No. 1 Hurricanes Host Hokies This Saturday

Dec. 2, 2002

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Miami Hurricanes (11-0, 6-0 BIG EAST) (#1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA Today)vs. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES (9-3, 3-3 BIG EAST) (#18 AP/#14 ESPN/USA TODAY)

When: Saturday, December 7, 2002, at 1 p.m. EST.
Where: Orange Bowl Stadium (72,319/Natural Grass) in Miami, Florida.
TV: ABC will televise the game live with the telecast team of Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analysis) and Lynn Swann (sideline).
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. Eastern Time) will produce coverage of all Miami Hurricanes football games this season with Frank Forte (play-by-play) and Dave Heffernan (analysis) describing the action.
Local 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.
National Radio: Westwood One Radio Network will carry the game live with John Tautges (play-by-play) and Fran Curci (analysis) calling the game.
Student Station WVUM (WVUM 90.5 FM) will broadcast the game in with Kyle Berger (play-by-play) and Jeremy Marks-Peltz (analysis) calling the game.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Virginia Tech (www.hokiesports.com).

MIAMI HEAD COACH LARRY COKER
Second-year head coach Larry Coker has a 23-0 (1.000) record at Miami. His 23-0 record includes a 13-0 mark in BIG EAST play, along with a 11-0 mark at the Orange Bowl and a 12-0 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).

MIAMI-VIRGINIA TECH SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

Miami and Virginia Tech have met 19 times since 1953 with the Hurricanes holding the 14-5 series lead. The record includes an even 5-5 mark in BIG EAST play since in 1992.Miami is riding a two-game win streak in the series and has won the two meetings by a combined score of 67-45 (33.5-22.5), an 11-point margin of victory. Prior to the two most recent wins by Miami, Virginia Tech had won five straight over the Hurricanes from 1995-1999. UM won the first 12 meetings in the series from 1953-1994.The overall series record includes an 8-2 advantage for Miami at the Orange Bowl, along with a 4-3 record at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. UM also has a 2-0 lead in neutral site games with wins at the 1966 Liberty Bowl (14-7) and 1981 Peach Bowl (20-10).Major overall and BIG EAST win streaks are once again on the line heading into the Miami/Virginia Tech game. In 2000, Virginia Tech entered the game at the Orange Bowl riding a 19-game overall win streak and a then-BIG EAST record 14-game win streak, but fell to Miami, 41-21, to end the streaks. In 2001, Miami travelled to Lane Stadium riding a 20-game overall win streak and a new-BIG EAST record 16-game win streak, yet came away with the streaks intact following a 26-24 victory. This season, Miami enters the game riding a 23-game BIG EAST win streak.The 2002 game marks the fourth straight season both teams enter the game nationally ranked. Miami enters this year’s contest with a No. 1 ranking by the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, while Virginia Tech is ranked 18th by AP and 14th by the coaches. In 2001, Miami entered the game ranked No. 1, while Virginia Tech was ranked 14th. In 2000, UM was ranked 3rd and the Hokies were 2nd. That 2000 game marked the first time in BIG EAST Conference history that a pair of league teams played against each other ranked in the Associated Press top five.

HURRICANES GOING FOR ANOTHER UNDISPUTED BIG EAST TITLE
The Miami victory at Syracuse clinched at least a share of the 2002 BIG EAST football championship for the Hurricanes. Miami must defeat Virginia Tech to get the undisputed conference title. Only West Virginia can tie Miami for the title as the Mountaineers closed the season with a 6-1 league record. In 12 seasons of BIG EAST competition, Miami has now won or shared 9 BIG EAST titles, including 5 outright crowns (1991, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2001).

UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST
In its 12th season of competition in the BIG EAST, Miami has forged a league-best 65-10 (.867) overall conference record. The Hurricanes’ 2002 BIG EAST Conference championship is Miami’s ninth, also a league-best, ahead of Syracuse (3), Virginia Tech (3) and West Virginia (1).

NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK NOW AT 33 GAMES
With the victory at Syracuse, Miami extended its national leading win streak to 33 games, the longest winning streak in college football since Toledo won 35 straight from 1969-71. The current 33-game win streak, including bowl games, continues Miami’s school record and surpassed the 29-game streak set from 1990-92. The streak also is the 7th longest win streak in college football history.

In the regular season, UM has won 31 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.

SOME NUMBERS DURING THE WINNING STREAK
During Miami’s current 33-game winning streak the Hurricanes have…

Outscored their opponents 1,375 to 531, an average of 41.7 to 16.1 or a winning margin of 25.6 points per gameComplied an 18-0 record at the Orange BowlCompiled a 13-0 record on the roadCompiled a 2-0 record in bowl gamesCompiled a 20-0 record in BIG EAST gamesCompiled a 13-0 record against non-conference opponentsCompiled an 11-0 record againt ranked opponentsCompiled a 6-0 record against top 10 ranked opponentsWon 1 National ChampionshipWon 3 BIG EAST Championships

ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK AT A NATIONAL-BEST 21 GAMES
Miami’s 28-21 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 21 extended the Hurricanes’ Orange Bowl win streak to 20 games, dating back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999.

The 21-game home win streak is currently the longest in the nation following Nebraska’s recent home loss to Texas on Nov. 2. UM’s streak is also its longest since setting the NCAA record with its 58-game streak from 1985-94. South Florida and Texas share the nation’s second-longest active home winning streak at 19.

MORE ON THE HURRICANES’ 21-GAME ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK
Miami will enter the Virginia Tech game riding a 21-game home win streak at the Orange Bowl that dates back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999. Miami’s last loss at home was to No. 2 Penn State, 27-23, at Sept. 18, 1999. During the 21-game streak Miami has outscored its opponents 952-238 (45.3-11.3 per game – 34.0 UM margin of victory). In non-conference games during the streak, Miami has outscored eight opponents 372-141 (46.5-17.6 per game – 28.9 UM margin of victory). Against the BIG EAST, Miami has outscored the league 580-97 (44.6-7.5 per game – 37.1 UM margin of victory) in 13 home contests. Against the six ranked teams defeated at the Orange Bowl during the streak, Miami outscored the opposition 248-100 (41.3-16.7 per game – 24.6 UM margin of victory).

During the streak Miami’s lowest point total is 27 points in a 27-24 thrilling win over No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. Scoring has also been high during the streak with the Hurricanes surpassing 30 points 17 times, 40 points 13 times, 50 points eight times and 60 points four times. The most points UM has scored during the streak is 65 points in a 65-7 win over No. 12 Washington on Nov. 24, 2001.The UM defense has posted five shutouts during the 21-game streak and another six games where the opponent scored seven or less points. The most points allowed by UM were 31 vs. Louisiana Tech on Oct. 28, 2000. Opponents have achieved double-digit scoring just 10 times during the 21-game streak. FAMU totaled 17 points in the 2002 season opener at the Orange Bowl, marking the first time in a nine-game home span the opponent scored more than seven points.Prio to Pittsburgh’s first quarter touchdown on Nov. 21, the last touchdown recorded by a BIG EAST opponent at the Orange Bowl was in the first quarter vs. Boston College on Nov. 25, 2000 – 23 straight quarters over six league games.Over the last 13 home games since defeating Pittsburgh, 35-7, on Nov. 11, 2000, the Hurricanes have outscored home opponents 598-115 (46.0-8.8 per game – 37.2 UM margin of victory).Including the home loss to Penn State in 1999, Miami has won 25 of 26 home contests since a 26-14 loss to FSU on Oct. 10, 1998.

CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK AT 17 GAMES
Miami has won a national-best 17 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 games only, Miami has a current 15-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 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 20 seasons beginning with 1983 is the best among all NCAA Division 1A football institutions. Miami has a record of 84-19-0 (.815) in road games at the opponent’s home. During that span, Miami has gone unbeaten in road games in nine seasons (1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2001 and 2002).

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 took on three more in 2002 (Florida State, Tennessee and Florida).

MIAMI EXTENDS BIG EAST WIN STREAK TO 23
Miami extended its BIG EAST-record win streak to 23 games with its win over Syracuse. Additionally, UM has also won 26 of its last 27 BIG EAST games, including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech. The streak began with a 55-0 defeat over Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. Miami has also recorded conference win streaks of 12 games (1991-93), 10 games (1995-96) and seven games (1994).

THE CONSENSUS NO. 1
Miami regained its status as the consensus No. 1-ranked team on Nov. 10 after defeating Tennessee, 26-3, on Nov. 9, along with an Oklahoma 30-26 loss at Texas A&M. Miami had held the consensus top spot for 16 straight weeks until Oklahoma was voted No. 1 by the Associated Press on Sunday, Nov. 3. Miami has held the No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll for the last 21 weeks dating back to the 2001 season.

UM finished off the 2001 season as consensus No. 1 the last six weeks and was at the same spot each of the first 12 polls this season. In 2001, UM was the consensus No. 1 in 12 of 17 total polls.

HAVING THE NO. 1 RANKING
The Hurricanes enter the Virginia Tech game ranked No. 1 for the 16th straight poll this season in the USA Today/ESPN rankings. Coupled with the 2001 season, Miami has been ranked at the top spot in the either the Associated Press or USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll for the past 31 weekly polls.

Miami ended the 2001 season having been ranked No. 1 by the AP for the last 9 weeks and 14 of 17 polls during the season. UM was No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll for the last six weeks and 13 out of 17 polls.Since the AP poll began in 1936, the weekly rankings have been published 878 times. Miami has been ranked No. 1 64 times.

RECORD TOP-RANKED STREAK
On Nov. 4, Miami fell from atop the Associated Press weekly poll after a stay of 21 consecutive week dating to Oct. 14, 2001. The 21 straight weeks is the longest of any team in college football history to remain atop the AP rankings.

MIAMI AS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 1
The Hurricanes have played in 46 games all-time while holding the Associated Press’ No. 1 ranking and have forged a 41-5 record in those contests. Miami has won 17 straight as the nation’s top-ranked team. Prior to the Alabama loss (34-13) in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, UM had won 12 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 42 games and has recorded a 39-3 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 209-40-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 144-20 as a top 10 team and 116-12 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 41-5 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 31 of its last 32 while ranked No. 1.

Miami vs. AP-ranked teams
Miami is 72-98-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 35-52 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 11 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 six victories at the Orange Bowl against ranked foes.

Miami vs. Ranked Opponents

Streak: Won 11
Streak on the Road/Neutral: Won 5
Streak at Home: Won 6

VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 33-22 mark against Associated Press ranked teams and a 93-6 record against unranked opponents.

HURRICANES IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Since the 1980 season Miami has been nearly unbeatable as it heads into the final two months of the season totaling an 84-9 record in games played in November and December. In the month of November, UM is 76-9 since 1980, along with a perfect 8-0 record in December. The Hurricanes have a 12-game win streak in November with their last loss coming at Virginia Tech in 1999. Miami has not lost in a December game since 1977, going 8-0 since.

2002 SCORING OFFENSE AMONG THE BEST ALL-TIME
The 2002 squad has amassed 447 points through the first 11 games of the season, marking the third-most points scored by a UM team after 11 games played. The 2001 Hurricanes sit atop the list with 475 points after 11 games, followed by 2000 (469) and 2002 (447).

PLAYING IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWDS
The fifth-largest crowd in Tennessee history, 107,745, attended the Miami game on Nov. 9 marking the second-largest crowd ever to watch the Hurricanes play. Additionally, it was the fourth crowd to surpass 100,000 for a Miami game. The all-time largest crowd to see UM play was in 2001 at Penn State, where the attendance hit 109,313. Games at Michigan in 1988 (105,834) and in 1984 (105,403) are now third and fourth, respectively.

2002 HOME ATTENDANCE CHALLENGES U.M. RECORD
The attendance for the first five home games of the season was a combined 341,125 (Florida A&M 68,548; Boston College 73,622; Connecticut 52,131; Florida State 81,927; Pittsburgh 64,897) for an average of 68,225 fans per game. Miami is on pace to shatter home attendance marks for both total attendance a per-game average. The Miami record for home attendance is 390,944 set in 1960 when UM played 8 home games. Miami needs a crowd of 49,830 against Virginia Tech to surpass that and appears certain to do so. The record for home attendance average is 62,096 set in 1990 when Miami attracted 372,577 fans in 6 home games.

UNDEFEATED IN THREE CONSECUTIVE ROAD GAMES
The Hurricanes recently completed an undefeated stretch of three straight games on the road, the ninth time in school history Miami has played three straight away from home. It is just the second time UM has done so in nine occurences along with 1985. This season Miami defeated West Virginia, 40-23, on Oct. 26, Rutgers, 42-17, on Nov. 2 and Tennessee, 26-3, on Nov. 9. UM played three straight road games in 2000 (2-1), 1999 (1-2), 1985 (3-0), 1979 (1-2), 1978 (2-1), 1976 (0-3), 1936 (2-0-1) and 1931 (0-3).

VILMA & WALTERS ARE FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Two Hurricanes defensive starters – senior tackle Matt Walters and middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma – were recently named to the Verizon Academic All-America First Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Monday. Vilma (Coral Gables, Fla., Coral Gables HS) is a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree and was named the the Provost’s Honor Roll in 2001 and 2002. Vilma, who leads the Hurricanes in tackles with 87 through nine games this season, also is a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award (college football’s outstanding linebacker) and has started at middle linebacker for UM the last two seasons. Vilma also has earned several academic honors at UM including: Dean’s List (2000, 2001 & 2002), Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete (2001 & 2002), and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (2000, 2001 & 2002). On the field, he also was a Freshman All-American by Rivals.com in 2000, led UM in tackles in 2001 and was a first-team All-BIG EAST selection in 2001. Vilma is studying finance at UM. Walters (Melbourne, Fla., Eau Gallie HS) is a 2002 National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award nominee who led all UM defensive linemen in tackles in 2001 with 66 and (through 9 games this year) is leading UM’s talented and deep D-Line again this season with 48 stops (21 solos). He also has five tackles for losses, three quarterback sacks, has broken up three passes and has 19 quarterback hurries. He has achieved numerous academic honors at UM including: Provost’s Honor Roll (1999 & 2001); Dean’s List (1999, 2001, 2002); and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002). Walters came to Miami in 1998 and, after redshirting in ’98, has become a mainstay in the defensive line starting every game since the midway point of the 2000 season (24 games and counting). He was named to the Preseason Watch List for the 2002 Lombardi Award and the 2002 Outland Trophy. He also earned Miami’s Team Leadership Award in 2001 from the UM football coaching staff and is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree. Walters is studying mechanical engineering and is on track to complete a bachelor’s/master’s double degree program in May of 2003.

8 GRADUATES ON THE FIELD FOR MIAMI – 5 MORE TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER
Eight UM football players who graduated in May are playing for UM this season: punter Freddie Capshaw (finance/marketing), offensive lineman Joe Fantigrassi (liberal arts), defensive end Jamaal Green (criminology), offensive guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli (finance), center Brett Romberg (management), receiver Ethenic Sands (liberal arts), defensive back James Scott (liberal arts), dand offensive guard Ed Wilkins (liberal arts). All eight received their bachelor’s degrees in May, 2002.

Five more student-athletes are on track to graduate in Decmeber – linebacker Howard Clark (history), quarterback Ken Dorsey (business management/marketing), defensive end Cornelius Green (criminology), defensive tackle William Joseph (liberal arts) and placekicker Todd Sievers (management). Two student-athletes – defensive tackle Matt Walters (mechanical engineering) and lineman Jim Wilson (bio-medical engineering) – are on track to complete a bachelor’s/master’s double degree program in May of 2003.

This continues Miami’s tradition of achieving a high graduation rate among its football student-athletes. Miami has received recognition by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as one of an elite group of schools to have exceeded a 70 percent graduation rate among its football student-athletes in eight of the past 11 years. The Hurricanes’ have exceeded the national graduation rate for AFCA member schools for 15 consecutive years. From 1992-97, Miami was one of only eight schools in the nation to graduate at least 70 percent of its football student-athletes and that trend continues to the present day. Thirteen of 18 Miami football student-athletes who entered UM in 1996 have graduated, a rate of 72.2 percent – exceeding the national average of 2001 (59 percent). Since the AFCA began its national survey of graduation rates for football playing institutions, Miami has graduated 71.29 percent of its football student-athletes – far above the national average.

Ten members of Miami’s 2001 National Championship team earned spots on the BIG EAST All-Academic Team – the most any team can qualify for the honor. The 2001 season marked the fourth straight year that Miami placed the league maximum on the All-Academic Team.

HURRICANES PROMINENT AMONG NATIONAL AWARDS LISTS
A total of 9 Hurricanes have been named at least semi-finalists for major individual awards this season. As of Monday, Dec. 2, four have been named finalists for such honors: QB Ken Dorsey, TB Willis McGahee, C Brett Romberg and DE Jerome McDougle with some finalist lists still to be announced.

QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE
The average drive time on UM’s 52 offensive touchdowns in 2002 is 1:54. Overall, 33 of the 59 touchdowns were scored under two minutes of drive time. Additionally, 16 touchdowns have come in under a minute.

EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Miami’s offense can strike quickly. In 11 games, the Hurricanes have recorded 187 plays of 10 or more yards, or 25.2% of its total offensive plays for the season. The Hurricanes strike for 10 or more yards once every 3.9 plays from scrimmage.

IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 162-14 (.921) when scoring first.

THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 109 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988.

Miami has won 130 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 141 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 18 seasons, Miami has been almost unbeatable when leading after three quarters. Since 1985, Miami has won 160 of 162 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 those 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.

MIAMI KEEPS HOLD ON “STATE CHAMPIONSHIP”
There have been 28 seasons between 1958 and 2002 where Miami, Florida State and Florida all played each other in the same year. Of those 28 seasons, UM has won seven “state” championships (62-80-81-86-87-00-02), including the last four in 2002, 2000, 1987 and 1986. Florida leads the three schools with 14 “state” titles (58-59-60-63-69-71-72-73-74-75-76-82-83-85), while FSU has three “state” titles (64-78-79). Miami and Florida State play annually, as do the Seminoles with Florida. The annual Miami/Florida series was discontinued after 1987, with three meetings in 2000, 2002 and upcoming in 2003 at the Orange Bowl.

MIAMI AGAINST SUNSHINE STATE OPPONENTS
Miami holds a 3-0 record vs. teams from the state of Florida in 2002, including a 28-27 win over Florida State on Oct. 5, a 41-16 win over Florida on Sept. 7 and a 63-17 win over Florida A&M in the season opener on Aug. 31. The Hurricanes have also won 19 of their last 27 games against Sunshine State opponent since the 1985 season. Miami is currently riding a six-game win streak over state teams since the 2000 season.

DORSEY HOLDS 3 BIG EAST PASSING RECORDS
Ken Dorsey now holds three BIG EAST career passing records: yards (8,969), completions (628) and touchdown passes (82).

Ken Dorsey in the BIG EAST record book:
TD Passes – 1st (82) (old record: 77 by Donovan McNabb of Syracuse, 1995-98)
Passing yards – 1st with 8,969 (old record: 8,389 by McNabb)
Pass completions – 1st with 628 (old: 571 by Marc Bulger of West Virginia, 1996-99)
Total offense – 2nd with 8,904 (record: 9,950 by McNabb, 1995-98)
Pass attempts – 2nd, 1,090 (record: 1,138 by Henry Burris of Temple, 1993-96)

DORSEY’S SCHOOL RECORDS RECAP
Ken Dorsey extended his school passing records against Syracuse with his 16-of-25 performance for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Dorsey holds seven UM records: touchdown passes, passing yards, pass completions, total offense, pass attempts, most 200-yard passing games, and consecutive passes thrown without an interception.

Ken Dorsey in the UM record book:
TD Passes – 1st (82)
Passing yards – 1st with 8,969 (old record: 7,690 by Gino Torretta, 1989-92)
Pass completions – 1st with 628 (old record: 555 by Gino Torretta, 1989-92)
Total offense -1st, 8,904 (old record: 7,722 by Gino Torretta, 1989-92)
Pass attempts – 1st, 1,090 (old record: 991 by Gino Torretta, 1989-92)
200-yard passing games – 29
Consecutive Passes Without An Interception – 193 (1999-2000)

DORSEY’S CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
Split end Andre Johnson leads all current players with 18 Dorsey touchdowns. The Dorsey to Johnson is the second-most prolific scoring tandem in school history behind Vinny Testaverde/Michael Irvin (19) and just ahead of Gino Torretta/Lamar Thomas (16). Overall, Dorsey has connected with 19 different players in his career.

DORSEY PRODUCES AGAIN AT SYRACUSE
Senior quarterback Ken Dorsey played his final BIG EAST road game at Syracuse and made his final conference road trip a memorable one by throwing for 345 yards and 2 touchdowns while completing 16-of-25 attempts without an interception. During his Miami career, Dorsey never lost a BIG EAST road game as a starter, going 12-0. Overall against BIG EAST competition, Dorsey is 23-0 with one league game remaining in his Miami career.

GREAT START FOR DORSEY AT SYRACUSE
Ken Dorsey started the Syracuse game by completing his first 10 passes of the game for 177 yards and two touchdowns. His first incompletion was a pass to Roscoe Parrish with 6:05 left in the second quarter. The UM record for consecutive pass completions is 14 by Vinny Testaverde against Oklahoma in 1986. Before the incompletion to Parrish, Dorsey had completed 11 straight dating back to a six-yard completion to Quadtrine Hill in the fourth period of the Pittsburgh game on Nov. 21.

DORSEY “EN FUEGO”
Combining the second half of the Pittsburgh game (in which Dorsey went 9-for-11 for 150 yards and 1 touchdown) with the Syracuse total game performance and it’s evident that Dorsey is finishing with a flourish. His combined totals over the last six quarters: 25-of-36 for 495 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception. His totals spanning the four quarters from the second half vs. Pittsburgh through the first half against Syracuse: 21-of-26 for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception. In the first quarter at Syracuse, Dorsey was 6-for-6 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown. His hot hand continued into the second period when Dorsey hit his first four passes for 69 yards before missing on a fly pattern to Roscoe Parrish. Overall in the first half against the Orangemen, Dorsey completed 12-of-15 pass attempts for 229 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

DORSEY ONLY QB TO WIN 3 TIMES IN THE UM/FSU SERIES
Ken Dorsey made his third consecutive start against Florida State on Oct. 12, while his FSU counterpart Chris Rix got his second start. Dorsey was just the fifth quarterback from either school to get a third start in the series, joining UM’s Ryan Clement (1995-97), Gino Torretta (1989, 1991-92) and Kary Baker (1972-74) and FSU’s Chris Weinke (1998-2000). Dorsey also became the first starting quarterback in the series to have a 3-0 record. Torretta and Weinke each went 2-1 in their three starts, while Baker went 1-2 and Clement 0-3. Rix was the 28th quarterback in the series to be getting a second start, and the 15th Seminole. In the series, UM quarterbacks went 17-14 in their first starts, 7-4 in their second and 2-2 in the third. FSU quarterbacks have gone 13-17 in first starts, 8-7 in second starts and 0-1 in third starts.

DORSEY’S BIGGEST DAY: West Virginia, 2002
Ken Dorsey set a new personal single-game best for passing yardage against West Virginia on Oct. 26, as well as a new mark for a West Virginia opponent at Mountaineer Field by passing for 422 yards (old record: 366, Alex Van Pelt of Pittsburgh, 1989). The yardage total is the most by a Miami quarterback since Gino Torretta passed for 485 vs. San Diego State in 1991. The total ranks eighth on the UM single-game passing yards list. The first 400+-yard outing also was Dorsey’s third 300+-yard passing outing of the season and his second consecutive after a 362-yard effort against Florida State on October 12. The passing yardage is the most by a WVU foe since 1994 (433, John Ryan of Pittsburgh, 1994).

DORSEY AS A STARTER
Ken Dorsey has been the Hurricanes starter since the final three games of the 1999 season and, in those 38 starts, he has passed for 400 yards one time, including a career-high 422 yards at West Virginia. He has passed for 300 yards eight times and 200 yards 29 times. Dorsey has had multiple touchdowns in 30 games. By any measure, Dorsey has set a new standard for quarterback success at “Quarterback U”. He has 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 SETS SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING YARDS RECORD
Willis McGahee’s five-yard run late in the first quarter at Syracuse set a new single-season rushing record, giving him 1,419 rushing yards to surpass the former mark of 1,416 set by Edgerrin James in 1998. McGahee set the mark on his 210th rushing attempt of the season. James took 242 attempts to set the previous standard. McGahee finished the day with 134 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. He enters the Virginia Tech game with 1,481 rushing yards this season.

1 PLAY = 3 SCHOOL RECORDS
Willis McGahee’s 61-yard touchdown run in the first quarter at Syracuse gave him three Miami single-season records. His rushing touchdown gave him 20 total touchdowns (20 rushing, 0 receiving) this season, breaking the old mark of 19 by Edgerrin James in 1998 and the six points moved him to 120 this year, surpassing the old UM single-season points record of 119 set by Todd Sievers in 2001. His 61 yards gave him 1,737 all-purpose yards this season, breaking the old UM record of 1,708 set by Ottis Anderson in 1978. McGahee has set 6 Miami single-season records this season: rushing yards, all-purpose yards, rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, points scored and 100-yard rushing performances.

McGAHEE EXTENDS SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS RECORD
Willis McGahee’s 61-yard touchdown rush in the first period at Syracuse was his 20th rushing TD of the season, giving him the UM school record formerly set by Edgerrin James in 1998. McGahee broke the total touchdowns record for a season, which was formerly 19 by Edgerrin James in 1998 (17 rushing, 2 receiving). McGahee scored two touchdowns at Syracuse, for a season total of 21 touchdowns.

McGAHEE’S SINGLE-SEASON ALL-PURPOSE YARDS RECORD
The new Miami single-season record holder for all-purpose yards, Willis McGahee compiled 134 all-purpose yards (134 rushing + 0 receiving) against Syracuse to move his 2002 season total to 1,810 yards. That total surpasses the old UM single-season record set by running back Ottis Anderson, who gained 1,708 yards (1266 rush, 47 receiving, 395 return yards) in 1978.

McGAHEE OVER THE CENTURY MARK AGAIN – SETS ANOTHER RECORD
Willis McGahee rushed for 134 on 14 carries against Syracuse and scored two touchdowns. It was McGahee’s ninth 100+-yard performance of the season, breaking the record held by both Ottis Anderson in 1978 and Clinton Portis in 2001.

McGAHEE’S BIG PLAY PRODUCTION
Willis McGahee has established him as one of the nation’s top big play running backs. McGahee is averaging 7.39 yards every time he touches the football (245 touches for 1,810 total yards). He has carried 223 times for 1,481 yards (6.6 avg) and recorded 22 catches for 329 yards (15.0 avg). Against Syracuse, McGahee rushed for 134 yards on 14 carries and did not catch a pass, for a combined total of 134 yards for the game.

He has recorded 53 plays of 10 or more yards, including 15 of 20 or more yards and 12 of 30 or more yards. Of the 245 times he touched the football 78 (31.8%) have gone for first downs or touchdowns. McGahee has accounted for 34.5% of Miami’s 226 first downs this season.

A BIG DAY FOR ANDRE JOHNSON
Split end Andre Johnson surpassed 100 yards receiving at Syracuse, the third 100+-yard receiving performance for him this season and his seventh as a Hurricane. Johnson finished the game with 181 yards on six receptions, coming close to matching his career-best performance at Miami. Johnson’s career-best yardage day was 199 yards on 7 catches against Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl.

JOHNSON CLIMBING UP CAREER TD PASSES LIST
Andre Johnson’s 4-yard scoring pass from Ken Dorsey in the second quarter at Syracuse was the 19th touchdown catch of his career, a total that ranks him tied for fourth in UM history with Santana Moss (1997-2000). Michael Irvin (1985-87) holds the school record with 26.

JOHNSON ENTERS CAREER RECEIVING YARDS TOP 10
Andre Johnson entered the Miami career top 10 list for receiving yards against Syracuse. He now ranks 10th in Miami history with 1,584 yards. He surpassed former UM tight end Willie Smith, who had 1,521 yards receiving from 1984-85.

JOHNSON ENTERS SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING YARDS LIST
Andre Johnson entered the Miami single-season top 10 list for receiving yards via his performance against Syracuse.. His 2002 yardage total now ranks sixth in Miami history with 845 yards. Eddie Brown holds the UM single-season mark for receiving yards with 1,114 in 1984.

CAREER-LONG CATCH BY JOHNSON
Andre Johnson’s 68-yard catch of a Ken Dorsey in the third quarter at Syracuse was the longest catch of his Miami career, exceeding a 64-yard connection against Rutgers in 2001.

BACKFIELD NOTES
The Syracuse Game: Miami posted 173 rushing yards on 34 attempts against Syracuse…while quarterbacks and others combined for a total of minus-12 yards on the ground, backs gained 187 yards on the ground, including 134 by Willis McGahee…McGahee has earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week four times this season, the most Offensive POW honors by a Hurricane during a single season…Jarrett Payton saw his most extensive action in two seasons against the Orangemen as the second-team tailback behind McGahee, gaining 51 yards on 11 carries, including a 19-yard run…Jason Geathers moved from tailback to receiver before the Syracuse game…

Notable:

McGahee leads the team with 126 points scored this season as well as the BIG EAST, a Miami single-season points record and a new UM mark for touchdowns rushing and overall (21)…McGahee is the conference’s leading rusher (134.6 ypg) and all-purpose producer (164.5 ypg)…McGahee is No. 8 in total offense in the conference.Nationally, McGahee ranks No. 6 in rushing, No. 5 in all-purpose yardage and No. 3 in scoring. As a team, Miami is 37th nationally in rushing.McGahee tied a school record vs. Temple with four rushing touchdowns equaling the total set by Melvin Bratton vs. Boston College on Nov. 23, 1984…Geathers started off the season with a 199-yard rushing effort vs. FAMU, the fifth-highest single game effort in UM history…McGahee’s 204 yards at Florida was the fourth-most in a single game.

RECEIVER NOTES
The Syracuse Game: Five receivers accounted for 338 yards receiving on 15 catches against Syracuse…split end Andre Johnson led with six catches for 181 yards and one touchdown, including a career-long 68-yard catch in the third period…tight end Kellen Winslow grabbed three catches for 61 yards, including a 33-yard catch…Roscoe Parrish got his first start at flanker, replacing injured junior Kevin Beard, and had three catches for 39 yards…Beard suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Pittsburgh on Nov. 21 and is out for the season…flanker Ethenic Sands had two catches for 35 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown grab.

Notable:

Kellen Winslow and Andre Johnson rank 2nd and 3rd in the BIG EAST with 4.20 and 4.0 catches per game, respectively…Johnson ranks 1st in receiving yards with 84.5, Winslow is 5th (52.6 ypg)…Johnson is 2nd in total receiving yards (845), while Winslow is 6th (579)…Johnson’s 2002 yardage total ranks 6th in Miami single-season history…Johnson is 10th on the UM career receiving yards list with 1,584 and is tied for 4th on the career receiving TDs list with 19.

OFFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The Syracuse Game: The offensive line has allowed a BIG EAST-low 11 sacks this season…UM allowed three sacks at Syracuse (two on Dorsey, one of Crudup), the most allowed by Miami this season and the most by an opponent since the Washington game of 2000…Dorsey has not been sacked in five games this season (Tennessee, Rutgers, FSU, UConn, and FAMU)…Florida and Boston College had one sack each, while Temple recorded two…Temple had one sack each on Dorsey and Derrick Crudup..the line assisted Willis McGahee in getting his ninth 100-yard game of the season (a school record) with 134 yards on 14 carries.

Notable:

Vernon Carey (RT) and Carlos Joseph (LT) and Chris Myers (RG) each made their 11th consecutive starts after the career first in the season opener against FAMU…Brett Romberg made his 35th career start at center against Syracuse, while senior Sherko Haji-Rasouli (LT) made his 18th career start…Romberg is the anchor of Miami’s offensive line and a leading candidate for the Dave Rimington Award, presented annually to the finest center in college football…Romberg is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy after joining fellow Canadian Haji-Rasouli on the trophy’s preseason Watch List for college football’s top interior lineman…Romberg made the semi-finalists list for the Lombardi Award, as well.

DEFENSIVE LINE NOTES
The Syracuse Game: The defensive line recorded two of Miami’s three sacks against Syracuse…Miami had seven sacks against FAMU, Connecticut and Tennessee…Andrew Williams and Matt Walters had one sack each at Syracuse…McDougle led the line with six tackles (five solos) against the Orangemen in unofficial game stats…Andrew Williams was credited with four tackles (all solos) followed by Jamaal Green (2), John Square (2), Larry Anderson (1), Orien Harris (1), Matt Walters (1), Vince Wilfork (1) and Jim Wilson (1)…four of the 12 tackles for loss against Syracuse were made be defensive linemen.Notable:

Jerome McDougle, a first-team All-American by several preseason publications and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, had two tackles for loss against the Orangemen…McDougle is one of four finalists for the inaugural Ted Hendricks Award for outstanding defensive end.

LINEBACKER NOTES
The Syracuse Game: D.J. Williams had a standout performance against Syracuse with six tackles (five solos), including two for losses of 10 yards, one quarterback sack (six yards) and broke up a pass…Jonathan Vilma had 7 tackles against Syracuse, tying for the team high…Other linebacker tackles totals against the Orangemen: Leon Williams (4), Darrell McClover (3), Jarrell Weaver (3), Howard Clark (2) and Roger McIntosh (2).

Notable:

Vilma and D.J. Williams are first and second on the team in tackles with 106 and 96, respectively. The pair is also first and second in solo tackles with 66 and 49, respectively…Both Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams wereamong 11 semi-finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to college football’s top linebacker. Neither was among the four finalists.

DEFENSIVE BACK NOTES
The Syracuse Game: The secondary held Syracuse to 151 passing yards…free safety Sean Taylor was unofficially credited with a game-high 10 tackles (7 solos) against Syracuse…cornerback Antrel Rolle had seven solo tackles against the Orangemen…strong safety Maurice Sikes made six tackles (3 solos), broke up two passes, and returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown…cornerback/nickelback Alfonso Marshall made three stops against Syracuse.

Notable:

The Hurricanes lead the nation in pass defense for the sixth straight week allowing just 114.7 yards per game through the air…no opponent has eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark this season, while four have been held under 100 yards.The secondary has given up just six passing touchdowns all season, two by Pittsburgh and one vs. FAMU, Temple, UConn, and FSU…Florida, Boston College, West Virginia, and Rutgers were held without a passing touchdown.

PLACEKICKER TODD SIEVERS
The Syracuse Game: On the 2002 season, 34 of Todd Sievers’ 75 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks…against Syracuse, four of his eight kickoffs went for touchbacks…in the Syracuse game, Sievers scored seven points, all on extra points….the seven points gives him 296 for his career, placing him third on the all-time UM list…he also has 44 career field goals, which ties him for fourth among Hurricane kickers.

Notable:

Sievers earned BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week this season after his 11-point effort vs. Florida…it was 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.Mark Gent kicked off for the first time in his collegiate career and saw further action in the season-opener vs. FAMU…Gent also had kicks in the second half vs. UConn.

PUNTER FREDDIE CAPSHAW
The Syracuse Game: Freddie Capshaw has had his finest outings of the season the last two games, including a 47.0 average on four punts at Syracuse…his best punt of the day was a season-long 59-yarder…Capshaw pinned SU at its own 10 with a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter…Capshaw threw a short pass that turned into a 47-yard touchdown by Sean Taylor in the fourth quarter on a fake punt…the play developed because Syracuse shifted to a punt block formation and Capshaw automatically audibled on the play to the pass.

Notable:

Capshaw’s TD pass to Taylor against Syracuse is his second touchdown play as a Hurricane, following a touchdown run against Florida State in 2001 off a botched hold on a field goal attempt.One week previously, Capshaw averaged 46.2 yards on five punts against Pittsburgh, his best outing of the season…Capshaw produced a 48-yarder on one punt that was downed on the 1-yard line, and had a long of 50…so far this season, Capshaw has punted 47 times for 1,908 yards and a 40.6 average…eight of his punts have been fair caught, 13 have been placed inside the 20, three were blocked and three were touchbacks…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, has established himself among Miami’s best ever…he led the BIG EAST Conference in 2000 and 2001…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
Miami fielded four punt returns and two kickoff returns at Syracuse…the punts were returned for only three yards…Jason Geathers returned two kickoffs for 26 yards against the Orangemen, including a 16-yarder.

For the season, Roscoe Parrish is averaging 11.5 yards per punt return, ahead of Ethenic Sands (9.9 ypp)…Parrish and Sands rank third and fourth in BIG EAST punt returns…Jason Geathers leads the team with 24 kickoff returns for 521 yards (21.7 avg.)…Geathers’ 521 kickoff return yards ranks second on the UM single-season list…He needs 8 yards to break the UM single-season record of 528 held by Tremain Mack in 1996 (14 for 528).

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.

MIAMI GAMES USUALLY PACKED WITH NFL TALENT
The Miami program has been the best in sending players to the NFL by way of the first three round of the draft over the last 16 years leading the country 63 top-three round picks since 1987. With that, many of the Hurricanes games in 2002 are among the highest in sending a combined amount to the NFL Draft’s first three rounds. The Miami/FSU and Miami/Tennessee games highlight this list. In each of these games, a combined 117 players have been drafted into the first three rounds of the draft.