Sept. 9, 2003

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(#2 AP/#2 ESPN/USA TODAY) Miami Hurricanes (2-0, 0-0 BIG EAST)
vs. (NR AP/NR ESPN/USA TODAY) East Carolina Pirates (0-2, 0-0 C-USA)

When: Saturday, September 13, 2003, at 7:04 p.m. EDT.
Where: Orange Bowl (72,319/Natural Grass) in Miami, Fla.
TV: ESPN2 will televise the game live with Dave Barnett (play-by-play), Bill Curry (analysis) and Craig James (analysis) describing the action. Rob Stone will do sideline reports.
Fox Sports Net Florida (Tape Delay, Sunday, Sept. 14, 5 p.m. Eastern Time) will produce coverage of all Miami Hurricanes football games this season with Frank Forte (play-by-play) and Dave Heffernan (analysis) describing the action.
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 Jose Martinez (analysis) describing the action.
Student Station WVUM (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), East Carolina (www.ecupirates.com).

THE EAST CAROLINA-MIAMI SERIES

Miami and East Carolina will meet for the 11th time in football Saturday night with Miami holding an 8-2 lead in the series.East Carolina has won the last two meetings against Miami, including the last meeting (27-23) in Raleigh, N.C. on Sept. 25, 1999.The Hurricanes won the first eight meetings between the two schools, beginning on Nov. 8, 1980, with a 23-10 win at the Orange Bowl.The teams last met at the Orange Bowl on Oct. 19, 1996, with the Pirates taking a 31-6 victory.Miami holds an 4-1 edge in the series in games played at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Miami holds a 4-0 advantage in the series in games at Greenville. East Carolina leads the series at neutral site games with its 27-23 win in Raleigh in 1999.East Carolina holds a 2-1 lead in the series in game on national television. Miami won the first nationally televised game between the two schools on Nov. 27, 1986, at the Orange Bowl, 36-10. Turner Broadcasting Station carried the game. ESPN carried the past to ECU/Miami meetings in 1996 and 1999, both Pirates’ victories.Miami owns the largest margin of victory in the series with a 41-3 (38 points) win on Oct. 31, 1987, in Greenville. East Carolina edged the Hurricanes in the closest game, a four-point margin of victory (27-23) on Sept. 25, 1999 in Raleigh, N.C.Miami’s last home loss to an unranked team was on Sept. 19, 1998 – a 27-20 overtime loss to Virginia Tech. That loss was also the last time the Hurricanes lost a night game at the Orange Bowl.Miami’s last home loss overall was on Sept. 18, 1999 – 27-23 setback to No. 2-ranked Penn State.

Series Record: Miami leads, 8-2
Record at the Orange Bowl: Miami leads, 4-1
Record at Dowdy-Ficklen: Miami leads, 4-0
Record at neutral sites: East Carolina leads, 1-0

COKER OFF TO RECORD START
Miami head football coach Larry Coker is 26-1 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 two-year start ranked as one of the finest by a head coach in the history of college football in terms of winning percentage. In terms of total victories through two seasons as a head coach, Coker’s 24 victories ranked third all-time and was the most in 109 years.

MIAMI’S REGULAR SEASON WIN STREAK
Miami enters the East Carolina game riding a 34-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 on Sept. 9, 2000. Since that loss, the Hurricanes have won 36 of 37 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, a 31-24 defeat. 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 23-GAME ORANGE BOWL WIN STREAK
Miami faces East Carolina on Sept. 13 with a 23-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 loss at home was to second-ranked Penn State, 27-23, on Sept. 18, 1999.During the 23-game streak Miami has outscored its opponents 1,046-306 (45.5-13.3 per game – 32.2 UM margin of victory).In non-conference games during the streak, Miami has outscored eight opponents 410-174 (46.5-19.3 per game – 27.2 UM margin of victory).Against the BIG EAST, Miami has outscored the league 636-142 (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 19 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 23-game streak and had another six 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 23-game streak. FAMU totaled 17 points in the 2002 season opener at the Orange Bowl, marking the first time in a nine-game home span the opponent scored more than seven points.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 15 home games since defeating Pittsburgh, 35-7, on Nov. 11, 2000, the Hurricanes have outscored home opponents 692-193 (46.1-12.9 per game – 33.2 UM margin of victory).Including the home loss to Penn State in 1999, Miami has won 27 of 28 home contests since a 26-14 loss to Florida State on Oct. 10, 1998.

12 Floridians on East Carolina Roster
East Carolina will bring 12 former Florida high school football players to the Orange Bowl on Saturday night to face the Hurricanes. Seven of those 12 players are listed on the Pirates two-deep roster, including the starting weak-side linebacker Josh Chilsom of Suffner, Fla. (Armwood HS). Orlando product Ryan Dougherty handles ECU’s punting duties and is the squad’s holder on field goals and extra points. Palm Bay’s Kevin Fain is also East Carolina’s second string tailback.

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 212-41-2 all-time in games while holding an AP national ranking. Since 1983, Miami is 147-21 as a top 10 team and 119-13 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 while 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 94-6 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 78-17 (.831) record at night since 1980. Since 1990, Miami is 42-12 (.778) at night. Under Head Coach Larry Coker, the ‘Canes are 13-1 (.923) 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 MIAMI PRIORITY
The Hurricanes garnered a plus-2 turnover margin against Louisiana Tech, but was minus-3 in a thrilling come from behind win against Florida. Alfonso Marshall’s late interception of UF’s Chris Leak sealed the game for UM and continued 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.

A TRADITION OF NON-OFFENSIVE SCORING
Miami scored three touchdowns in the season opener via non-offensive means (special teams or defense) and one more against Florida in the home opener. 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 165-14 when scoring first.

MIAMI LEADS THE NATION IN TOUCHDOWNS BY RETURN SINCE 1999
The Hurricanes scored a total of 21 points against Louisiana Tech via returns. One on a punt return, once via an interception return and once via a fumble return. Since 1999, Miami has scored more touchdowns on various returns (punts, kickoffs, fumbles or interceptions) than any team in the nation.

THE HURRICANES WHEN SCORING 30 OR 31 POINTS
Miami has won 112 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points since a 31-30 loss at Notre Dame in 1988.

Miami has won 133 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 144 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 162 of 164 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.

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. The following chart illustrates college programs that have produced the most players selected in the first three rounds from 1984 to 2003.

NOTES FROM THE FLORIDA GAME

Biggest home comeback ever
Last Saturday night, the Hurricanes overcame their largest-ever home deficit (33-10) with 28 unanswered points over the last 18:35 of the game to beat Florida 38-33. Frank Gore’s 12-yard plunge into the end zone with 1:44 remaining in the game gave UM the lead for good, after falling behind 33-10 on a Ran Carthon four-yard run with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter. The comeback was the Hurricanes’ biggest at the Orange Bowl and the second largest comeback in school history. Miami overcame a 28-0 deficit at Boston College on Oct. 16, 1999, with 31 unanswered points. The previous best comeback at the Orange Bowl came on Dec. 5, 1998, against UCLA. The Hurricanes trailed, 38-21, with 1:28 to play in the third quarter before pulling out a 49-45 win.

Other great Miami comebacks:

October 23, 1999: UM 31, Boston College 28 at Alumni Stadium
UM trailed 28-0 with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter.

December 5, 1998: UM 49, UCLA 45 at Orange Bowl
UM trailed 38-21 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter.

September 28, 1988: UM 31, Michigan 30 at Michigan Stadium
UM trailed 30-14 with 10:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.

October 3, 1987: UM 26, FSU 25 at Doak Campbell Stadium
UM trailed 19-3 with 2:45 left in the third quarter.

October 12, 2002: UM 28, FSU 27 at Orange Bowl
UM trailed 27-14 with 11:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.

PLAYER NOTES V. FLORIDA
Brock Berlin recorded his first career 300-yard game going 27 of 41 for 340 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions … Frank Gore rushed 24 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns marking his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game … Freshman Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown … the last Hurricane to return a kickoff for touchdown was Tremaine Mack (95 yards) at Syracuse on November 30, 1996 … Hester’s touchdown came in just his third career return … Hester’s 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown is the fifth longest in UM history, and the longest since Ottis Anderson recorded a 100-yard kickoff return versus Tulane on November 4, 1978 … Sean Taylor followed Hester’s return with a 68-yard kickoff return of his own, the first kickoff return of his career … Kevin Beard’s 62-yard reception in the third quarter was a career-high…Beard recorded seven receptions for a career-high 164 yards and a touchdown. Beard’s 164 yards receiving are the most by a Hurricane since Andre Johnson recorded 193 yards receiving against Virginia Tech in 2002.

TEAM NOTES V. FLORIDA
The win was UM’s fifth striaght over intrastate rival Florida, a streak that started with a 23-15 win in Gainesville on Sept. 6, 1986 … UF’s last win in the series came on Sept. 7, 1985, a 35-23 Gators’ win in the Orange Bowl … Florida kicker Matt Leach recorded a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter marking the first offensive points scored by the Gators against UM in the Orange Bowl since September 7, 1985 when Kerwin Bell through an 8-yard touchdown pass to Frankie Neal in the fourth quarter of a 35-23 Florida win … Miami’s 19-10 at the halftime deficit was its first regular-season halftime deficit since a 17-14 deficit at Rutgers last season. Miami came back to win that game 42-17. Miami last trailed at the half in the Orange Bowl last season versus Florida State (17-14). The Hurricanes also came back to win that game 28-27 … Miami’s 23-point third quarter deficit was the largest at home since a 31-6 loss to East Carolina on October 19, 1996.