Coker And Gore Earn Sporting News Honors
Dec. 6, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — The Sporting News has announced the University of Miami head football coach Larry Coker has been named its BIG EAST Coach of the Year, along with rookie running back Frank Gore as Freshman of the Year. The Hurricanes 18-7 victory at Boston College was tabbed as TSN’s BIG EAST Game of the Year. Boston College’s All-America running back William Green was chosen the publications’ Player of the Year.
TSN also announced that 13 Hurricanes were selected to its All-BIG EAST squad, seven on offense, three on defense and three on special teams. The offensive selections were Bryant McKinnie (OT), Brett Romberg (C), Martin Bibla (OG), Joaquin Gonzalez (OT), Jeremy Shockey (TE), Ken Dorsey (QB) and Andre Johnson (WR). The defensive picks were Mike Rumph (CB), Phillip Buchanon (CB) and Edward Reed (FS). On special teams were Todd Sievers (K), Freddie Capshaw (P) and Buchanon (PR).
Coker, also recently selected as the BIG EAST Coach of the Year by the leagues’ head coaches, has guided the Hurricanes to undefeated 11-0 regular season and a berth in the National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 3rd. The title game will mark the Hurricanes seventh all-time, while winning four championships in 1983, 1989, 1991 and 1993. This season, Miami has surpassed its previous school and BIG EAST record for scoring with 475, previously set by the 2000 Hurricanes (469). Miami has also been ranked No. 1 by at least one of the two major polls since September 2nd, following a season-opening win at Penn State (33-7).
Gore, who played his high school football around the corner from the UM campus at Coral Gables High School, edged Virginia Tech freshman running back Kevin Jones for TSN’s Freshman of the Year honor. Gore wasn’t pressed into starting duties as Jones was following the season-ending knee injury to All-American Lee Suggs. As the second, third or fourth option throughout the season, Gore amassed 543 yards on 58 carries and five touchdowns in 10 games played. His season-high came in UM’s 59-0 rout of Syracuse where he totaled 153 yards on 11 attempts (13.9 avg.).
The thriller in Chestnut Hill on November 10th was TSN’s pick for the top game in the BIG EAST this season. With upset-minded Boston College trailing 12-7 and at the Miami nine-yard line, Eagles QB Brian St. Pierre threw a pass that ricocheted off Mike Rumph’s knee, plucked out of the air by Matt Walters and handed-off to Edward Reed who raced for the score 80 yards.
