Miami And Penn State Meet For First Time In Seven Years
Sept. 17, 1999
By JEFF SHAIN
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) – Throughout Miami’s rise through the college football ranks,Penn State has always been around to provide a benchmark.
The Hurricanes’ 1979 win gave them confidence that they could competewiththe traditional powers. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl remains a classic, even thoughMiami lost. And a 26-20 win in 1991 was a springboard to the Hurricanes’fourthnational title.
Now with No. 8 Miami (2-0) back among the Top 10 for the first time inthreeyears, along come the third-ranked Nittany Lions (3-0) to provide anothermeasuring stick Saturday.
“The kids are excited about this opportunity,” Miami coach Butch Davissaid. “This has the chance to be one of those classic matchups.”
It is probably Miami’s most meaningful game since 1996, when it lost34-16to Florida State in the program’s last matchup of Top 10 teams. The effects ofthree years of NCAA sanctions soon kicked in, bottoming out with a 5-6 recordin 1997.
But the Hurricanes rebounded to 9-3 last year, then opened 1999 bybeatingOhio State 23-12 in the Kickoff Classic. A win Saturday could vault them intothe top five for the first time since Davis became coach in 1995.
“It’s hard not to think about it,” Miami center Ty Wise said. “This gamehas national championship written all over it. The winner definitely has achance.”
Though the teams haven’t met in seven years, each of the past threemeetingshas impacted the championship race. Penn State clinched the second of coachJoePaterno’s national titles at the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, and Miami won the crown in1991 and lost to Alabama for the title the following year.
“When I think of those UM teams, I think of the mystique – Michael Irvin,smoke coming out the tunnel, Jessie Armstead, Russell Maryland,” Penn Statelinebacker Brandon Short said.
“I don’t know that much about this Miami team, but I know they handledOhioState pretty well, so they must be a darned good football team.”
These Hurricanes feature a quick-strike offense and an aggressive,swarmingdefense, which has allowed just 49.5 yards rushing and 7.5 points per game,with only one opposing drive resulting in a touchdown. More than half ofopponents’ 114 plays have resulted in zero or negative yardage.
“They are very close,” Paterno said in comparison to Miami’s heyday.”They have great skill people and tremendous speed on defense. … Physically,they remind you very much of those great Miami teams.”
James Jackson has 192 yards on 43 carries, including two touchdownruns ofover 40 yards. Kenny Kelly has thrown for 364 yards and three TDs.
Penn State, meanwhile, looked like a juggernaut in its first two games,routing Arizona 41-7 in the Pigskin Classic, and Akron 70-24. But the NittanyLions struggled last week against Pittsburgh, winning 20-17 when LaVarArrington blocked a field-goal attempt with four seconds left.
After rushing for 144 and 124 yards their first two games, the NittanyLionsmanaged just 55 against an inspired Pitt defense.
“We are playing the game a little differently than we have,” Paternosaid.”Prior to the Pitt game, that was a concern of mine that we had really fooleda lot of people with the big plays. One of these days, we were not going to beable to fool people.”
Paterno’s two-quarterback rotation of Kevin Thompson and Rashard Caseyhaspaid off. Thompson has taken the majority of snaps, throwing for 555 yards andfour TDs. Casey has 224 yards and two TDs passing, plus a better efficiencyrating.
“That’s our main challenge,” Miami linebacker Dan Morgan said. “We’ve gotto go out and be prepared. You’ve got to scheme for each quarterback.”
Paterno has used five running backs without finding a suitablecombination.Cordell Mitchell, the projected starter, is hampered by a bruised thigh.
Penn State’s top rusher is flanker Chafie Fields, who got 70 of his 114yards on a TD reverse against Arizona.
