Berlin's Back Home For Hurricanes Debut
Aug 25, 2003
Associated Press
Now that he leads third-ranked Miami, especially following its tumultuousoffseason, Brock Berlin will hear an inordinate amount of unpleasantries atopposing stadiums.
That likely won’t be the case in his first game as Hurricanes quarterback.
Berlin returns to his hometown as he takes over the signal-calling for theHurricanes, who open their final season as a member of the Big East with amatchup against Louisiana Tech on Thursday.
After winning the 2001 championship, Miami fell in last season’s title gamewith a controversial 31-24 overtime loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Thatdefeat snapped the Hurricanes’ 34-game win streak and saddled Larry Coker withhis first loss as head coach.
Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee keyed that team’s success, but both have goneon to the NFL while leaving big shoes to fill for Berlin and third-yearsophomore Frank Gore.
Berlin should not get used to the friendly environment he could see atIndependence Stadium, where he played many games during an outstanding highschool career. Born and raised in Shreveport, La., Berlin’s father played forLouisiana Tech in 1971 and his brother Corey played for the Bulldogs from1999-2002.
The transfer from Florida takes over for a quarterback in Dorsey whofinished among the top five in Heisman Trophy voting in each of the last twoyears. While Dorsey had amazing success with his tremendous accuracy andleadership ability, it’s unknown if Berlin can come close to those standards.
The fourth-year junior played in 12 games for the Gators in 2000 and 2001,completing 53-of-87 for 653 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
“Can he make the plays that Dorsey made? That’s the key,” Louisiana Techdefensive coordinator Rick Smith said. “He was in the system last year andhe’s very intelligent. He had all spring and has 29 (fall) practices before weplay him, so he won’t have a problem adjusting.”
Though Miami does not open conference play until late September, it will bethe brunt of heated disapproval by fans of most Big East teams. Miami andVirginia Tech will be leaving the conference to join the ACC next season.
“I’m sure we’ll be called traitors,” Miami offensive lineman Vernon Careysaid. “But the fans don’t play. I don’t think they’ll be louder than they arenow. It can’t be any worse.”
Gore may possess the ability to consistently quiet hostile crowds. He wassupposed to be the starter last year after dazzling coaches as a freshman in2001, when he averaged 9.1 yards per carry and scored five TDs. But a kneeinjury forced him to the sidelines and allowed McGahee to step in and dominate.
The third-year sophomore seems to be back at full strength, solidifying thestarting job after participating in full-contact scrimmaging this spring forthe first time since the injury.
“Frank Gore had a phenomenal freshman year,” Coker said. “When I watchedhim practice I was surprised anybody in high school could tackle him. And helooks like that again now.”
The other standout for Miami’s offense will be tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.,who caught a team-high 57 passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns last year.The son of the former San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame tight end further showedhis potential with a terrific Fiesta Bowl, making 11 catches for 122 yards anda touchdown.
“If we play the way we’re capable of playing, nobody can stop us,” Winslowsaid.
Miami’s defense should still be solid with its top five tacklers returning.However, only two players – linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams -remain as starters from the 2001 national champs.
Louisiana Tech, entering as a four-touchdown underdog, realizes this will bea huge challenge for a team that went 4-8 last season after winning the WACchampionship in 2001.
The key to the Bulldogs turning around may lie with quarterback Luke McCown,whose 19 touchdown passes last year equaled his number of interceptions.McCown, the brother of former Division I-A quarterbacks Randy and Josh, stillthrew for 3,539 yards in 2002 and could become the NCAA’s No. 2 all-timepassing leader this fall.
“Like all of us, he learned some valuable lessons last year,” Tech coachJack Bicknell said.
Miami, the highest ranked team to play in Shreveport since 1959, has won theonly two previous meetings between these schools.
