Top-Ranked Hurricanes Head To The Swamp
Sept. 2, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Miami Hurricanes (1-0) (#1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA Today)
vs. Florida Gators (1-0) (#6 AP/#6 ESPN/USA Today)
When: Saturday, September 7, 2002, at 5:15 p.m. EST
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (83,000/Natural Grass) in Gainesville, Florida.
TV: CBS will televise the game live with the telecast team of Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analysis) and Jill Arrington (sideline reports).
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Sept. 8, 5 p.m Eastern Time) will produce coverage of all Miami Hurricanes football games this season with Frank Forte (play-by-play) and former UM offensive lineman Dave Heffernan (analysis) describing the action.
Radio: The Hurricane Radio Network (WPOW-FM [96.5 FM]/WQAM-AM [560 AM]) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play), former Hurricane offensive lineman Don Bailey, Jr. (analysis), and Brian London (sideline reports) describing the action. Josh Darrow is the studio host. All games also can be heard on UM’s student radio station WVUM-FM (90.5 FM) with Kyle Berger (play-by-play) and Jesse Agler (analysis).
En Espanol: Radio Unica (WNMA-AM [1210 AM]) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Jose Martinez (analysis) describing the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Florida (www.gatorzone.com).
Miami Head Coach Larry Coker
Second-year head coach Larry Coker has a 13-0 (1.000) record at Miami. Coker led Miami to an undefeated season in his first year as a collegiate head coach with the 2001 Hurricanes. His 13-0 record includes a 7-0 mark in BIG EAST play, along with a 7-0 mark at the Orange Bowl and 5-0 record on the road. Coker was named Miami’s 19th head football coach on February 3, 2001. Coker was named National Coach of the Year for 2001 by the American Football Coaches Association (an honor shared with Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen) and was recipient of the 2001 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The 2002 season marks Coker’s eighth overall at Miami, after serving as the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1995-2000. Prior to 1995, Coker was an assistant coach at Ohio State (1993-94), Oklahoma (1990-92), Oklahoma St. (1983-89) and Tulsa (1979-82).
The Florida-Miami series
Miami and Florida meet for the 51st time in football Saturday evening with the series tied at 25-25. Miami has won the last three meetings against Florida, including the last meeting (37-20) in the 2001 Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2, 2001. Now in its 76th season of football, Miami has faced Florida more than any opponent. Miami holds a 14-12 advantage in the series in games at Gainesville while UF leads, 11-8, in games at the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes own a 5-0 advantage vs. Florida in nationally televised games. Miami is 27-12 all-time in games televised by CBS Sports.
Series Record: Series tied, 25-25
Record at the Orange Bowl: Florida leads, 14-12
Record at Florida Field: Miami leads, 11-8
Record at neutral sites: Florida leads, 3-2
MIAMI AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE OPPONENTS
The Florida game marks the second of two contests against two schools from Florida to open the 2002 season. With their 63-17 win over FAMU on Aug. 31, Miami has won 17 of its last 25 games against teams from the state of Florida since the 1985 season. Last season, UM defeated Florida State in Tallahassee 49-27 on Oct. 13, 2001. In 2000, UM defeated FSU (27-24) in Miami and Florida (37-20) in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
TOUGH SCHEDULE IN 2002
The 2002 Hurricanes face one of the toughest schedules in the nation, including games with seven teams that played in bowl games in the 2001 season and two games with teams that ended the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in 2001. One of college football’s top television ratings draws, Miami also has several games penciled in for national telecasts. It’s a 12-game regular season slate for UM in 2002, with six home games, including contests with bowl winners Florida State, Boston College and Pittsburgh. The seven 2001 bowl teams on Miami’s schedule are: Florida (Orange Bowl winner), Boston College (Music City Bowl winner), Florida State (Gator Bowl winner), Tennessee (Citrus Bowl winner), Pittsburgh (Tangerine Bowl winner), Syracuse (Insight.com Bowl winner), and Virginia Tech (Gator Bowl). Florida (third) and Tennessee (fourth) finished the 2001 season ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams by the Associated Press.
MIAMI IN ROAD OPENERS
The Miami Hurricanes open their 2002 road schedule against the Florida Gators. Miami enters the 2002 road opener with a record of 37-37-2 (.500) in road openers, including 14-8 (.583) since 1980. In the 2001 season opener at Penn State, the Hurricanes defeated the Nittany Lions 33-7 before the largest crowd ever to see a Miami football game (109,313).
ROAD WIN STREAK AT 11 GAMES
Miami has won 11 straight games (including 2001 Sugar Bowl and the 2002 Rose Bowl) and nine regular season games away from the Orange 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 the bowls, UM last won 14 straight from 1990-92. The longest road winning streak in UM history is 20 games, stretching from a 28-17 win at Purdue on Sept. 15, 1984, to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 1988.
NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK AT 23
The 2001 squad ran Miami’s active winning streak to 23 games – the second-longest win streak in UM history. The current victory string ranks second all-time in games including bowl games behind a 29-game streak accomplished from a 45-10 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 27, 1990, to a 34-13 loss to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1993. Miami has won 20 consecutive regular season games dating to a 47-10 victory at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The longest win streak in regular season games is 36, accomplished from a 48-20 win at Rice on Sept. 14, 1985, to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 1988.
ROAD WARRIORS
Since 1983, Miami has constructed the nation’s best record in road games (not including neutral sites). The Hurricanes’ road record in the 19 seasons beginning with 1983 is the best among all NCAA Division 1A football institutions. Miami has a record of 78-19-0 (.804) in road games at the opponent’s home stadium. During that span, Miami has gone unbeaten in road games in eight seasons (1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2001). Of interest is the fact that Miami played three of the top seven best road teams during the 2001 season (Nebraska, Florida State and Penn State) and will take on three in 2002 (Florida State, Tennessee and Florida).
THE CONSENSUS NO. 1
The Hurricanes opened the 2002 season ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls and kept the top position through their first victory over FAMU. Last season, UM was the consensus No. 1 in both major polls 12 times out of a possible 17 polls during the 2001 season. On three separate occassions, the Hurricanes were able to regain the consensus status after slipping to No. 2 in one of the polls the week before. The most recent time Associated Press No. 1 Miami regained the top spot in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll after spending a week at No. 2 with its 59-0 shutout over Syracuse. The big victory pushed UM past an idle Nebraska. The second time Miami regained the consensus No. 1 ranking in both polls was following the 49-27 victory at Florida State on Oct. 13. Coaches’ No. 1 Miami regained the AP with the momentus win at Doak Campbell Stadium, coupled with Florida’s loss at Auburn. The first time UM was named consensus in both during the 2001 season was following the Hurricanes 61-0 shutout over Rutgers at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 8. The consensus No. 1 ranking first received on Sept. 9 ended a string of 3,200 days (458 weeks) since Miami was last the nation’s consensus No. 1. Prior to 2001, the last time both polls had Miami at No. 1 was on Dec. 6, 1992.
BEING NO. 1
UM opened up the 2002 season ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls and travel to Gainesville with the top ranking after week one of the season. Miami ended the 2001 season having been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press for the last 9 weeks and 13 of 16 polls during the season. UM was No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll for the last five weeks and 12 out of 16 pollings. Miami began the season ranked No. 2 by the AP and remained at that position until the Sept. 2 poll. UM dropped to No. 2 on Oct. 7 after a 38-7 win over Troy State, coupled with a Florida win at LSU. The USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll dropped UM to No. 2 on Nov. 11 after an 18-7 win at Boston College, coupled with a Nebraska win over Kansas State. Since the AP poll began in 1936, the weekly rankings have been published 866 times. Miami has been ranked No. 1 52 times.
PRIMED TO ASCEND
Entering week two of the 2002 season atop the AP rankings for the 13th consecutive week, Miami joined an elite list of schools with the longest consecutive weekly AP No. 1 appearances.
MIAMI AS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1
The Hurricanes have played in 37 games all-time while holding the AP’s No. 1 ranking and have forged a 32-5 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 33 games and has recorded a 30-3 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’s record according to AP Rank
UM is 199-40-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 134-20 as a top 10 team and 106-12 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 32-5 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 22 of its last 23 while ranked No. 1.
Miami vs. AP-ranked teams
Miami is 69-98-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 33-52 vs. AP top-10 teams since playing No. 6 Alabama in 1947, is 19-31 against AP top-5 teams since playing No. 3 Maryland in 1953, and is 9-7 against No. 1-ranked teams. Miami has won eight consecutive games against ranked opponents beginning with a 27-24 victory over No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. That streak includes four straight wins on the road or at neutral sites against ranked opponents and four victories at the Orange Bowl against ranked foes.
Miami vs. Ranked Opponents
Streak: Won 8
Streak on the Road/Neutral: Won 4
Streak at Home: Won 4
VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 30-22 (.577) mark against Associated Press ranked teams and an 86-6 (.935) record against unranked opponents.
ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT 17 GAMES
Miami’s victory in its 2002 home opener against Florida A&M extended the Hurricanes’ Orange Bowl win streak to 23 games, dating back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999. The current home win streak, currently the nation’s second longest, is UM’s longest since its NCAA-record 58-game win streak from 1985-94.
Active Division I-A Home Win Streaks
1. 23 Nebraska
2. 17 Miami
3. 14 Washington
VETERANS
The 2002 Hurricanes are missing 12 position starters from last year’s squad, but the returning talent includes plenty of experience. Heading into this season, no less than 17 players on the preseason two-deep depth chart have started at least a game in a Miami uniform and 50 scholarship players have seen previous game action in their careers.
UM WILL OPEN BIG EAST SCHEDULE WITH RECORD 17 STRAIGHT WINS
The 26-24 win over Virginia Tech on Dec. 1, 2001 marked UM’s 17th BIG EAST consecutive conference victory since a 55-0 defeat of Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. UM has also won 20 of its last 21 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech.
LAST TWO HOME GAMES GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS
The Hurricanes last two home games, the 2001 season finale win over Washington (65-7) and the 2002 season opening victory over Florida A&M (63-17) marked the most points scored by the Hurricanes in a two-game span at the Orange Bowl (128-24) all-time.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE VS. FAMU
The average drive time on UM’s nine offensive touchdowns vs. the Rattlers was 0:56. Eight of the nine touchdowns were scored under two minutes of drive time. Additionally, five of the touchdowns were scored one play and under 15 seconds.
SCORING OFF TURNOVERS
Miami recorded two turnovers in the season opener, both of which led to Hurricane touchdowns.
MIAMI IN SEASON OPENERS
With its 63-17 win over FAMU, Miami now holds a 52-24-1 (.682) all-time record in 77 season-openers, including a seven-game win streak. Additionally, Miami has won 15 of its last 17 season openers since 1986.
SEASON OPENERS AT THE HALF
In the last 12 season openers, Miami has outscored the opposition 256-32 (21.3-2.7 avg.) in the first half, allowing just three TD’s. UM shutout FAMU 42-0 in the first half of the 2002 opener.
OFF TO A FAST START
The 28 points scored in the first quarter were the most scored in an opening period since Oct. 11, 1986 in a win over West Virginia (58-14), when the Hurricanes had opened up to another 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The 42-0 halftime score was the most points scored in a half since Miami had a 49-14 halftime lead vs. Rutgers on Oct. 14, 1995, ending in a 56-21 win. In the 2001 National Championship season, Miami outscored opponents 273-33 in the first half. The last time the Hurricanes had such a large lead was when they took a 42-0 halftime lead over Cincinnati on Oct. 7, 1989.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
The Miami Hurricanes had 12 first-time starters vs. FAMU, six on offense and six on defense. Starting in their first game on defense were Antrel Rolle (DB), Sean Taylor (DB), Greg Threat (DB), Glenn Sharpe (DB), Maurice Sikes (DB) and Vince Wilfork (DT). On offense, Willis McGahee (RB), Quadtrine Hill (FB),Veron Carey (OT), Carlos Joseph (OT), Chris Myers (OG) and Kellen Winslow (TE). Senior Matt Walters’ start at DE is his first at the defensive end position. Prior to that he had 15 starts at DT including all 12 in the 2001 season. Eight true freshmen received playing time in tonight’s game – Marc Guillon (QB), Brandon Meriweather (DB), Greg Threat (DB), Glenn Sharpe (DB), Jon Peattie (K), Akieem Jolla (WR), Sinorice Moss (WR), and Eric Winston (TE)…QB Marc Guillon and Akieem Jolla connected on their first UM touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
MIAMI VS. FIRST-YEAR COACHES
First-year Florida head coach Ron Zook will be the first first-year head coach UM has faced since Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia on Oct. 25 of the 2001 season. UM also faced rookie head coach Greg Schiano of Rutgers on Sept. 8 of the 2001 season. UM currently holds a six game win streak against rookie head coaches and is 7-1 since 1995. Overall, Miami has won 29 of its last 30 games vs. teams under the helm of a first-year coach. Miami had its 23-game win streak vs. first-year coaches snapped against Walt Harris and Pittsburgh during 1997.
SENIOR QB KEN DORSEY
Senior quarterback Ken Dorsey led the Hurricanes to the 2001 national championship by leading the nation’s most balanced and explosive offense, a trend that continued in the 2002 opener last Saturday night. The 2001 Maxwell Award winner, Dorsey passed for 2,652 yards and 23 touchdowns while playing the entire game just twice as he continued a mercurial climb up the Miami records list. Dorsey started his 2002 season in typically efficient fashion, passing for 110 yards on only 8-of-13 passing for three touchdowns with one interception for a passing rating of 193.38 against Florida A&M. He already has risen to the top of the UM career touchdown passes list with 61 – surpassing 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 can match Miami’s astounding tradition of quarterbacking excellence. And Dorsey is primed to exceed all of their records.
DORSEY IN THE BIG EAST RECORD BOOK
Ken Dorsey enters the Florida game with 61 touchdowns passing for his career. That figure, which ranks tied for second place on the BIG EAST career list, ties Dorsey with Boston College’s Glen Foley (1991-93). His 6,306 passing yards land him at No. 8 on the career list, recently passing former Miami signal-caller Gino Torretta (1991-92, 6,155) into seventh. Dorsey’s 58.7% completion percentage (454 of 773) lands him at No. 5 all-time behind Syracuse’s Marvin Graves (60.3, 1991-93). The 23 touchdown passes thrown in 2001 were the fourth-best in a season. His 25 in 2000 tied for third-best.
DORSEY: AT HIS BEST IN BIG GAMES
Several of quarterback Ken Dorsey’s greatest performances have been turned in against some of the nation’s top-ranked teams. Miami is 9-1 against ranked opponents with Dorsey as a starter including 4-0 against teams ranked in the top 10.
DORSEY’S CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
In his Miami career, Ken Dorsey has connected with 18 different players for a school-record 61 passing touchdowns. Split end Andre Johnson lead all current players with 11 Dorsey touchdowns. All-time, Dorsey’s top touchdown target is Reggie Wayne (12 from 1999-2000).
DORSEY: A WINNER
By any measure, Ken Dorsey is primed to set a new standard for quarterback success at Quarterback U. He enters the 2002 season with the best winning percentage ever established by a Miami starting quarterback, in addition to taking over the all-time mark in winning starts with his last victory as the starter.
DORSEY AS A STARTER
Ken Dorsey has been the Hurricanes starter since the final three games of the 1999 season and, in those 28 starts, has passed for 300 yards three times, including a regular season best of 344 in the 2001 season opener at Penn State (eclipsed only by his career-best 362 yards against Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl game). He has also thrown for at least 200 yards 19 times and has had multiple touchdowns in 20 games. His statistics as a starter read: 444-of-744 for 6,217 yards with 61 touchdown passes, one touchdown rush, and 16 interceptions thrown.
BACKFIELD NOTES
Sophomore Willis McGahee made his first career start in the 2002 season opener and rushed for 65 yards on six carries (10.0 per carry) in mostly first-quarter action. McGahee’s 19-yard touchdown run to open 2002 scoring was the fourth of his career. The addition of junior Jason Geathers was a success in the season opener as the former receiver rushed for a career-high 199 yards on 22 attempts (9.0 per carry). He scored two touchdowns in the effort also giving him four for his career. The 199-yard game by Geathers marked the fourth-best single game effort. Edgerrin James rushed for a school-best 299 yards vs. UCLA on 39 carries in 1998. McGahee also played some at fullback with Geathers at tailback. Freshman Roscoe Parrish made the most of his rushing weapon scoring on a 46-yard reverse. Four different UM quarterbacks received playing time – Ken Dorsey, Derek Crudup, Buck Ortega and Marc Guillon.
RECEIVER NOTES
Junior Andre Johnson led eight receivers in the season-opener with three catches for 44 yards. His first quarter seven-yard touchdown reception was the 12th of his career, tying him with Bubba Franks and James Cox for seventh place on the all-time TD passes caught list. Johnson was recently named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the 2002 season. Sophomore Kellen Winslow II caught the first touchdown pass of the season as well as in his career on a 12-yard strike from Dorsey. He tied for second on the team with Parrish with two catches. Parrish was also an effective receiving weapon with two catches for 43 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception from Crudup in the second quarter. Senior Ethenic Sands caught one pass in the game, a 12-yard touchdown from Dorsey in the second quarter, the third of his career. True freshman Akieem Jolla rounded out the Hurricanes five touchdown receptions with his 39-yard score from fellow frosh Marc Guillon in the fourth quarter. Junior David Williams and freshman Eric Winston also made catches.
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
In the FAMU game, the offensive line did not allow a sack. Junior Vernon Carey (RT) and sophomores Carlos Joseph (LT) and Chris Myers (RG) each made their first career starts. Senior Brett Romberg made his 25th career start at center, while senior Sherko Haji-Rasouli (LT) made his eighth career start. While the Hurricanes lost three starters from last year’s unit to the NFL, a group of veterans return to the line this season and the outlook is an optimistic one. Romberg and senior guard Ed Wilkins return from the starting group from the Rose Bowl. Joining them is Haji-Rasouli, who was the starter at left guard before a knee injury against West Virginia required Wilkins to step into the lineup. Romberg is the anchor of Miami’s offensive line and a legitimate candidate for the Dave Rimington Award, presented annually to the finest center in college football. Romberg joins fellow Haji-Rasouli on the Outland Trophy preseason Watch List for college football’s top interior lineman.
DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES
Last season, the defense recorded 39 sacks. In the season opener, the line provided six of seven sacks recorded. Senior Matt Walters and junior Vince Wilfork led the way with two apiece, followed by seniors Cornelius Green and William Joseph. The two sacks gave Walters 10 for his career, while Wilfork now has five. C. Green, who missed all but one game of the 2001 season, recorded the fifth sack of his career in his return. Joseph, the all-american candidate, now his 11 career sacks. Wilfork, in his first career start, also had four tackles for loss. Senior Jerome McDougle did not see action following a strained pectoral muscle suffered during the offseason and his expected to compete in the Florida game. Miami’s defensive line is highly rated entering the 2002 season, a billing that is both an honor and a burden to a unit that returns its top nine players from 2001. Defensive line coach Greg Mark considers all nine players starters and all will play numerous snaps each game. Joseph heads the list of returnees, a Playboy magazine All-American who many project to be among the top defensive players in college football this season, Joseph racked up 10 sacks last season and 19 tackles for losses. McDougle is considered a first-team All-American by several preseason publications and is a member of the Lombardi Award Watch List (along with Joseph).
LINEBACKER NOTES
Junior Jarrell Weaver recorded the first interception of the season for the Hurricanes, it was also the first of his career. Junior D.J. Williams recorded a sack in the second half. Experience and big-play ability are the hallmarks of Miami’s linebacker unit this season. The unit returns two starters in middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and weakside linebacker Williams, both of whom have been named to the Butkus Award’s Preseason Watch List of outstanding linebackers. Preseason practices have featured a battle for the starting job at strongside linebacker between senior Howard Clark and redshirt freshman Rocky McIntosh. Clark has been slowed by ankle and hamstring injuries this preseason and McIntosh, who had the starting job entering fall drills after Clark missed spring practice, has flourished there.
SECONDARY NOTES
The defensive backfield saw plenty of action in the season opener as eight players rotated throughout all four quarters. Starting in the opening nickel package were junior Maurice Sikes (SS), sophomores Sean Taylor (FS) and Antrel Rolle (CB) and true freshmen Glenn Sharpe and Greg Threat. Rolle recovered a fumble in the game, while Threat and Maxey each had a tackle for a loss. Defensive backs coach Mark Stoops’s young unit will be an all-new starting group this season after the four starters in 2001 were drafted by NFL teams. As of Aug. 24, the starting group appeared to be: cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Alfonso Marshall, Taylor and Sikes. Joining them as nickel backs will be Rolle and Sharpe.
PLACEKICKERS/TODD SIEVERS
Todd Sievers recorded a punt vs. FAMU for the first time in his Miami career. Sievers also moved into sixth place on the all-time points scored list with his nine extra points, giving him a total 213. He tied Andy Crosland (1998) for first place on the Points after Touchdown list in an individual game with 9 PATs. Sievers entered the 2002 season as a legitimate candidate for the Lou Groza Kicker Award. His 119 points scored, 56 extra points and 21 field goals in 2001 were single-season Miami school records. He shares the field goals record with Carlos Huerta (1988). His 119 points in 2001 were the most by a BIG EAST kicker in a single season, as well. His 204 career points entering the season placed him at No. 8 on the BIG EAST career list. Sievers, a native of Ankeny, Iowa, lettered in his true freshman season in 1998, becoming the first player from the state of Iowa to letter at Miami since fullback Tom Smith (Waterloo) in 1971-72. Smith and Sievers are the only two players from Iowa ever to letter at Miami. Joe Carlstrom, a defensive tackle from Iowa City, played in limited action on the 1951 team after serving in the armed forces, but did not letter. Redshirt freshman place kicker Mark Gent kicked off for the first time in his collegiate career.
PUNTERS/FREDDIE CAPSHAW
Punter Freddie Capshaw did not punt due to a bruised right (punting) ankle. True freshman punter/kicker Jon Peattie punted for the first time in his collegiate career. Miami boasts one of the nation’s finest punter/kicker combos and senior punter Freddie Capshaw is a big reason why. The senior from Rock Springs, Wyoming, already has established himself among Miami’s best ever. The leading punter in the BIG EAST Conference the last two seasons, Capshaw is a solid contender for the Ray Guy Award, recognizing college football’s outstanding punter. Capshaw is a hard-nosed player who prides himself on his excellent physical condition. Twice an All-BIG EAST selection, Capshaw has earned BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week four times during his career. In 2001, he was one of three Ray Guy Award finalists as he averaged 41.8 yards per punt in his junior season.
THE RETURN MEN
Andre Johnson handled one kickoff return for 30 yards in the season opener. Roscoe Parrish handled the majority of punt returns (five), followed by Ethenic Sands (two). Parrish’s five returns were for 75 yards with a long of 24. Sands totalled 54 yards on his two returns.
MIAMI REMAINS NO.1 IN THE NFL DRAFT
During the last 20 years, National Football League teams have turned to the University of Miami more than any other college or university when it comes to premium picks in the annual draft. The following chart illustrates college programs that have produced the most players selected in the first three rounds from 1983 to 2002.
TURNOVERS = POINTS
The Miami defense of 2002 hopes to build on a recent trend of opportunism established by recent Hurricanes defenses. The Hurricanes produced two turnovers (one fumble, one interception) in the opener against Florida A&M and the offense converted both into touchdown marches. In 2001, Miami continued a decade-long trend of being one of the most opportunistic offenses in college football by cashing in opponent turnovers into points with alarming consistency. Miami’s defense recorded 45 turnovers, six of which were to end halves. Of those 39 remaining turnovers, the Hurricanes offense produced 172 points (24 touchdowns and two field goals) on the ensuing drive.
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 155-14 (.917) when scoring first.
THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 102 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988. Miami has won 123 consecutive games when scoring 31 or more points since falling 39-37 to UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl. Excluding bowl games, Miami has won 134 consecutive regular season games when scoring 31 or more since a 34-31 loss to Mississippi State in 1980.
STIFLING DEFENSE
The 17 points allowed was almost twice the scoring average allowed by last season’s outstanding unit. However, much of the yardage came against reserves and the Hurricanes gave up just 155 total yards to the Rattlers. The Miami defense allowed its opponents to score 103 points over 11 games (9.36 per game) during the 2001 regular season. At the Orange Bowl, the defense allowed just 17 points in six games for a 2.8 per-game average. Troy State and Washington each scored a touchdown, while West Virginia hit a field goal. Rutgers, Temple and Syracuse were each shut out.
DEFENSE GETS HIGH RANKINGS NATIONALLY
The 2001 Hurricanes defense led the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.36 points per game. Overall, the Hurricanes ranked ranked eighth in total defense (270.6 ypg), balanced by the NCAA’s No. 2 pass defense (138.2 ypg) and No. 40 rush defense (132.7 ypg). Miami led the nation in turnover margin at +2.36 per game. Miami lost the ball 19 times, but recovered it 45 times. The 45 turnovers also led the nation. The 18 fumbles recovered tied for second nationally while the 27 passes intercepted by Miami led the nation. The Hurricanes also had the nation’s top-ranked pass efficiency defense with a 75.60 rating. Miami recorded three shutouts during the 2001 season, the most in a single year since the 1956 season when Andy Gustafson’s team also had three. The most in a single year is six, set during the inaugural 1926 season.
LEADING THE NATION IN NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING
For the second straight season in 2001, Miami led the nation in non-offensive scoring with 10 touchdowns and one safety. The 11 scores and one safety gave UM 70 points. The Hurricanes led the nation in 2000 with 13 touchdowns and 89 points coming from defense and special teams.
LEADING THE NATION IN RECORDING TURNOVERS
The 2002 Miami defense hopes to continue a trend that has been constant since the 1998 season, when most of the UM defenders saw their first action, as the Hurricanes defense continued to record takeaways at a record pace. In 2001, the defense netted 45 turnovers (an NCAA high) along with the +2.36 per game average. Miami’s 27 pass interceptions led the nation, while the 18 fumbles recovered tied for second nationally.
NO TRESPASSING
The Hurricanes defense held opponents from scoring a touchdown in 149 of 161 (.925) offensive drives during the 2001 season.
4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE
Over the last 16 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 152 of 154 (.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.
STINGY WITH THE PUNT RETURNS
In 2001, UM’s punt return coverage allowed just 78 yards on 12 returns (6.5 per return). Punter Freddie Capshaw recorded 36 punts on the season for a 41.8 average. Among his punts were eight touchbacks, three fair catches, 15 downed inside the opponent’s 20 with two blocked.
VETERANS
The 2002 Hurricanes are missing 12 position starters from last year’s squad, but the returning talent includes plenty of experience. Heading into this season, no less than 17 players on the preseason two-deep depth chart had started at least a game in a Miami uniform and 50 scholarship players have seen previous game action in their careers.
