Brock Berlin Leads the Fourth-Ranked Hurricanes into Chapel Hill
Oct. 26, 2004
Miami vs. UNC Live Game Coverage
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Miami Hurricanes (No. 4 AP / No. 3 ESPN/USA TODAY)
at NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
When: 7 p.m. EDT Saturday, October 30, 2004
Where: Kenan Stadium (natural grass) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
National TV: ESPN will televise the game live with Gary Bender (play by play), Bill Curry (analysis), David Norrie (analysis) and Alex Flanagan (field reporter).
Tape Delay: CSS will televise the game on tape delay at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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: 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 North Carolina (www.tarheelblue.com)
This week’s game:
The Miami Hurricanes return to North Carolina for the second straight week when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday. Kickoff for the nationally televised game on ESPN2 is set for 7 p.m. EDT. The Hurricanes are coming off an impressive offensive showing at North Carolina State in which quarterback Brock Berlin tied a school record with five touchdown pass as the Hurricanes rolled to a 45-31 win. UM is ranked No. 4 in the AP poll and No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. The Hurricanes trail Southern California, Oklahoma in both polls, and Auburn has jumped ahead of Miami in the AP poll. However, in the latest BCS rankings, the Hurricanes are still in second place behind Southern Cal and ahead of Oklahoma and Auburn.
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 North Carolina State, the Hurricanes belted the Wolfpack with a barrage of touchdown passes from Berlin, while the defense forced four turnovers. Berlin answered his critics with his third straight outstanding game, completing 15 of 30 passes for 265 yards and tying the school record with five TD passes against the nation’s top-ranked defense. His performance earned him the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week award and is now earning him mention for the Heisman Trophy. Frank Gore paced Miami’s ground game with 60 yards, while Tyrone Moss added 42 yards, Quadtrine Hill ran for 27 yards and Roscoe Parrish had 24 yards. Eight Hurricanes’ receivers caught passes against the Wolfpack, with Parrish snaring four balls, including two touchdowns.
Although the Miami defense struggled with N.C. State’s wide-open attack, the Hurricanes are still got the tough stops when needed and tied a season high with four forced turnovers. Outside linebacker Roger McIntosh led the way with 13 tackles and one tackle for loss.
The Hurricanes are looking for their 11th consecutive victory. They have not lost since last November 8, a 10-6 loss to Tennessee. After the North Carolina game, the Hurricanes return to the friendly confines of the Orange Bowl to take on Clemson for homecoming on Nov. 6. UM’s final five games will be against ACC foes.
THE OPPONENT: North Carolina enters the contest with the ACC fifth-ranked offense that is generating 371 yards per game. The Tar Heels bring a 3-4 overall record into the game and a 2-2 mark in ACC play. Senior quarterback Darian Durant leads the UNC attack, averaging 164.1 yards per game through the air while also posing a threat running the ball. Jacque Lewis is the Tar Heels’ top rusher, averaging 71.6 yards per game. The North Carolina defense has struggled this season, ranking next to last (116th) in total defense in the NCAA, allowing 503.9 yards per game. UNC is giving up 252.4 yards on the ground per game and 251.4 yards through the air while surrendering 35.6 points per game. North Carolina runs a pro set offense that returns eight starters from a year ago and a 4-3 defense that has seven returning starters.
THE SERIES: The game will be eighth in the series, with North Carolina holding a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The two teams last met in Chapel Hill on Nov. 16, 1963, a 27-16 Tar Heels victory. The Hurricanes’ last win came on Oct. 27, 1961, by a 10-0 score in the Orange Bowl. UNC holds a 1-0 lead in the series at Kenan Stadium.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE TAR HEELS WOULD: Give them a perfect 7-0 record for the season and mark the fourth straight year the Hurricanes have won their first seven games. It would also give the Hurricanes a 4-4 mark in the all-time series with North Carolina, which would leave Georgia Tech (4-6) as the only ACC school with a series advantage over Miami. It would also give Miami a 4-0 record in ACC play.
