Miami Football Post-Game Notes

Nov. 7, 1999

OPENING DRIVES: On Pittsburgh’s opening possession, the Hurricane defenseheld the Panthers to a three-and-out. It marked third time this year thatthe UM defense has held its opponent to a three-and-out possession on itsopening drive. UM also held Ohio State and Florida State to three-and-outpossessions on the opening drives of those games….On Miami’s openingdrive, the Hurricanes scored on a Andy Crosland 28-yard field goal aftermarching 52 yards on ten plays (2:39 TOP). It marked the third time thisseason that the ‘Canes have scored on their opening drive, but the firstscore on a UM opening drive since scoring a touchdown at East Carolina, fourgames ago. UM also scored in its opening drive vs. Ohio State.

TAKING THE LEAD: Miami’s 3-0 lead to open the game marked the first timethat the Hurricanes have scored the first points of a game since scoring atouchdown to open the East Carolina game, four games ago. Entering today,the Hurricanes are 130-13 (.909) when scoring first since 1983.

FIRST HALF SCORING: Andy Crosland’s first quarter field goal marked thefirst time the Hurricanes have scored in the first half in three games.Miami was held to a first-half shutouts of 21-0 and 13-0 vs. Boston Collegeand West Virginia, respectively, before going on to win both games.Moreover, Kenny Kelly’s second-quarter touchdown run marked the first timethat the Hurricanes have scored a touchdown in the first half since FloridaState.

FIRST-HALF LEAD: Miami’s 10-3 halftime lead marks the first time UM has helda halftime advantage in since leading East Carolina, 20-3, on September 25,four games ago.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: Nate Webster (two) and Al Blades each registeredinterceptions today and Matt Sweeney recovered a fumble, marking the seventhinterception and ninth turnover registered by the UM defense over the lasttwo games. Four of those turnovers, including Webster’s INT today whichcame at the two-yard line, have been forced within the Miami three-yardline. In last week’s game vs. West Virginia, Hurricane safety Jeff Popovichrecovered a fumble caused by Webster at the Miami two-yard line in the firstquarter to thwart a 60-yard Mountaineer drive. Later in the first quarter,Miami cornerback Mike Rumph intercepted a pass at the UM three-yard linewhich ended a 41-yard WVU drive. On West Virginia’s final drive of thegame, UM cornerback Markese Fitzgerald registered an interception at the UMone-yard line to thwart another 60-yard WVU drive.

FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSION STREAK: Miami was 2-2 today in fourth downconversions as UM converted a 4th-and-12 in the second quarter on a KennyKelly-to-Santana Moss pass play and a 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter on aKelly sneak. With the two conversions, Miami has now succeeded on fiveconsecutive fourth-down conversions dating back to the Florida State game.On the year, UM improves to six-for-nine on fourth down.

MOSS MOVES UP CHART: With 92 receiving yards today, junior Santana Mossmoved into ninth place on the UM all-time receiving yards chart with (1557)career receiving yards. Moss, who entered the game in 12th place on thelist, moved ahead of Yatil Green (1,474 yards, 1994-96), Brian Blades (1,493yards, 1984-87) and Willie Smith (1,521 yards, 1984-86). Teammate ReggieWayne ranks eighth on the chart with (1,623)

CAREER LONG: The 43-yard reception by Daniel Franks in the second quartermarked a career high for the junior tight end. Franks’ previous career-longwas a 42-yard reception for a touchdown vs. Temple in 1997.

ANOTHER BIG DAY: For the fourth consecutive game, Kenny Kelly had a 200-yardpassing performance.

Kelly – Game-by-Game (Last Four Games):

Opponent       Cmp-Att Passing Yards  TD  INTFlorida State   27-41  370            3   1Boston College  20-36  218            3   0West Virginia   21-34  268            2   1Pittsburgh      13-33  235            1   2

PORTIS GOES- With 131 rushing yards, Clinton Portis became the secondfreshman and first true freshman in school history to rush for 100 or moreyards on three occasions. Portis rushed for 104 yards last week vs. WestVirginia and a freshman school record 147 yards at East Carolina. On theyear, Portis has rushed for 407 yards which ranks eighth on the UM freshmanrushing yards chart. James Jackson holds the freshman rushing record with595 yards in 1997. Moreover, Jackson rushed for 100 or more yards on threeoccasions in ’97 to set the freshman 100-yd performances record…Portis isthe first true freshman to record 100-yard rushing performances inback-to-back games.