In Rebuilding Years, Miami Just Reloads
Aug 25, 2003
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Center Joel Rodriguez scanned the interview roomMonday and found several new starters for the Miami Hurricanes.
Quarterback Brock Berlin. Running back Frank Gore. Wide receiver Ryan Moore.Defensive tackle Orien Harris.
Then Rodriguez made a bold prediction: The replacements will make thethird-ranked Hurricanes even better than last season.
“That’s the way this place is,” he said. “You either step in and playyour role or we lose games. And losing games is unacceptable around here.
“I keep hearing that Miami has lost its aura, its invincibility. I kind oflike that. I hope every team on our schedule is thinking they have a chancebecause the minute we put up 40 points, they’re going to say, ‘Oh my God, Miamihasn’t missed a beat.”‘
The Hurricanes lost nine starters from last year’s team, which played in thenational championship game for the second consecutive season. Ken Dorsey,Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson and two linemen are gone on offense. JeromeMcDougle, William Joseph and four others are missing on defense.
That’s seven All-Americans and four first-round draft picks.
Most teams would consider this a rebuilding year. Not Miami, which hasremained among college football’s elite despite having 13 players selected inthe first round of the NFL draft over the last three years.
“We lost a lot of people, but the University of Miami just reloads everyyear,” defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said.
This season, which begins Thursday night against Louisiana Tech, might bethe toughest task. The Hurricanes have to fill huge offensive voids left by thedeparture of Dorsey, McGahee and Johnson.
Dorsey finished his career 38-2 as a starter and broke just about everyschool and Big East passing record. McGahee set school records for rushingyards and touchdowns last season. And Johnson caught 19 touchdown passes overthe last two years.
“If guys come in and do anything short of what we had last year it’s notgoing to be acceptable,” running back Quadtrine Hill said. “We expecteverybody to come in here and be the best at their position, even if they’rereplacing a first-round draft pick.”
Berlin and Gore will play in games for the first time in more than 19months. Berlin transferred from Florida and sat out last season under NCAAtransfer rules. Gore injured his knee during spring practice in 2002 and missedall of last season. And Moore, a redshirt freshman, missed most of last seasonwith a hamstring injury.
Nonetheless, there are some who believe the trio might be more talented thanDorsey, McGahee and Johnson.
“People should be questioning us because we lost so many first-round draftpicks in the past few years,” Rodriguez said. “If I were an opposing coach, Iwould try to play it up the same way, too: ‘Miami is not the same.’ But we are,and we’re going to show it Thursday night.”
