Canes Travel To BC To Open Big East Play
Sept. 15, 2003
Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
(No.2 AP/No.2 ESPN/USA TODAY) Miami Hurricanes (3-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) vs. Boston College Eagles (2-1, 0-0 BIG EAST)
When: Saturday, September 20, 2003, at 7:45 p.m. EDT.
Where: Alumni Stadium (44,500/Artificial Turf) in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: ESPN will televise the game live with Ron Franklin (play-by-play) and Mike Gottfried (analysis) describing the action. Adrian Karsten will report from the sidelines.
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Sept. 21, 5 p.m. Eastern Time) will replay ESPN’s broadcast of the Miami/Boston College football game at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (Power 96 FM) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play-by-play) Don Bailey, Jr. (analysis), and Brian London (sideline reports) describing the action. Josh Darrow is the studio host.
En Espanol: Radio Unica (1210 AM) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play-by-play) and Joe Pujala (analysis) describing the action.
Student Station: WVUM (90.5 FM) will broadcast the game in with Jeremy Marks Peltz (play-by-play) and Jesse Agler (analysis) describing the action.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com), Boston College (www.bceagles.com)
THE MIAMI-BOSTON COLLEGE SERIES
The Miami/Boston College series began in 1955 with this year’s match-up being the 25th meeting between the two programs.Miami holds a 21-3 series advantage, including a 13-game win streak dating back to 1985.The Eagles last victory in the series came in the “Hail Flutie” game (47-45) at the Orange Bowl in 1984.The 20-3 record against BC includes a 14-1 record at the Orange Bowl and a 7-2 mark on the road.The 1985 victory over the Eagles took place at Foxboro Stadium.Prior to arriving at Boston College at the start of the 1997 season, BC head coach Tom O’Brien served as offensive coordinator at Virginia, which was defeated by the Hurricanes (31-21) in the 1996 Carquest Bowl at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.
SERIES RECORD
Miami leads, 21-3
Record at the Orange Bowl:
Miami leads, 14-1<>Record at Chestnut Hill:
Miami leads, 6-2<>Record at Foxboro Stadium:
Miami leads, 1-0
UM STANDS TALL IN THE BIG EAST
In its 13th season of competition in the BIG EAST, Miami has forged a league-best 66-10 (.868) overall conference record. The Hurricanes’ eight BIG EAST titles are also a league-best, ahead of Syracuse (3), Virginia Tech (3) and West Virginia (1).
BIG EAST-RECORD 24-GAME WIN STREAK ON THE LINE AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE
Miami enters the 2003 BIG EAST Conference season having won 24 consecutive BIG EAST games since a 55-0 defeat over Rutgers on Nov. 20, 1999. The current streak is ahead of the Hokies’ 14-game string from 1998-2000. Additionally, UM has also won 27 of its last 28 BIG EAST games including a 1999 loss to Virginia Tech. Miami has also recorded conference win streaks of 12 games (1991-93), 10 games (1995-96) and seven games (1994).
MIAMI TRIES TO STAY UNSCATHED AGAINST B.C. IN BIG EAST PLAY
Boston College, along with Temple and Rutgers, is one of three schools in the BIG EAST to have never defeat the Hurricanes during conference affiliation (1991-present). Miami stands at 11-0 against Boston College since the 1991 season. The Hurricanes are 11-0 against the Owls since 1992 and will face them on Oct. 18 in the Orange Bowl. Miami stands at 10-0 vs. Rutgers since 1993 and will face the Scarlet Knights at the Orange Bowl on Nov. 22.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET . . .
MIAMI 38, BOSTON COLLEGE 6 (SEPT. 21, 2002 – ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI)
Top-ranked Miami erupted for 21 points in a span of less than three minutes early in the fourth quarter and posted a 38-6 victory over Boston College. When Sandro Sciortino kicked a 41-yard field goal to give Boston College a 6-3 lead with a minute left in the second period, Miami was in position to trail at halftime for the first time since Sept. 9, 2000, against Washington. But the Hurricanes quickly struck back. Willis McGahee, who accounted for more than 200 yards of total offense, ripped off a 48-yard gain on a draw play, then scored on a one-yard run to make it 10-6 at the intermission.
The second half was all Miami as the Hurricanes extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 26 games. McGahee rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, including a five-yard run that made it 17-6 with 11:07 left in the third period. He also had a 77-yard reception that set up Ken Dorsey’s one-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow with 11:02 left in the contest. Miami’s defense took over as turnovers led to the Hurricanes’ final two scores. Dorsey completed 13-of-26 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns for the Hurricanes.
MIAMI-B.C. GAMES MUCH CLOSER AT CHESTNUT HILL
Since the two teams began BIG EAST play in the 1991 season, six games have been played at Boston College while five have been at the Orange Bowl. In those five games at Miami, UM has outscored the Eagles 191-62 (38.2-12.4) for a 25.8-point margin of victory. At Boston College, UM has outscored the Eagles 153 to 114 in six contests (25.5-19.0) for a 6.5-point UM margin of victory. The margin of victory difference between the two sites is 19.3 points.
TOTAL OFFENSE VERSUS B.C. MUCH HIGHER AT THE OB, THAN ON THE ROAD
Since 1991, Miami is averaging 65.7 more yards of total offense in games vs. Boston College at the Orange Bowl, than on the road versus the Eagles. UM has accumulated 2,461 yards of total offense in the five games at the Orange Bowl (492.2 avg.), while totaling 2,559 yards in the six games on the road (426.5 avg.). For Boston College, the Eagles are averaging 85.1 yards less in games at the Orange Bowl than at home. BC has totalled 1,477 yards at the Orange Bowl (295.4 avg.) and 2,283 yards at home (380.5 avg.).
MIAMI/BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CONNECTIONS
Miami freshman defensive back Greg Threat and BC sophomore defensive end Myran Hunter played at Tallahassee’s Lincoln High School. UM’s recent transfer Greg Olsen and the Eagles’ senior punter Rob Leuffen are both from Wayne, N.J., and attended Wayne Hills High School. Overall, Boston College has six players from the state of Florida, while UM currently has no players from Massachusetts. The last UM letterman from the state of Massachusetts was linebacker Marc Carbone (1995-96), who was a five-year walk-on that lettered in his final two seasons.
MIAMI IN BIG EAST OPENERS
Miami is 10-3 in BIG EAST Conference openers since starting in the league in 1991, while going 8-3 since complete league play began in 1993. UM has won its last four conference openers. On the road in league openers, UM is 7-2, including wins in three straight.
COKER OFF TO RECORD START
Miami head football coach Larry Coker is 27-1 as a head coach entering the Florida game. Coker set a modern NCAA record for victories by a first-year head coach in 2001 with 12 wins. Coker’s 24-1 two-year start ranks as one of the finest by a head coach in the history of college football in terms of winning percentage. In terms of victories through two seasons as a head coach, Coker’s 24 victories ranks third all-time, the most in 109 years.
GREEN HURRICANES
Three games into the 2003 season, Miami has 17 starters with four or less career starts. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and left tackle Eric Winston are the veterans of the group with four career starts each. Winston’s first career start was as a tight end in 2002. On the defensive side, seven Hurricanes have four or less career starts, including Baraka Atkins (3), Orien Harris (3), Javon Nanton (2), Darrell McClover (2), Thomas Carroll (1) and Leon Williams (1). Offensively, 10 different Hurricanes qualify including starting quarterback Brock Berlin (3), starting tailback Frank Gore (3) and starting split end Ryan Moore (3). Along with Winston, four offensive linemen have started four or less games, including Joel Rodriguez (3), Rashad Butler (2) and Alex Pou (1). Junior college transfer Kevin Everett has started two games this year in a double-tight formation and fullback Kyle Cobia made his first career start against East Carolina. Of the 17 players, 11 are either freshmen or sophomores and 15 made their first career start this season.
MIAMI’S REGULAR SEASON WIN STREAK
Miami enters the Boston College game riding a 35-game win streak in regular-season play. The streak started on Sept. 23, 2000, with a 47-10 victory at West Virginia. Miami’s last regular season loss was a 34-29 setback at Washington (Sept. 9, 2000). Since then, the Hurricanes have won 37 of 38 games overall (including two bowl victories). Miami’s 34-game unbeaten streak overall ended with a loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3, 2003. Miami is 37-2 since the start of the 2000 season, the nation’s best record during that stretch. Miami’s 46-6 record since 1999 also is the nation’s finest.
MORE ON THE 24-GAME ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK
Miami will face West Virginia on Oct. 2 with a 24-game home win streak on the line at the Orange Bowl. The streak dates back to a 28-20 win over West Virginia on Oct. 30, 1999.Miami’s last home loss was to second-ranked Penn State, 27-23, on Sept. 18, 1999.During the 24-game streak, Miami has outscored its opponents 1,084 to 309 (45.2-12.9 per game – 32.3 UM margin of victory).In non-conference games during the streak, Miami has outscored 10 opponents 448 to 177 (44.8-17.7 per game – 27.1 UM margin of victory).Against the BIG EAST, Miami has outscored the league 636 to 142 (45.4-10.1 per game – 35.3 UM margin of victory) in 14 home contests.Against the eight ranked teams defeated at the Orange Bowl during the streak, Miami outscored the opposition 342-178 (42.8-22.3 per game – 20.5 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 been high during the streak with the Hurricanes surpassing 30 points 20 times, 40 points 14 times, 50 points nine 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 24-game streak and had another seven games where the opponent scored seven or less points.The most points allowed by UM was 45 by Virginia Tech on Dec. 7, 2002. Opponents have achieved double-digit scoring 12 times during the 24-game streak.Prior to Pittsburgh’s first quarter touchdown on Nov. 21, 2002, 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 16 home games since defeating Pittsburgh, 35-7, on Nov. 11, 2000, the Hurricanes have outscored home opponents 730 to 196 (45.6-12.4 per game – 33.2 UM margin of victory).Including the home loss to Penn State in 1999, Miami has won 28 of 29 home contests since a 26-14 loss to Florida State on Oct. 10, 1998.
CURRENT ROAD WIN STREAK AT 16 GAMES
Miami has won a national-best 16 straight regular season games away from the Orange Bowl since defeating West Virginia in Morgantown, 47-10, on Sept. 23, 2000. The current 16-game road win streak is the longest at UM since the Hurricanes won 19 straight road contests from Sept. 15, 1984, to Sept. 17, 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 85-19-0 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).
MIAMI’s RECORD ACCORDING TO AP RANK
UM is 213-41-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 148-21 as a top 10 team and 120-13 as a top five team. The Hurricanes are 42-6 as the nation’s No.1-ranked team. Miami has won 32 of its last 34 when ranked No. 1.
MIAMI VS. AP-RANKED TEAMS
Miami is 74-99-1 vs. AP-ranked teams since its first game against a ranked opponent against No. 18 Alabama in 1941, is 35-53 vs. AP top-10 teams since playing No. 6 Alabama in 1947, is 19-32 against AP top-5 teams since playing No. 3 Maryland in 1953, and is 9-7 against No. 1-ranked teams.
VS. RANKED/UNRANKED OPPONENTS SINCE 1990
Since 1990, Miami has registered a 35-23 mark against Associated Press ranked teams and a 95-6 record against unranked opponents.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A MIAMI TRADITION
Miami football has a 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. In fact, 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. As of the end of the spring semester of 2003, 16 of 22 Miami football student-athletes who entered UM in the fall of 1997 have graduated, a rate of 72.7 percent – exceeding the national average.
Since the AFCA began its national survey of graduation rates for football playing institutions, Miami has graduated 71.03 percent of its football student-athletes – far above the national average.
Ten members of Miami’s 2002 team earned spots on the BIG EAST All-Academic Team – the most any team can qualify for the honor. But that’s not unusual at Miami – it’s the norm. The 2002 season marked the fifth straight year that Miami has placed the league maximum on the All-Academic Team.
HURRICANES AT NIGHT
In the modern era of University of Miami football, the Hurricanes have enjoyed success in night games accumulating a 80-17 (.825) record at night since 1980. Since 1990, Miami is 43-12 (.782) at night. Under Head Coach Larry Coker, the ‘Canes are 14-1 (.933) at night.
A STATED GOAL: LEAD THE NATION IN RECORDING TURNOVERS
Since 1998, the Hurricanes defense has recorded takeaways at a record pace. It peaked in 2001, when the defense netted 45 turnovers (an NCAA high) along with the +2.36 per game average as Miami’s 27 pass interceptions led the nation, while the 18 fumbles recovered tied for second nationally.
HIGH TURNOVER MARGIN IS A PRIORITY
The Hurricanes have garnered a plus-2 turnover margin through three games this season. Miami’s plus-3 turnover margin against East Carolina continues a trend of opportunism that has become a tradition in recent years. Last season was an aberration as Miami ranked 67th nationally in turnover margin with an average margin of minus-.08 turnovers per game. This trend is unusual. In the three previous seasons, Miami’s turnover rate rose drastically as did Miami’s victory total. The 45 turnovers caused in 2001 was a national best and a school record.
MIAMI LEADS THE NATION IN TOUCHDOWNS BY RETURN SINCE 1999
The Hurricanes have scored a total of five touchdowns this season via returns, matching their total from last season. Two via a fumble return, one on a punt return, once via an interception return and once on a kickoff return. Since 1999, Miami has scored more touchdowns on various returns (punts, kickoffs, fumbles or interceptions) than any team in the nation.
A TRADITION OF NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING
Miami has scored five touchdowns this season via non-offensive means (special teams or defense). The Hurricanes have scored at least one non-offensive touchdown in each of their three games this season. In 2002, the Hurricanes had six non-offensive scores. For the second straight season in 2001, Miami led the nation in non-offensive scoring with 11 touchdowns and one safety. The 11 scores and one safety gave UM 68 points. The Hurricanes led the nation in 2000 with 13 touchdowns and 89 points coming from defense and special teams.
IF MIAMI SCORES FIRST
When Miami scores first it is nearly a lock to win. Beginning with the 1983 season, the Hurricanes have gone 166-14 when scoring first.
THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 113 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988.
Miami has won 134 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 145 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 163 of 165 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’s last loss when leading after three quarters was in 1984 against Maryland (42-40), after leading 34-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
BERLIN SPREADING IT AROUND
Miami quarterback Brock Berlin has used the weapons at his disposal effectively through the first three games of the season, connecting with 11 different receivers. Berlin has found tight end Kellen Winslow 11 times this season, while connecting with running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Ryan Moore 10 times. Kevin Beard and Roscoe Parrish have caught eight passes each. Against East Carolina, Parrish led the team with four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. Beard led the way against Florida with seven catches for a game-high 164 yards and a touchdown. Moore and Winslow paced the Hurricanes against Louisiana Tech with four catches each. Berlin has completed passes to five different wide receivers, two running backs, two fullbacks and two tight ends.
GORE SETS UM RUSHING MARK
Sophomore tailback Frank Gore made Miami football history against East Carolina. The Coral Gables native rushed for 134 yards against the Pirates to make him the first running back in UM history to eclipse century mark in the Hurricanes’ first three games of a season. No back in Miami history had started a season with a trifecta of 100-yard rushing efforts. Gore rushed for 118 yards in the season opener against Louisiana Tech and followed up with a 124-yard effort against Florida. Before Gore, only one back in Miami history (Dyral McMillan in 1996) started a season with consecutive 100-yard rushing performances (119 at Memphis; 156 vs. The Citadel).
OFFENSE IS PRODUCING ON THIRD DOWNS
Miami has converted 56.7 percent (21 of 37) of its third-down plays through the first three games of the 2003 season. The Hurricanes were an impressive 12 of 16 (75 percent) with a touchdown on third down at Louisiana Tech in the season opener. But UM struggled against Florida, going just 4 of 11 (36.4 percent) on third down. The Canes were 5 of 10 against East Carolina. Miami has been effective on third and long (six yards or more) this season, converting on 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) attempts for 184 yards and a touchdown, which equates to 11.5 yards per attempt on third and long. The Canes have also been efficient on third and short (two yards or less), converting 6 of 10 (60.0 percent) on the season. Miami is perfect on to fourth down tries this season, going 2 for 2 against Florida.3rd Down Conversions Breakdown
HURRICANE QBs THIRD-DOWN PASSING
Miami quarterbacks have been extremely productive through the air on third down so far this season. Brock Berlin is completing 73.7 percent of his passes on third down, racking up 172 yards, 12 first downs and one touchdown. Crudup took over in the third quarter at Louisiana Tech and went 2-for-3 for 68 yards, including a 51-yard hookup with freshman Devin Hester on a third-and-8 play from the Miami 27-yard line.3rd Down Passing
THE HURRICANES CONTINUE BIG-PLAY TRADITION
The hurricanes continue big-play traditionMiami’s offense is one that has proven over the years that it can strike quickly. Three games into the 2003 season the Hurricanes have recorded 49 plays of 10 or more yards, or 23% of its total offensive plays for the season. The Hurricanes have struck for 10 or more yards once every 4.3 plays from scrimmage. Hurricanes’ quarterback Brock Berlin is leading the way for the Canes with 31 big plays, while tailback Frank Gore is second with 15 big plays.
MIAMI ALMOST AUTOMATIC IN THE REDZONE
Miami is averaging 41.3 points per game early on in 2003, and the Hurricanes’ production in the red zone is a big reason why. UM has produced points on 11-of-12 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. The Hurricanes have scored 60 points in their 12 appearances in the red zone, with seven touchdowns and four field goals. Miami’s only failed attempt in the red zone came in the season opener at Louisiana Tech. UM has rushed for four touchdowns inside the red zone and passed for three more.
QUICK STRIKE HURRICANES
Miami opened the scoring with a three-play, 62-yard touchdown drive that lasted just 1:15. In the fourth quarter they added a two-play, 48-yard drive that lasted 15 seconds. The touchdown drives were the third and fourth of the season for Miami that took less than two minutes. Miami opened the Louisiana Tech game with a 1:30 second touchdown drive (6 plays, 47 yards), and registered a three-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that took just 58 seconds in the third quarter of the Florida game. Miami has recorded 10 touchdown drives this season with seven of less than 3:00 in length.
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.
