No. 1 Miami Prepares For Rutgers

No. 1 Miami Prepares For Rutgers

Oct. 28, 2002

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Miami Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0 BIG EAST) (#1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA Today)
vs. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (1-7, 0-4 BIG EAST)

When: Saturday, November 2, 2002, at Noon EST.
Where: Rutgers Stadium (41,500/Natural Grass) in Piscataway, New Jersey.
TV: ESPN Regional will televise the game live with the telecast team of Dave Sims (play-by-play), John Congemi (analysis) and Greg Roberts (sideline).
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Nov. 3, 5 p.m. Eastern Time) will produce coverage of all Miami Hurricanes football games this season with Frank Forte (play-by-play) and former Hurricane Dave Heffernan (analysis) describing the action.
Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play), former Hurricane offensive lineman Don Bailey, Jr. (analysis), and Brian London (sideline reports) describing the action. Josh Darrow is the studio host.
En Espanol: Radio Unica (WNMA 1210 AM) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Jose Martinez (analysis) describing the action.
Student Station WVUM (WVUM 90.5 FM) will broadcast the game in with Jesse Agler (play-by-play) and Luke Dillon (analysis) describing the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Rutgers (www.scarletknights.com).

MIAMI HEAD COACH LARRY COKER
Second-year head coach Larry Coker has a 19-0 (1.000) record at Miami. His 19-0 record includes a 10-0 mark in BIG EAST play, along with a 10-0 mark at the Orange Bowl and a 9-0 record on the road. Coker’s start at Miami is the best of any first-time head coach in the “modern era” of college football (post-1950) for wins without a tie or loss. Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer started out 21-0-1 in 1973-74, but suffered a tie in his second game as head coach. Coker’s unbeaten/untied start is the best by a first-time Division I-A head coach since Walter Camp of Yale led the Bulldogs to 28 consecutive victories before a loss in the 1888-89 seasons.

Coker led Miami to an undefeated season in his first year as a collegiate head coach with the 2001 Hurricanes. Coker was named Miami’s 19th head football coach on February 3, 2001. Coker was named National Coach of the Year for 2001 by the American Football Coaches Association (an honor shared with Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen) and was recipient of the 2001 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The 2002 season marks Coker’s eighth overall at Miami, after serving as the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1995-2000. Prior to 1995, Coker was an assistant coach at Ohio State (1993-94), Oklahoma (1990-92), Oklahoma State (1983-89) and Tulsa (1979-82).

CLICK ON “MIAMI AWARDS” AT WWW.HURRICANESPORTS.COMFor the second consecutive season, the University of Miami Sports Media Relations Department has unveiled Miami Awards candidates on its official website at www.hurricanesports.com/miamiawards. The site’s latest feature is designed to bring the media and fans closer to several of the Hurricanes’ football standouts throughout the 2002 season.

Miami Awards will allow the opportunity for the user to check up on the featured Hurricanes’ updated stats, bios, Q&A’s, stories and other detailed information along the way. Current players featured on Miami Awards include quarterback Ken Dorsey, punter Freddie Capshaw, receiver Andre Johnson, defensive linemen William Joseph and Jerome McDougle, runningback Willis McGahee, kicker Todd Sievers, linebackers Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams and center Brett Romberg.

MIAMI-RUTGERS SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

The road trip to Rutgers marks the 10th meeting between the two schools, with Miami holding a 9-0 series advantage.Miami is 4-0 all-time at Rutgers Stadium, including a 64-6 victory in the Hurricanes last trip to Piscataway in 2000. The 64 points was the most UM had scored in a BIG EAST game, as well as the most points scored on the road by the Hurricanes.Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano also served as defensive coordinator at for the Hurricanes in 1999 and 2000 under former head coach Butch Davis.UM has scored 51 or more points in the last five meetings with Rutgers and six of the last seven, including back-to-back scores of 61-0 in 2001 and 64-6 in 2000. Overall, Miami has outscored Rutgers 428-87 in the nine all-time meetings for an average score of 47.6-9.7 per game (UM +37.9 margin of victory).Rutgers, along with Temple and Boston College, are the lone BIG EAST schools never to defeat the Hurricanes in conference play. UM is a combined 31-0 against these three schools since the formation of the BIG EAST football conference in 1991.The 58-point margin of victory (64-6) over Rutgers in 2000 was previously the largest in the series, eclipsed by last season’s 61-point margin of victory. In the 2001 game, UM scored points five different ways (rushing, passing, punt return, fumble return and field goal).Last season’s 61-point margin of victory was the largest since a 75-7 win over Fordham in 1954 (47 years) and the largest in a home-opener since shutting out Havana 62-0 in 1928 (73 years). It was Rutgers’ worst loss since a 62-0 loss at Notre Dame in 1996. Since then, RU fell 80-7 to West Virginia in 2001.The Hurricanes roster boasts four players from New Jersey, including Thomas Carroll (Lakewood), Howard Clark (Pennsauken), Jamaal Green (Camden) and Ed Wilkins (Plainfield). The Rutgers 2002 media guide roster contains 21 players from the state of Florida.A combined 25 players from the Miami and Rutgers rosters attended high school together. Six of the seven mutual high schools are located in the Dade/Broward/Palm Beach area, while Miami Northwestern and Miami Carol City leads the way with six players each from UM and RU.

NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK NOW AT 29 GAMES
With the 40-23 win at West Virginia, Miami extended its national leading win streak to 29 games. The current 29-game win streak, including bowl games, equals the Hurricanes’ school-record 29-game streak set from 1990-92.

In the regular season, UM has won 27 consecutive regular season games dating back to a 47-10 victory at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The longest win streak in the regular season for Miami is 36 games, accomplished from a 48-20 win at Rice on Sept. 14, 1985, to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 1988.

CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK AT 14 GAMES
Miami has won 14 straight games away from the Orange Bowl, including the 2002 Rose Bowl and 2001 Sugar Bowl, since defeating West Virginia in Morgantown, 47-10, on Sept. 23, 2000.

Regular season only, Miami has a current 12-game road win streak since that win over the Mountaineers. The regular season win streak is the longest at UM since the Hurricanes won 14-straight road contests from 1990-93.Including bowls, UM last won 14 straight from 1990-92. The longest road winning streak in UM history is 20 games, stretching from a 28-17 win at Purdue on Sept. 15, 1984, to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 1988.

ROAD WARRIORS
Since 1983, Miami has constructed the nation’s best record in road games (not including neutral sites). The Hurricanes’ road record in the 19 seasons beginning with 1983 is the best among all NCAA Division 1A football institutions. Miami has a record of 81-19-0 (.810) in road games at the opponent’s home. During that span, Miami has gone unbeaten in road games in eight seasons (1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2001).

Of interest is the fact that Miami played three of the top seven best road teams during the 2001 season (Nebraska, Florida State and Penn State) and will take on three in 2002 (Florida State, Tennessee and Florida).

BIG EAST-RECORD 20-GAME CONFERENCE WIN STREAK ON THE LINE AT RUTGERS
Miami will be bringing its BIG EAST-record 20-game conference win streak into the contest with Rutgers. The Hurricanes extended their streak with a 40-23 win at West Virginia last weekend. Additionally, UM has also won 23 of its last 24 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech. The streak began with a 55-0 defeat over Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. Miami has also recorded conference win streaks of 12 games (1991-93), 10 games (1995-96) and seven games (1994).

UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST
In its 12th season of competition in the BIG EAST, Miami has forged a league-best 62-10 (.861) overall conference record. The Hurricanes’ seven BIG EAST titles are also a league-best, ahead of Syracuse (3), Virginia Tech (3) and West Virginia (1).

THE CONSENSUS NO. 1
Miami is currently riding a 16-week streak as the nation’s consensus No. 1 team in the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls. UM finished off the 2001 season as consensus No. 1 the last six weeks and has been at the same spot each of the 10 polls this season. In 2001, UM was the consensus No. 1 in 12 of 17 total polls.

HAVING THE NO. 1 RANKING
The Hurricanes enter the Rutgers game ranked No. 1 for the 11th straight poll this season. Coupled with the 2001 season, Miami has been ranked at the top spot in the either the Associated Press or USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll for the past 26 weekly polls.

Miami ended the 2001 season having been ranked No. 1 by the AP for the last 9 weeks and 13 of 16 polls during the season. UM was No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll for the last five weeks and 12 out of 16 polls.Since the AP poll began in 1936, the weekly rankings have been published 873 times. Miami has been ranked No. 1 60 times.

The 10 teams ranked No. 1 most often are:
1. Notre Dame 95
2. Oklahoma 78
3. Ohio State 72
4. Nebraska 62
5. MIAMI 60
6. Florida State 57
7. Southern California 47
8. Texas 40
9. Michigan 33
10. Alabama 31

RECORD TOP-RANKED STREAK
With its 40-23 at West Virginia last weekend, Miami remained atop the Associated Press weekly poll for 21 consecutive weeks since Oct. 14, 2001. The 21 straight weeks extends UM’s AP record.

MIAMI AS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1
The Hurricanes have played in 43 games all-time while holding the AP’s No. 1 ranking and have forged a 38-5 record in those contests. Miami has won 14 straight as the nation’s top-ranked team. Prior to the Alabama loss (34-13) in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, UM had won 12 straight games when it held the top spot in the polls dating back to the 1991 season.

In the regular season, UM has been ranked No. 1 by the AP in 39 games and has recorded a 36-3 mark. UM last lost a regular season game while holding the No. 1 ranking in the 1990 season opener at BYU, 28-21 on Sept. 8.

Miami’s record according to AP Rank
UM is 205-40-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 140-20 as a top 10 team and 112-12 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 38-5 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 28 of its last 29 while ranked No. 1.

Miami vs. AP-ranked teams
Miami is 71-98-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 35-52 vs. AP top-10 teams since playing No. 6 Alabama in 1947, is 19-31 against AP top-5 teams since playing No. 3 Maryland in 1953, and is 9-7 against No. 1-ranked teams.

Miami has won 10 consecutive games against ranked opponents beginning with a 27-24 victory over No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. That streak includes five straight wins on the road or at neutral sites against ranked opponents and five victories at the Orange Bowl against ranked foes.

Miami vs. Ranked Opponents
Streak: Won 10
Streak on the Road/Neutral: Won 5
Streak at Home: Won 5

VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 32-22 mark against Associated Press ranked teams and a 90-6 record against unranked opponents.

MIAMI/RUTGERS: TEAMMATES TO RIVALS
Rutgers has 21 players on its roster from the state of Florida, including 18 from South Florida. Miami has four players on its roster from the state of New Jersey, including Thomas Carroll (Lakewood), Howard Clark (Pennsauken), Jamaal Green (Camden) and Ed Wilkins (Plainfield).

A combined 25 players from the Miami and Rutgers rosters attended high school together. Six of the seven mutual high schools are located in the Dade/Broward/Palm Beach area, while Miami Northwestern and Miami Carol City leads the way with six players each from UM and RU.

Miami Northwestern (6)
Travarous Bain (UM), Vernon Carey (UM), Jarrell Weaver (UM), David Williams (UM), Dondre Asberry (RU), Clarence Pittman (RU).
Miami Carol City (6)
Ethenic Sands (UM), Sinorice Moss (UM), Glen Sharpe (UM), Jermaine Ponder (UM), Corey Barnes (RU), Alfred Peterson (RU).
Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (4)
Mark Gent (UM), Anthony Wollschlager (UM), Chris Napoli (UM), William Vogt (RU).
Belle Glade/Glades Central (3)
Santonio Thomas (UM), Frederick Robinson (RU), William Beckford (RU).
Homestead South Dade (2)
Antrel Rolle (UM), Jarvis Johnson (RU).
Lantana, Boynton Beach/Santaluces (2)
Vince Wilfork (UM), Randy Boxill (RU).
New Jersey Plainfield/Plainfield (2)
Ed Wilkins (UM), Leslie Collins (RU).

WHEN THE OPPONENTS HEAD COACH USED TO BE AT MIAMI
This season’s game against Greg Schiano’s Scarlet Knights marks the fourth all-time game against teams coached by a former Miami coach. Schiano was defensive coordinator at Miami for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Last year, UM defeated Rutgers, 61-0, in Schiano’s debut season with the Scarlet Knights. In 1988, the Hurricanes defeated Mike Archer and LSU, 44-3, in Baton Rouge. Archer was an assistant at UM from 1978-83. In 1985, UM defeated Howard Schnellenberger’s Louisville Cardinals, 45-7, at the Orange Bowl. Schnellenberger was head coach at UM from 1979-83.

HURRICANES IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Since the 1980 season Miami has been nearly unbeatable as it heads into the final two months of the season totaling a 78-9 record in games played in November and December. In the month of November, UM is 72-9 since 1980, along with a perfect 6-0 record in December. The Hurricanes are currently riding a eight game win streak in November with their last loss coming at Virginia Tech in 1999. Miami hasn’t actually lost in a December game since 1977, going 8-0 since.

DOMINANT OFFENSE AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA
Miami gained 524 total yards against West Virginia, the most by the Hurricanes this season and the most by a Miami team since a 566-yard output against Syracuse last season (59-0 victory). The Miami single-game total offense mark is 689 vs. UCLA in 1998.

Miami’s passing yardage against WVU of 422 set a new record for a WVU opponent at Mountaineer Field. The old mark of 393 was set by Miami of Ohio in 1999. It is the most by the Hurricanes since passing for 485 yards against San Diego State in 1991.

2002 SCORING OFFENSE AMONG THE BEST ALL-TIME
The 2002 squad has amassed 302 points through the first seven games of the season, marking the third-most points scored by a UM team after seven games played. The 2000 Hurricanes sit atop the list with 315 points after seven games, followed by 2001 (307) and 2002 (302). The Hurricanes current 302 points after seven games is already more than the single-season totals accumulated during the schools’ first 57 seasons of football, or up until 1983.

2002 ATTENDANCE HITS RECORD MARK
The attendance for the first four home games of the season was a combined 276,228 (Florida A&M 68,548; Boston College 73,622; Connecticut 52,131; Florida State 81,927). The combined attendance is the most in four consecutive home games at Miami all-time, surpassing the 255,439 that came to watch Iowa, FSU, Kansas and Pittsburgh in 1990. The third-most attendance in a four-game stretch was 252,506 that came to see McNeese State, FSU, Louisiana Tech and Virginia Tech in 2000.

THREE CONSECUTIVE ROAD GAMES
The Hurricanes game at Rutgers marks the second of three straight contests on the road, including last week at West Virginia and November 9 at Tennessee. The three consecutive road games in 2002 marks the ninth time in school history the Hurricanes will do so. UM played three straight road games in 2000 (2-1), 1999 (1-2), 1985 (3-0), 1979 (1-2), 1978 (2-1), 1976 (0-3), 1936 (2-0-1) and 1931 (0-3).

JON VILMA, D.J. WILLIAMS MAKE SHORT LIST FOR BUTKUS AWARD
Starting linebackers Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams were listed among the 11 semifinalists for the 2002 Butkus Award, presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (DACO), Inc. to the top linebacker.

Miami is the only school in the nation to place two players among the 11 semi-finalists. Traditionally, 10 semi-finalists are named, but there was a tie for 10th place in the voting. This is the third time in four years that there have been more than 10 semifinalists. The Butkus Award has been presented since 1985. The list was determined by confidential balloting of the 29-member Butkus Award Selection Committee, comprised of the nation’s foremost media members. The Selection Committee made their selections from the initial Butkus Award Watch List of 67 college linebackers, which was announced back on August 22, 2002.On Thursday, November 14, 2002, DACO will announce the three finalists for this year’s Butkus Award at a national teleconference. The three Butkus Award finalists and their coaches will participate in the announcement. The 2001 Butkus Award winner will be announced at the Butkus Award Presentation Ceremony on Friday, December 13, 2002, by the award’s namesake Dick Butkus.

KEN DORSEY AMONG FIVE CANDIDATES FOR JOHNNY UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD
Ken Dorsey was selected as one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, awarded to college football’s top senior quarterback. Dorsey is listed with Byron Leftwich (Marshall), Carson Palmer (Southern California), Dave Ragone (Louisville) and Seneca Wallace (Iowa State). Past Miami winners of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award were Gino Torretta (1992) and Craig Erickson (1990). A winner will be announced Dec. 4.

JEROME McDOUGLE, ANDREW WILLIAMS AMONG SEMIFINALISTS FOR TED HENDRICKS AWARD
Jerome McDougle and Andrew Williams were selected as two of 10 semifinalists for the inaugural Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year award. The Hurricane duo is listed along with Nathaniel Adibi (Virginia Tech), Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), Michael Haynes (Penn State), Alonzo Jackson (Florida State), Kindal Moorehead (Alabama), Cory Redding (Texas), DeWayne White (Louisville) and Jimmy Wilkerson (Oklahoma).

MIDSEASON AWARDS FOR THE HURRICANES
Willis McGahee, RB CNNSI Midseason All-America, CollegeFootballNews.com
Brett Romberg, C CNNSI Midseason All-America, CollegeFootballNews.com
Kellen Winslow, TE CollegeFootballNews.com

QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE
The average drive time on UM’s 38 offensive touchdowns in 2002 is 1:52. Overall, 24 of the 38 touchdowns were scored under two minutes of drive time. Additionally, 12 touchdowns have come in under a minute.

EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Miami’s offense is one that can strike quickly. In six games the Hurricanes have recorded 123 plays of 10 or more yards, or 25% of its total offensive plays for the season. The Hurricanes strike for 10 or more yards once every 4.0 plays from scrimmage.

IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 160-14 (.920) when scoring first.

THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 107 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988.

Miami has won 128 consecutive games when scoring 31 or more points since falling 39-37 to UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl.Excluding bowl games, Miami has won 139 consecutive regular season games when scoring 31 or more since a 34-31 loss to Mississippi State in 1980.

4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE
Over the last 16 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 157 of 159 regular season games in which it entered the fourth quarter with a lead. The two losses in this span occurred at East Carolina (1999) and West Virginia (1997). Prior to those two losses, UM last lost when leading after three quarters in 1984 against Maryland (42-40) after leading 34-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT 20 GAMES
Miami’s 28-27 win over Florida State extended the Hurricanes’ Orange Bowl win streak to 20 games, dating back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999. The current home win streak, currently the nation’s second longest, is UM’s longest since its NCAA-record 58-game win streak from 1985-94.

Nebraska currently holds the nation’s longest home win streak at 26 games.

Active Division I-A Home Win Streaks
1. 26 Nebraska
2. 20 MIAMI

MORE ON THE HURRICANES’ 20-GAME ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK
Miami will enter the Pittsburgh game on November 21 riding a 20-game home win streak at the Orange Bowl that dates back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999. Miami’s last loss at home was to No. 2 Penn State, 27-23, at Sept. 18, 1999. During the 20-game streak Miami has outscored its opponents 924-217 (46.2-10.9 per game – 35.3 UM margin of victory). In non-conference games during the streak, Miami has outscored eight opponents 372-141 (46.5-17.6 per game – 28.9 UM margin of victory). Against the BIG EAST, Miami has outscored the league 552-76 (46.0-6.3 per game – 39.7 UM margin of victory) in 12 home contests. Against the five ranked teams defeated at the Orange Bowl during the streak, Miami outscored the opposition 220-79 (44.0-15.8 per game – 28.2 UM margin of victory).

During the streak Miami’s lowest point total is 27 points in a 27-24 thrilling win over No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. Scoring has also been high during the streak with the Hurricanes surpassing 30 points 17 times, 40 points 13 times, 50 points eight times and 60 points four times. The most points UM has scored during the streak is 65 points in a 65-7 win over No. 12 Washington on Nov. 24, 2001.The UM defense has posted five shutouts during the 20-game streak and another six games where the opponent scored seven or less points. The most points allowed by UM were 31 vs. Louisiana Tech on Oct. 28, 2000. Opponents have achieved double-digit scoring just nine times during the 20-game streak. FAMU totaled 17 points in the 2002 season opener at the Orange Bowl, marking the first time in a nine-game home span the opponent scored more than seven points.Of interesting note, the last touchdown recorded by a BIG EAST opponent at the Orange Bowl was in the first quarter vs. Boston College on Nov. 25, 2000 – 23 straight quarters over six league games.Over the last 12 home games since defeating Pittsburgh, 35-7, on Nov. 11, 2000, the Hurricanes have outscored home opponents 570-94 (47.5-7.8 per game – 39.7 UM margin of victory).Including the home loss to Penn State in 1999, Miami has won 24 of 25 home contests since a 26-14 loss to FSU on Oct. 10, 1998.

MIAMI KEEPS HOLD ON “STATE CHAMPIONSHIP”
There has been 28 seasons between 1958 and 2002 where Miami, Florida State and Florida all played each other in the same year. Of those 28 seasons, UM has won seven “state” championships (62-80-81-86-87-00-02), including the last four in 2002, 2000, 1987 and 1986. Florida leads the three schools with 14 “state” titles (58-59-60-63-69-71-72-73-74-75-76-82-83-85), while FSU has three “state” titles (64-78-79). Miami and Florida State play annually, as do the Seminoles with Florida. The annual Miami/Florida series was discontinued after 1987, with three meetings in 2000, 2002 and upcoming in 2003 at the Orange Bowl.

MIAMI AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE OPPONENTS
Miami holds a 3-0 record vs. teams from the state of Florida in 2002, including a 28-27 win over Florida State on Oct. 5, a 41-16 win over Florida on Sept. 7 and a 63-17 win over Florida A&M in the season opener on Aug. 31. The Hurricanes have also won 19 of their last 27 games against Sunshine State opponent since the 1985 season. Miami is currently riding a six-game win streak over state teams since the 2000 season.

ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR DORSEY
Ken Dorsey set a new personal single-game best for passing yardage against West Virginia, as well as a new mark for a West Virginia opponent at Mountaineer Field by passing for 422 yards (old record: 366, Alex Van Pelt of Pittsburgh, 1989). The yardage total is the most by a Miami quarterback since Craig Erickson passed for 424 vs. San Diego State in 1989. The total ranks eighth on the UM single-game passing yards list.

the first 400+-yard outing also was Dorsey’s third 300+-yard passing outing of the season and his second consecutive after a 362-yard effort against Florida State on October 12. The passing yardage is the most by a WVU foe since 1994 (433, John Ryan of Pittsburgh, 1994).

DORSEY SETS THREE SCHOOL CAREER RECORDS AT WEST VIRGINIA
Ken Dorsey broke the Miami career passing yards record with a 25-yard completion to Kevin Beard in the second quarter against the Mountaineers. That completion gave Dorsey 7,697 yards for his career, surpassing the standard of 7,690 yards set by 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta (1989-92). A 42-yard pass to fullback Quadtrine Hill in the third quarter gave Dorsey 556 completions in his career, surpassing Torretta’s UM record for completions of 555 from 1989-92. Dorsey compiled a career-high 414 yards of total offense against WVU, giving him 7,981 for his career and surpassing Torretta’s UM old record of 7,722 from 1989-92.

Ken Dorsey in the UM record book:
TD Passes – 1st (76)
Passing yards – 1st with 8,024 (old record: 7,690 by Torretta, 1989-92)
Pass completions – 1st with 564 (record is 555 by Torretta, 1989-92)
Total offense -1st, 7,981 (old record: 7,722 by Torretta, 1989-92)
Pass attempts – 2nd, 973 (record is 991 by Torretta, 1989-92)

DORSEY IN THE BIG EAST RECORD BOOK
Ken Dorsey’s totals against West Virginia moved him closer to the top of several BIG EAST career records lists. With two touchdown passes, Dorsey now has 76 touchdowns passing in his career ranking him in second place on the BIG EAST career list behind Donovan McNabb of Syracuse (77 from 1995-98).

Dorsey’s 422 passing yards moved him into second on the BIG EAST career list for passing yardage with 8,024. Dorsey passed Glenn Foley of Boston College (7,853 yards from 1991-93) against WVU. Donovan McNabb of Syracuse (1995-98) holds the conference passing yards mark with 8,389 yards.Dorsey’s 22 completions gives him 564 for his career, good for second place in BIG EAST history behind Marc Bulger of West Virginia’s 571 completions from 1996-99. Against WVU, Dorsey moved from fourth to second in conference history, passing Donovan McNabb of Syracuse (548 from 1995-98) and Temple’s Henry Burris (558 from 1993-96).

DORSEY AS A STARTER
Ken Dorsey has been the Hurricanes starter since the final three games of the 1999 season and, in those 34 starts, has passed for 400 yards one time, a career-high 422 yards at West Virginia last weekend. He has passed for 300 yards seven times and 200 yards 27 times. Dorsey has had multiple touchdowns in 28 games. His statistics as a starter read: 554-of-944 for 7,935 yards with 75 touchdown passes, one touchdown rush, and 22 interceptions thrown.

DORSEY: AT HIS BEST IN BIG GAMES
Several of quarterback Ken Dorsey’s greatest performances have been turned in against some of the nation’s top-ranked teams. Miami is 11-1 against ranked opponents with Dorsey as a starter including 6-0 against teams ranked in the top 10.

DORSEY’S CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
In his Miami career, Ken Dorsey has connected with 19 different players for a school-record 74 passing touchdowns. Split end Andre Johnson leads all current players with 15 Dorsey touchdowns. The Dorsey to Johnson connection ranks as the third-most prolific scoring tandem in school history behind Vinny Testaverde/Michael Irvin (19) and Gino Torretta/Lamar Thomas (16). The Dorsey/Johnson tandem passed Bernie Kosar/Eddie Brown (14) with a pair of touchdowns against WVU.

DORSEY: A WINNER
By any measure, Ken Dorsey is primed to set a new standard for quarterback success at Quarterback U. He enters the Rutgers game with the best winning percentage ever established by a Miami starting quarterback, in addition to taking over the all-time mark in winning starts as the starter earlier this season.

THE LONE QUARTERBACK TO WIN THREE TIMES IN THE UM/FSU SERIES
Ken Dorsey made his third consecutive start against Florida State on Oct. 12, while his FSU counterpart Chris Rix got his second start. Dorsey was just the fifth quarterback from either school to get a third start in the series, joining UM’s Ryan Clement (95-97), Gino Torretta (89, 91-92) and Kary Baker (72-74) and FSU’s Chris Weinke (98-00). Dorsey also became the first starting quarterback in the series to have a 3-0 record. Torretta and Weinke each went 2-1 in their three starts, while Baker went 1-2 and Clement 0-3. Rix was the 28th quarterback in the series to be getting a second start, and the 15th Seminole. In the series, UM quarterbacks went 17-14 in their first starts, 7-4 in their second and 2-2 in the third. FSU quarterbacks have gone 13-17 in first starts, 8-7 in second starts and 0-1 in third starts.

McGAHEE SCORES – AGAIN
Willis McGahee rushed for three touchdowns against West Virginia. The touchdowns gave him 14 rushing scores this season, a total good for a tie for second on the UM single-season rushing touchdowns list with Eddie Dunn (1938). The UM record for rushing touchdowns in a season is 17 by Edgerrin James in 1998.

OVER THE CENTURY MARK AGAIN
Willis McGahee rushed for 112 yards on 32 carries against WVU with three touchdowns. It was McGahee’s fifth 100+-yard performance of the season and is tied for the second-most 100+-yard outings in a single season by a Hurricanes back. Clinton Portis had five 100+-yard outings in 2001. Edgerrin James holds the UM record with six in 1998. The 32 rushing attempts ranks tied for eighth-most by a UM running back in a game (Woody Thompson v. Boston College, 1973). McGahee’s first four 100-yard games this season were all consecutive, marking the third-best string of 100-yard games in Miami history.

ANOTHER LONG RECEPTION BY McGAHEE
Willis McGahee set up his own two-yard touchdown run in the third period at WVU by taking a long pass by Ken Dorsey for a 57-yard gain to the Mountaineer two-yard line. That reception was his latest in a string of long gainers in the passing game by the sophomore tailback, who also has taken pass for gains of 68 and 77 yards this season.

McGAHEE IS A BIG PLAY BACK
Willis McGahee has established him as one of the nation’s top big play running backs. McGahee is averaging 7.5 yards every time he touches the football (151 touches for 1,135 total yards). He has carried 137 times for 847 yards (6.2 avg) and recorded 14 catches for 288 yards (20.6 avg). Against West Virginia, McGahee rushed for 112 yards on 32 carries and caught two passes for 71 yards, for a combined total of 183 yards for the game.

He has recorded 34 plays of 10 or more yards, including nine of 20 or more yards and seven of 30 or more yards. Of the 151 times he touched the football 52 (34%) have gone for first downs or touchdowns. McGahee has accounted for 34% of Miami’s 153 first downs this season.

BACKFIELD NOTES
Despite posting a season-low 102 yards rushing at West Virginia, Willis McGahee broke the 100-yard plateau for the fifth time this season with 112 yards rushing on a career-high 32 carries…the three rushing touchdowns vs. the Mountaineers marked the fifth straight game this season that Miami has posted multiple rushing touchdowns…UM’s long rush of 15 yards at WVU was a season-low in a single game…McGahee accounted for 183 yards out of the backfield, including two catches for 71 yards…McGahee also scored three rushing touchdowns to give him 14 on the season, which leads the BIG EAST and places second on the UM single-season rushing touchdowns list…McGahee leads the team with 84 points scored this season leads the BIG EAST…McGahee is the conference’s second leading rusher behind WVU’s Avon Cobourne.

McGahee is 12th nationally (121.0 ypg) in rushing…McGahee also ranks 2nd in scoring offense (12 ppg), 11th in all-purpose running (162.14 ypg) and 28th in points responsible for (12 ppg)…the team ranks 29th nationally (191.86 ypg).McGahee also tied a school-record vs. Temple with four rushing touchdowns equaling the total set by Melvin Bratton vs. Boston College on Nov. 23, 1984…McGahee has twice been honored this season as BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week…Geathers started off the season with a 199-yard rushing effort vs. FAMU, the fifth-highest single game effort in UM history…McGahee’s 204 yards at Florida was the fourth-most in a single game.

RECEIVER NOTES
Seven players accounted for 422 yards receiving on 22 catches at West Virginia…the yards receiving were the most this season…leading the way for the Hurricanes vs. the Mountaineers were Andre Johnson, who had six catches for 111 yards, and Quadtrine Hill, who had six catches for 108 yards…the six catches apiece tied for the team-season-high…Kellen Winslow was third with four catches for 64 yards and a game-high 58-yarder…following Winslow were Kevin Beard (2-47), Sinorice Moss (1-17) and Jason Geathers 1-4)…the two touchdown passes to Johnson kept UM’s streak going of scoring multiple touchdowns in each game this season…Johnson’s 100-yard game was his first of the season and third of his career…Hill’s 100-yard effort was the first of his career…the 22 receptions marked the third straight game of 20 or more catches and fourth this season.

Kellen Winslow and Andre Johnson rank 4th and 5th in the BIG EAST with 3.71 and 3.57 catches per game, respectively…Johnson ranks 3rd in receiving yards per game (62.3 ypg), Winslow is 7th (47.3 ypg)…Johnson is 4th in total receiving yards (436), while Winslow is 9th (331).

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The offensive line kept Ken Dorsey without a sack for nearly the third-straight game, but West Virginia’s Fred Bluefield got through late in the fourth quarter for the team’s lone sack allowed…Dorsey has not been sacked in three games this season, including FSU, UConn and FAMU…Florida and Boston College had one sack each, while Temple recorded two…Temple had one sack each on Dorsey and Derrick Crudup…the line also allowed Dorsey to throw for more than 200 yards for the sixth straight game this season…the line allowed Dorsey to throw for 422 yards, marking a new career-high…the line also allowed Dorsey to throw for 362 yards against FSU in his previous game, tying his former career-high…as far as run blocking against the Mountaineers, the line assisted Willis McGahee in getting his fifth 100-yard game of the season with 112 yards on 32 carries.

Vernon Carey (RT) and Carlos Joseph (LT) and Chris Myers (RG) each made their seventh-straight starts after the career first in the season-opener against FAMU…Brett Romberg made his 31st career start at center against WVU, while senior Sherko Haji-Rasouli (LT) made his 14th career start…Romberg is the anchor of Miami’s offensive line and a legitimate candidate for the Dave Rimington Award, presented annually to the finest center in college football…Romberg joins fellow Canadian Haji-Rasouli on the Outland Trophy preseason Watch List for college football’s top interior lineman.

DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The defensive line recorded three sacks at West Virginia, including one each from Andrew Williams, Cornelius Green and Jamaal Green…the most sacks in a single game this season were seven in the season-opener against FAMU, followed by six vs. UConn…the sacks were Jamaal Green’s career 18th, Cornelius Green’s career 7th and Williams’ career fifth…the line pressured WVU’s Rasheed Marshall into just 60 yards passing, including nine yards in all of the second-half…Andrew Williams led the line with six tackles, all solo, against the Mountaineers…Orien Harris was next with four tackles, followed by Cornelius Green (3), Vince Wilfork (3), Jamaal Green (2), Matt Walters (2), Jerome McDougle (1) and William Joseph (1)…six of the eight tackles for loss against West Virginia came by the defensive line, including three from Andrew Williams…Williams also forced a fumble while Orien Harris recovered it.

William Joseph heads the list of returnees, a Playboy magazine All-American, who many project to be among the top defensive players in college football this season…Jerome McDougle is considered a first-team All-American by several preseason publications and is a member of the Lombardi Award Watch List (along with Joseph).

LINEBACKER NOTES
Jon Vilma had a game-high 14 tackles against West Virginia, the second straight week he has led the game in tackles…he also recorded 15 vs. FSU a game earlier and was honored as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week… fellow linebackers D.J. Williams (12) and Roger McIntosh (10) also were among the double-digit tacklers…McIntosh recorded one tackle for loss…Leon Williams made one tackle on special teams.

Vilma and D.J. Williams place first and second on the team in tackles with 69 and 59, respectively. The pair is also first and second in solo tackles with 35 and 27, respectively.Both Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams have been named among 11 semi-finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to college football’s top linebacker.

SECONDARY NOTES
The secondary assisted the defense in holding an opponent to a season-low for the second straight week…West Virginia accounted for only 60 passing yards against Miami, following up a 83-yard effort by Florida State a game earlier…the Mountaineers threw for 51 yards in the first half and nine yards in the second half…two pickoffs were recorded against WVU, one by Sean Taylor to end WVU’s final offensive possession and the other by Quadtrine Hill on a special teams fake punt.

The Hurricanes lead the nation in pass defense allowing just 109.6 yards per game through the air…no opponent has eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark this season, while three were held under 100 yards.Sean Taylor led the secondary with 10 tackles…Antrel Rolle and Kelly Jennings each had five tackles, followed by Maurice Sikes, James Scott and Glenn Sharpe with one each…Taylor also had one tackle for loss, an interception and a pass deflection…Jennings also had a pass deflection.The secondary has given up just four passing touchdowns all season, one vs. FAMU, Temple, UConn and FSU…Florida, Boston College and West Virginia were held without a passing touchdown.

PLACEKICKERS/TODD SIEVERS
On the 2002 season, 23 of Todd Sievers’ 47 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks…at West Virginia, three of his seven kickoffs went for touchbacks, while a total of five were within the one-yard line…in the WVU game, Sievers scored nine points off two field goals and three extra points….the 10 points gives him 260 for his career, keeping him in fifth place on the all-time UM list…he also has 38 career field goals, good for No. 6.

Sievers has one BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week this season after his 11-point effort vs. Florida…it was the third weekly honor of his career.Sievers, a native of Ankeny, Iowa, lettered in his true freshman season in 1998, becoming the first player from the state of Iowa to letter at Miami since fullback Tom Smith (Waterloo) in 1971-72…Smith and Sievers are the only two players from Iowa ever to letter at Miami…Joe Carlstrom, a defensive tackle from Iowa City, played in limited action on the 1951 team after serving in the armed forces, but did not letter.Gent kicked off for the first time in his collegiate career and saw further action in the season-opener vs. FAMU…Gent also had kicks in the second half vs. UConn.

PUNTERS/FREDDIE CAPSHAW
Freddie Capshaw had four punts vs. WVU for 172 yards (43.0 avg)…his long was a 48-yarder with one punt placed inside the 20…so far this season, Capshaw has punted 26 times for 1,026 yards and a 39.5 average…seven of his punts have been fair caught, eight have been placed inside the 20, two were blocked and one was for a touchback…Capshaw missed the Florida A&M game to injury and saw his first action of the season at Florida, where he punted six times for 253 yards and a 42.2 average with three landing inside the 20…In Capshaw’s absence against FAMU, true freshman Jon Peattie handled the role with three punts for 133 yards and a 44.3 average.

Capshaw, a senior from Rock Springs, Wyoming, has established himself among Miami’s best ever…the leading punter in the BIG EAST Conference the last two seasons, Capshaw is a solid contender for the Ray Guy Award, recognizing college football’s outstanding punter…twice an All-BIG EAST selection, Capshaw has earned BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week four times during his career…in 2001, he was one of three Ray Guy Award finalists as he averaged 41.8 yards per punt in his junior season.

THE RETURN MEN
Miami fielded three punt returns and three kickoff returns at West Virginia…the punts were returned for 23 yards, including 2-for-12 by Ethenic Sands and 1-for-11 by Roscoe Parrish…Jason Geathers fielded all three kickoffs for 51 yards and a long of 27 yards.

For the season, Roscoe Parrish is averaging 12.2 yards per punt return, ahead of Ethenic Sands (11.7 ypp)…Parrish and Sands rank fourth and fifth in BIG EAST punt returns…Jason Geathers leads the team with 15 kickoff returns for 277 yards (18.5 avg.).

NEW JERSEY AND CANADA BOAST STREAKS IN THE UM LINE-UP
Other then the state of Florida, New Jersey boasts the second-longest streak of having a player in the UM line-up with 56 games. Canada is third among the streaks with 55 straight games with a UM starter from the Great White North. The New Jersey streak began with Matt Sweeney (96-99) at the end of the 1997 through 1998 and now resides with linebacker Howard Clark and defensive end Jamaal Green. From Canada, center Brett Romberg and guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli continue a streak that began with Richard Mercier (95-99) in 1998.

MIAMI REMAINS NO.1 IN THE NFL DRAFT
During the last 20 years, National Football League teams have turned to the University of Miami more than any other college or university when it comes to premium picks in the annual draft. The following chart illustrates college programs that have produced the most players selected in the first three rounds from 1983 to 2002.

HURRICANE ROSTER HAS NFL GENES
Six Hurricanes on the 2002 roster have relations to players that have been in the NFL.

MIAMI GAMES USUALLY PACKED WITH NFL TALENT
The Miami program has been the best in sending players to the NFL by way of the first three round of the draft over the last 16 years leading the country 63 top-three round picks since 1987. With that, many of the Hurricanes games in 2002 are among the highest in sending a combined amount to the NFL Draft’s first three rounds. The Miami/FSU and Miami/Tennessee games highlight this list. In each of these games, a combined 117 players have been drafted into the first three rounds of the draft.