Jan. 1, 2001
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS – Even though the Sugar Bowl has possible nationalchampionship implications for Miami this season, the winner of Tuesdaynight’s game will put itself in good position vault for next season’s title race.
Florida and Miami are loaded with young, talented players who are still haven’t reached their full potential.
Both teams will return starting quarterbacks, the majority of theiroffensive linemen and a host of defensive players. With that, the winner ofthis game could begin next year atop both polls.
“That’d be great if we were the preseason No. 1, or whatever, buthopefully we’ll be the postseason No. 1,” said Florida defensive end Clint Mitchell.”That’s what I want. I could care less about the preseason.”
The Gators will lose three seniors – guard Leon Hires, fullback RodFrazier and defensive tackle Buck Gurley – from the starting lineup.
“We may not be a national championship team right now, but hopefullywe’ll prove we’re one of the best teams in college football,” quarterback RexGrossman said. “Hopefully, if we win this game, we’ll have get a lot ofmomentum going into next season.”
Florida also could lose defensive linemen Alex Brown and Gerard Warrenand right tackle Kenyatta Walker. The NFL’s draft advisory board told all threejuniors that they project to be first- or second-round selections nextspring if they leave Florida.
“Am I definitely leaving? Maybe,” Walker said.
Warren, though, was surprised by his draft status. He was told he couldfall to the second round.
“I expected more than that,” he said. “I’ve got a whole lot more thinkingto do. I’ve got until Jan. 12 (to declare for the draft). So obviously a fewdays after the game, I’ve got to sit down with my parents.”
Though the Hurricanes will lose a few more starters than Florida, theyshould be equally strong during the 2001 season.
Running back James Jackson will be gone. So will guard Greg Laffere andreceivers Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne. But the rest of the offense couldreturn. Defensively, Miami loses linebacker Dan Morgan, defensive tackleDamione Lewis and safety Al Blades.
Only safety Ed Reed and left tackle Bryant McKinnie are consideringturning pro.
“We’re still going to be very good,” defensive tackle Matt Walterssaid. “If we don’t win a title this year, we’ll have a good shot at one nextyear.”
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KICKER REBOUNDS: Miami kicker Todd Sievers started feeling bad earlierthis season. He had no appetite and found himself making up to 20 trips tothe bathroom each day.
Those are classic symptoms of diabetes, and when he checked with hismother, who has long suffered from the disease, he knew he had to see the doctor quickly.
Indeed, he had early stages of diabetes. Doctors prescribed a regimenof insulin shots, and Sievers has felt fine ever since.
“It feels like I’m a whole new person,” he said.
The sophomore kicker has made 11 of 16 field goals this year.
He has changed his diet, and gives himself insulin shots in thestomach, because shots in the leg or arm would wear off too quickly under the strainof daily football practices.
Sievers says he’s still in what doctors call the “honeymoon” period ofhis illness, meaning the insulin regimen isn’t as strict yet, and his lifestylechanges haven’t become too severe.
“I hope I’ll stay in the honeymoon phase for a while longer, so I canstill play football,” he says. “I’m still coming to grips with the fact I’ve gotdiabetes. It’s a pretty big change.”
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SEC SUGAR: Florida is the first Southeastern Conference team to play inthe Sugar Bowl since Jan. 2, 1997, when the Gators beat Florida State forthe national title.
In the pre-Bowl Championship Series days, the SEC champion always cameto the Sugar Bowl. But because of the BCS, Alabama (Orange) and Tennessee(Orange and Fiesta) have been shuffled elsewhere the last three seasons.
The last SEC team other than Florida to make the Sugar Bowl wasAlabama, when it won the national title on Jan. 1, 1993.
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MIAMI SOONER: Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey is the one of twoHurricanes from Oklahoma.
A native of Ada, Shockey says he has no qualms rooting against hishome-state team this week. The Hurricanes need a victory and an Oklahomaloss in the Orange Bowl to have a chance at sharing the national title.
“It would be nice to go home and show off a national title ring,” hesaid.
Shockey was an academic qualifier, but chose to go to junior college toimprove his chances of being recruited by major programs. It paid off. Afterone season of junior college, Texas A&M, Fresno State, Oklahoma and Miamioffered him scholarships.
He chose the Hurricanes, and became something of a cult hero aftercatching the winning touchdown in a 27-24 victory over Florida State.
Why not choose the Sooners?
“Everyone was saying I ought to go to Oklahoma,” he said. “I wanted todo something different.”