Hurricanes Glad To Be Back On National Stage
Aug. 27, 1999
By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – In the past three years, the Miami Hurricanesbegan the season with victories over Memphis, Baylor and East Tennessee State.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes are braced for a different kind of openeragainstOhio State.
“East Tennessee State and Ohio State are night and day,” senior guardRichard Mercier admitted.
The challenge is daunting, but the Hurricanes are glad to be back on thenational stage. No. 12 Miami opens its season against No. 9 Ohio State in theKickoff Classic, and a victory could catapult the Hurricanes into the top 10for the first time since 1996.
“This game motivated us all summer to work hard,” Mercier said. “We’regoing to be the only college game on TV that day, so it’s like, `Hey,everybodyis watching us.”‘
Such showdowns were once commonplace for the Hurricanes, who won fournational championships from 1983 to 1991. But NCAA probation ended thedynasty,and Miami is still recovering from three years of probation that cost theprogram 32 scholarships.
This year’s team should be the best in Davis’ five seasons.
“People think this is the fifth year, but in some respects this isactuallyonly the second year of trying to rebuild the program,” he said. “The firstthree years were somewhat just trying to keep your head above water. Moreplayers were leaving and graduating and going out early in the draft than wewere able to recruit.”
A turnaround came when the Hurricanes improved from 5-6 in 1997 to 9-3lastseason, with victories over unbeaten UCLA and North Carolina State in thefinaltwo games.
“You knew Miami wasn’t going to be down very long, because of the highschool talent and the kind of program and the coaching staff they have downthere,” Ohio State coach John Cooper said. “It was a matter of time untilthey got back to where they should be in college football.”
Miami’s fast finish last year prompted an invitation in January from theKickoff Classic. Some schools hesitate to add a difficult opening game, butMiami eagerly accepted.
“We’ll play anybody,” athletic director Paul Dee said. “We like biggames.”
Davis felt an extra game would benefit his younger players, such assophomore quarterback Kenny Kelly. And Davis said the chance to play onnational TV gives the program a boost.
“It helped this year’s recruiting, and it will help next year’srecruiting,” he said.
Dee said last year’s UCLA game on ESPN drew an impressive audience of 3.5million, and he expects twice as many viewers for the game Sunday on ABC.
“This should be the biggest TV audience we’ve had in a while,” Dee said.
Another reason to accept the invitation was the payoff of at least$650,000to each school, although Dee said the Hurricanes expect to make only a smallprofit after expenses.
The team planned to fly to New York on Thursday night, attend abanquet andtour Manhattan. But Davis said he doesn’t consider this a bowl game.
“The fans and alumni are going to New York to start their Christmasshopping early,” he said. “But for the players, it’s a business trip.”
Miami might find it tough to do business. The Buckeyes are 11-0 in seasonopeners under Cooper.
Ohio State is the Hurricanes’ highest-ranked opening opponent since 1988,when they beat No. 1 Florida State 31-0. Davis’ players have never been in -much less won – such a game as that, but he expects them to handle thespotlight well Sunday.
“Their hearts are going to be beating like crazy, and if they weren’t,I’dbe disappointed,” Davis said.
