The last time the Miami Hurricanes started a season 2-0, they finished 9-3 and thumped Florida in the Peach Bowl.

Thanks to a head coach who has brought swagger back to the program and a playmaker at quarterback, Miami has started 2-0 for the first time since 2004. With their 33-17 win over Georgia Tech on Thursday night, the Hurricanes have started their ’09 season by beating two ranked opponents. (The first was Florida State, whom Miami beat 38-34 on September 7.)

Randy Shannon has made his mark on a Hurricane team that is playing more inspired and focused than in years past. And it’s clear that with Jacory Harris under center, Miami finally has a quarterback that can make plays in the passing game and keep the chains moving.

In the victory over Tech last night, Harris completed 20 of his 25 pass attempts for 270 yards and three touchdowns. He’s just a sophomore, but he shows a calm, cool demeanor in the pocket and doesn’t appear to get rattled when a play breaks down. As long as he continues to mature as a passer, he’s going to be a Heisman candidate in the near future.

Perhaps the only concern Shannon has is whether or not this team will get complacent. The Canes had several opportunities to step on Tech’s throat last night and didn’t. Matt Bosher missed two chip shot field goals, the defense was lazy on a 56-yard touchdown reception by Demaryius Thomas, and you had the overall sense that Miami was on cruise control as soon as the fourth quarter started. Shannon didn’t seem amused by his team’s fourth quarter effort, so he know doubt stressed to his players the importance of finishing games strong.

Things don’t get easier for “The U” over their next two games. In 10 days, they’ll face No. 13 Virginia Tech and on October 3, they’ll host No. 12 Oklahoma. They have a long way to go if they want to prove that they’re for real but if nothing else, Miami is relevant again in the college football world.