a lot of media, bloggers, you all think it's a deal where you can just line up and take one week off and the next week show up and play. It's not that way. ... Speaking impediments, brain aneurysms, all kinds of things can happen. I think a lot of fans and a lot of people want to say, 'What is Coach going to do?' It's not that. I'm looking at what is best for Jacory. It's not what's best for Randy Shannon or this football team."

Harris met with doctors again on Tuesday and was on the practice field with the Hurricanes, but has not yet been cleared for contact and thus remains doubtful for when the Hurricanes (7-3, 5-2) host the Hokies (8-2, 6-0).

Stephen Morris

Morris has completed 28 of 48 passes for 516 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his two starts, winning both and winning plenty of respect from teammates as well. Miami has racked up more than 500 yards of offense in those games, the first time that's happened in consecutive weeks since the final two games of the 2002 regular season.

The Hokies can clinch the division title and another trip to the ACC championship game with a victory on Saturday.

"I don't think their game plan changes a lot with who plays quarterback," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. "Harris is a real talent and has been good for them for a long time. And the Morris kid comes in there, very poised for a freshman, has good pocket presence. He's done a heck of a job for them."