Buckeyes Poised For Fiesta Shocker
Jan 2, 2003
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Miami has a long winning streak and a chance to repeatas national champion by beating a team that seems lucky just to be there.
Sound like the setup for Friday night’s Fiesta Bowl between the top-rankedHurricanes and No. 2 Ohio State? It also could have described the Sugar Bowl adecade ago.
And that game provides the blueprint for how the Buckeyes will beat mightyMiami.
Alabama shocked the Hurricanes in that 1993 game, winning 34-13 behind apower running game and with defensive speed that surprised Miami and endedthose Hurricanes’ 29-game winning streak.
Miami comes into the Fiesta Bowl having won 34 in a row and backed bypredictions of a blowout victory.
But like that Crimson Tide team, Ohio State should not be discounted.
The Hurricanes have been susceptible against the run all year, allowing100-yard rushing performances in five of their final six games and finishing73rd in the country in run defense.
None of those running backs was as talented as Buckeyes freshman MauriceClarett, who only has been stopped when he’s been hurt.
In the eight games he was healthy, Clarett averaged 137 yards on the groundand scored 16 touchdowns. Six weeks off since his last regular-season gameshould leave Clarett in fine form for the Fiesta Bowl.
He’ll also be motivated – not distracted – by the controversy he createdover not being allowed to go home for a friend’s funeral.
Clarett will help the Buckeyes control the clock and keep the Hurricanes’high-powered offense off the field.
With Clarett churning out first downs on the ground, Ohio State quarterbackCraig Krenzel won’t be asked to do much.
Like Alabama quarterback Jay Barker, who completed only four passes in thatSugar Bowl, Krenzel has played mistake-free football all year, throwing justfive interceptions. He made big plays down the stretch against Purdue, Illinoisand Michigan.
But the key to beating Miami rests in slowing its offense. The Hurricanesthink scoring against Ohio State will be as easy as it was in last year’s 37-14Rose Bowl victory against Nebraska.
Think again.
The Buckeyes have two All-Americans in safety Mike Doss and middlelinebacker Matt Wilhelm, a shutdown corner in Chris Gamble and a talenteddefensive line.
Ohio State had the fourth-best run defense in the country this year and willhold down Willis McGahee. The Buckeyes then will pressure Ken Dorsey intomistakes, just like Penn State did to Vinny Testaverde in a championship-gameFiesta Bowl 16 years ago.
The Buckeyes’ biggest advantage is on special teams. Kicker Mike Nugent made24 of 26 field goals this year. If Florida State had a kicker that good,Miami’s streak would have ended months ago.
Nugent’s late field goal will give the Buckeyes a 23-21 victory, allowingcoach Jim Tressel and his players to sing one more celebratory round of”Carmen Ohio.”
Josh Dubow is a sports writer for The Associated Press. Write to him atjdubow(at)ap.org
