Georgia Tech Up Next For Miami Football
Nov. 14, 2005
(#3 Coaches/#3 Harris/#3 AP) MIAMI HURRICANES (8-1, 5-1 ACC)vs. GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (6-3, 4-3 ACC)
When: 7:45 p.m. ET Saturday, November 19, 2005
Where: Orange Bowl (natural grass; 72,319) in Miami, Fla.
Television: The game will be televised on ESPN with Ron Franklin (play by play), BobDavie (analysis) and Holly Rowe (field reporter).
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki(play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter).
National Radio: The game will also be carried live on XM Satellite Radio.Radio En Espanol: The game will broadcast in Spanish on WWFE 670 AM with Roly Martin (play byplay) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Tape Delay Telecast: On CSS at 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, with FrankForte (play by play) and Lamar Thomas (analyst).
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Georgia Tech (www.ramblinwreck.com)
THIS WEEK’S GAME:
The Miami Hurricanes return to the Orange Bowl for the final two regular-season games of the season,and victories in both games will send the Hurricanes to the first ACC Championship Game nextmonth in Jacksonville. Miami is ranked No. 3 in all three polls and is now ranked third in the latest BCSstandings. They still have a chance to play in the BCS championship game.
First up for the Hurricanes are the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who visit Miami on Saturday. Kickoffis at 7:45 p.m. ET, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN. The Hurricanes are 8-1, havingwon eight consecutive games following an season-opening loss to Florida State. Georgia Tech is 6-3this year and harbors hopes of playing in a bowl game.
The Georgia Tech game was originally scheduled to be played on October 22 but was delayed fourweeks because of Hurricane Wilma. This will be the 11th meeting between Miami and Georgia Tech,with the Yellow Jackets holding a 6-4 lead in the series. Last season, Miami defeated Georgia Tech 27-3 in Atlanta.
The Hurricanes are coming off a 47-17 victory over Wake Forest last Saturday. In that game, sophomorequarterback Kyle Wright threw five touchdown passes and second-year running back CharlieJones rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns. The Hurricanes allowed 369 yards to Wake Forest,after having given up fewer than 200 yards in five consecutive games. However, the Hurricanes didforce six turnovers for the second straight game.
Through nine games, Miami is ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense, allowing 231.89 yards pergame. The Hurricanes are tied for No. 2 in scoring defense, allowing only 11.11 points per game, behindAlabama (9.00 points per game). Miami also ranks No. 1 in pass defense (130.56 yards per game), No.1 in pass efficiency defense (76.53) and No. 12 in run defense (101.33 yards per game). Those numbersput this year’s Miami defense on par with any of the great UM defense of past years, and statisticallybetter than some of the national championship defenses.
The UM offense ranks 52nd overall, 51st in passing, 47th in rushing and 30th in scoring. Wright nowhas 16 touchdown passes in his first season as the UM quarterback. His five TD passes against WakeForest tied a school record held by Bernie Kosar, Steve Walsh, Ken Dorsey and Brock Berlin. The firstthree quarterbacks led Miami to national championships. With Tyrone Moss out for the season with atorn ACL, Jones has capably carried the rushing attack for UM. In less than six quarters of action asthe main tailback, Jones has rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
With the victory over Wake Forest, the Hurricanes improved to 5-1 in the ACC’s Coastal Division,tied with Virginia Tech but actually ahead because of the victory over the Hokies on November 12. IfMiami defeats Georgia Tech on Saturday and then Virginia on November 26, the Hurricanes willadvance to the ACC title game and have a chance for a berth in a BCS bowl game for the fifth time inthe last six years. Victories in all three games would have the Hurricanes on the edge of the BCSnational championship game. Should either Southern Cal or Texas lose in the next three weeks, Miamicould move up to No. 2 in the BCS standings and play for its 11th national championship game in thelast 23 years.
“They’ll have to close the door and we’ll have to keep the door open,” head coach Larry Coker saidof Southern Cal and Texas. “A lot of things can happen. There are no guarantees that we’re going towin. There’s no guarantees that Texas and Southern Cal are going to win.”
