Miami, Ohio State Eager To Play For National Title
Jan 2, 2003
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Football Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Miami is well aware of the expectations: Beat Ohio Stateeasily for the national title, then go for a third straight championship andcollege football’s longest winning streak next season.
Not so fast, Miami center Brett Romberg says.
“We could easily get knocked off,” he warned. “People are downplaying thewhole deal of Ohio State not rising to the occasion, but we know, we watchfilm.
“It’s going to be as hard a game as we’ve had this year, probably thehardest we’ve ever played.”
Top-ranked Miami (12-0) is trying to win its sixth national title, all since1983, and become just the second team since ’79 to take back-to-backchampionships. The ‘Canes are favored by 13 points in the Fiesta Bowl on Fridaynight.
A victory would extend their winning streak to 35 games, 12 shy ofOklahoma’s 47-game streak from 1953-57. The Hurricanes could then tie therecord in the 2003 regular-season finale.
No. 2 Ohio State (13-0) is far from awed, though. The Buckeyes have threenational titles of their own, but none since 1968. Nine times since, they hadchances and failed, mostly because of losses to rival Michigan at the end of aseason.
The last time the Buckeyes needed a bowl win to clinch the title, they lostto Southern California 17-16 in the Rose Bowl following the 1979 season.
This time, Ohio State players believe it’s title time – even if hardlyanyone else agrees.
“We’re very comfortable, and we’re going to come out and surprise somepeople,” linebacker Matt Wilhelm said.
Both coaches said their players are anxious for action. Ohio State hasn’tplayed for 41 days, Miami 27 days.
“The players are tired of practicing,” said Miami coach Larry Coker, 24-0since he replaced Butch Davis before last season. “It’s time to play the game,and we’re happy to be on this stage.”
So is Ohio State’s second-year coach Jim Tressel, who won four I-AA nationaltitles at Youngstown State.
“You just can’t beat it. This is exactly what you prepare for,” Tresselsaid Thursday. “We can’t wait to get out there.”
Unlike last season, when the computer-driven Bowl Championship Seriesstandings made once-beaten Nebraska the much-debated choice to play Miami inthe Rose Bowl, this year’s title matchup fell perfectly into place. The ‘Canesand Buckeyes were the only unbeaten teams among 117 I-A schools.
Ohio State won the most games in its 113-year history, surviving close callsno fewer than six times. The final three games were all tight: 10-6 overPurdue, 23-16 over Illinois in overtime, and 14-9 over Michigan.
Miami was much more convincing, blowing out Syracuse 49-7 and thendominating Virginia Tech in a 56-45 win that saw tailback Willis McGahee runfor 205 yards and a school-record six touchdowns.
Which brings us back to the title game, where tailbacks could determine thewinner.
Simply, Ohio State needs a big game from Maurice Clarett to have a chance.The freshman ran for 1,190 yards and scored 16 touchdowns despite missing threegames with injuries.
Clarett created a stir this week by accusing his school of lying about thereasons he wasn’t allowed to fly home to attend a friend’s funeral. He says itwon’t affect his play, it’s just another bump in the road.
“Clarett is a playmaker,” Hurricanes linebacker Jonathan Vilma said.”With him in the game, there is always the threat of him breaking one for atouchdown. He’s their go-to guy.”
McGahee, who ran for 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns, is only one of Miami’sgo-to guys. While the Hurricanes are counting on their tailback’s power andspeed for a few big gainers, their versatile offense can score quickly in otherways. With Ken Dorsey – 38-1 as a starter – at the controls, the ‘Canesaveraged 41.9 points and 473.9 yards.
The senior from Orinda, Calif., threw for 3,073 yards and 26 touchdowns,while wide receiver Andre Johnson caught 48 passes for 1,038 yards and ninescores. Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. had 46 catches for 604 yards and sevenTDs.
“They’re impressive, but like any other team they can be stopped,”Buckeyes defensive end Darrion Scott said. “They’re a great team and havegreat weapons. We also have a great defense.”
Maybe the best in the nation. Led by hard-hitting strong safety Michael Dossand Wilhelm, the Buckeyes allowed just 12.2 points and 78.7 yards rushing.
“This is the best defense I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Miami guardSherko Haji-Rasouli said. “You can tell when you watch film that they alwayshave four, five, six guys at the point of attack. They swarm to the ball. Itwill be very difficult to get something going against them.”
This will be the 34th meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the APmedia poll. The No. 1 team leads, 20-11-2.
The last 1-2 matchup was top-ranked Florida State’s 46-29 win over VirginiaTech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl, which gave the Seminoles the national title.
