Fiesta Bowl Game Notes
Dec. 26, 2002
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MIAMI HURRICANES (12-0, 7-0 BIG EAST; #1 AP/#1 ESPN/USA TODAY)
VS. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (13-0, 8-0 BIG 10; #2 AP/#2 ESPN/USA TODAY)
What: 32nd Annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Classic.
When: Friday, January 3, 2003, at 6:20 p.m. MST (8:20 p.m. EST).
Where: Sun Devil Stadium (73,471/Natural Grass) in Tempe, Arizona.
TV: ABC Sports will televise the game live with Keith Jackson (play-by-play) and DanFouts (analysis) describing the action. Lynn Swann will report from the sidelines.Miami Practice Site: Scottsdale Community College
Websites: Ohio State (OhioStateBuckeyes.com), Fiesta Bowl (TostitosFiestaBowl.com).
MIAMI GOES FOR 6TH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl for the national championship will mark Miami’s attempt at a sixth football national championship. The Hurricanes previously won national titles in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991 and 2001. The gamealso is the eighth bowl game in which Miami enters play with a national championship within its grasp.Previously, Miami is 5-2 in such contests with victories in the 1984 Orange Bowl (31-30 v. Nebraska), 1988Orange Bowl (20-14 v. Oklahoma), 1990 Sugar Bowl (33-25 v. Alabama) and the 1992 Orange Bowl (22-0 v.Nebraska). Miami’s bowl losses for national titles were at the 1986 Fiesta Bowl (10-14 v. Penn State) and the1993 Sugar Bowl (13-34 v. Alabama).
HURRICANES IN BCS BOWLS
Miami’s appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl is the Hurricanes’ third in a Bowl Championship Series bowlgame since the advent of the BCS in 1998. Miami is 2-0 in BCS bowl games with victories in the 2001 NokiaSugar Bowl (37-20 v. Florida) and the 2002 AT&T Rose Bowl (37-14 v. Nebraska).
MIAMI’S BOWL HISTORY
The Hurricanes have a 16-12 record in bowl games. Miami enters the Fiesta Bowl having won its last fiveconsecutive bowl games dating back to a victory over Virginia in the 1996 Carquest Bowl. Miami is 6-2 in bowlgames that have decided national championships.
MIAMI-OHIO STATE SERIES
Miami and Ohio State meet for just the third time in history with the series tied at 1-1. Miami won the most recent meeting, 23-12, in the 1999 Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands in East Brunswick, New Jersey, on Aug. 29,1999. OSU won the first meeting, 10-0, on Sept. 9, 1977, in Columbus.
MIAMI IN THE FIESTA BOWL
Miami’s matchup with Ohio State is the Hurricanes’ fourth Fiesta Bowl matchup. The Hurricanes are 0-3 inprevious Fiesta Bowl games against UCLA (37-39 in 1985), Penn State (10-14 in 1986) and Arizona (0-29 in1994).
HURRICANES & BUCKEYES – TEAMMATES TO RIVALS
Miami kicker Mark Gent, offensive lineman Anthony Wollschlager, and offensive lineman Chris Napoli attendedSt. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale with Ohio State defensive back Nate Salley. Both Santonio Thomas ofMiami and the Buckeyes’ Santonio Holmes attended Glades Central in South Florida. Ten Ohio State playerswere groomed in Florida including guard Bryce Bishop (Miami/Killian HS); cornerback Bobby Britton (Jackson-ville/Raines HS); split end/defensive back Chris Gamble (Sunrise/Dillard HS); split end Michael Jenkins (Tampa/Leto HS); strong safety Thomas Matthew (Ft. Lauderdale/Dillard HS); receiver Scott Petroff (Winter Park/LakeHowell); tailback Lydell Ross (Tampa/Gaither HS); defensive back Nate Salley (Ft. Lauderdale/St. ThomasAquinas); flanker Chris Vance (Ft. Myers/Ft. Myers HS); and receiver Santonio Holmes (Belle Glade/GladesCentral HS). Only one Miami player is from Ohio, walk-on punter Matt Carter (Columbus/Columbus Academy).
COKER OFF TO RECORD START
Miami head football coach Larry Coker enters the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl with a 24-0 record as a head coachsince taking over the Hurricanes prior to the 2001 season. Coker set a modern NCAA record for victories by afirst-year head coach in 2001 with 12 wins. Coker’s two-year start ranks as the finest by a head coach in thehistory of college football in terms of winning percentage. In terms of total victories through two seasons as a head coach, Coker’s 24 victories ranks third all-time and is the most in 109 years.
NATION’S LONGEST WIN STREAK NOW AT 34 GAMES
With the victory over Virginia Tech, Miami extended its national leading win streak to 34 games, the longestwinning streak in college football since Toledo won 35 straight from 1969-71. The current 34-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 tied for the sixth longest win streak in college football history (Pennsylvania, 1894-96).
* In the regular season, UM has won 32 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.
