Miami Ranked 2nd In Coaches' Preseason Football Poll
Aug. 2, 2001
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami football team is ranked second in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ preseason football poll for the 2001 season, released today. The ranking is the highest for Miami in the coaches’ preseason poll since the Hurricanes were ranked number one to start the 1990 season.
Florida, which Miami defeated (37-20) in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, begins the season atop the poll ahead of the Hurricanes. Defending national champion Oklahoma ranks third in the national survey of coaches with Nebraska (last year’s preseason No. 1) ranking fourth and Florida State fifth. This is the sixth time in the last 11 years that UM, FSU and UF have begun the season together in the top 10.
“It’s a great position to compete for national honors,” said head coach Larry Coker. “We just have to go out ready to play and take care of our business on the field. If we do that, everything else will be taken care of.”
“Some might say we should be ranked number one, but I just think it’s great to be ranked so high,” said quarterback Ken Dorsey. “I certainly have no problem with where we’re ranked. It sets us up well for the start of the season and assures us a chance at a top ranking down the line. Now we just have to go out and play the games. That will be enough of a challenge without us worrying about the rankings.”
“This gives us a good position to start the season,” said strong safety Edward Reed. “We have to live up to the ranking. I think we will.”
The top 10 ranking marks the second such preseason ranking for UM since 1994 as the Hurricanes were ranked sixth to begin the 2000 season. The Hurricanes will begin the season ranked among the top 10 for the sixth time in 11 seasons.
Miami will face three schools in the coaches’ preseason top 25 rankings. In addition to No. 5 FSU, the Hurricanes will host No. 14 Washington on September 15 at the Orange Bowl and visits No. 9 Virginia Tech on December 1. The Hurricanes begin the 2001 season Saturday, September 1, at Penn State in a nationally televised contest (ABC Sports). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.For ticket information Hurricane football, contact the UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES. Tickets may also be ordered online at www.hurricanesports.com.
USA TODAY/ESPN PRESEASON TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL — Aug. 2, 2001
The preseason USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, team’s record last season, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and final ranking last season:
| RK. | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | PVS |
| 1. | Florida (25) | 10-3 | 1,401 | 11 |
| 2. | Miami (15) | 11-1 | 1,349 | 2 |
| 3. | Oklahoma (8) | 13-0 | 1,314 | 1 |
| 4. | Nebraska (6) | 10-2 | 1,292 | 7 |
| 5. | Florida State (1) | 11-2 | 1,249 | 4 |
| 6. | Texas (2) | 9-3 | 1,164 | 12 |
| 7. | Tennessee (1) | 8-4 | 1,042 | 25 |
| 8. | Oregon (1) | 10-2 | 1,038 | 9 |
| 9. | Virginia Tech | 11-1 | 899 | 6 |
| 10. | Michigan (1) | 9-3 | 856 | 10 |
| 11. | Kansas State | 11-3 | 844 | 8 |
| 12. | Oregon State | 11-1 | 796 | 5 |
| 13. | Georgia Tech | 9-3 | 706 | 19 |
| 14. | Washington | 11-1 | 652 | 3 |
| 15. | UCLA | 6-6 | 547 | – |
| 16. | Notre Dame | 9-3 | 534 | 16 |
| 17. | LSU | 8-4 | 515 | – |
| 18. | Clemson | 9-3 | 503 | 14 |
| 19. | Mississippi St. | 8-4 | 481 | 22 |
| 20. | Northwestern | 8-4 | 366 | – |
| 21. | Ohio State | 8-4 | 259 | – |
| 22. | South Carolina | 8-4 | 258 | 21 |
| 23. | Wisconsin | 9-4 | 204 | 24 |
| 24. | Colorado State | 10-2 | 168 | 15 |
| 25. | Alabama | 3-8 | 131 | – |
Also receiving votes: Purdue 120, Georgia 109, Auburn 93, Colorado 92, East Carolina 59, Louisville 51, Texas A&M 47, Pittsburgh 42, Southern California 41, North Carolina State 39, Penn State 31, TCU 27, Stanford 26, Marshall 23, Southern Mississippi 19, Fresno State 15, Brigham Young 14, UNLV 12, Michigan State 11, Minnesota 9, Illinois 8, Arkansas 7, Iowa State 7, Mississippi 7, Toledo 7, Texas-El Paso 4, Texas Tech 3, West Virginia 3, Western Michigan 2, Air Force 1, Duke 1, North Carolina 1, Syracuse 1.
