CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami coach Randy Shannon said the 26-3 loss at Florida on Saturday boosted his recruiting, and not just because the Hurricanes competed for three quarters as heavy underdogs.

Shannon didn't mention Florida coach Urban Meyer's name, but implied Sunday that Meyer's decision to kick a field goal in the final seconds fired up some Miami recruits who called him after the game.

"Sometimes when you do things and people see what kind of person you really are, you turn a lot of people off," Shannon said yesterday. "Take from that what you want. It helped us more than you will ever know."

Shannon wouldn't elaborate, but he apparently was referring to Florida's field goal with 48 seconds left. The score added another contentious chapter to the on-and-off rivalry, which will resume in 2013.

After Florida ended a six-game losing streak to Miami, Shannon and Meyer exchanged cursory handshakes on the field. Later, Shannon said he heard from recruits who were traveling back from the game.

"They were calling us and saying, 'I am still coming to Miami. I'm excited about it. Coach, you guys played well,' " Shannon said.

Shannon agreed for the most part. He lamented what he called "missed opportunities" on offense, some special- teams miscues and a key play overturned on replay, but thought the Hurricanes showed improvement from his first year as coach.

The Hurricanes, three-touchdown underdogs, trailed 9-3 after three quarters. Shannon compared the effort to UM's second-half collapse in a 51-13 loss at Oklahoma last season.

"We wanted to see where we stand at, as far as the University of Miami," Shannon said. "Where are we at compared to the Top 5 teams? Have we closed the gap? I think we closed the gap.

"Are we a lot better than last year? Yes. Are we a lot better as far as competing and playing hard the whole game and keep fighting? Yes."

Shannon said the game's momentum shifted in Florida's favor on a blocked punt and safety before halftime and again when officials ruled Florida's Carl Moore out of bounds but then reversed the call on replay.

"His elbow was in, but his body was out," Shannon said.

Shannon called Moore's 28-yard, third-down catch "a turning point." It put Florida at the UM 5 and led to a touchdown after a third-down pass interference call against UM safety Randy Phillips.

The Gators had touchdown drives of 86 and 95 yards in the second half but otherwise struggled. Afterward, Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, praised UM's defensive plan.

"Make Florida throw the ball and make him execute," Shannon said of UM's goal. "We did a great job except for two drives."