Few Have Accomplished More With Less
Jan 2, 2003
By JIM LITKE
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Some people still blink when his coach calls Ken Dorseythe one irreplaceable cog in the Miami machine.
His roommate, Brett Romberg, understands why. Nobody looks less like a starquarterback than Dorsey. Even Romberg describes his close pal as a geek, theopposite of how the biggest man on campus is supposed to look, dress andbehave.
Dorsey concedes he never thought of himself as leadership material until thejunior varsity coach at Miramonte (Calif.) High talked a gangly freshman intotrying out for quarterback. At times, he sounds wistful for those simpler days.
“In seventh and eighth grade, I was a wide receiver on the ‘B’ team,”Dorsey recalled earlier this week. “One day we were throwing a ball around,and the jayvee coach sent me over to a different line. That was it. I kind oflucked into being a quarterback.”
If so, few have accomplished more with less.
Dorsey’s resume is already hopelessly overcrowded, and this is before hisHurricanes defend their national championship Friday against Ohio State at theFiesta Bowl.
Besides last year’s title, there’s his 34-game unbeaten streak, a 38-1record overall, the 3,073 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, back-to-backHeisman nominations, the 2001 Maxwell award, two bowl MVP awards, a businessdegree, a few all-academic plaques and enough career, season and single-gamepassing marks for a half-page in Miami’s record books. And then there areDorsey’s references.
From Florida State coach Bobby Bowden: “We’ve played against all the greatMiami quarterbacks – Kosar, Toretta, Testaverde – all of them. I don’t thinkany of them are better than Dorsey.”
From Penn State coach Joe Paterno: “Tough to get to, gets rid of the ballquickly, great poise and a great feel for the game.”
From former coach and current TV analyst Bill Curry: “To say an averagequarterback could execute Miami’s offense is the height of absurdity. The guysimply does not lose.”
Yet that’s only true if we’re talking about football games. This seasonalone, Dorsey was a finalist for the Heisman, Maxwell, Walter Camp, JohnnyUnitas and Davey O’Brien awards and lost every one.
The Hurricanes’ only individual award-winner this season was Romberg, acenter, who captured the Rimington. That lack of recognition across the rosterhas sparked talk of an anti-Miami bias, much the way the dynastic Yankees’success used to hurt them at the ballot box.
But typical of the way he handles most things, Dorsey turned thosedisappointments into learning experiences.
“My sophomore year was about earning my teammates’ respect. My junior yearwe learned how to handle success. This year, I learned a lot about how tohandle criticism,” Dorsey said. “It’s part of life, so I just go out and tryto do the best I can on the field and not let my teammates down. That’s themost important thing.”
Too many people glimpsing Miami’s program from the outside think coach LarryCoker was lightheaded when he labeled Dorsey the linchpin in the Hurricanes’spectacular two-year run. Those critics cite the five first-round NFL draftchoices – and 11 overall – from last year’s team and the ease with which Miamifilled the vacancies. With that kind of talent, they argue, even Keanu Reaves(who played fictional QB Shane Falco in “The Replacements”) could stand inMiami’s pocket and do a passable imitation.
Dorsey’s teammates know better.
“He’ll be missed a lot,” said defensive lineman Matt Walters, who’s facedDorsey in practice for years. “It will be hard to fill Ken’s footsteps becausehe’s done it right every time.”
Linebacker Jonathan Vilma said Dorsey’s critics, including most NFL scouts,miss the subtle way the sum of his parts fit together. They don’t see hismeticulous preparation or understand how Dorsey’s ability to analyze defensesbefore the snap make his job look easy. And like his childhood hero, JoeMontana, Dorsey has become a stone-cold closer.
“Everyone wants to get technical and criticize his throwing arm,” Vilmasaid. “The bottom line is he wins. Whether he’s throwing side arm, underarm orwhatever, he’s still winning games. He’s come through big-time in everycritical situation. It’s not easy to find a quarterback like that.”
Especially one who looks so, well, unquarterback-like.
With his thin frame and quick smile, Dorsey looks like someone who wanderedinto the middle of football practice on his way to a molecular biology lab.Celebrity is wasted on him. Dorsey is a homebody who’s had a serious girlfriendfor a while; his ideal date is takeout food and video games.
“You figure a quarterback would be a good-looking fellow who can definitelypick up a lady any time he wants,” Romberg said. “Ken doesn’t care. He’s 100percent focused on what the football team is supposed to do.”
Somebody has to be.
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Jim Litke is the national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Writeto him at jlitke@ap.org.
