Miami Travels to Georgia Tech for ACC Showdown
Sept. 27, 2004
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Miami Hurricanes (No. 4 AP / No. 4 ESPN/USA TODAY)at GEORGIA TECH RAMBLING WRECK
When: Saturday, October 2, 2004, at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium (natural grass; 55,000) in Atlanta, Ga.
Regional TV: ABC will televise the game live with Brad Nessler (play by play), Bob Griese (analysis) and Lynn Swann (field reporter).
Tape Delay: CSS will televise the game on tape delay at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with Frank Forte (play by play) and Dave Heffernan (analysis).
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM and ESPN 760 AM West Palm Beach) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter). Josh Darrow is the studio host.
Radio En Espanol: Radio C (WSUA 1260 AM) will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Georgia Tech (www.ramblinwreck.com)
THIS WEEK’S GAME:The fourth-ranked Miami Hurricanes will play their first road game in the Atlantic Coast Conference when they face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. Kickoff for the regionally televised game on ABC will be at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes are coming off a 38-13 victory at Houston last Thursday night and are now 3-0 for the season and ranked No. 4 in the AP poll and No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. The Hurricanes trail Southern California, Oklahoma and Georgia in both polls, but they have already received two first-place votes in the coaches poll.
In their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference and in search of their sixth national championship, the Hurricanes have continued their presence as one of the top collegiate teams in the country. Against Houston, the Hurricanes jumped out to a 24-3 lead in the second quarter behind the rushing of Tyrone Moss, who had a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Berlin passed for only 99 yards and was sacked five times, but the Hurricanes gained 172 yards on the ground and were never threatened by the Cougars. The Miami defense allowed its first touchdown of the season, a quarterback scramble by Kevin Kolb, as well as two field goals. The Miami defense and special teams contributed 14 points, with a blocked punt for a touchdown and a fumble return for a TD. Frank Gore added a touchdown before sitting out of the game with a sore knee.
Through three games, the Hurricanes have allowed only 23 points, with one of those touchdowns coming on a fumble return (the defense has given up only one touchdown and three field goals). Miami ranks third in the NCAA in total defense, 12th in rushing defense, fifth in pass defense, third in pass defense efficiency and fourth in scoring defense.
The Hurricanes are looking for their eighth consecutive victory. They have not lost since last November 8, a 10-6 loss to Tennessee. . After the Georgia Tech game, the Hurricanes will have 12 days before they return to action on October 14 against Louisville at the Orange Bowl in their second nationally televised Thursday night game of the season on ESPN.
THE OPPONENT: The Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech are 2-1 this season. They won their opener 28-7 over Samford, then upset Clemson 28-24 on the road before being upset 34-13 on Sept. 18 at North Carolina. Georgia Tech is coached by Chan Gailey, who has a record of 16-13 in his three seasons and an overall record of 40-24 record in six years as a collegiate coach (he was also 18-14 as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys). Gailey has led Georgia Tech to bowl games in each of his two seasons at the school. Tech is led by quarterback Reggie Ball and running back P.J. Daniels, both of whom rank in the school’s top 10 lists for passing and receiving, respectively. Ball threw for 616 yards and seven touchdowns in the team’s first three games, while Daniels rushed for 324 yards and two scores.
THE SERIES: The game will be the 10th in the series, with Georgia Tech holding a 6-3 lead over Miami. Georgia Tech is one of only two ACC schools to have a series lead over Miami (North Carolina is 4-3). The two teams first played in 1955 and last played on January 1, 2000, a 28-13 Miami victory in the Gator Bowl. Miami is1-6 in games played at Georgia Tech, with their only victory coming in 1968.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE YELLOW JACKETS WOULD: Give them a 4-0 record for the season and mark the fourth straight year the Hurricanes have won their first four games. It would also narrow the gap in the series against Georgia Tech to 4-6 and be their first win in Atlanta in 36 years. It would also be their second ACC victory in as many games.
