Miami Defense Shoots Down Idea Of A Shootout
Jan. 2, 2000
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Joe Hamilton promised one last trick for his finalgame at Georgia Tech. Instead, the biggest surprise in the Gator Bowl came fromNo. 23 Miami.
The Hurricanes’ defense, that is.
“I knew we had a good defense,” said Kenny Kelly, who directed twotouchdown drives in Miami’s 28-13 victory Saturday. “I just didn’t know theywould come out and play this great.”
The Hurricanes gave up 421 yards and were on the field for nearly 33minutes. But they stopped No. 17 Georgia Tech where it mattered most – on thescoreboard.
The 13 points were a season-low for the Yellow Jackets (8-4), and theirlowest output in 17 games. Hamilton, the Heisman Trophy runner-up who had set18 school records during his four-year career, failed to throw a touchdown passfor the first time in 14 games.
The mighty Tech offense, which had scored at least 30 points in all but oneof its games, looked like a wreck.
While Kelly might have been surprised, no one associated with Miami’sdefense was.
After all, the Hurricanes (9-4) were 16th in total defense while playingseven teams in the Top 25. That includes Florida State and Virginia Tech, whowill play for the national championship Tuesday night.
“This was not a surprise to us,” linebacker Dan Morgan said. “We knew wehad a good defense and had the ability to shut them down, and we went out thereand did it.”
They did it in style.
All week, the Hurricanes were overloaded with hype for Hamilton and aGeorgia Tech offense that was No. 1 in the nation in total offense and secondin scoring with an average of 40.7 points a game.
They heard it at Gator Bowl functions, whenever Georgia Tech was introduced.They heard it from the media, who figured this game had all the makings of atouchdown-a-minute thriller. Even coach Butch Davis said he feared a quadrupleovertime with an NBA-type score unless someone’s defense performed well.
The Hurricanes did.
“All we heard about was Hamilton and how they were going to score 40points,” defensive tackle Matt Sweeney said. “It was fueling our fire. Wewanted to get the respect we deserve.”
Miami also showed some offense.
Clinton Portis, the freshman tailback who led the Hurricanes in rushing,raced 73 yards for a touchdown and wound up with 117 yards on 12 carries. JamesJackson added 107 yards and a touchdown, while Kelly and Ken Dorsey each threwfor a touchdown.
But the defense carried the load.
“Our offense played off the inspiration of our defense,” tight end DanielFranks said. “With Georgia Tech having the nation’s No. 1 offense, our defenseknew they were going to have something to prove, and I think the offense fedoff that.”
The loss ended Tech’s five-game winning streak in bowl games, dating to1978. And it ended Hamilton’s career on a sour note. While he scored on a17-yard scramble and set Gator Bowl records for completions and attempts (20 of40), he also threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.
“I don’t think a lot of Joe’s problems were Joe’s problems,” Georgia Techcoach George O’Leary said. “He had some receivers breaking routes, and weneeded to sturdy up the offensive line. Too many times, he was throwing off hisback foot because of pressure.”
Blame Miami’s defense for that.
It was a performance reminiscent of Miami teams playing with a nationalchampionship on the line. And the Gator Bowl could turn out to be a first steptoward the Hurricanes returning to the days when they won four national titlesin four years.
They lose only five seniors off this team, provided Franks stays for hissenior season.
“You can’t tell me Miami isn’t one of the top 15 teams in the country,”Davis said. “We want our guys to buy into the idea that we’re closing the gap.We’ve paid our dues. I believe our program is getting into a position to have achance to play for a championship.”
They certainly showed in the Gator Bowl they have a defense to win one.
