Hurricanes Set to Host Blue Devils in ACC Opener
Sept. 25, 2007
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MIAMI HURRICANES
vs. DUKE BLUE DEVILS
When: Saturday, September 29, 2007, at noon ET
Where: Orange Bowl (natural grass, 72,319) in Miami
TV: The game will not be televised.
Tape Delay Telecast: On CSS at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2.
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 nationally on XM Radio.
Student Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast the game live with Jay Dryburgh and Matt Bunch.
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).
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Duke (www.GoDuke.com)
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Miami Hurricanes will open ACC play on Saturday when they host the Duke Blue Devils at the Orange Bowl. Kickoff is set for noon. Miami is 3-1, with back-to-back victories, including an impressive 34-17 win over then-16th-ranked Texas A&M last Thursday night. This is the fourth home game for the Hurricanes this season, and they are undefeated in the Orange Bowl at 3-0 and have won their last four games at the OB. Duke is 1-3, having snapped a 22-game losing streak two weeks ago, beating Northwestern. Last Saturday, Duke nearly came away with another victory, losing to Navy 46-43 after allowing 14 points in the fourth quarter. In the win over Texas A&M, Miami played nearly flawless football in the first three quarters, taking a 31-0 lead into the fourth quarter. QB Kyle Wright completed 21 of 26 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, as the Hurricanes rolled up 402 yards on offense. Sam Shields caught six passes for 117 yards, and true freshman Grag Cooper scored a touchdown rushing and receiving. It was Miami’s defense that was particularly strong. It set the tone on the first series of the game with three consecutive tackles for loss, and it held Texas A&M to only 98 yards rushing, the first time in 22 games the Aggies had been held below 100 yards. Overall, Texas A&M gained only 240 yards.
THE OPPONENT
Duke is 1-3 this season, with a victory over Northwestern and losses to Connecticut, Virginia and Navy. Duke has not had a winning season since 1994, when the Blue Devils went to the Hall of Fame Bowl.
THE SERIES
This will be only the fifth game between the two schools, and Miami holds a 3-1 lead in the series. Duke won the first meeting in 1976 20-7, then Miami won 56-17 in 1983. Since joining the ACC, Miami won 52-7 in 2005 and 20-15 last year.
THE COACHES
Randy Shannon is 3-1 at Miami. Duke’s Ted Roof is 6-37 in five seasons.A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE BLUE DEVILS WOULD: Give Miami their third straight win and a 4-1 record for the season. It would also give them a 1-0 mark in the ACC.
DEFENSE MOVING UP NATIONALLY
Miami held No. 16 Texas A&M to a season-low 240 total yards of offense and a season-low 98 rushing yards. The Hurricanes enter this week ranked 17th nationally in total defense, allowing 287.2 yards per game. UM’s rushing defense is 32nd nationally, yielding 106 yards per game, and Miami’s pass defense ranks 30th, allowing 181.25 yards per game.
HURRICANES TOUGH ON TOBACCO ROAD TEAMS
Since joining the ACC in 2004, Miami has been tough on teams from Tobacco Road. UM is a combined 7-1 against North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest and Duke. North Carolina is the only team with a victory over the Hurricanes. UNC won 31-28 in 2004 in Miami’s only trip to Chapel Hill since joining the league.
UM against Tobacco Road Teams
Oct. 23, 2004 Miami 45, NC State 31 (Raleigh, N.C.)
Oct. 30, 2004 North Carolina 31, Miami 28 (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Oct. 8, 2005 Miami 52, Duke 7 (Orange Bowl)
Oct. 29, 2005 Miami 34, North Carolina 16 (Orange Bowl)
Nov. 12, 2005 Miami 47, Wake Forest 17 (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Oct. 7, 2006 Miami 27, North Carolina 7 (Orange Bowl)
Oct. 21, 2006 Miami 20, Duke 15 (Durham, N.C.)
LINEBACKING RECEIVERS
Sophomore linebacker Colin McCarthy made his first career interception against Texas A&M, making him the third UM linebacker to intercept a pass this season. All three starting linebackers for Miami have an interception this season. Senior Tavares Gooden intercepted his first career pass against Marshall, and junior Spencer Adkins added his first career interception against the Thundering Herd. The three interceptions by linebackers are the most since 2000, when linebacker Nate Webster made four picks himself.
WRIGHT OFF TO GOOD START
Senior quarterback Kyle Wright made his second start of the season against Texas A&M and improved to 16-7 as UM’s starter. Wright eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the 11th time in his career. A week earlier, he ran for a career-high 44 yards and completed 10-of-19 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown against FIU, finishing with 268 yards of total offense. Against Texas A&M, Wright completed 21-of-26 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. His two TDs moved him into 10th place in career touchdown passes. He now has thrown 30 career TD passes. His 21 completions against Texas A&M also moved him into 10th place all-time giving him 375 career completions.
Touchdown Passes
Player, TD Passes
1. Ken Dorsey (1999-00-01-02), 86
2. Vinny Testaverde (1982-84-85-86), 48
Steve Walsh (1986-87-88), 48
4. Gino Torretta (1989-90-91-92), 47
5. Craig Erickson (1987-88-89-90), 46
6. Ryan Clement (1994-95-96-97), 43
7. Bernie Kosar (1983-84), 40
8. Brock Berlin (2003-04), 34
9. Jim Kelly (1979-80-81-82), 33
10. Kyle Wright (2004-present), 30
Pass Completions (Attempts)
1. Ken Dorsey, 1999-00-01-02 (1153), 668
2. Gino Torretta, 1989-90-91-92 (991), 555
3. Bernie Kosar, 1983-84 (743), 463
4. Ryan Clement, 1994-95-96-97 (747), 44
5. Craig Erickson, 1987-88-89-90 (752), 420
6. Vinny Testaverde, 1982-84-85-86 (674), 413
7. Steve Walsh, 1986-87-88 (690), 410
8. Brock Berlin, 2003-04 (700), 406
9. Jim Kelly, 1979-80-81-82 (676), 376
10. Kyle Wright, 2004-present, 375
PICKING UP YARDS
Miami’s offense has racked up 830 yards in its last two games. UM had 402 total yards against Texas A&M. A week earlier, the Hurricanes racked up a season-high 428 yards of total offense against Florida International, which was the most by UM since a 563-yard performance in a 51-10 win over Florida A&M on Sept. 9, 2006. Miami threw for 224 yards and ran for more than 200 yards for the second time this season against FIU. In the first two games of the season, Miami had only 480 yards of total offense. UM had 341 total yards of offense against Marshall and just 139 yards against Oklahoma.
THE OB ADVANTAGE IN 2007
Miami has played well in three games at the Orange Bowl in 2007. The Hurricanes have rushed for more than 200 yards in two of their three home victories: 260 yards against Marshall and 204 yards against FIU and senior quarterback Kyle Wright has back-to-back 200-yard passing games. Defensively, UM has held its opponents to 29 total points and has not allowed a point in the first half at home this season.
