HURRICANES HEAD NORTH TO FACE RIVAL FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 16, 2007
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GAME 8
MIAMI HURRICANES
at FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
When: Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium (natural grass, 82,300) in Tallahassee, Fla.
TV: The game will be televised regionally on ABC, with Terry Gannon (play by play), David Norrie (analyst) and Jeannine Edwards (field reporter).
Tape Delay Telecast: On CSS at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, with announcers Jason Solodkin and K.C. Jones.
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 be broadcast live on ISP Radio with Andy Demetra (play by play) and Peter Brock (analyst). It will also be on XM Radio.
Radio En Espanol: The game will broadcast in Spanish on WWWK 105.5 FM and WPIK 102.5 FM with Joe Pujala (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Student Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast the game live with Alex Kushel and Jay Dryburgh.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Florida State (www.seminoles.com)
THIS WEEK’S GAME
A couple of two-game streaks are on the line this weekend when the Miami Hurricanes face the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee in a renewal of one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
The Hurricanes are trying to end a two-game losing streak this season, following losses to North Carolina and Georgia Tech, and they are trying to end a two-game losing streak to the Seminoles, after losses the last two seasons.
The Hurricanes and Seminoles meet for the 52nd time at Doak Campbell Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in a game that is being televised regionally by ABC. Miami will be looking for its first road victory in a year (not counting a win in last year’s bowl game). The Hurricanes have lost their last five regular-season road games.
Both teams are coming off losses. Miami lost 17-14 to Georgia Tech at home last Saturday, and Florida State lost at home to Wake Forest 24-21 two nights earlier.
The last four games in the Miami-Florida State rivalry have been decided by a total of 14 points, with one game going into overtime. In those four games, two won by each team, Miami has scored 43 points to FSU’s 47 points. In the entire 51-game series between UM and FSU, there had never been four games in a row decided by six or fewer points. Overall, Miami leads the series 29-22.
Prior to the last two FSU victories, Miami had won six straight games in the series. There have been 11 combined win streaks in the series, seven by Miami and four by FSU. Prior to Miami’s six-game winning streak, FSU had won five straight against Miami (1995-99), which came following UM streaks of three (1990-92), four (1985-88) and two games (1980-81). The largest win streak in the series is FSU’s seven-game stretch from 1963-72. UM started the series with consecutive win streaks of five (1951-57) and three games (1959-62).
The Hurricanes are coming off their first home loss of the season. With his team 4-3 and having lost two straight games, head coach Randy Shannon said, “We should be better because I can see the potential. I still think we can win this year. If we keep playing hard, a break is going to come eventually if we keep playing the way we are. People say we’re rebuilding, but I won’t use that word. We’re playing for this year.”
Through seven games, Miami ranks 95th in the nation in total offense, 58th in rushing and 97th in passing. Defensively, Miami is 25th overall, 38th against the run and 26th against the pass.
THE OPPONENT
Florida State is is 4-2 this season. The Seminoles have defeated UAB, Colorado, Alabama and North Carolina State but have lost to Clemson and Wake Forest. Xavier Lee is the new quarterback for FSU, taking over for Drew Weatherford two weeks ago. For the season, the Seminoles rank 93rd in total offense, 102nd in rushing and 55th in passing. Defensively, FSU is 24th overall, 19th vs. the run and 57th vs. the pass.
THE SERIES
This will be the 52nd game between the two schools, and Miami leads the series 29-22.
THE COACHES
Randy Shannon is 4-3 in his first season at Miami. Florida State’s Bobby Bowden is 297-83-4 in 32 seasons at FSU and 370-115-4 in 42 seasons as a head coach.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE SEMINOLES WOULD
Give Miami their fifth victory of the season and their first road win. It would also give them a 2-2 mark in the ACC and snap a two-game losing streak to FSU, giving them a a 30-22 lead in the series.
KEEPING IT CLOSE AMONG PLAYERS
A combined 132 players from the UM and FSU rosters hail from the state of Florida, including 63 for UM and 69 for FSU.
A combined 27 players from the Miami and Florida State rosters come from the same high school programs. Five of the 10 high schools are located in the Dade/Broward/Palm Beach area.
Booker – Sarasota, Fla. (3):Sam Shields (UM), Chris Zellner (UM), Dumaka Atkins (FSU)
Gulliver Prep – Miami, Fla. (5): Jake Byrne (UM), Alex Uribe (UM), Evan Bellamy (FSU), Anthony Leon (FSU), Patrick Robinson (FSU)
St. Thomas Aquinas – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (4): Leonard Hankerson (UM), Tavares Gooden (UM), Anthony Reddick (UM), Richard Goodman (FSU)
The Hun School – New Jersey (2): Luqman Abdallah (UM), Myron Rolle (FSU)
Homestead – Homestead, Fla. (3): Kayne Farquharson (UM), JoJo Nicolas (UM), Maurice Harris (FSU)
Glades Central – Belle Glade, Fla. (2): Damien Berry (UM), Randy Phillips (UM), Jatavious Jackson (FSU)
Bartow – Bartow, Fla. (2): Steven Wesley (UM), Alex Boston (FSU)Atlantic – Delray Beach, Fla. (2): Orlando Franklin (UM), Preston Parker (FSU)
Plant – Tampa, Fla. (2): Robert Marve (UM), Erik Stapleton (FSU)
Rickards – Tallahassee, Fla. (2): Ryan Hill (UM), Antonio White (FSU)
KEEPING IT CLOSE AMONG COACHES
Miami offensive coordinator Patrick Nix is very familiar with a couple of coaches on the Florida State staff. FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was the quarterbacks coach for Nix when he played at Auburn from 1992-95, and FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett served as the offensive line coach at Auburn during the time Nix was there.
Miami defensive coordinator Tim Walton coached defensive backs at LSU in 2003 when Fisher was the offensive coordinator for the Tigers. FSU wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey also was a graduate assistant coach who worked with the wide receivers at LSU in 2003.
MIAMI-FLORIDA STATE: A MADE FOR TV MATCHUP
The 2007 game with Florida State marks the 23rd consecutive season and the 28th time in 52 meetings that the UM-FSU clash will be shown on network television.
SUCCESS AGAINST THE SEMINOLES
Twelve of Florida State’s last 47 losses, dating back to 1987, have been to the Hurricanes. The 12 UM wins are the most by any team in the nation vs. Florida State over the last 19 seasons. Miami is one of only six schools to defeat the Seminoles more than once since 1987 (eight by Florida, five by NC State, three by Clemson and two each by Maryland, Virginia and Wake Forest). In addition, FSU has had eight one-loss seasons since 1987, with five of the losses coming at the hands of the Hurricanes.
MIAMI-FSU SCORING MARGINS
Of the 51 meetings between these two teams, 16 have been decided by five or fewer points (UM leads 11-5 in those games), 10 have been decided by 6-10 points (UM leads 7-3), and 25 have been decided by 11 or more points (FSU leads 14-11). Only 20 points separate these teams in all-time scoring in the series, with FSU holding a 996-976 edge.
HURRICANES DOMINATE SUNSHINE STATE IN NEW MILLENIUM
Miami has won 15-of-17 games against teams from the state of Florida since 2000, including an 9-1 record at home. The two losses were season openers against Florida State in 2005 and 2006. Overall since 1985, the Hurricanes have won 28 of their last 38 games (.737) against Sunshine State opponents.
THE MIAMI-FSU SERIES SINCE 1983
Deceptive passing attack: In the last 25 games against FSU, Miami has passed for more yards 15 times. The team that has passed for more yards has lost 10 of the last 19 meetings. Overall, the team that has passed for more yards has won 14 of 25 games. The teams have combined for nine 300-plus yards passing games since 1983 (Miami – 5, FSU – 4).Penalties have led to wins: For some reason, the team that has had the most penalties has won 14 of the 25 games, including 13 of the last 21. The team that garnered the most penalty yards had won 13-straight meetings before Miami broke that streak at the 2004 Orange Bowl Classic when the Hurricanes had just 40 yards in penalties and FSU had 85 yards. The team that has had the most penalty yards has won 16 of 25 games overall since 1983. UM had more penalty yards in 2006 (75-38), but lost 13-10.Miami has won the close games: The Hurricanes have won seven of the nine games decided by three points or fewer since 1983. FSU won 10-7 in Tallahassee in 2005 and 13-10 in Miami in 2006. The Hurricanes took the 2004 FedEx Orange Bowl Classic (16-14) and won three years ago when FSU missed a field goal as time expired. In 2000, Miami won 27-24 when FSU missed a game-tying field goal attempt as time expired. Prior to 2000, UM picked up wins in 1992 (19-16) and 1991 (17-16) when FSU missed field goal attempts as time expired. In 1983, UM kicker Jeff Davis converted on a late field goal to lead Miami past FSU 17-16 and into the eventual National Championship game against Nebraska.In the 15 games Miami’s won: UM outscored FSU 409-281 (27.3-18.7, UM +9.6)In the 10 games FSU’s won: FSU outscored UM 292-108 (29.2-10.8, FSU +18.4)
THE TEAM THAT SCORES FIRST
When Miami and Florida State play, the team that has scored first has won 15 of the last 16 meetings (the only time it didn’t happen was 2004) and 20 of the last 22. FSU scored first in 1992’s 19-16 Miami victory at the Orange Bowl and in Miami’s 2004 16-10 overtime win in the Orange Bowl.
HOLD ON TO YOUR HAT
If the Miami and Florida State final score is close, history has favored the Hurricanes. Since 1973, the Hurricanes are 10-2 against FSU in games decided by four points or fewer. However, FSU has won the last two close games, 10-7 in 2005 and 13-10 in 2006.
