Miami ? Some college football teams would welcome an unforeseen bye week, but the University of Miami’s layoff left it craving normalcy.

Two days after the Hurricanes’ thrashing of Temple, the drama began to unfold with the firing of defensive-line coach Greg Mark, a former Hurricanes All-American. Then, in the midst of preparing for Georgia Tech, Miami learned midweek the game would be postponed because of approaching Hurricane Wilma.

The focus immediately shifted to its next opponent, North Carolina (3-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), which sixth-ranked Miami (5-1, 2-1) plays at noon today at the Orange Bowl.

“It’s been a distraction,” Miami coach Larry Coker said. “How they are affected, if practice is any judge, they’ve held up well. But the game is going to be the real litmus test.”

Although the 14-day stretch allowed several players to heal, the Hurricanes hardly found solace at practice. “Two weeks? Two years,” Coker quipped.

Despite fuel shortages and inconveniences posed by Wilma, Coker remained optimistic fans would turn out for homecoming.

Wilma left 98 percent of South Floridians without electricity, extending to many UM players who had to alter their dietary regimens.

“There are certainly things a lot more important in South Florida than football right now,” Coker said, “but I hope our fans are able to come.”