#1 Miami Has Streak On The Line Against #14 Syracuse In Potential BIG EAST Championship Game
Nov. 12, 2001
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Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes (8-0, 5-0 BIG EAST) host 14th-ranked Syracuse (8-2, 5-0 BIG EAST) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Orange Bowl in a contest whose winner has the best angle at the league title. The ABC Network will televise the event live, while ESPN’s College GameDay will offer its commentary throughout.
Miami enters the Syracuse match-up with a NCAA-high 18-game win streak dating back to week three of the 2000 season. It is the longest UM win streak since winning 29-straight from 1990-92. Additionally, the Hurricanes are riding a BIG EAST record 15-game win streak entering the weekend. UM’s 14-game win streak at the Orange Bowl is its longest since winning an NCAA-best 58 games from 1985-94.
Last weekend at Chestnut Hill, Miami handed an upset-minded Boston College an 18-7 defeat in its 2001 home finale, breaking the Eagles nine-game win streak at Alumni Stadium. The spectacular fashion in which the game was finished added yet another chapter in the great games played between Miami and Boston College in New England. Additionally, the 11-point margin of victory marked UM’s largest at Alumni Stadium since a 23-7 win in 1993. The Hurricanes previous three visits to the Heights, all UM wins, were by a combined eight points. The Hurricanes pulled off the latest thriller with a four-field goal performance by Todd Sievers along with a “tip-interception-lateral” return for touchdown in the game’s closing moments by Mike Rumph, Matt Walters and Edward Reed.
The Orangemen enter the game with an equal 5-0 mark in conference action and defeated West Virginia, 24-13, at the Carrier Dome last weekend. Since dropping its first two games of the season, Syracuse has won eight straight – the nation’s fourth-longest streak.
Miami/Syracuse Series — The Miami/Syracuse meeting marks the 20th all-time meeting between the two schools since the first game played in 1960. Miami leads the series 12-7, including a 7-2 mark in BIG EAST play since 1992. The 12-7 record against Syracuse includes a 6-3 mark at the Orange Bowl, 6-2 mark at the Carrier Dome and a 2-0 record in neutral-site games. Miami has won the last two meetings with the Orangemen, 26-0 last season at the Carrier Dome and 45-13 in 1999 at the Orange Bowl. The Orangemen won the prior two meetings, 66-13 at home in 1998 and 33-13 on the road in 1997.
HEAD COACH LARRY COKER – Is eight games into his first season as a collegiate head coach with the No. 1-ranked Miami Hurricanes and has an overall record of 8-0, including a 5-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference play. The 8-0 record includes going 4-0 at the Orange Bowl and a 4-0 mark on the road.
Prior to becoming Miami’s 19th head football coach, Coker served under Butch Davis as UM’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since Davis’ first season at UM in 1995. Coker’s hiring marked the first time in 25 years that the University of Miami elevated a current assistant to its head coach. While the offensive coordinator from 1995-2000, UM went 51-20 overall and 33-9 in conference play. At the Orange Bowl, UM was 27-9 with Coker and 19-11 on the road. Additionally, the Hurricanes won all four Bowl games since 1995.
Prior to his arrival in 1995, Coker spent the previous two seasons at Ohio State (1993-94) coaching the defensive backfield. The Buckeyes participated in two bowl games during his tenure and were Big Ten Co-Champions in 1993. From 1990-92, Coker was offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, assisting the Sooners to two bowl game victories.
Before heading to Norman, Coker spent seven seasons as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. In his seven seasons with the Cowboys, he coached 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders while the team went on to win four bowl games. Coker first made the jump to division I with Tulsa from 1979-82, as the offensive backfield coach. Tulsa went on to win three Missouri Valley Conference championships during his four seasons.
COKER REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT 8-0 – Entering the Syracuse game, Larry Coker is 8-0 as head coach of the Hurricanes in his rookie season at the helm. Only two of UM’s 19 all-time head football coaches, Coker and Howard Buck (1926), were undefeated after the first eight games of their inaugural seasons. Buck’s 1926 squad, UM’s first in football, went 8-0 with a freshman-level schedule. Dennis Erickson guided the Hurricanes to 6-0 in 1989 before dropping a 24-10 loss to Florida State in Tallahassee in game No. 7. However, Erickson’s 1989 Hurricanes would finish 11-1 on the season and win UM’s third National Championship, 33-25, over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
COKER’S PERFECT COACHING DEBUT – Larry Coker became the 13th head football coach at Miami to win his debut in the Hurricanes’ 33-7 triumph over Penn State in State College on Sept. 1. Additionally, he was just the third to win his debut game when it was an away game. Overall, UM’s 19 head football coaches are 13-6 (.684) in debut games.
At the Orange Bowl, Coker became the 14th UM head football coach to win his home debut with the Hurricanes’ 61-0 shutout over Rutgers on Sept. 8. Overall, UM’s 19 head football coaches are 14-5 (.737) in their debut at home. No other head coach at UM had such a decisive debut home win.
MIAMI/SYRACUSE WAS THE “FIRST” BIG EAST RIVALRY – Prior to round-robin conference play that began in 1993, Miami and Syracuse finished 1-2 in each of the 1991 and 1992 BIG EAST standings, respectively. The Hurricanes were crowned conference champion in both of those seasons by being the higher ranked team in the final regular season USA Today/CNN Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. Additionally, Miami played for the national championship in 1991 and 1992, winning the ’91 title. In 1995, Miami was not eligible for the conference title, but defeated Syracuse, 34-25, in the Orange Bowl to deny the Orangemen at least a share of the title with Virginia Tech. SU finished the league schedule at 5-2 to the Hokies 6-1 record. In 1996, Miami, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, shared the league title with 6-1 records apiece. Then-16th-ranked Orangemen had a shot to win the championship out-right, but were upset by the 23rd-ranked Hurricanes, 38-31, at the Carrier Dome in their regular season finale. The 1998 season saw Syacuse capture the league championship with a 66-13 win over Miami at the Carrier Dome, yet finish behind the Hurricanes in the final season polls. UM’s worse conference defeat was in large due to a stellar performance from senior Donovan McNabb in his final regular season game and placed the Hurricanes in a tie for second. UM rebounded to defeat UCLA 49-45 at the Orange Bowl then routed N.C. State 46-23 in the Micron PC Bowl. Florida downed Syracuse 31-10 in the Orange Bowl Classic. The Hurricanes finished ranked No. 20/21 in both polls, while the Orangemen were No. 25/24.
SYRACUSE/MIAMI CONNECTIONS – The Syracuse roster lists 14 players from the state of Florida, while UM has just two New Yorkers. Two Hurricanes, Andrew Williams and Jean Leone, attended the same Florida schools as four Orangemen.
MIAMI ON ABC – The Hurricanes are making their 60th appearance on ABC since 1961 and hold a 38-21 (.644) record on that network. All-time, Miami is 110-49 (.692) on network television and 90-36 (.714) in nationally-televised games.
ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY AT THE OB – With ESPN’s College GameDay show in attendance, UM will be playing its fifth game overall with Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit at the Orange Bowl. UM enters the contest with a 4-0 record in “GameDay” games. In 2000, GameDay watched as UM defeated Virginia Tech (41-21) and Florida State (27-24) at the Orange Bowl. The ESPN College GameDay games were: Virginia Tech (2000, 41-21), FSU (1994, 34-20, 2000, 27-24) and UCLA (1998, 49-45).
HURRICANES ATOP THE ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL – Despite a narrow drop to No. 2 in the Coaches’ poll, the Hurricanes remained the top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll, 12 points ahead of Nebraska and a 44-28 edge in first-place votes. Miami has now been ranked No. 1 by the AP for the last five weeks and nine of 12 pollings in 2001. Miami began the season ranked No. 2 by the AP and remained at that positionn till the Sept. 2 poll. UM dropped from the AP No. 1 on Oct. 7 to No. 2 after a 38-7 win over Troy State, coupled with a Florida victory at LSU. The following week, Oct. 14, UM regained the top spot with an impressive 49-27 win at Florida State, coupled with an Auburn upset over the Gators at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
MIAMI NARROWLY DROPS TO NO. 2 IN THE COACHES’ POLL – For the first time in eight weeks, the Hurricanes are not ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll. UM is now No. 2, 10 points behind Nebraska. The No. 2 ranking marks the first time since Sept. 2, that the Hurricanes were not the Coaches’ top-ranked team. UM was the Coaches’ preseason No. 2 and has been ranked second in four of 12 pollings.
THE NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK RESIDES AT MIAMI – Miami enters the Syracuse game with the nation’s longest win streak, having won 18 games in a row dating back to a 47-10 victory at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The longest most recent streak in Division I-A was Oklahoma’s 20-game streak halted earlier this season by Nebraska.
Miami is 23-1 in its last 24 games played, including bowls. The lone defeat came at Washington, 34-29, last season in week two. Additionally, UM has won 26 of 28 games dating back to its 31-28 victory at Boston College in 1999.
ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT 14 GAMES – Miami has won 14 straight games at the Orange Bowl since a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999. The current home win streak is Miami’s longest since its NCAA-record 58-game win streak from 1985-94.
WINNING ON THE ROAD – Miami has won its last eight regular season contests on the road and the past nine games away from the Orange Bowl, including the 2001 Sugar Bowl, dating back to a 47-10 win at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The current regular season road win streak is the longest at UM since winning 14-straight from 1990-93. Including bowls, UM last won 14-straight from 1990-92.
MIAMI SETS BIG EAST RECORD WITH WIN AT BOSTON COLLEGE – With its 18-7 win in Chestnut Hill, Miami has now won 15 consecutive BIG EAST games since a 55-0 defeat of Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. The 15-game streak surpasses Virginia Tech’s former league-mark set (14) set between 1998-2000. UM’s former top league win streak was 12 games from 1991-93. Additionally, UM has won 18 of its last 19 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech.
WHILE HOLDING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1 RANKING – The Hurricanes have played in 32 games all-time while holding the AP’s No. 1 ranking and have forged a 27-5 record in those contests. Prior to the Alabama loss (34-13) in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, UM had won 11 straight games when it held the top spot in the polls dating back to the 1991 season.
In the regular season, UM has been ranked No. 1 by the AP in 29 games and has recorded a 26-3 mark. UM last lost a regular season game while holding the No. 1 ranking in the 1990 season opener at BYU, 28-21 on Sept. 8.
MIAMI WHEN RANKED NO. 1 IN BOTH POLLS – The Hurricanes have been the consensus No. 1 in both major polls seven times this season out of a possible 12 polls. UM has not been lower than No. 2 all season. The consensus No. 1 ranking first received on Sept. 9 ended a string of 3,200 days or 458 weeks since the Hurricanes last were the nation’s consensus No. 1. Prior to this season, the last time both polls had UM at No. 1 was on Dec. 6, 1992.
MAIMI SHOWS “USUAL” MIDSEASON STRENGTH – Since the 1983 season, UM has gone a combined 54-3 in games’ 6-7-8. Within the 54-3 mark, UM is 17-2 in game six, 18-1 in game seven and 19-0 in game eight.
Since 1995, Larry Coker’s first at UM as an assistant, Miami has gone 20-1 in games’ 6-7-8. UM went 6-1 in week six and 7-0 in weeks’ seven and eight, respectively.
2001 SCORING SECOND ALL-TIME – Miami has scored 325 points over eight games, which places second to last year’s 356 points after eight games played.
Miami has scored 205 points in five BIG EAST games this season, which places second all-time at UM to the 2000 team’s 232 points.
Last season, Miami established a new school and BIG EAST record with its 469 regular season points. UM went on to score 506 overall points following its 37-20 Sugar Bowl victory over Florida. The total surpassed the 1986 squad’s previous high of 420 points and Syracuse’ former league-high of 468 points in 1998.
2001 SCORING AND MARGIN OF VICTORY AMONG BEST ALL-TIME – Miami is scoring 40.6 points per game this season. The figure places second to the 2000 seasons’ record 42.2 points per game. The 31.6-point margin of victory is tops since the 1983 season, ahead of 2000’s 26.4-point margin of victory. Miami is allowing 9.0 points per game in 2001, second to 1991’s 8.3 points per game allowed.
SCORING BY QUARTERS – Over the first eight games UM has outscored its opponents 325-72. The total includes a 158-30 advantage in the first half and 167-42 mark in the second half. In the first half, UM has outscored its opponents 78-17 in the first quarter and 80-13 in the second. Miami’s top figure is a 114-14 advantage in the third quarter. The fourth quarter has the UM holding a 53-28 lead.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE – This season, the average drive time on UM’s 32 offensive touchdowns is 2:09. Additionally, a total of 20 of UM’s 32 offensive touchdowns were scored in under 2:30 minutes of drive time.
SCORING OFF TURNOVERS – On the season, Miami has recorded 31 turnovers, five of which were to close out a half. Of those 26 remaining turnovers, UM has converted 113 points off 16 touchdowns and one field goal.
HOLDING OPPONENTS OUT OF THE ENDZONE – The Hurricane defense has held opponents from scoring a touchdown in 102 of 111 (.919) offensive drives this season.
INSIDE/OUTSIDE THE REDZONE – On the 2001 season, Miami has driven into the redzone 40 times and scored 35 times.
At Boston College, Miami made its way into the Eagles’ redzone twice, with one field goal and one interception. BC had three drives into the UM redzone with a touchdown, missed field goal and an interception.
Outside the redzone, Miami has totaled seven touchdowns and six field goals as compared to 25 touchdowns and 10 field goals scored inside the redzone.
4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE – Over the last 16 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three-quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 147 of 149 (.987) regular season games in which it entered the fourth quarter with a lead. The two losses in this span occurred at 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 fourth quarter.
VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS – Since 1990, Miami has registered a 26-22 (.542) mark against AP ranked teams and an 85-6 (.934) record against unranked opponents.
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST – When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 150-14 (.915) when scoring first.
2001 GAME CAPTAINS – From the Troy State game through the remainder of the season, Ken Dorsey (QB), Najeh Davenport (FB), Joaquin Gonzalez (OT), Matt Walters (DT) and Edward Reed (FS) will serve as team captains.
THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS – Miami has won 97 consecutive games when scoring 30 or higher since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988.
Miami has won 117 consecutive games when scoring 31 or higher since falling 39-37 to UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl. Excluding bowl games, Miami has won 130 consecutive regular season games when scoring 31 or higher since a 34-31 loss to Mississippi State in 1980.
NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING – The Hurricanes led the nation in 2000 with 13 touchdowns and 89 points coming from defense and special teams. In 2001, UM has scored eight touchdowns non-offensively for 54 points. Last week, Edward Reed scored on an 80-yard interception return at Boston College, following a Mike Rumph tip and a Matt Walters INT-lateral.
MASTERS OF THE TURNOVER – Since the 1998 season, when the most of the UM defenders saw their first action, the Hurricanes defense has become stronger in recording the take-away. So far this season, the defense netted 31 turnovers over eight games. UM is on track to record 43 turnovers.
NFL TALENT ABUNDANT IN 2001 HURRICANE GAMES – The series between Miami and Florida State over last 15 years has been highlighted by numerous players who have gone on to be drafted in the first three rounds by the NFL. Since 1987, no other game played during the 2001 season has supplied as many NFL draftees as the Miami/FSU game (95).
The 95 combined players are broken down into 51 for the Hurricanes and 44 for the Seminoles. Additionally, the 95 players consist of 42 first round, 28 second round and 25 third round.
The 42 first round picks (25 UM and 17 FSU) are a national high, as is the two schools’ 28 second-round picks (14 UM and 14 FSU).
The Hurricanes lead the nation since 1987 with 25 first round draft picks. Notre Dame has had the most second-round picks over the last 15 years with 15, while Texas A&M leads with 19 third-rounders since the 1987 season.
REED SETS INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS RECORDS – Edward Reed’s 80-yard return off a Matt Walters interception moved his career interception return yards total to 378, passing Bennie Blades (305). His 195 interception return yards on the season sets a new single-season record at UM. The 90-yard INT return (10-Walters, 80-Reed) at Boston College is the sixth longest in UM history and longest since a 100-yard return by Selwyn Brown at Boston College in 1985.
REED TIES CAREER RECORD FOR INTERCEPTIONS AGAINST TEMPLE – Edward Reed’s interception against Temple, the 19th of his career, tied the UM career mark held by Bennie Blades (1984-87). The 19 career INTs also sets a new BIG EAST Conference record, ahead of WVU’s Aaron Beasley (19982-95).
REED HAS LED MIAMI TO 106 CAREER POINTS – For his career, Edward Reed’s play has led to 106 points for the Hurricanes. The 106 points scored can be broken down into: Punt Block – 2 TDs, 1 FG, Forced Fumble – 4 TDs, Fumble Recovered – 1 TD, INT – 7 TDs, 2 FGs. Additionally, for his career Reed has returned four interceptions for touchdowns.
In 2001, Reed has led UM to a career-best 41 points: Fumble Recovered – 1 TD, INT – 4 TDs, Blocked Punt – 1 TD.
DORSEY SETS CAREER TD MARK – With his first quarter touchdown pass to Kevin Beard against Temple, and subsequently his third-quarter scoring strike to Andre Johnson, Ken Dorsey set a new school career mark with his 49th and 50th touchdown passes. With his two touchdown passes against Temple, Dorsey also passed the Owls’ Henry Burris (1993-96) into fourth place on the BIG EAST career list, three behind No. 3 Marc Bulger (53, 1996-99). Donovan McNabb of Syracuse holds the league career record with 77 touchdown passes.
DORSEY CAREER TOUCHDOWNS – In his three seasons at Miami, Ken Dorsey has connected with 17 different players for a school-record 50 passing touchdowns. Junior tight end Jeremy Shockey and sophomore receiver Andre Johnson lead all current players with seven Dorsey touchdowns apiece. All-time, Dorsey’s top touchdown target was Reggie Wayne (12).
DORSEY TD STREAK ENDS AT BOSTON COLLEGE – Ken Dorsey failed to convert a touchdown pass at Boston College marking the first time he has not done so as a starter. His school-record streak ended at 23 games.
FROM IOWA TO MIAMI, SIEVERS KICKS HIS WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS – Kicker Todd Sievers (Ankeny, IA) lettered in his freshman season in 1998, becoming the first player from the state of Iowa to letter at Miami since fullback Tom Smith (Waterloo, IA, 1971-72). Additionally, Smith and Sievers are the only two players from Iowa ever to letter at Miami. Joe Carlstrom (DT, 1951, Iowa City) played in limited action after serving in the armed forces, but did not letter.
Sievers enters the Syracuse game sixth all-time at UM with 170 points scored kicking. He also ranks fifth all-time with his 89 extra-point kicks and seventh with 27 career field goals.
On the season, his 16 field goals places seventh in a single season, while his 85 points scored ties his 2000-mark for sixth place.
IMPRESSIVE 10-YEAR FSU STREAK COMES TO AN END – With the Hurricanes 49-27 rout over Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium, Miami ended the Seminoles national-best 37-game home win streak and 54-game home unbeaten streak. FSU had not lost at home in 10 years, since a 17-16 defeat to Miami in 1991.
For the second consecutive season, Miami has been the one to end prominent FSU streaks. In 2000’s 27-24 UM win at the Orange Bowl, Miami ended FSU’s then-national leading 17-game win streak, 26-game regular season win streak and quarterback Chris Weinke’s 25-game win streak as the starter.
against the sunshine state – Miami has won 16 of its last 24 games against teams from the state of Florida since the 1985 season. Most recently, UM defeated Florida State in Tallahassee 49-27 on Oct. 13. Last season, UM defeated FSU (27-24) in the Orange Bowl and Florida (37-20) in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
THORN IN FSU’S SIDE – Eight of Florida State’s last 18 losses, dating back to 1987, have been delivered by the Hurricanes. The eight wins are the most by any team in the nation versus Florida State over the last 14 seasons. Miami is one of only two schools to defeat the Seminoles more than once since 1987 (4 – Florida). In addition, FSU has had eight one-loss seasons since 1987 with five of the losses at the hands of the Hurricanes.
ATTENDANCE RECORDS SET IN 2001 – The attendance of 82,836 was the second-largest at Doak Campbell Stadium, behind the 83,042 that came to see Florida in 2000. Additionally, the attendance also ranks 7th for the largest crowds ever to see a UM game. This 109,313 at Penn State was the largest crowd to ever watch Miami – as well as the largest in the NCAA outside of Michigan’s Ann Arbor Stadium figures.
The Hurricanes have played 41 games all-time in temperature below 55 degrees, holding a 23-18 record in such games. The temperature at kickoff for the Boston College game was 50 degrees, while the Pittsburgh game was 48 degrees and Penn State 46 degrees.UM’s cold weather records
UNIT RANKINGS AMONG NATION’S BEST – According to Athlon’s preseason magazine, the Hurricanes offensive line and defensive backs were ranked as the nation’s No. 1 units. In Lindy’s preseason annual, the offensive backfield and offensive line were each ranked No. 1, while the defensive backs were No. 2. The Sporting News rated the offensive line and offensive backfield No. 1 and the defensive backs No. 7.
LONE STAR STATE SHINES AT MIAMI – 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 158 consecutive games that at least one player from the state of Texas has started for the Hurricanes.
The 2001 Hurricane roster boasts nine players from Texas, including linebacker Chris Campbell (Mt. Pleasant), wide receiver Daryl Jones (Dallas), defensive end Cornelius Green (Houston) and tight end Robert Williams (Dallas) who are expected to contend for a job in the starting line-up. UM also added two players from Texas to the 2001 roster, defensive back Marcus Maxey (Navasota) and offensive lineman Tony Tella (Houston).
PENNSYLVANIA HAS ITS OWN STREAK – Center Tirrell Greene started every game during the 1992 season. From that first game of the 1992 season, Greene (Pittsburgh) helped begin a current streak of 115 consecutive games that a player from Pennsylvania has started for the Hurricanes.
Martin Bibla (Moutaintop) has been the starter at right guard since the 1999 season. In between Greene and Bibla have been many standout starters from the Keystone State, including QB Frank Costa (91-94), defensive lineman Denny Fortney (94-97) and offensive lineman Damond Neely (95-98).
LOUISIANA, NEW JERSEY AND CANADA – Other than Florida, Texas (158) and Pennsylvania (115), Louisiana (64), New Jersey (46) and Canada (45) have current streaks of having a player from that region start heading into the 2001 season. Louisiana saw offensive lineman J Ina (93-96) begin a streak in 1996 followed by defensive back Eugene Ridgley (94-97), wide receiver Reggie Wayne (97-00) and now safety Edward Reed.
New Jersey has the fifth-longest current streak that began with defensive lineman Matt Sweeney (96-99) at the end of 1997 through 1998 and now resides with linebacker Howard Clark, defensive end Jamaal Green and defensive back James Lewis. From offensive guard Richard Mercier (95-99) in 1998, Canada has the sixth-longest streak which features current center Bret Romberg.
UM SENDS 10 MORE TO THE NFL – At the 2001 NFL Draft, Miami had seven players drafted and three more later signed as free agents. Of UM’s seven draft picks, four were in the first round (Damione Lewis, #11, St. Louis, Dan Morgan, #12, Carolina, Santana Moss, #16, NY Jets, Reggie Wayne, #30, Indianapolis) and one in the third (James Jackson, Cleveland), sixth (Leonard Myers, New England) and seventh (Andre King, Cleveland) rounds. In addition, Ivan Mercer (Washington), Delvin Brown (Jacksonville) and Al Blades (San Francisco) signed as free agents after the draft.
HURRICANE ROSTER HAS NFL GENES – Seven Hurricanes on the 2001 roster have relation to players that have been in the NFL.
