Football Opens Big East Schedule At West Virginia
Sept. 18, 2000
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The Game: Miami (#12 AP, #14 ESPN/USA Today) travels to Morgantown to face West Virginia University in its BIG EAST Conference opener at Mountaineer Field.
Miami, coming of a 34-29 loss at Washington on September 9, opens its BIG EAST Conference schedule on the road for the second consecutive season and for the seventh time in eight years.
The Hurricanes lead the BIG EAST in total offense averaging 500.5 yards per contest while West Virginia ranks second in the league in total defense holding opponents to just 246.0 yards per game.
Miami’s offense has been led by running back Clinton Portis. Portis has established himself as a big play performer off the bench rushing for 224 yards on only 15 carries (14.9 yards per carry) in the Hurricanes’ first two games. Portis currently ranks second in the BIG EAST in rushing averaging 112 yards per game. He leads the conference in All-Purpose yardage with a 141.5 yards per game average.
West Virginia is coming off a 30-17 win over Maryland to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 1997. The Mountaineers were led by junior running back Cooper Rego who rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Avon Cobourne, a 1999 First-Team All-BIG EAST selection, carried 12 times for 97 yards. Senior wide receiver Khori Ivy who caught nine passes for 83 yards and one touchdown.
The Series: Miami and West Virginia meet for the 16th time with the Hurricanes leading the all-time series 12-3. Miami is 5-1 against the Mountaineers in Morgantown including three consecutive victories at Mountaineer Field. West Virginia’s lone win against Miami at Mountaineer Field was a 17-14 victory on November 20, 1993.
The Miami-West Virginia series has been closely contested with each of the last two games at Mountaineer Field decided by three points. Overall, five of the last seven Miami-West Virginia games have been decided by eight points or less.
OVER THE AIRWAVES
Television
CBS (Live): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play) and Dean Blevins (analysis).
Fox Sports Net – (8:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24): Frank Forte (play-by-play) and John Congemi (analysis).
Radio
Hurricane Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM): Marc Vandermeer (play-by-play), Joe Zagacki (analysis) and Don Bailey, Jr. (analysis). All UM football games will be carried statewide by the Hurricane Radio Network on its flagship station WQAM in Miami.
En Espanol (WACC 830 AM): Jerry del Castillo (play-by-play), Joe Martinez (analysis) and Pepe Campos (studio).
Internet
Internet audio broadcasts of Hurricane games are available by accessing hurricanesports.com and clicking on “internet audio broadcasts” on the athletics home page.
HEAD COACH BUTCH DAVIS: Butch Davis (Arkansas ’74) is in his sixth season at Miami. Davis has compiled a 41-20 overall record and a 26-9 mark in BIG EAST games. His record includes a 22-9 record at the Orange Bowl, while going 15-11 on the road. Additionally, Davis’ UM teams are 4-0 in neutral-site games.
Davis is the 18th head coach in UM history. Prior to his appointment in January 1995, Davis served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-94 where he helped guide the Cowboys to a pair of Super Bowl championships. Davis also served as an assistant coach at UM from 1984-88 (where he was part of Miami’s 1987 National Championship team) and at Oklahoma State from 1979-83.
LAST TIME VS. WEST VIRGINIA: Then-freshman Clinton Portis caught a nine-yard pass from Kenny Kelly to score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter en route to a 28-20 victory over West Virginia in the Orange Bowl on October 30, 1999. The Mountaineers had jumped ahead of Miami 13-0 going into halftime and 20-14 to start the fourth quarter. Portis closed out the scoring with a one-yard plunge with just under three minutes left in the game.
Additionally, West Virginia quarterback Marc Bulger’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Porter in the first quarter was the last receiving touchdown given up by the Hurricanes for the remainder of the season, a string of 27 quarters (including the Gator Bowl).
UM leads the series with West Virginia, 12-3, dating back to the 1942 season. In BIG EAST play, Miami holds a 7-2 advantage. At Mountaineer Field, UM has forged a 5-1 mark and has three straight wins since 1994.
UM TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY: Miami’s CBS televised game at West Virginia marks the Hurricanes 35th appearance on the network. UM first appeared on CBS in 1962 at Pittsburgh and holds a 22-12 (.647) all-time record on the network. All-time, UM is 97-49 (.667) on network television.
UM VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS: Since 1990, Miami forged a 23-21 mark against nationally ranked teams and a 68-7 record against unranked opponents.
2000 TRAVEL MILES: Miami’s 2000-road schedule features a distant road trip to Seattle to play Washington, as well as the standard BIG EAST road games at West Virginia, Rutgers, Temple and Syracuse. In total, UM’s flying miles total 13,932 for the season.
UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST: In its 10th season of competition in the BIG EAST Conference, Miami has forged a league-best 45-10 (.818) conference mark. UM’s four BIG EAST titles are also a league best, ahead of Syracuse (3), Virginia Tech (3) and West Virginia (1).
HURRICANE HARVEY COMES HOME TO WEST VIRGINIA: The Hurricane roster features one player from the state of West Virginia, redshirt freshman Chris Harvey, while the Mountaineers roster contains 15 players from the state of Florida. Harvey comes to Coral Gables from Accoville, WV and Man High School. He is the Hurricanes’ primary deep snapper and is in his first season holding that position. In high school, among Harvey’s feats was an impressive string of 100 consecutive deep snaps without an error over his three varsity seasons while earning first-team all-state honors from the West Virginia AP.
South Florida High School Connection
Boca Raton Spanish River-Jason Geathers (UM), Lance Frazier (WVU), Ft. Lauderdale Dillard-Leonard Myers (UM), Jason Davis (WVU), Homestead South Dade-Sheven Marshall (UM), Shawn Terry (WVU), Miami Northwestern-Vernon Carey (UM), Jerrmell Weaver (UM), Jarrell Weaver (UM), David Williams (UM), Yulkeith Brown (WVU), Quentin Swain (WVU), Miami Senior-Andre Johnson (UM), Carlos Osegueda (WVU), Miami Central-Najeh Davenport (UM), Willis McGahee (UM), Antonio Brown (WVU).
HURRICANES ON TURF: Saturday’s game at West Virginia will take place on artificial turf at Mountaineer Field. Under Head Coach Butch Davis, Miami is 12-3 on artificial surfaces.
MIAMI IN BIG EAST OPENERS: The Hurricanes have forged a 6-3 mark in nine previous conference openers dating back to 1991. Additionally, UM has started the conference portion of its schedule on the road seven of the past nine seasons. In BIG EAST road openers, UM has gone 7-2. Last season, UM defeated Boston College, 31-28, in Chestnut Hill, MA. The Hurricanes have played West Virginia in a conference opener just once, a 27-3 victory in Morgantown in 1991.
FOURTH QUARTER DOMINANCE: In 15 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three-quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 130 of 132 regular season games in which it entered the fourth quarter with a lead. The two losses in this span occurred against 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 final stanza.
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST: When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 136-14 (.907) when scoring first. Under Butch Davis, UM is 29-7 (.806) when scoring first.
STREAKS WHEN MIAMI SCORES 30 OR MORE POINTS: Miami has won 74 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points, since dropping a 31-30 decision at Notre Dame in 1988. Additionally, UM has won 95 consecutive games when scoring more than 30 points since falling 39-37 to UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TURNOVERS: At Washington, UM took advantage of the Huskies’ miscues, scoring two touchdowns off three drives following a turnover. For the season, UM has now scored four touchdowns and one field goal following seven opponent turnovers. In the season opener, UM scored on three of four drives following a turnover.
OPENING POSSESSIONS: Miami has posted points on one of two opening drives this season. At Washington, UM was forced to punt on its opening drive after going three and out. Against McNeese State in the season opener, the Hurricanes marched 70 yards in seven plays culminating in a five-yard TD pass to Reggie Wayne from Ken Dorsey.
UM’s opponents have also scored once on an opening drive this season against McNeese State. At Washington, the UM defense forced the Huskies to punt after allowing one first down.
UNIT RANKINGS AMONG NATION’S BEST: The Hurricanes’ defensive secondary and receiving corps were rated the No. 1 units, respectively, in the nation by The Sporting News. UM was the lone school to earn two No. 1 rankings. Additionally, The Sporting News rated the offensive backfield (#4) and linebackers (#8) among the nation’s best. In the BIG EAST, The Sporting News rated UM’s offensive backfield, receivers, overall offense, defensive line, linebackers, defensive backs, overall defense and special teams as the top units, respectively.
UM FIRST IN BIG EAST POLL: For the sixth time since round-robin play began in 1993, the Hurricanes have been picked as the preseason favorite to win the 2000 BIG EAST championship. In a media vote at BIG EAST Media Day, UM received 15 first-place votes and 183 overall points, followed by 1999 champion Virginia Tech (nine first-place votes, 177 points). All-time, UM is 45-10 in BIG EAST play and has been crowned champion in five of nine previous seasons.
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME: Miami and McNeese State met for the first time in the 2000 season opener with UM coming out on top 61-14. The Hurricanes are 86-58-2 (.596) all-time in series openers including a 18-4 (.818) mark since 1980. Miami is 14-1 (.933) in series openers at the Orange Bowl since 1980. The Hurricanes are 67-38-2 (.636) all-time in series openers played in Miami.
ONE LOUISIANA SCHOOL DEFEATED, ONE MORE ON THE SCHEDULE: With UM’s 61-14 defeat of McNeese State, the Hurricanes have defeated the first of two 2000 opponents from Louisiana. UM will host Louisiana Tech on Oct. 28 at the Orange Bowl. Since the start of the Miami football program, the Hurricanes have forged a 17-14-1 record against schools in Louisiana. Prior to this season’s two meetings, UM played a Louisiana school just twice since 1979 (Louisiana Tech, ’79 and Louisiana State, 1988). Additionally, UM is 12-6 against Louisiana schools at home.
HURRICANES IN AUGUST: With UM’s victory over McNeese State on August 31, the Hurricanes remain perfect (6-0) in the month of August since the 1980 season. Additionally, UM is 4-0 in August games under Butch Davis.
LOUISIANA PLAYERS STAR IN WIN OVER McNEESE STATE: Miami’s three players from Louisiana, Reggie Wayne (Marerro), Ed Reed (St. Rose) and Ken Dangerfield (Patterson), each starred in UM’s game against Louisiana school McNeese State (Lake Charles).
Wayne, UM’s starting split end, led the team with five receptions and accumulated the second-most receiving yards (59). Additionally, Wayne scored UM’s first two touchdown receptions in the first quarter.
Reed, the starting strong safety, recorded one of UM’s three interceptions and for 18 yards. Reed also tallied 10 tackles.
Dangerfield, making his first career start at weakside linebacker, recorded a team-best 12 tackles, including seven solo stops.
DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS: When freshman Charles Pharms, a resident of Houston, recorded his first start in the 1988 season’s sixth game against Cincinnati it would begin a streak of 137 consecutive games that at least one player from the state of Texas has started for Miami. The 2000 Hurricane roster boasts eight players from the “Lone Star” state, including tackle Damione Lewis (Sulphur Springs) and Chris Campbell (Mt. Pleasant) who are mainstays in the starting line-up. UM added two players from Texas to the 2000 roster, defensive ends Cornelius Green (Houston) and John Square (Houston).
MIAMI/VIRGINIA TECH SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE: Single-game tickets to the Hurricanes November 4 meeting with the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Orange Bowl are now on sale. Tickets for the Noon kickoff are $40 for reserved seats, $30 for general admission and are available at the University of Miami Athletics Ticket Office at 5821 San Amaro Drive in Coral Gables. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further ticket information concerning Hurricanes football, contact the UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES. Tickets may also be ordered at all South Florida Ticketmaster locations and online at www.hurricanesports.com.
BUTCH DAVIS TV SHOW: The Butch Davis TV Show, hosted by WPLG sportscaster Frank Forte, is a weekly program featuring Head Coach Butch Davis. Produced by Fairway Production Group, the show takes an in-depth look at Hurricane football. The half-hour program contains game and practice highlights, player features and sit-down interviews. Throughout the year, the Butch Davis Show airs on WPLG-Channel 10 at 11:30 a.m. every Saturday.
HURRICANE HOTLINE AIRS THURSDAY: The Hurricane Hotline radio show will air Thursday evenings, from 6-8 p.m., during the football season on UM’s flagship station WQAM 560 AM. The two-hour talk show features Head Coach Butch Davis and Athletic Director Paul Dee, as well as Hurricane assistant coaches and players. Don Bailey Jr. and Marc Vandermeer host Hurricane Hotline. With Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 23, the Hotline will air one day earlier on Wednesday, November 22.
COACHES BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHEONS: Throughout the season, University of Miami coaches will appear at breakfasts in Dade County and luncheons in Broward County hosted by the Hurricane Club. Individual tickets to the breakfasts are $6 for Hurricane Club donors and $7 for non-Hurricane Club donors, while the luncheons are $16 for donors and $18 for non-donors. Season series tickets for the breakfast are $46 and $80 for the luncheons. Contact Leinad Cross at (305) 284-6705 for more information.
PUBLIX ‘CANES FEVER IS BACK: From August 31 to October 25, purchase any item at Publix Supermarkets that is marked with the ‘Canes Fever sticker and receive a 2-for-1 game ticket to Louisiana Tech, Pittsburgh or Boston College. With over 160 vendors participating, the 2000 season is the 17th year that UM and Publix have teamed together ‘Canes Fever.
19-POINT THIRD QUARTER AT WASHINGTON: Miami totaled 19 points in the third quarter at #15 Washington to come within five points of the Huskies. The 19-point effort was the most in a single quarter against a ranked opponent since totaling 21 in the third quarter of UM’s 49-45 win over #2 UCLA on December 5, 1998.
100-YARD GAMES: Clinton Portis gained a team-best 133 yards rushing against McNeese State in the season-opener to mark the first 100-yard performance of the season. The effort gave him six 100-yard games for his career and placed him fourth all-time. Last season, Portis led the team with five 100-yard games.
HURRICANES GO LONG RANGE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN: Miami has scored touchdowns of over 50 yards, including the Gator Bowl, in five of six games dating back to last season’s Rutgers contest.
PORTIS IS THE NEW MILLENNIUM MAN: Clinton Portis totaled 91 yards rushing on six carries at Washington to push his career rushing totals to 1,072 yards on 158 attempts. Portis was able to surpass the 1000-yard career rusing plateau in just 12 career games, becoming the quickest Hurricane to reach the milestone. In addition, Portis became just the fourth sophomore in UM history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards joining Ottis Anderson, Edgerrin James, Stephen McGuire and current teammate James Jackson.
DORSEY AS A STARTER: In his five games as a starter, Ken Dorsey is 96-154 for 1,181 yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception. Additionally, his three touchdown passes against McNeese State in the season-opener marked a string of three consecutive starts with at least three touchdown passes. Dorsey has had at least one TD pass in each of his five starts. Additionally, in his five starts, Dorsey has led UM to 245 overall points (49-point average), the most in a five-game span by any UM team.
IN THE REDZONE
In their last game at Washington, the Hurricanes scored on four of five trips in the Husky redzone. The Huskies were able to convert touchdowns on their three trips into the UM redzone.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE: All four UM touchdowns scored at Washington were under two minutes in drive time.
WAYNE REMAINS AT NO. 3 IN ALL-TIME RECEPTIONS, MOSS AT NO. 10: With his four receptions at Washington, Reggie Wayne (139) remained at third place on UM’s career catches list. Santana Moss, with one catch at Washington, passed Larry Brodsky for 10th place with 101 career receptions.
WAYNE, MOSS INCHING CLOSER TO LAMAR THOMAS RECEIVING MARK: Reggie Wayne’s 84 yards receiving at Washington gave him 1,908 career receiving yards, which keeps him at third place all-time as well as just the third Hurricane ever to record over 1,900 receiving yards. Santana Moss, with 1,840 yards, remains in fourth place behind Wayne.
WAYNE IS AT 26 AND COUNTING: Reggie Wayne caught four passes for 84 yards and one touchdown at Washington. Wayne has now recorded at least one reception in 26 consecutive games dating back to the 1997 season. The last game in which Wayne did not record a reception was versus Arkansas State on November 1, 1997. The UM record for consecutive games with a reception is 33 set by Michael Irvin and Lamar Thomas.
WAYNE PILING UP THE STARTS: Reggie Wayne made his 33rd career start at Washington, which ties him with Lamar Thomas (1989-92) and Michael Irvin (1985-87) for the most starts by a receiver since 1983.
WAYNE’S THIRD QUARTER TD AT WASHINGTON EXTENDS STREAK: Reggie Wayne’s 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter at Washington extended his streak of touchdown receptions to five games, including the Gator Bowl. Wayne’s 13 career touchdown receptions moved him into sixth place by his lonesome, surpassing James Cox (1965-67).
MOSS GOES LONG DISTANCE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN: For his career, Santana Moss is averaging 45.4 yards per touchdown scored after scoring 19 touchdowns totaling 862 yards. Moss has recorded 14 touchdown receptions totaling 543 yards, 41.5 yards per receiving TD. He has scored twice rushing, totaling 114 yards for a 57.0 per TD rush average. Additionally, Moss has totaled three punt return TDs for 205 yards (68.3 average).
MOSS IS HARD TO CONTAIN: Chances are that when Santana Moss makes a reception it is usually for big yardage. Over his career, Moss has averaged 18.2 yards per catch to rank fifth on UM’s all-time list.
MOSS, WAYNE ON BILETNIKOFF WATCH LIST: Receivers Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne were among 35 players selected to the preseason “Watch List” for the 2000 Biletnikoff Award. Moss was one of 10 semifinalists for Award in 1999. Additionally, Wayne was also selected to the “Watch List” prior to the 1998 season. UM is one of two schools in the BIG EAST (Pittsburgh) and six schools nationally to have two players on the 2000 Biletnikoff Award list. The BIG EAST Conference has the second-most players on the list with six (SEC, 7).
JACKSON NAMED TO DOAK WALKER WATCH LIST: James Jackson has been named one of 35 preseason candidates for the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top college runningback. The selection to the preseason Walker list marks the second consecutive season Jackson has made the start list for the award.
OFFENSE BULLET NOTES FROM 2000 SEASON
Clinton Portis‘ 61-yard run in the third quarter at Washington gives him three consecutive games, including the Gator Bowl, with rushes of 60 or more yards.James Jackson’s two TD runs at Washington were his first of the 2000 season. For his career, Jackson now has 22 total touchdowns to move into an 8th place tie all-time with Danyell Ferguson (1992-96) and Ottis Anderson (1975-78). Additionally, Jackson has 20 rushing touchdowns.Santana Moss raced 75 yards on a reverse for a touchdown against McNeese State, giving him his second long-distance touchdown run of his career. He also had a 39-yard TD run against Arkansas State in 1997.Ethenic Sands saw his first action as a quarterback in the second half against McNeese State. The former receiver connected with fullback D.J. Williams for 13 yards for his first completion. Later in the game, he connected with Andre Johnson on a 32-yard scoring catch for his first TD pass. The play was also Johnson’s first receiving TD.Daryl Jones‘ 23-yard scoring reception in the second quarter against McNeese State was his fifth career TD catch and his first since the Boston College game in 1998. Jones sat out the 1999 season with a redshirt.Will McPartland’s one-yard TD plunge in the third quarter against McNeese State was the first rushing TD of his career.
PASSING TD’S ARE SELDOM WITH THE UM DEFENSE: Washington scored one touchdown against Miami through the air, as did McNeese State in the season-opener. A UM opponent has not had multiple passing TD’s in a single game since Florida State in the fifth game of the 1999 season. Since that FSU game, UM has allowed a passing TD just four times in the last 40 quarters, including a string of 30 consecutive shutout quarters (nine games).
STUFFING DRIVES: The Hurricane defense has held their opponents scoreless in 24 of 31 drives this season.
UM DEFENSE BECOMES MASTER OF THE TURNOVER: Since the 1997 season, when most of the UM defenders saw their first action, the Hurricane defense has become stronger in recording the take-away. So far this season, the defense netted seven turnovers over the first two games. In 1999, the UM defense exceeded its previous two season totals in interceptions and fumble recoveries.
MORGAN USES 20-TACKLE EFFORT AT WASHINGTON TO MOVE INTO FOURTH PLACE: Dan Morgan’s 20 tackles at Washington moved him out of fourth place tie with Darrin Smith and just two tackles behind No. 3 Micheal Barrow.
Additionally, Morgan tallied two pass deflections, one interception and one fumble recovery against the Huskies.
SACK ATTACK: After two games, the UM defense has recorded five sacks for 34 yards. Last season, the UM defense registered 37 sacks, 14 shy of the school record (51, 1989). Against Rutgers last season, the defense finished one sack shy of the school single-game record when it sacked the Scarlet Knights 10 times. Miami set the record with 11 sacks vs. N.C. State on November 20, 1982 and again vs. San Diego State on November 18, 1989.
D. LEWIS TIED FOR FIRST IN CAREER STARTS: With his start at Washington, Damione Lewis now has 33 for his career, tying him for first with Russell Maryland (88-90), Kenny Holmes (94-96) and Denny Fortney (95-97) for the most starts by a defensive lineman since the 1983 season. Additionally, Lewis’ 27 consecutive starts places seventh since 1983. Maryland, Holmes and Fortney each made 33 consecutive starts.
MORGAN CLOSING IN ON CAREER STARTS MARK: Dan Morgan made his 33rd career start at Washington to place second behind Rod Carter (36, 85-88) for starts by a linebacker since the 1983 season. Morgan moved out of a second place tie with George Mira (85-87), Darrin Smith (90-92) and Micheal Barrow (89-92). Additionally, Morgan starts are all consecutive which is the most by a linebacker since 1983. Barrow had started 29 consecutive, ahead Smith’s 28 and Carter and Mira’s 27 straight starts.
REED, BLADES ARE A MAINSTAY IN THE SECONDARY: Ed Reed has made 24 career starts as a safety, while Al Blades has 21. Only one other safety duo since 1983 can boast as many combined starts, Bennie Blades (33, 85-87) and Selwyn Brown (22, 85-87).
MORGAN NAMED TO 2000 NAGURSKI/BUTKUS WATCH LISTS: Dan Morgan was one of 38 players selected to the 2000 Mike Fox/Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Last season, Morgan was a semifinalist for the Nagurski award. Of the 38 players selected Morgan was the lone BIG EAST candidate.
Additionally, Morgan has been selected to the 2000 Butkus Award Watch List, presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. The award, given to the top linebacker in the nation, has a preseason watch list of 70 candidates. Morgan, along with Virginia’s Byron Thweatt, is a three-time candidate for the Award. Only North Carolina’s Brandon Spoon (four times) has been on the watch list more times.
REED, RUMPH NAMED TO 2000 THORPE AWARD LIST: Miami has placed two players, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Mike Rumph, on the preseason Thorpe Award Watch list. Listed as preseason All-Americans by various publications, Reed and Rumph are each making their first appearances on the Thorpe Award list.
DEFENSIVE BACK ARLINE TO REMAIN ON SCHOLARSHIP: Sophomore defensive back Darell Arline was diagnosed with Uncontrolled Hyper-Tension prior to the start of fall practice. As a result, he will no longer play for the Hurricanes, but will remain on scholarship for the duration of his education at Miami.
DEFENSE WAS ON FEVERISH TURNOVER PACE IN 1999: With 35 turnovers (17 INT, 18 Fumbles) last season, the Hurricanes posted their highest amount since forcing 44 turnovers (21 interceptions, 23 fumbles) in 1986.
HURRICANE DEFENSE KEPT OPPONENTS FROM SCORING IN 1999: The UM defense gave up 12 first half touchdowns and 10 second half touchdowns last season, an average of 1.0 TD’s scored in the first half and 0.8 TD’s in the second half. Overall, the UM defense gave up 22 TD’s last season or 1.8 per game over 12 regular season games.
DEFENSE IMPROVES FROM 1998 TO 1999: The UM defense improved dramatically in every statistical category from 1998 to 1999. The most significant turnaround came in pass defense, where the Hurricanes went from 85th in 1998 to 11th in 1999.
DEFENSE BULLET NOTES FROM 2000 SEASON
Dan Morgan’s interception at Washington marked the first of his career. His fumble recovery was his fourth.Al Blades‘ interception at Washington marked the third of his career and already equalled his single-season total from 1998 and 1999 (one per season).James Lewis‘ forced fumble at Washington was the second of his career (one in 1999).Leonard Myers‘ interception against McNeese State was his eighth all-time and third in a four-game span.Ed Reed recorded his fifth career interception against McNeese State.In his first start, Ken Dangerfield led the team with 12 tackles, including seven solo stops (second highest) against McNeese State.Jonathan Vilma recorded 10 tackles (third most), including a team-best eight solo tackles, againt McNeese State.
WHAT AN IMPACT: In Butch Davis’ six seasons as UM’s head coach, the Hurricanes have blocked 38 kicks. In the 10 years prior to Davis’ arrival (1985-94), the Hurricanes blocked 23 kicks. UM established a new single-season record with 12 blocks in 1995, shattering the previous high of six set in 1970. Since 1951, Miami has blocked 92 kicks. Below is a listing of blocks under Davis:
MOSS MAKES SPECTACULAR 2000 SPECIAL TEAMS DEBUT: Santana Moss returned three punts for 94 yards (31.3 avg.) against McNeese State, including a 77-yard touchdown return. The TD return was the seventh-longest punt return in UM history and moved Moss from fifth to third with 618 career punt return yards. The touchdown return gave him punt return TD’s in three of his last four regular season games. Additionally, his 94 punt return yards placed 10th on the all-time single game list.
SIEVERS MAKES STARTING DEBUT: Todd Sievers was successful on his first field goal attempt as a Hurricane, connecting on a 17-yarder in the second quarter against McNeese State. Sievers, who sat out the 1999 year with a redshirt, was the primary kickoff man in 1998. Additionally, Sievers made two tackles on special teams.
