Dorsey Is O'Brien Award Semifinalist
Nov. 6, 2001
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami junior quarterback Ken Dorsey (Orinda, Calif.) was listed among 12 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, presented annually to the finest quarterback in college football, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced on Tuesday.
Three finalists with be disclosed on November 27, with the winner announced on ESPN’s college football awards show on December 6.
“Kenny Dorsey is certainly deserving of this honor and deserves every consideration for the Davey O’Brien Award,” Hurricanes head coach Larry Coker said. “Ken is one of the most consistently excellent players I’ve ever had the privilige to coach and that consistency sometimes causes us to take him for granted. But you look at his accomplishments here at Miami – and the people he has surpassed in the record book – and it becomes obvious what a special player and person he really is.”
“I am honored and flattered to be considered a candidate for the Davey O’Brien Award,” Dorsey said. “Just to be considered among the quarterbacks who have made the semifinal round is a tremendous honor.”
The other semifinalists are Nebraska’s Eric Crouch, Fresno State’s David Carr, Clemson’s Woodrow Danztler, Brigham Young’s Brandon Doman, Washington State’s Jason Gesser, Florida’s Rex Grossman, Oregon’s Joey Harrington, Mississippi’s Eli Manning, Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury, Illinois’ Kurt Kittner and Texas’ Chris Simms.
Dorsey, a junior, has helped the top-ranked Hurricanes compile a 17-game winning streak — the longest current run in the country — and is 21-1 as a starter. The latest in a long line of outstanding Miami passers, Dorsey is a traditional pocket passer who follows in the footsteps of Miami greats Bernie Kosar, Jim Kelly, Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta. Although he already is prominently mentioned in the Miami record books for career completion percentage (currently 4th at 59.35 %), touchdown passes thrown (1st with 50), and total offense, Dorsey is most proud that he has compiled a remarkable touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio of almost 5:1 (50 TDs, 11 INTs) in his career. Dorsey already owns two of the highest single-season completion percentage totals in UM history, having completed 58.4 percent in 2000 (11th in UM history) and 61.7 percent in 1999 (3rd) and he is on track for another excellent percentage this season (59.5 %).
Dorsey has led the Hurricanes to the top of both major national polls while leading one of the nation’s most balanced and explosive offenses. In Miami’s first six games of the season, the Hurricanes have averaged 43.9 points per game (second in NCAA Division I) while throwing for 265.4 yards per contest and rushing for 199.3 yards per game. Miami’s potent attack has devastated opponents on a weekly basis and Dorsey has been at the center of it all.
This season, Dorsey has thrown for 1,782 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven games – and he’s done so while playing in the fourth period of just two of those contests.
Meanwhile, Dorsey has continued his mercurial climb up the Miami records list. In just his second full season as the starting quarterback he already has risen to the top of the UM career touchdown passes list with 50, ahead of former Miami greats Steve Walsh and Vinny Testaverde further cementing Dorsey’s name among the pantheon of outstanding Miami quarterbacks. From George Mira to Jim Kelly to Bernie Kosar to Testaverde to Walsh to Gino Torretta, few schools (if any) can match Miami’s astounding tradition of quarterbacking excellence. And Dorsey – just 21 games into his starting position at UM – already is primed to exceed all of their records.
For more information on Ken Dorsey and other Miami football awards candidates, go to www.hurricanesports.com/miamiawards.
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