National Champ Game Notes
Jan. 3, 2002
HOW SWEET IT US
The University of Miami completed its 4th undefeated season (1926, 1987,1991 and 2001) and won its fifth National Championship (1983, 1987, 1989,1991, 2001) by defeating Nebraska 37-14 in front of 93,781 fans at the 2002Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The win over Nebraska evens the all-timerecord between the Hurricanes and Cornhuskers to 5-5. UM has now won four ofthe last five meetings against Nebraska.
Larry Coker is the first rookie head coach since Michigan’s BennieOosterbaan to go undefeated and win the national championship in his firstseason. In 1948, the Wolverines went 9-0 and were named Associated PressNational Champions.
WINNING STREAKS CONTINUE
Miami has won 11 straight games (including 2001 Sugar Bowl) away from theOrange Bowl dating back to a 47-10 win at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000.
Miami extends its active Divison I win streak to 22 games in a row.
OUTSCORING OPPONENTS
The 34 points scored in the first half by the Hurricanes in the 2002 RoseBowl is the most points scored in a half in Miami bowl history.
In the first half this season, Miami has outscored opponents 311-30…Thisis the 7th game of the season that the Hurricanes have held opponentsscoreless in the first half.
DOMINATING DEFENS
EWilliam Joseph recovered the second fumble of his career in the firstquarter. It is the eighth-straight game in which the defense had a fumblerecovery, 20th recovery of the season. On the ensuing kickoff, MarkeseFitzgerald caused another fumble and Todd Sievers recovered.
James Lewis intercepted Eric Crouch in the second quarter and returned theball 47 yards for a touchdown. It was the 11th defensive touchdown of theseason. Miami led the nation in non-offensive scoring for the secondconsecutive year with 79 points, following last year’s total of 89 points.
DJ Williams and Phillip Buchanon recorded their first sacks of the seasontaking down Crouch in the second quarter.
PLAYER NOTES:
CO-MVP’s:
Junior quarterback Ken Dorsey and sophomore wide receiver Andre Johnson werenamed co-mvp’s of the 88th annual Rose Bowl.
KEN DORSEY:
The junior quarterback set a Miami bowl record for yards passing with 362yards. The previous record was 321 yards by George Mira against Nebraska inthe 1962 Gotham Bowl.
ANDRE JOHNSON:
The sophomore wide receiver recorded his 11th career touchdown reception inthe first quarter. He set a season high for receiving yards in a game with199, breaking his own mark of 116 yards against Syracuse.
With his 199 receiving yards, Andre Johnson set a Miami Bowl record. Theprevious bowl record was 141 yards by Santana Moss vs. NC State in the 1998Micron PC Bowl.
CLINTON PORTIS:
His second quarter touchdown was his 11th rushing touchdown of the season,21st of his career, moving him into a tie for 7th place on the all-timeseason rushing list. This was Portis’s 9th 100-yard performance of theseason. He finished with 104 yards.
JEREMY SHOCKEY:
The junior tight end caught his eighth touchdown reception of the season and11th of his career moving him into sole possession of second place oftouchdowns by a tight end, one behind Bubba Franks with 12.
PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES
Sony recording artist Jubilant Sykes performed ‘God Bless America’…Yolanda Adams sang the National Anthem….Former Miami Hurricanes LamarThomas, Damion Lewis, Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, Daniel Stubbs andGino Torretta were in attendance at the Rose Bowl to cheer on the team. Alsoin the stands was Los Angeles Laker Shaquille O’Neal, whom the Hurricanesmet earlier this week while attending a basketball game… Nebraska won thetoss and deferred to the second half…Attendance was 93,781.
2002 SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE TOMORROW!!
Season tickets for 2002 go on sale tomorrow morning. Call 1-800-GO-CANES tosecure your chance to see the ‘Canes take on Florida State, Virginia Techand other BIG EAST rivals at the Orange Bowl.
TEAM ARRIVES AT HECHT AT 7:30 PM TOMORROW
The Miami Hurricanes will arrive at the Hecht Athletic Center at 7:30 p.m.on Friday, January 4th for those fans and media interested in greeting them.
