'Canes Collide With Connecticut In Orange Bowl
Sept. 30, 2002
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Miami Hurricanes (4-0) (#1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA Today)
vs. CONNECTICUT HUSKIES (2-3)
When: Saturday, October 5, 2002, at 7 p.m. EST
Where: Orange Bowl Stadium (72,319/Natural Grass) in Miami, Florida.
TV: To be available as part of the ESPN GamePlan package.
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Sept. 22, 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 Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM [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.
En Espanol: Radio Unica (WNMA [1210 AM]) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Jose Martinez (analysis) describing the action.
Student Station WVUM 90.5 FM (WVUM [90.5 FM]) will broadcast the game in with Jeremy Marks-Peltz (play-by-play) and Jesse Agler (analysis) describing the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Connecticut (www.UConnHuskies.com).
Miami head coach Larry Coker
Second-year head coach Larry Coker has a 16-0 (1.000) record at Miami. His 16-0 record includes a 9-0 mark in BIG EAST play, along with an 8-0 mark at the Orange Bowl and 8-0 record on the road. Coker’s start at Miami is the best of any first-time head coach in the “modern era” of college football (post-1950) for wins without a tie or loss. Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer started out 21-0-1 in 1973-74, but suffered a tie in his second game as head coach. Coker’s unbeaten/untied start is the best by a first-time Division I-A head coach since Walter Camp of Yale led the Bulldogs to 28 consecutive victories before a loss in the 1888-89 seasons.
Coker led Miami to an undefeated season in his first year as a collegiate head coach with the 2001 Hurricanes. 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 State (1983-89) and Tulsa (1979-82).
The MIAMI-CONNECTICUT series
Saturday’s game with the University of Connecticut marks the first meeting between the two programs in football. The Hurricanes own a 87-58-2 record in the series opener with its 147 all-time opponents. Since 1990, Miami is 10-1 in the series debut with its lone loss coming to Washington at the Orange Bowl in 1994. Since that defeat, Miami has won its past four series openers entering the UConn game. The lone other first meeting in the Larry Coker era was a 38-7 win over Troy State last season at the Orange Bowl. Additionally, UM is 15-1 in series openers at the Orange Bowl since 1980.UConn will be an annual opponent of the Hurricanes as it joins the BIG EAST for football starting 2005. The Huskies currently hold a 7-30-2 record vs. BIG EAST football schools including Boston College (0-7-2), Rutgers (6-16), Temple (1-6) and Virginia Tech (0-1).UConn is one of six Division I-A Independents in the NCAA. Miami has forged a 12-17-1 record against other Independents including Notre Dame (7-15-1), Troy State (1-0), Utah State (1-0) and Navy (3-2). South Florida is playing its second season in Division I.UM Linebackers Coach Vernon Hargreaves was a 1986 graduate of the University of Connecticut as well as a star member of the football team from 1980-83.Vernon Hargreaves was a four-year letterman for the Huskies earning Third-Team All-America status in 1983 along with honorable mention in 1982. He was also selected to the All-Yankee Conference team in 1982 and 1983. Hargreaves finished his collegiate career with 393 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks. In 1998, in celebration of UConn’s 100 seasons of college football, Hargreaves was named to the 100th Anniversary Team.The Huskies have 18 rostered players from the state of Florida, including eight from Broward County and two from Miami-Dade. UConn’s John Fletcher (Soph., S) attended Miami’s Carol City along with UM’s Sinorice Moss and Glenn Sharpe. UM’s Ethenic Sands also went to Carol City prior to his teammates. UConn’s Mike Henry (R-Fr., OT) went to Miami’s Monsignor Pace along with UM’s Joel Rodriguez and Maurice Sikes. UConn’s Jason Ridley (Soph., WR) went to Sunrise Piper with UM’s Quadtrine Hill. UConn’s Terrance Smith (Jr., S) went to Coconut Creek with UM’s Darrell McClover. UConn’s Justin Perkins (Soph., CB) and UM’s Kevin Beard both went to Plantation High School. UConn’s Chandler Poole (, Jr. TB) and UM’s Joe Fantigrassi each went to Ft. Lauderdale Western.UM’s last letterman from the state of Connecticut was standout defensive tackle Dan Sileo (1986-87) of Stamford. Sileo went on to play with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers as a free agent for the 1987 professional season.
NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK NOW AT 26
With the 38-6 win over Boston College, Miami has extended its national leading win streak to 26 games. The current win streak, including bowl games, is the most for the Hurricanes since the team won a school-record 29 straight from 1990-93. In the regular season, UM has won 24 consecutive regular season games dating back to a 47-10 victory at West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The longest win streak in the regular season for Miami is 36 games, accomplished from a 48-20 win at Rice on Sept. 14, 1985, to a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 15, 1988.
ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT 18 GAMES
Miami’s 38-6 victory over Boston College extended the Hurricanes’ Orange Bowl win streak to 18 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. Nebraska hosts McNeese State this Saturday and Missouri a week later. Washington hosts California and Arizona in its next two games.
Active Division I-A Home Win Streaks
1. 24 Nebraska
2. 18 MIAMI
3. 17 Washington
2002 HURRICANES AMONG THE SCHOOLS’ TOP OFFENSES ALL-TIME
The 2002 squad as amassed 186 points through the first four games of the season, marking the second-most by a UM team after four games played. The 2000 team scored a school-record 201 points after four games. The 1998 team had the third-most points (177), followed by 2001 (175) and 1933 (172).
2002 attendance hits record mark
The attendance for the first two games of the season was a combined 142,170 (Florida A&M 68,548 and Boston College 73,622). The combined attendance is the most in back-to-back home games since two capacity crowds of 150,816 came to see Iowa (70,420) and Florida State (80,396) in 1990. The 73,622 that came to UM’s last game vs. Boston College was the most in the all-time series with the Eagles.
PLAYING AFTER A BYE WEEK AND BEFORE THE FSU GAME
Since 1990, Miami is 20-9 in games following a bye week. In the game before the annual Florida State showdown, the Hurricanes have gone 19-3 since 1979 – minus the 1988 season-opener with FSU. UM lost games before the FSU week in 1999 (at East Carolina), 1997 (West Virginia) and 1995 (at Virginia Tech).
UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST
In its 12th season of competition in the BIG EAST, Miami has forged a league-best 61-10 (.859) overall conference record. The Hurricanes’ seven BIG EAST titles are also a league-best, ahead of Syracuse (3), Virginia Tech (3) and West Virginia (1).
THE CONSENSUS NO. 1
The Hurricanes opened the 2002 season ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls and have kept the top position entering Saturday’s game with Connecticut. 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 occasions, 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 momentous 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 entered Saturday’s game with Connecticut with the same top ranking. 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 that 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 869 times. Miami has been ranked No. 1 56 times.
PRIMED TO ASCEND
Entering the Connecticut game, Miami has been atop the Associated Press rankings for the 17 consecutive weeks. Miami’s current run tied them with the University of Southern California for the second-most straight weeks at No. 1.
MIAMI AS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1
The Hurricanes have played in 40 games all-time while holding the AP’s No. 1 ranking and have forged a 35-5 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 36 games and has recorded a 33-3 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 202-40-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 137-20 as a top 10 team and 109-12 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 35-5 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 25 of its last 26 while ranked No. 1.
Miami vs. AP-ranked teams
Miami is 70-98-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 34-52 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 nine consecutive games against ranked opponents beginning with a 27-24 victory over No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. That streak includes five 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 9
Streak on the Road/Neutral: Won 5
Streak at Home: Won 4
VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 31-22 mark against Associated Press ranked teams and an 88-6 record against unranked opponents.
BIG EAST-RECORD 19-GAME CONFERENCE WIN STREAK ON THE LINE AT WEST VIRGINIA
Miami will be bringing its BIG EAST-record 19-game conference win streak into the contest with West Virginia October 26. The Hurricanes extended their streak with a 38-6 win over Boston College at the Orange Bowl on September 21. Additionally, UM has also won 22 of its last 23 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech. The streak began with a 55-0 defeat over Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. The current streak is ahead of the Hokies’ 14-game string from 1998-00. Miami has also recorded conference win streaks of 12 games (1991-93), 10 games (1995-96) and seven games (1994).
CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK AT 13 GAMES
Miami has won 13 straight games away from the Orange Bowl, including the 2002 Rose Bowl and 2001 Sugar Bowl, since defeating West Virginia in Morgantown, 47-10, on Sept. 23, 2000. Regular season only, Miami has a current 11-game road win streak since that win over the Mountaineers. The regular season win streak is the longest at UM since the Hurricanes won 14-straight road contests 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.
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 80-19-0 (.808) 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).Nation’s Best Road Records (Since 1983)
MIAMI, COKER VS. THE UNDEFEATEDS
The 38-6 win over then-undefeated Boston College on September 21 pushed Miami’s record to 4-0 under Larry Coker against undefeated opponents. The Hurricanes have also beaten previously undefeated FAMU and Florida this season and Penn State in 2001. Additionally, UM is now riding an eight-game win streak vs. undefeateds since dropping a 34-29 loss to Washington in the second week of the 2000 season.
BOSTON COLLEGE, TEMPLE AND RUTGERS
With the 38-6 win over Boston College on September 21, the Eagles remained one of the three BIG EAST schools, along with Temple and Rutgers, to have never beaten Miami during conference affiliation (1991-present). Miami stands at 11-0 vs. Boston College and Temple and 9-0 vs. Rutgers, who UM plays in Piscataway, NJ on November 2. UM defeated Temple 44-21 earlier this season on September 14.
THE MARGIN OF VICTORY VS. BOSTON COLLEGE FAIRS MUCH BETTER AT THE ORANGE BOWL
Since Miami and Boston College began BIG EAST play in the 1991 season, six games have been played at Boston College while five have been at the Orange Bowl. In those five games at the OB UM has outscored the Eagles 191-62 (38.2-12.4), a 25.8-point margin of victory. At Boston College, UM has outscored the Eagles 153 to 114 in six contests (25.5-19.0), a 6.5-point UM margin of victory. The margin of victory difference between the two sites is 19.3 points.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE
The average drive time on UM’s 23 offensive touchdowns in 2002 is 1:23. Against Boston College, the offense totaled four touchdowns for an average of 1:26 per score. At Temple, the six offensive touchdowns averaged 1:42 in drive time. At Florida, the four offensive touchdowns averaged 1:52 in drive time. In the season opener against FAMU, Miami scored its nine touchdowns with a :56 average. Overall 18 of the 23 touchdowns were scored under two minutes of drive time. Additionally, nine touchdowns have come in under a minute.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Miami’s offense is one that can strike quickly. In four games the Hurricanes have recorded 66 plays of 10 or more yards, or 24% of its total offensive plays for the season. The Hurricanes strike for 10 or more yards once every four plays from scrimmage.
SCORING OFF TURNOVERS
Miami has recorded nine turnovers for the season, eight of which led to UM touchdowns, while one interception was to end the first half vs. Boston College. The other two recorded turnovers vs. the Eagles were fumbles in the fourth quarter that led to Miami’s last two scores of the game. At Temple, UM recovered two fumbles that resulted in UM scores. At Florida, UM snagged two interceptions, including a 97-yard TD return by Maurice Sikes. 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.
OPENING DRIVES
Charting Miami’s opening possessions of the first and second half of each game of the 2002 season..Opponent 1st Half 2nd HalfFlorida A&M 5 plays, 28 yards, Interception 3 plays, 19 yards, fumbleFlorida 3 plays, 2 yards, punt 5 plays, 79 yards, touchdownTemple 12 plays, 61 yards, missed FG 5 plays, 24 yards, touchdownBoston College 4 plays, 24 yards, punt 7 plays, 50 yards, touchdown
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 157-14 (.918) when scoring first.
THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 105 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988. Miami has won 126 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 137 consecutive regular season games when scoring 31 or more since a 34-31 loss to Mississippi State in 1980.
4TH QUARTER DOMINANCE
Over the last 16 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 155 of 157 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.
NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING
Jonathan Vilma’s two-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown was the second non-offensive touchdown scored by the Hurricanes this season. The Vilma touchdown was the second of his career after returning an interception for a score last season at Florida State. The first was a Maurice Sikes’ 97-yard INT return for a touchdown at Florida. The 2001 season marked the second straight season that 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 also led in 2000 with 13 touchdowns and 89 points coming from defense and special teams.
Miami on ESPN Gameday
Miami has played in 10 contests from an ESPN GameDay location and has a record of 8-2 in those games.
MIAMI IN ITS BIG EAST OPENER
With its 44-21 win at Temple on September 14, Miami is now 10-3 in its BIG EAST Conference opener since starting the league in 1991, while going 8-3 since league play began in 1993. UM has now won its last four conference openers. On the road in league openers, UM is now 7-2, including wins in three straight.
MIAMI AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE OPPONENTS
Miami holds a 2-0 record vs. teams from the state of Florida in 2002, including a 41-16 win over Florida last Saturday and a 63-17 win over Florida A&M in the season opener. The Hurricanes have also won 18 of its last 26 games against Sunshine State opponent since the 1985 season. UM still has Florida State on the 2002 schedule slated for Oct. 12.
ON THE ROAD VS. TOP 10 OPPONENTS SINCE 1980
With its 41-16 win over No. 6 Florida, Miami has forged a 33-20 record in 53 games since 1980 against Associated Press top-10 ranked teams.
MIAMI IN ITS ROAD OPENER
The Hurricanes opened their 2002 road schedule with a 41-16 win over the Florida Gators at the Swamp in Gainesville. Miami now has a 38-37-2 in road openers all-time, including 15-8 since 1980.
MIAMI VS. FIRST-YEAR COACHES
With the win over Florida and first-year head coach Ron Zook UM now holds a seven game win streak against rookie head coaches and is 8-1 since 1995. Overall, Miami has won 30 of its last 31 games vs. teams under the helm of a first-year coach.
Miami WINS VS. the SEC
Miami now holds a 61-80-3 all-time record against schools currently in the Southeastern Conference. Prior to last Saturday, the Hurricanes last SEC match-up was a 37-20 victory over Florida in the 2001 Sugar Bowl. Prior to that 2000 season finale against the Gators, Miami had not met up with an SEC team since its 34-13 loss to Alabama in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. UM’s last regular season affair against a current SEC team was a 31-3 season-opening victory at Arkansas in 1991 (back when the Hogs were members of the Southwest Conference). Miami commonly faced the SEC in the past, having met at least one member each season from 1944-1989. UM’s first SEC meeting was a 14-0 loss to Mississippi in 1936. Additionally, the Hurricanes have fielded games against each opponent currently in the 12-member conference.
BIG EAST WINS vs. the SEC
Since the formation of the BIG EAST football conference in 1991, the league has gone 12-10 vs. the SEC. The BIG EAST has faced every school in the SEC, but Mississippi State. All-time, BIG EAST schools are a combined 139-179-16 against the SEC. Additionally, the BIG EAST has won seven of its last eight games vs. SEC opponents.
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. This season, Dorsey has passed for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games as he continues a mercurial climb up the Miami records list. He already has risen to the top of the UM career touchdown passes list with 69 – surpassing former Miami greats Steve Walsh and Vinny Testaverde further cementing Dorsey’s name among the pantheon of outstanding Miami quarterbacks. Dorsey is completing 54 percent of his passes in 2002 and leads the BIG EAST in Passing Efficiency. For his career, Dorsey is 503-of-866 (58.1%) for 7,024 yards with 69 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
DORSEY IN THE BIG EAST RECORD BOOK
Ken Dorsey enters the Connecticut game with 69 touchdowns passing for his career after throwing two Boston College last week. The 69 career touchdowns keeps him second place on the BIG EAST career list behind Donovan McNabb of Syracuse (77 from 1995-98). Dorsey recently moved ahead of Boston College’s Glenn Foley (61 from 1991-93) with his four TD tosses at Florida. His 7,024 passing yards lands him at No. 5 on the career list. Dorsey’s 58.1% completion percentage (503 of 866) lands him at No. 5 all-time behind Syracuse’s Marvin Graves (60.3, 1991-93). Dorsey’s 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 10-1 against ranked opponents with Dorsey as a starter including 5-0 against teams ranked in the top 10.
DORSEY AS A STARTER
Ken Dorsey has been the Hurricanes starter since the final three games of the 1999 season and, in those 31 starts, has passed for 300 yards five 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 24 times and has had multiple touchdowns in 25 games. His statistics as a starter read: 493-of-837 for 6,935 yards with 69 touchdown passes, one touchdown rush, and 19 interceptions thrown.
DORSEY’S CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
In his Miami career, Ken Dorsey has connected with 19 different players for a school-record 69 passing touchdowns. Jason Geathers was the most recent player to join the heralded list with his two touchdown receptions at Florida. Split end Andre Johnson lead all current players with 13 Dorsey touchdowns. Johnson’s TD catch at Florida tied him with Reggie Wayne (1999-2000) as Dorsey’s top scoring target. The Dorsey to Johnson connection now ranks as the fourth most prolific scoring tandem in school history behind Vinny Testaverde/Michael Irvin (19), Gino Torretta/Lamar Thomas (16) and Bernie Kosar/Eddie Brown (14).
DORSEY: A WINNER
By any measure, Ken Dorsey is primed to set a new standard for quarterback success at Quarterback U. He enters the Boston College game with the best winning percentage ever established by a Miami starting quarterback, in addition to taking over the all-time mark in winning starts as the starter earlier this season.
McGAHEE IS A BIG PLAY BACK
Willis McGahee has established him as one of the nation’s top big play running backs. McGahee is averaging 8.8 yards every time he touches the football (75 touches for 662 yards). He has carried 68 times for 533 yards (7.8 avg) and recorded 7 catches for 129 yards (18.4 avg). He has recorded 22 plays of 10 or more yards, including seven of 20 or more yards and five of 30 or more yards. Of the 75 times he touched the football 33 (44%) have gone for first downs or touchdowns. McGahee has accounted for 38% of Miami’s 85 first downs this season.
MCGAHEE POSTS THREE CONSECUTIVE 100 YARD GAMES
Willis McGahee posted his third consecutive 100-yard game of the season with his 135-yard effort against Boston College. A week prior he raced for 134 yards at Temple. He began the streak with 204 yards rushing at Florida on September 7.
BACKFIELD NOTES
The unit rushed for 182 yards on 31 carries against Boston College, including 135 yards on 17 carries from Willis McGahee. It marked McGahee’s third-straight 100-yard game. McGahee was the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, the second time this season, following the Boston College game. Jarrett Payton gained 20 yards on five carries, while Jason Geathers also had five carries for 16 yards. McGahee had a 48-yard rush vs. the Eagles, the second-longest run of the season. The unit’s season-low occurred with 112 yards at Temple after gaining 306 a game earlier at Florida. The Florida total was the most since gaining 331 yards vs. Syracuse on Nov. 17, 2001. McGahee also tied a school-record vs. Temple with four rushing touchdowns equaling the total set by Melvin Bratton vs. Boston College on Nov. 23, 1984. McGahee has twice been honored this season as BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week. Jason Geathers started off the season with a 199-yard rushing effort vs. FAMU, the fifth-highest single game effort. McGahee’s 204 yards at Florida was the fourth-most in a single game.
RECEIVER NOTES
A week after a game-high 10 players caught passes at Temple, five had catches against Boston College. Running back Willis McGahee led all receivers with 86 yards on three catches, including a team-season-long 77-yard reception. Andre Johnson had three catches for 73 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown from Ken Dorsey. Kellen Winslow caught Dorsey’s other touchdown on his way to a game-high five catches for 32 yards. Quadtrine Hill and Kevin Beard also made catches for UM vs. Boston College.
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
Boston College sacked Miami one time, pushing the season total to four times – tying last season’s overall total. Of UM’s four opponents, only Florida A&M was held without sack. Florida and Boston College had one each, while Temple recorded two. Temple had a sack on both Ken Dorsey and Derrick Crudup. Against Boston College, the line assisted Willis McGahee in his third-straight 100-yard game, while Dorsey threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. Vernon Carey (RT) and Carlos Joseph (LT) and Chris Myers (RG) each made their fourth straight starts after the career first in the season-opener against FAMU. Brett Romberg made his 28th career start at center against Boston College, while senior Sherko Haji-Rasouli (LT) made his 11th career start. 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 Canadian Haji-Rasouli on the Outland Trophy preseason Watch List for college football’s top interior lineman.
DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The Hurricanes recorded three sacks against Boston College, one each by Jerome McDougle, Andrew Williams and Cornelius Green. The Williams sack in the first quarter took BC off the 10-yard line on second down and forced an Eagles field goal from the 21 at the start of the second quarter. Green’s sack on a second down play in the third quarter eventually led to a three-and-out punt. McDougle’s fourth quarter second down sack halted a drive at the UM 12 and two plays later the Eagles went four-and-out. Williams also had a forced fumble. McDougle led all linemen vs. BC with eight total tackles, including a team-high six. William 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. 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
Jonathan Vilma led all defensive players with 12 total tackles against Boston College, including four solo and eight assisted. First-time starter Rocky McIntosh and D.J. Williams each registered the third-most tackles on the team (8). McIntosh started when usual strongside Howard Clark missed practice during the week to attend his stepfather’s funeral. Against Boston College, Vilma also had a tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. The fumble recovery went for two yards and a Hurricanes touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the second career touchdown for Vilma, who also had one last year at Florida State. McIntosh also chipped in with two tackles for loss, while Williams forced one fumble. Two weeks ago at Temple, Vilma also forced and recovered a fumble. Both Vilma and D.J. Williams are named to the Butkus Award’s Preseason Watch List of outstanding linebackers.
SECONDARY NOTES
The secondary unit assisted the defense in holding Boston College to 138 yards passing in the game and without a touchdown. BC had just 51 passing yards in the first half. Maurice Sikes led the unit for the second straight game with 11 total tackles, including six solo and five assisted. Sikes also had a forced fumble and a pass deflection. Glenn Sharpe and Antrel Rolle were next among defensive backs vs. BC with five tackles each. Rolle also contributed one fumble recovery, one interception and two pass deflections. Sean Taylor, who had three tackles, also had two pass deflections. Kelly Jennings made his second consecutive start of the season vs. BC after returning at Florida following a thumb ligament injury.
PLACEKICKERS/TODD SIEVERS
On the 2002 season, 12 of Todd Sievers’ 28 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks. Against Boston College, two of his seven kickoffs were for touchbacks, while another three went to the zero yard line. Sievers also went 1-for-2 on field goal attempts, making a 45-yarder and missing a 52-yard attempt. He made all four extra points against BC. He totaled seven points in the game to give him 240 for his career, keeping him in sixth place all-time at Miami in points scored kicking and in eighth place overall in points scored. His field goal was the 36th of his career also good for sixth place all-time at Miami. Two games ago on the turf at Temple’s Franklin Field, just one of Sievers kickoffs went for a touchback, but three others did land inside the five. Sievers went 1-for-3 on field goal attempts against the Owls and missed his first extra point of the season. At Florida, Sievers connected on a 53-yard field goal the longest of his career and fourth-longest in school history. His 11-point effort vs. Florida earned him BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week, the third weekly honor of his career. 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 and saw furth action in the season-opener vs. FAMU.
PUNTERS/FREDDIE CAPSHAW
Freddie Capshaw recorded three punts against Boston College for 127 yards and a 42.3 per punt average. His long was a 46-yarder in the second quarter and none of the punts landed inside the 20. At Temple, Capshaw also had three punts for 98 yards and a 32.7 average. His long against the Owls was 45 yards and he placed two within the 20-yard line. So far this season, Capshaw has punted 12 times for 478 yards and a 39.8 average. Four of his punts have been fair caught, five have been placed inside the 20 and one was blocked. Capshaw missed the Florida A&M game to injury and saw his first action of the season at Florida, where he punted six times for 253 yards and a 42.2 average with three landing inside the 20. In Capshaw’s absence against FAMU, true freshman Jon Peattie handled the role with three punts for 133 yards and a 44.3 average. Capshaw, a 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
Returns were at a minimal against Boston College with Ethenic Sands returning two punts for four yards and Jason Geathers taking the opening kickoff for 26 yards. Antrel Rolle’s interception return was for 22 yards to close out the first half. Three weeks ago at Temple, the punt return unit stood out with six returns for 105 yards and a long of 44 yards by Sands. Against the Owls, Sands had a total of three punt returns for 57 yards, while Roscoe Parrish had two punt returns for 42 yards and a long of 28. Maurice Sikes also had one return for six yards against the Owls that saved a potential lengthy roll deep into UM territory. Jason Geathers returned all three kickoffs for 51 yards and a long of 15 yards against the Owls.
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.
HURRICANE ROSTER HAS NFL GENES
Six Hurricanes on the 2002 roster have relations to players that have been in the NFL.
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.
