University of Miami vs. Charleston Southern Postgame Notes

Aug. 29, 2008

Photo Gallery 

HOME OPENERS… Tonight’s season-opening win over Charleston Southern marks the second straight for the Hurricanes under head coach Randy Shannon. Since 1998, the Hurricanes have won 10 of their last 11 home openers by an average of 36 points per game.

Overall, Miami is 56-26-1 in season openers and 1-0 in season openers at Dolphin Stadium.

 

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION… Miami’s 52 points tonight marks the highest offensive production in a season opener since a 63-17 win over Florida A&M on Aug. 31, 2002. It is also the most points scored and the largest margin of victory since a 52-7 rout of Duke on Oct. 8, 2005.

 

CHANGING ZIP CODES… After 71 seasons in the Orange Bowl, this evening marks the debut of the Hurricanes in their new home – Dolphin Stadium. With today’s win, the Hurricanes improve to 4-0 at Dolphin Stadium, previously winning three different bowl games in the stadium (def. Virginia, 31-21, in the 1996 Carquest Bowl; def. NC State, 46-23, in the 1998 Micron PC Bowl and def. Florida State, 16-14, in the 2003 Orange Bowl).

 

RUSH HOUR… Five different players scored five rushing touchdowns for Miami – the most since the Hurricanes had five rushing TDs in a 51-10 win over Florida A&M on Sept. 9, 2006. Jacory Harris, Javarris James, Graig Cooper, Derron Thomas and Shawnbrey McNeal ran the ball in for touchdown this evening. Thomas’ 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter marked the second of the senior’s career.

 

DAZZLING DEBUT… Jacory Harris’ 190 passing yards versus Charleston Southern are the most for a true freshman quarterback in their first start since Ken Dorsey threw for 194 yards in his first start against Rutgers in a 55-0 win on Nov. 20, 1999.

 

STOPPING THE RUN… Miami’s defense held Charleston Southern to 49 yards rushing – the least allowed by a Hurricane defense since holding Boston College to just 24 yards rushing in a 17-14 win on Nov. 23, 2006.

The 126 yards of total offense by Charleston Southern are the fewest by a Miami opponent since the Hurricanes limited Florida International to 114 total yards of offense in a 35-0 win on Oct. 14, 2006.

 

COOPER TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE… Sophomore Graig Cooper’s 66-yard punt return for a touchdown marked the first of his career. Cooper is the first Hurricane since Devin Hester against Temple on Oct. 15, 2005 to return a punt for a touchdown.

 

GETTING ON THE BOARD… With today’s win, the Hurricanes improved to 194-21 when scoring first.

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS… Charleston Southern is one of two new opponents Miami is scheduled to face in 2008. With tonight’s win, the Hurricanes improve to 92-56-2 (.620) in first-ever meetings, including nine straight wins in inaugural games. Since 1991, the Hurricanes are 14-1 in first meetings.

 

TRUE FRESHMAN ON TAP… According to available information, Jacory Harris is the first TRUE freshman to start at quarterback in a season opener for the University of Miami tonight in his collegiate debut versus Charleston Southern. The last freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Hurricanes was Bernie Kosar – a redshirt freshman – in a 28-3 loss at the University of Florida on Sept. 3, 1983.

Miami welcomes 33 newcomers to the squad this season with a 2008 recruiting class ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN.com. Of the 100 total players on the roster, the Hurricanes list 40 freshmen – 31 true freshmen and nine redshirt freshmen.

Two true freshmen started for Miami in Harris and linebacker Marcus Robinson. Seventeen true freshmen have played in tonight’s game: Harris, Robinson, Aldarius Johnson (WR), Thearon Collier, Jordan Futch (LB), (WR) Kendal Thompkins (WR), Laron Byrd (WR), Travis Benjamin (WR), Davon Johnson (WR), Andrew Smith (DL), Marcus Forston (DL), Gavin Hardin (DL), Brandon Harris (DB), Vaughn Telemaque (DB), Sean Spence (LB), Joe Wylie (DB) and Cannon Smith (QB).

 

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN… Javarris James’ 73 rushing yards marks his highest offensive production since rushing for 103 yards in a complete game versus NC State on Nov. 3, 2007.

 

START IT UP… Jacory Harris’ 30-yard rushing touchdown on Miami’s opening drive marked the first time in exactly five years that the Hurricanes scored a touchdown on their opening drive in their season opener. On August 28, 2003, Ryan Moore gave the Hurricanes the early lead with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brock Berlin as Miami went on to win, 48-9, at Louisiana Tech.

 

ONE-TWO PUNCH… With Javarris James’ 7-yard rushing touchdown on Miami’s second drive of the game, the Hurricanes posted a touchdown on their first two possessions of the season-opener for the first time since that 2003 season-opening win at Louisiana Tech. In that game, Antrel Rolle scored on a 66-yard punt return on their second possession.

James has recorded a rushing touchdown in two-straight home openers for the Hurricanes, posting a career-high two in last season’s 31-3 season-opening win over Marshall.

 

ADD A THIRD AND FOURTH… With Graig Cooper’s 14-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter, the Hurricanes scored a touchdown on their first four possessions of the game for the first time since a 34-3 win at Temple on Oct. 15, 2005.

 

QUITE THE QUARTER… Miami’s 21 points in the opening quarter marks the highest scoring quarter since the Hurricanes racked up 21 points in the third quarter versus Florida A&M on Sept. 9, 2006 (Miami won 51-10). It is the highest scoring first quarter since Miami posted 27 points in the opening quarter in a 34-3 win at Temple on Oct. 15, 2005.

 

HALFTIME SHUTOUT… Miami’s defense held Charleston Southern scoreless in the first half, marking the first halftime shutout since leading Georgia Tech, 7-0, at the break on Oct. 13, 2007.

 

CAREER HIGHS… Dedrick Epps’ 35-yard reception in the opening quarter marked a career long, besting his previous high by 20 yards… Spencer Adkins’ two sacks in the second quarter is a career high… Entering tonight’s game, Adkins had one sack over the previous three seasons.

 

CAREER FIRSTS… Freshman wide receivers Aldarius Johnson, Thearon Collier and Laron Byrd recorded their first collegiate receptions versus Charleston Southern… Freshman defensive lineman Andrew Smith posted his first sack in the fourth quarter for a 10-yard loss.

 

TODAY’S CAPTAINS… Today’s captains for Miami are Jason Fox, Glenn Cook and Chavez Grant.