Miami vs. Marshall Post-Game Notes
Sept. 1, 2007
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University of Miami vs. Marshall University
Post Game Notes
FIRST IMPRESSIONS… Marshall is the only new opponent Miami is scheduled to face in 2007. The Hurricanes are 91-56-2 (.617) in first-ever meetings, including eight straight wins in inaugural games. Since 1991, the Hurricanes are 13-1 in first meetings, outscoring those 14 opponents by an average of 39-11. The Hurricanes will also face two opponents in 2007 they have played only once before – Florida International on Sept. 15 (previous meeting on Oct. 14, 2006) and Texas A&M on Sept. 20 (previous meeting on Dec. 8, 1944).MIAMI HEAD COACHING DEBUTS… Hurricanes head coaches are 14-6 in head coaching debuts. Randy Shannon, Miami’s 20th head coach, wins his first game as a head coach to improve to 1-0.
| Head Coach (Date) | W/L | First Opponent, Result |
| Howard Buck (10/30/26) | W | Rollins, 7-0 |
| J. Burton Rix (10/19/29) | W | Florida Southern, 6-0 |
| Ernest Brett (10/24/30) | W | Florida Southern, 13-6 |
| Tom McCann (10/9/31) | L | Bowden, 7-12 |
| Irl Tubbs (10/11/35) | W | S.E. Louisiana, 2-0 |
| Jack Harding (10/1/37) | W | Georgia Southern, 40-0^ |
| Eddie Dunn (10/2/43) | W | at Jacksonville NATTC, 6-0 |
| Andy Gustafson (10/1/48) | W | Rollins, 25-0 |
| Charlie Tate (9/19/64) | L | Florida State, 0-14 |
| Walt Kichefski (9/18/70) | W | William & Mary, 36-14 |
| Fran Curci (9/18/71) | L | Florida State, 17-20 |
| Pete Elliott (9/21/73) | W | No. 6 Texas, 20-15 |
| Carl Selmer (9/20/75) | L | at Georgia Tech, 23-38 |
| Lou Saban (9/10/77) | L | at No. 5 Ohio State, 0-10 |
| Howard Schnellenberger (9/15/79) | W | Louisville, 24-12 |
| Jimmy Johnson (8/27/84) | W | vs. No. 1 Auburn, 20-18 |
| Dennis Erickson (9/9/89) | W | at Wisconsin, 51-3 |
| Butch Davis (9/2/95) | L | at UCLA, 8-31 |
| Larry Coker (9/1/01) | W | at Penn State, 33-7 |
| Randy Shannon (9/1/07) | W | Marshall, 31-3 |
^First home game in Orange Bowl
HOME OPENERS… Since 1998, the Hurricanes have won nine of the last 10 home openers by an average of 30 points, however Miami’s 31 points this afternoon are the most scored by the Hurricanes in a home opener since a 48-9 win over Louisiana Tech on Aug. 28, 2003.
Overall, Miami is 55-26-1 in season openers and 38-14-1 in season openers in the Orange Bowl – including today’s final season opener in the stadium.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN… Graig Cooper put together the best debut for a Miami freshman running back, finishing with 116 yards on 12 carries for a 9.7-yard per carry average.50 YARDS… This afternoon Javarris James rushed for 50 yards or more in a quarter for the fifth time in his career. He had six carries for 50 yards in today’s first quarter versus Marshall and finished the game with 99 yards on 14 carries. Other 50-plus yard outings include: 55 yards in first quarter at Georgia Tech (Oct. 28, 2006), including a 49-yard run… 76 yards in third quarter vs. North Carolina (10/7/06), including a 62-yard run… 63 yards in first quarter and 80 yards in third quarter versus Houston (9/30/06) to finish with a career-high 148 yards on 18 carries.QUICK HITS… Miami’s five scoring drives today averaged one minute, 46 seconds (1:46) … The quickest scoring drive lasted just six seconds, while the longest lasted three minutes, 36 seconds (3:36). Miami’s 341 total yards of offense are the most by the team since a 420-yard offensive showing in a 14-13 win over Houston on Sept. 30, 2006.SACK ATTACK… Eric Moncur finished with two sacks versus Marshall to double his sack total from all of last season.
Miami’s six sacks are the most since the Hurricanes posted seven versus Louisiana Tech on Sept. 18, 2004, in a 48-0 Miami win.
DOMINANT DEFENSE… Miami’s defense has given up more than 20 points just twice in each of the last two seasons. This afternoon, the Hurricanes gave up just 51 rushing yards – the fewest yards allowed since Miami held Boston College to 24 yards on 25 carries in the Hurricanes’ 17-14 win on Nov. 23, 2006.FIRST QUARTER FACTS… Francesco Zampogna’s 34-yard field goal in the first quarter marked the first first quarter points in a season opener for the Hurricanes since facing Louisiana Tech on Aug. 28, 2003, and the 10 first-quarter points are the most by the Hurricanes since then. Miami is 190-19 all time when scoring first.HALFTIME SHUTOUT… Miami’s defense held Marshall scoreless in the first half, marking the first halftime shutout since leading Duke, 17-0, at the break on Oct. 21, 2006.CAREER FIRSTS… Freshman Graig Cooper eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in his collegiate debut versus Marshall, finishing with 116 yards on 12 carries.
Senior Tavares Gooden recorded his first career interception in the first quarter, returning the ball 35 yards before being stopped the 1-yard line. Six seconds later, junior DajLeon Farr caught his first career touchdown reception on Kirby Freeman’s first touchdown pass of 2007.
Junior Calais Campbell recorded his first career interception in the second quarter. He was the first defensive lineman to pick off a ball since William Joseph versus Virginia Tech on Dec. 1, 2001, in a 26-24 Miami win.
DOUBLE DUTY… Senior Spencer Adkins made it two picks by Hurricane linebackers with an interception in the third quarter. The last time a pair of Miami linebackers recorded a pick was in a 65-7 rout of Washington on Nov. 24, 2001, when Chris Campbell and Jonathan Vilma grabbed two of Miami’s six interceptions in the game.WEAR ORANGE… The University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine sold 12,000 orange t-shirts for a $2 donation to charity for this season’s “Wear Orange” campaign.TEAM CAPTAINS… Miami’s captains for today’s game are Calais Campbell and Derrick Morse.
Marshall Post-Game Notes vs. Miami
Florida City, Fla. native Darius Passmore celebrated his homecoming in style, opening his Marshall career with a diving 44 yard reception.
Junior linebacker Maurice Kitchens recorded the first interception of his career, picking off Miami quarterback Kirby Freeman in the third quarter.
Marshall surrendered a total of six sacks to the Miami defense.
The Herd played 10 freshmen against Miami.
Marshall was flagged for 12 penalties totaling 67 yards.
Marshall’s first points of the 2007 season came in the fourth quarter as kicker Anthony Binswanger connected for a 37-yard field goal.
Marshall returns to Huntington, W. Va. Next weekend for its home opener against nationally-ranked West Virginia.
