No. 1 Hurricanes Visit Temple Saturday
Sept. 9, 2002
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Miami Hurricanes (2-0) (#1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA Today)
At Temple Owls (1-1)
When: Saturday, September 14, 2002, at 12 p.m. EST
Where: Franklin Field (52,593/Artificial Turf) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
TV: ESPN Regional will televise the game live on WFOR CBS Channel 4 in Miami and WPEC Channel 12 in West Palm Beach with the telecast team of Dave Sims (play-by-play), John Congemi (analysis) and Greg Roberts (sideline reports).
ESPN Game Plan will carry the game on Channel 770 for subscribers. Call 866-503-9294 for information.
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Sept. 15, 5 p.m Eastern Time) will produce coverage of all Miami Hurricanes football games this season with Frank Forte (play-by-play) and former UM offensive lineman Dave Heffernan (analysis) describing the action.
Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM-AM [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. All games also can be heard on UM’s student radio station WVUM-FM (90.5 FM) with Kyle Berger (play-by-play) and Jesse Agler (analysis).
En Espanol: Radio Unica (WNMA-AM [1210 AM]) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Jose Martinez (analysis) describing the action.
Student Station WVUM 90.5 FM (WVUM-FM [90.5 fM]) will broadcast the game in with Kyle Berger (play-by-play) and Jesse Agler (analysis) describing the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Temple (www.owlsports.com).
Miami Head Coach Larry CokerSecond-year head coach Larry Coker has a 14-0 (1.000) record at Miami. Coker led Miami to an undefeated season in his first year as a collegiate head coach with the 2001 Hurricanes. His 14-0 record includes a 7-0 mark in BIG EAST play, along with a 7-0 mark at the Orange Bowl and 7-0 record on the road. 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 St. (1983-89) and Tulsa (1979-82).
The MIAMI-TEMPLE series
Miami and Temple meet for the 12th time in football Saturday afternoon with Miami leading the series 10-1.The Hurricanes are riding a 10-game win streak in the series into Saturday’s contest. Temple’s victory over UM came in the first meeting, a 34-0 setback for Miami on Oct. 30, 1930 at Philadelphia.The Temple game is the BIG EAST opener for Miami, now playing its 12th BIG EAST Conference season.In the last 10 meetings, Miami has scored at least 36 points in each game and has allowed more than 15 points only once (26 in a 57-26 win in 1996).In the last three meetings, Miami has outscored Temple 138-17.Last year Miami senior quarterback Ken Dorsey set a UM Touchdown record with 50 Touchdowns.
Series Record
Miami leads, 10-1
Record at the Orange Bowl: Miami leads, 5-0
Record at Philadelphia: Miami leads, 5-1
UM PLAYERS SWEEP BIG EAST WEEKLY AWARDS FOLLOWING THE FLORIDA GAME
Miami swept all three BIG EAST weekly honors after Willis McGahee (offense), Maurice Sikes (defense) and Todd Sievers (special teams) were selected after the Hurricanes defeated Florida 41-16 last Saturday. McGahee, a first-time selection, rushed 24 times for 204 yards against the Gators, both career highs. The sophomore averaged 8.5 yards, with a long run of 39 yards. It was the fourth-best rushing total in Miami history and the fourth time a UM player has surpassed the 200-yard mark. The total was the first 200-yard effort for a Hurricane running back since 1998 (Edgerrin James). McGahee also added one reception for 10 yards. Sikes, another first-time honoree, recorded the game’s key defensive play when he intercepted a Rex Grossman pass at the 3-yard line with Miami ahead, 27-16, in the third quarter. He returned the INT 97 yards for a touchdown. It tied for the fourth-longest INT return in BIG EAST history and fifth-best in Hurricane annals. Sikes also had a second interception in the fourth quarter and added four tackles and two pass break-ups. Sievers scored 11 of the Hurricanes’ points in the Florida victory. The senior placekicker connected on two field goals, including a 53-yarder to open the scoring. That kick tied for the second-longest in BIG EAST history and was the fourth-best at UM. He also had eight kickoffs. Five were touchbacks, with none returned further than the 30-yard line. It is the third time in his career that Sievers has won weekly honors.
UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST
In its 12th season of competition in the BIG EAST, Miami has forged a league-best 59-10 (.855) 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).
BIG EAST-RECORD 17-GAME CONFERENCE WIN STREAK ON THE LINE AT TEMPLE
The 26-24 win over Virginia Tech in the 2001 regular season finale on Dec. 1 marked Miami’s 17th consecutive BIG EAST conference victory since beginning with a 55-0 defeat over Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. The current streak is ahead of the Hokies’ 14-game string from 1998-00. Additionally, UM has also won 20 of its last 21 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech. Miami has also recorded conference win streaks of 12 games (1991-93), 10 games (1995-96) and seven games (1994).
TEMPLE/MIAMI OLDEST MATCH-UP ON 2002 SCHEDULE
The 1930 meeting between Miami and Temple was the first between the Hurricanes and any other opponent on the 2002 UM schedule. The second-oldest rivalry is against Florida (1938). The second oldest BIG EAST rivalry began with West Virginia in 1942.
SINCE THE TEMPLE RIVALRY RENEWAL IN 1992
Since the two teams began playing again in 1992, Miami has won all 10 meetings by a combined score of 448-98, an average of 44.8-9.8 per game (UM +35 points). In the three BIG EAST meetings vs. the Owls in Philadelphia, UM has outscored Temple 140-57 (46.7-19).
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION AGAINST TEMPLE
In Miami’s 10 meetings with Temple since 1992, the Hurricanes have posted some large offensive numbers. UM is averaging 483.7 yards of total offense (208.4 rushing and 275.3 passing) and 24.3 first downs per game against the Owls. The average margin of victory in the 10 games is 35 points.
MIAMI IN ITS BIG EAST OPENER
In BIG EAST Conference season-openers, Miami has gone 9-3 since starting the league in 1991, while going 7-3 since league play began in 1993. UM has also won its last three conference openers. On the road in league openers, UM has forged a 6-2 record, including wins in two straight.
NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK NOW AT 24
With the 41-16 win at Florida, Miami has extended its national leading win streak to 24 games. The current win streak, including bowl games, is the most for the Hurricanes since the team won a school-record 29 straight from 1990-93. In the regular season, UM has won 22 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.
QUICK HITS FROM THE WIN AT FLORIDA
With the 41-16 victory at “The Swamp”, the Hurricanes move ahead in the all-time series with the Gators 26-25, including a 15-12 mark in Gainesville.Miami has now won the last four meetings against Florida since 1986.The defeat was Florida’s worst at home since 1979, when they fell 40-0 to Alabama and 31-3 to Kentucky.The 41 points were the most the Gators have given up at home since 1970 (a 63-14 loss to Auburn).For just the sixth time in the 152 games played since 1990, a Florida quarterback failed to throw a touchdown pass in a game. It marked the first time since the Florida State game in 2000 that Grossman did not fire a touchdown pass. That was also the last time Grossman threw for less than 200 yards.The Hurricane defense held UF without a passing touchdown for the first time since Nov. 6, 1999 vs. Vanderbilt.Florida’s longest gain of the night was a 24-yard pass to tight end Aaron Walker.Miami now holds a 15-12 advantage in the series in games at Gainesville while UF leads, 11-8, in games at the Orange Bowl.Miami’s 508 yards of total offense was just the second time in Florida’s history that Gators gave up so many yards. Nebraska wracked up 524 yards in its 1996 Fiesta Bowl victory over UF.The Hurricanes now own a 6-0 advantage vs. Florida in nationally televised games.The game set a Gator attendance record with 85,777. The previous mark was 85,771 set at the Tennessee game late in the 2001 season. In the Miami record books, the 85,777 marks the seventh largest crowd ever to watch a Hurricanes football game. On the road (not including neutral sites), the game marked the sixth largest crowd to see UM play.Willis McGahee’s 204 yards rushing tied for the fourth most by an opponent in Florida history.The 41 points by Miami were the most ever scored by the Hurricanes against the Gators and the most allowed by either team in the series since Florida scored a 45-16 win at Miami in 1971. Miami’s previous high against Florida was 37 points in the 37-20 victory over the Gators in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl.Miami gained 508 yards of total offense, the most ever by the Hurricanes against Florida. The previous high was 454 in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl victory two seasons ago. Miami rushed for 306 yards and passed for 202 yards in the 2002 victory.
MIAMI AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE OPPONENTS
Miami holds a 2-0 record vs. teams from the state of Florida in 2002, including a 41-16 win over Florida last Saturday and a 63-17 win over Florida A&M in the season opener. The Hurricanes have also won 18 of its last 26 games against Sunshine State opponent since the 1985 season. UM still has Florida State on the 2002 schedule slated for Oct. 12.
ON THE ROAD VS. TOP 10 OPPONENTS SINCE 1980
With its 41-16 win over No. 6 Florida, Miami has forged a 33-20 record in 53 games since 1980 against Associated Press top-10 ranked teams.
MIAMI IN ITS ROAD OPENER
The Hurricanes opened their 2002 road schedule with a 41-16 win over the Florida Gators at the Swamp in Gainesville. Miami now has a 38-37-2 in road openers all-time, including 15-8 since 1980.
CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK AT 12 GAMES
Miami has won 12 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 10-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 the 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.
MIAMI VS. FIRST-YEAR COACHES
With the win over Florida and first-year head coach Ron Zook UM now holds a seven game win streak against rookie head coaches and is 8-1 since 1995. Overall, Miami has won 30 of its last 31 games vs. teams under the helm of a first-year coach.
HURRICANES OFF TO SCHOOL-RECORD SCORING
The 2002 squad has tied the 1998 Hurricanes for the most points scored in school-history after the first two games of the season with 104 points. Last year’s squad recorded 94 points after two games, while the 2000 team had 90 points. The second-most points after two games was 103 by the 1994 group.
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 79-19-0 (.806) in road games at the opponent’s home stadium. 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).
THE CONSENSUS NO. 1
The Hurricanes opened the 2002 season ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls and have kept the top position through their second victory at Florida. Last season, UM was the consensus No. 1 in both major polls 12 times out of a possible 17 polls during the 2001 season. On three separate occassions, the Hurricanes were able to regain the consensus status after slipping to No. 2 in one of the polls the week before. The most recent time Associated Press No. 1 Miami regained the top spot in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll after spending a week at No. 2 with its 59-0 shutout over Syracuse. The big victory pushed UM past an idle Nebraska. The second time Miami regained the consensus No. 1 ranking in both polls was following the 49-27 victory at Florida State on Oct. 13. Coaches’ No. 1 Miami regained the AP with the momentus win at Doak Campbell Stadium, coupled with Florida’s loss at Auburn. The first time UM was named consensus in both during the 2001 season was following the Hurricanes 61-0 shutout over Rutgers at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 8. The consensus No. 1 ranking first received on Sept. 9 ended a string of 3,200 days (458 weeks) since Miami was last the nation’s consensus No. 1. Prior to 2001, the last time both polls had Miami at No. 1 was on Dec. 6, 1992.
BEING NO. 1
UM opened up the 2002 season ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls and travel to Philadelphia with the top ranking through week two of the season. Miami ended the 2001 season having been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press 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 pollings. Miami began that season ranked No. 2 by the AP and remained at that position until the Sept. 2 poll. UM dropped to No. 2 on Oct. 7 after a 38-7 win over Troy State, coupled with a Florida win at LSU. The USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll dropped UM to No. 2 on Nov. 11 after an 18-7 win at Boston College, coupled with a Nebraska win over Kansas State. Since the AP poll began in 1936, the weekly rankings have been published 867 times. Miami has been ranked No. 1 53 times.
MIAMI AS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1
The Hurricanes have played in 38 games all-time while holding the AP’s No. 1 ranking and have forged a 33-5 record in those contests. Prior to the Alabama loss (34-13) in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, UM had won 11 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 34 games and has recorded a 31-3 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 200-40-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 135-20 as a top 10 team and 107-12 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 33-5 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 23 of its last 24 while ranked No. 1.
PRIMED TO ASCEND
Entering week three of the 2002 season atop the AP rankings for the 14th consecutive week, Miami joined an elite list of schools with the longest consecutive weekly AP No. 1 appearances.
Miami vs. AP-ranked teams
Miami is 70-98-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 34-52 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 nine 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 four victories at the Orange Bowl against ranked foes.
Miami vs. Ranked Opponents
Streak: Won 9
Streak on the Road/Neutral: Won 5
Streak at Home: Won 4
VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 31-22 mark against Associated Press ranked teams and an 86-6 record against unranked opponents.
Miami on ESPN Gameday
Miami has played in 10 contests from an ESPN GameDay location and has a record of 8-2 in those games.
Miami WINS VS. the SEC
Miami now holds a 61-80-3 all-time record against schools currently in the Southeastern Conference. Prior to last Saturday, the Hurricanes last SEC match-up was a 37-20 victory over Florida in the 2001 Sugar Bowl. Prior to that 2000 season finale against the Gators, Miami had not met up with an SEC team since its 34-13 loss to Alabama in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. UM’s last regular season affair against a current SEC team was a 31-3 season-opening victory at Arkansas in 1991 (back when the Hogs were members of the Southwest Conference). Miami commonly faced the SEC in the past, having met at least one member each season from 1944-1989. UM’s first SEC meeting was a 14-0 loss to Mississippi in 1936. Additionally, the Hurricanes have fielded games against each opponent currently in the 12-member conference.
BIG EAST WINS vs. the SEC
Since the formation of the BIG EAST football conference in 1991, the league has gone 11-10 vs. the SEC. The BIG EAST has faced every school in the SEC, but Mississippi State. All-time, BIG EAST schools are a combined 138-179-16 against the SEC.
TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2002
The 2002 Hurricanes face one of the toughest schedules in the nation, including games with seven teams that played in bowl games in the 2001 season and two games with teams that ended the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2001. One of college football’s top television ratings draws, Miami also has several games penciled in for national telecasts. It’s a 12-game regular season slate for UM in 2002, with six home games, including contests with bowl winners Florida State, Boston College and Pittsburgh. The seven 2001 bowl teams on Miami’s schedule are: Florida (Orange Bowl winner), Boston College (Music City Bowl winner), Florida State (Gator Bowl winner), Tennessee (Citrus Bowl winner), Pittsburgh (Tangerine Bowl winner), Syracuse (Insight.com Bowl winner), and Virginia Tech (Gator Bowl). Florida (third) and Tennessee (fourth) finished the 2001 season ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams by the Associated Press.
ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT 17 GAMES
Miami’s victory in its 2002 home opener against Florida A&M extended the Hurricanes’ Orange Bowl win streak to 23 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.
Active Division I-A Home Win Streaks
1. 23 Nebraska
2. 17 Miami
3. 14 Washington
LAST TWO HOME GAMES GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS
The Hurricanes last two home games, the 2001 season finale win over Washington (65-7) and the 2002 season opening victory over Florida A&M (63-17) marked the most points scored by the Hurricanes in a two-game span at the Orange Bowl (128-24) all-time.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE
The average drive time on UM’s 13 offensive touchdowns in 2002 is 1:13. At Florida, the four offensive touchdowns averaged 1:52 in drive time. In the season opener against FAMU, Miami scored its nine touchdowns with a :56 average. Overall 11 of the 13 touchdowns were scored under two minutes of drive time. Additionally, six touchdowns have come in under a minute.
SCORING OFF TURNOVERS
Miami has recorded four turnovers for the season, all four of which led to Hurricane touchdowns. At Florida, UM snagged two interceptions, including a 97-yard TD return by Maurice Sikes.
MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS
With its 63-17 win over FAMU, Miami now holds a 52-24-1 (.682) all-time record in 77 season-openers, including a seven-game win streak. Additionally, Miami has won 15 of its last 17 season openers since 1986.
SENIOR QB KEN DORSEY
Senior quarterback Ken Dorsey led the Hurricanes to the 2001 national championship by leading the nation’s most balanced and explosive offense. The 2001 Maxwell Award winner, Dorsey passed for 2,652 yards and 23 touchdowns while playing the entire game just twice as he continued a mercurial climb up the Miami records list. He already has risen to the top of the UM career touchdown passes list with 65 – surpassing former Miami greats Steve Walsh and Vinny Testaverde further cementing Dorsey’s name among the pantheon of outstanding Miami quarterbacks. From George Mira to Jim Kelly to Bernie Kosar to Testaverde to Walsh to Gino Torretta, few schools can match Miami’s astounding tradition of quarterbacking excellence. And Dorsey is primed to exceed all of their records.
DORSEY IN THE BIG EAST RECORD BOOK
Ken Dorsey enters the Temple game with 65 touchdowns passing for his career after throwing four at Florida last week. The four touchdown passes marked the fourth time in his career he has thrown that many. The 65 career touchdowns moves him into second place on the BIG EAST career list ahead of Boston College’s Glenn Foley (61 from 1991-93). His 6,508 passing yards lands him at No. 8 on the career list. He recently passed former Miami signal caller and Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta (1991-92, 6,155) into seventh place in BIG EAST history. Dorsey’s 58.4% completion percentage (470 of 805) lands him at No. 5 all-time behind Syracuse’s Marvin Graves (60.3, 1991-93). The 23 touchdown passes thrown in 2001 were the fourth-best in a season. His 25 in 2000 tied for third-best.
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 10-1 against ranked opponents with Dorsey as a starter including 5-0 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 65 passing touchdowns. Jason Geathers was the most recent player to join the heralded list with his two touchdown receptions at Florida. Split end Andre Johnson lead all current players with 12 Dorsey touchdowns. Johnson’s TD catch at Florida tied him with Reggie Wayne (1999-2000) as Dorsey’s top scoring target.
DORSEY: A WINNER
By any measure, Ken Dorsey is primed to set a new standard for quarterback success at Quarterback U. He enters the Temple 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 with his last victory as the starter.
DORSEY AS A STARTER
Ken Dorsey has been the Hurricanes starter since the final three games of the 1999 season and, in those 29 starts, has passed for 300 yards three times, including a regular season best of 344 in the 2001 season opener at Penn State (eclipsed only by his career-best 362 yards against Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl game). He has also thrown for at least 200 yards 20 times and has had multiple touchdowns in 21 games. His statistics as a starter read: 460-of-776 for 6,419 yards with 65 touchdown passes, one touchdown rush, and 19 interceptions thrown.
BACKFIELD NOTES
The unit produced 306 yards rushing at Florida, the most since totaling 331 vs. Syracuse on Nov. 17, 2001. The team failed to score a rushing touchdown for the first time since the Boston College game last season on Nov. 10. Willis McGahee averaged 8.5 ypc while wracking up a career-high 204 yards on 24 carries. McGahee’s total was second-most by a Division I player last Saturday, while earning him BIG EAST weekly honors. Jason Geathers had his second outstanding week in a row totaling 165 total yards with two touchdowns. At Florida, Geathers rushed for 71 yards on 13 carries, caught two touchdown passes for 37 yards and returned three kick-offs for 56 yards. In the season-opener vs. FAMU, Geathers rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns. The 204 yards by McGahee and the 199 by Geathers mark the fourth and fifth most rushing yards in a single by a Hurricane. Jarrett Payton saw his first action of the season rushing four times for 16 yards.
RECEIVER NOTES
Seven players caught 16 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns at Florida, including a two-score effort from Jason Geathers. Andre Johnson and Kellen Winslow led the squad with four catches each, while Johnson totaled a team-best 56 yards. Johnson and Ethenic Sands were the other two players to catch a TD pass. Johnson now has 13 career TD catches moving him into sole possession of No. 7 on the school list. He moved out of a three-way tie with Bubba Franks (1997-99) and James Cox (1965-67). Winslow’s 4-for-42 in the Florida game marked the second week of solid play after catching 2-for-36 with a touchdown in the season-opener. Sands TD catch at Florida marked the second straight week with a receiving score.
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
For the second straight week the UM offensive line had a stellar performance assisting the rushing game to 306 yards and the passing game to 202 yards and four touchdowns. The line has allowed just one sack over the first two games. Vernon Carey (RT) and Carlos Joseph (LT) and Chris Myers (RG) each made their second straight starts after the career first in the season-opener against FAMU. Brett Romberg made his 26th career start at center at Florida, while senior Sherko Haji-Rasouli (LT) made his nine 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 Haji-Rasouli on the Outland Trophy preseason Watch List for college football’s top interior lineman.
DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The defensive line recorded a sack at Florida while forcing UF QB Rex Grossman into numerous hurries and pressures. The line was a key element in holding the UF QB into some of the lowest statistics during his three-year career. He failed to throw a touchdown or surpass 200 yards passing. The line also made its feel in the rushing game holding Earnest Graham under 100 yards with 89. The line was led by Jamaal Green, seven tackles, followed by Andrew Williams (five solo tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass deflection. Jerome McDougle, in his first action of the season, had two tackles, one for a loss and one pass deflection. Matt Walters had four tackles, two for a loss and one deflection. Santonio Thomas and Vince Wilfork combined for the one sack. 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. 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
D.J. Williams tied for the team lead with nine tackles, including one for a loss and one deflection. Jon Vilma had six tackles and two deflections. Both Williams and Vilma are named to the Butkus Award’s Preseason Watch List of outstanding linebackers. Jarrell Weaver had an interception for the unit in the season-opener vs. FAMU, the first INT by a UM defender in 2002. D.J. Williams had a sack vs. the Rattlers.
SECONDARY NOTES
The young UM secondary came of age in the Florida game assisting the defense in allowing just 191 passing yards from Rex Grossman with no touchdowns on 19-of-45 attempts. Mo Sikes also recorded two interceptions in the game, one of which was returned 97 yards for a touchdown. Sikes was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for his key effort. UF receiver Taylor Jacobs was held to just five catches for 56 yards. The longest pass play of the day was a 24-yard pass to the tight end. UM started the UF game in the nickel defense with Kelly Jennings making the first start of his career, as well as his first action of the 2002 season. Sean Taylor tied for the team-lead with nine tackles. The unit had five pass deflections in the game.
PLACEKICKERS/TODD SIEVERS
Nine of Todd Sievers’ 14 kickoffs in 2002 have gone for touchbacks. At Florida, five of eight kickoffs were for touchbacks, while the remaining three were at the 0, 3, and 4 yard line. UM took a 3-0 lead on Florida after Sievers’ career-long 53-yard field goal in the first quarter. The field goal marked the fourth-longest in school history. His 11-point effort vs. Florida earned him BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week, the third weekly honor of his career. Sievers’ two field goals give him 34 for his career (6th place all-time), the 11 points gives him 224 points kicking for his career (6th), and his 224 points scored overall ranks eighth all-time. Sievers tied Andy Crosland (1998) for first place on the Points after Touchdown list in an individual game with 9 PATs vs. FAMU. Sievers entered the 2002 season as a legitimate candidate for the Lou Groza Kicker Award. 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. Redshirt freshman place kicker Mark Gent kicked off for the first time in his collegiate career and saw furth action in the season-opener vs. FAMU.
PUNTERS/FREDDIE CAPSHAW
Freddie Capshaw saw his first action of the season punting at Florida after being sidelined during the FAMU game with a bruised right (punting) ankle. Capshaw had six punts for a 42.2 average with three placed inside the 20. His long was 47 yards. True freshman punter/kicker Jon Peattie punted for the first time in his collegiate career vs. FAMU. Capshaw, a senior from Rock Springs, Wyoming, already 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. Capshaw is a hard-nosed player who prides himself on his excellent physical condition. 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
Two players did the majority of the returns at Florida with Ethenic Sands handling four of five punt returns. His four went for 48 yards with a long of 16. Seasn Taylor had the other punt return for zero yards. Jason Geathers returned three kick-offs for 56 yards and a long of 26.
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 156-14 (.918) when scoring first.
THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 103 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988. Miami has won 124 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 135 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 153 of 155 (.987) 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 these 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.
TURNOVERS = POINTS
The Miami defense of 2002 hopes to build on a recent trend of opportunism established by recent Hurricanes defenses. The Hurricanes have produced four turnovers for the season, two in each of the first two contests. At Florida, the defense recorded two interceptions after snagging one INT and one fumble vs. FAMU. All four turnovers have resulted in touchdowns. In 2001, Miami continued a decade-long trend of being one of the most opportunistic offenses in college football by cashing in opponent turnovers into points with alarming consistency. Miami’s defense recorded 45 turnovers, six of which were to end halves. Of those 39 remaining turnovers, the Hurricanes offense produced 172 points (24 touchdowns and two field goals) on the ensuing drive.
NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING
Maurice Sikes’ 97-yard INT return for a touchdown was the first non-offensive points scored in the 2002 season. The 2001 season marked the second straight season that Miami led the nation in non-offensive scoring with 10 touchdowns and one safety. The 11 scores and one safety gave UM 70 points. The Hurricanes also led in 2000 with 13 touchdowns and 89 points coming from defense and special teams.
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.
