Coastal Leaders Head to Windy City, Face ND
GAME INFORMATION
Date / Time: Sat., Oct. 6, 2012 / 7:30 p.m. EDT
Site: Chicago, Ill. / Soldier Field (61,500)
TV: NBC
Play-by-Play: Tom Hammond; Analyst: Mike Mayock; Sideline: Alex Flanagan
Local Radio: 560 WQAM
Play-by-Play: Joe Zagacki; Analyst: Don Bailey Jr.; Sideline: Josh Darrow
Spanish Radio: Caracol 1260 AM
Play-by-Play: Roly Martin; Analysts: Pepe Campos and Joe Martinez
Student Radio: 90.5 FM WVUM
Talent: Kyle Sielaff and Chris Wittyngham
Satellite Radio: Sirius 134 (UM) / 129 (UND); XM 192 (UM) / 129 (UND); Internet 129 (UND)
Live Stats: HurricaneSports.com
Twitter Updates: @HurricaneSports / @LosHuracanes
Series: Notre Dame leads, 16-7-1
Miami:Tied, 6-6-1
South Bend: Notre Dame leads, 8-1
Neutral Site: Notre Dame leads, 2-0
First Meeting: 1955 – L, 0-14
Last Meeting: 2010 – L, 17-33
Streak: Notre Dame, 2 wins
Game Notes: Miami | Notre Dame | ACC
STORY LINES
* After a thrilling win over NC State, the Miami Hurricanes hit the road for the fourth time in six games to face the No. 9/10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Soldier Field in Chicago and will be aired on NBC.
* Saturday will be the 25th meeting between the programs, with Notre Dame owning a 16-7-1 series edge. The Irish have won the previous neutral site meetings, including in the 2010 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
* Miami is 41-27 all-time against AP Top 10 teams and 104-130-2 against Top 25 teams.
* With its win over NC State, Miami has its first three-game winning streak under second-year head coach Al Golden and its first since the 2009 season. The Canes’ 4-1 start is also their best since they were 4-1 in 2009.
* The Hurricanes have posted their first 3-0 ACC start since 2004 – their first season in the conference.
* 12 of Miami’s 26 scoring drives this season have needed less than two minutes, including four against NC State.
* Junior QB Stephen Morris registered 271 first-quarter passing yards en route to a Miami- and ACC-record 566 passing yards against NC State, breaking the previous UM record held by Gino Torretta (485 vs. San Diego State, 1991).
* Only three FBS players have thrown for more yards in a quarter since 2004. Morris’ 287 yards in the first half were more than his total in three of the first four games this season.
* Sophomore WR Phillip Dorsett reeled in a career-high 191 yards and two TDs on seven catches against NC State following his 184 yards on nine catches at Georgia Tech for back-to-back 100-yard games. Dorsett’s 191 yards are the third-most single-game receiving yards in UM history. In the last two weeks, Dorsett has racked up 375 receiving yards. In the first 15 games of his career, he had recorded 236 reception yards.
* With 651 yards of total offense against NC State, the Canes have recorded more than 400 yards of offense in three straight games. The 651 yards are third-most in UM history, trailing 689 vs. UCLA in 1998 and 655 vs. Boston College in 1984.
* In each of Miami’s four wins, the Canes made up a deficit of at least seven points to come back and win.
NATIONAL TELEVISION COVERAGE
* Saturday’s rivalry renewal between Miami and Notre Dame will be televised nationally at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC. Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (analyst) and Alex Flanagan (sideline) will call the action.
QUICK HITS
* Notable Miami ACC statistical rankings: 2nd in pass offense, (328.4), 3rd in kickoff returns (26.1), 3rd in kickoff coverage (42.1), 3rd in turnover margin (+3), 5th in total offense (472.6), 6th in scoring offense (35.6) and sixth in interceptions (5).
* Notable Miami NCAA statistical rankings: 15th in passing offense, 23rd in kickoff returns, 35th in total offense, 37th in scoring offense, t-39 in sacks allowed.
* Duke Johnson ACC statistical rankings: 1st amongst all-purpose runners (184.0); 2nd in kickoff returns (29.6); 3rd in scoring among non-kickers (8.4) and 3rd in rushing (71.80)
* Duke Johnson NCAA rankings: 5th amongst all-purpose runners; t51st in scoring; 17th in kickoff returns.
* Junior QB Stephen Morris ranks first among ACC quarterbacks in passing yards per game (327.0) and in total offense (333.2).
* Stephen Morris threw for a Miami- and ACC-record 566 passing yards, 5 TDs and earned an ESPN #HelmetSticker from Lou Holtz. Morris also picked up a trio of additional honors Sunday – ACC Offensive Player of the Week (College Sports Madness and SouthernPigskin.com) and honorable mention CFPA Quarterback of the Week.
* WRs Phillip Dorsett and Rashawn Scott and punter Dalton Botts also picked up honorable mention honors from College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). Botts was named ACC Special Teams Player of the Week by SouthernPigskin.com.
* Through four games, 17 freshmen have seen action for the Miami Hurricanes, including 14 true freshmen.
* Five freshmen have started at least one game for the Miami Hurricanes – true freshman RT Ereck Flowers, true freshman RB Duke Johnson, true freshman WR Malcolm Lewis, true freshman S Deon Bush and redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnson.
* Freshman RB Duke Johnson has earned back-to-back Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll honors.
* In the first 17 games of the Al Golden era, Miami has used 14 different defensive starting lineups.
NOTRE DAME SERIES HISTORY
* Miami is 7-16-1 all-time against Notre Dame, but has won five of its last seven meetings with the Irish.
* The series opened in 1955, with the Irish beating the Canes 14-0 in the Orange Bowl.
* From there, Miami won the next meeting in 1960 (28-12). The two teams tied 0-0 in 1965 before Notre Dame won 11 straight meetings from 1967-1980. From 1981-1989, Miami went 6-2 before the Irish won the last two meetings, 29-20, in 1990 and 33-17 at the 2010 Sun Bowl.
A WIN BY MIAMI WOULD…
* Give the Hurricanes their first four-game winning streak under Al Golden and first since the 2008 season.
* Give the Hurricanes their first win over a Top 10 team since defeating No. 8 Oklahoma in 2009.
* Give the Hurricanes their first 5-1 start to the season since 2009.
* Be Hurricanes’ first win over Top 10 team since Oct. 3, 2009 (21-20 over No. 8 Oklahoma).
#ROOKIECANES
* In Miami’s fifth game of the season, 15 freshmen (13 true freshmen) played vs. NC State.
* True freshman RB Duke Johnson made his third start of the season. On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnson made his fourth start.
* RB Duke Johnson scored his team leading seventh TD of the season.
* In his fourth start, Eddie Johnson tallied seven tackles and recoded his first career sack. He also forced two fumbles, giving him three on the season – the most in the ACC.
CANES AGAINST AP TOP 25
* Miami is 104-130-2 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents, including a 41-27 mark against teams ranked inside the AP Top 10.
* Notre Dame is Miami’s second AP Top 25 opponent this season. Earlier this season, the Canes lost 52-13 at No. 21 Kansas State.
* Miami is playing an AP Top 10 team for the first time since 2010 (24-36 loss at No. 2 Ohio State).
* Miami is 2-2 against AP Top 25 teams in the Al Golden era with victories over No. 17 Ohio State (2011) and No. 22 Georgia Tech (2011).
* Miami’s last win over a Top 25 team was 2011 vs. No. 22 Georgia Tech.
* Saturday marks the fourth consecutive season that Miami has played at least two AP Top 25 ranked opponents.
#CANESNOTES
* Phillip Dorsett‘s breakout season continues. Dorsett has 16 rec, 375 yds & 3 TDs in last 2 gms. Had 26 rec, 236 yds, 1 TD in first 15 gms
* Stephen Morris set Miami and @theACC single-game record with 566 passing yards vs @PackFootball (previous @theACC mark was 545, Rusty LaRue)
* #Canes recorded 23 points in first quarter against @PackFootball, most since Miami scored 27 points in 1Q at @OwlSports_com on Oct. 15, 2005.
* #Canes have recorded more than 400 yards of offense in three straight games.
* Miami’s 651 yards against @PackFootball are third-most in UM history, trailing 689 vs. @UCLAFootball in 1998 and 655 vs. @BCSportsNews in 1984.
* 12 of Miami’s 26 scoring drives this season have needed less than two minutes. #TwoMinuteDrill
* In each of Miami’s four wins, the Canes made up a deficit of at least seven points to come back and win. #ComebackCanes
* In Miami’s three @theACC wins, #Canes have scored 41 (@BCSportsNews), 42 (@GTAthletics) and 44 (@PackFootball). Have won by combined 22-point margin.
* #Canes defense has forced 12 turnovers (5 INT, 7 fumbles) in 5 games. Last season, UM forced 15 turnovers in 12 games.
* Miami’s defense has recorded safety in back-to-back games for first time since 2008 (@FSU_Football & @UCF_Football).
* Redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnson has forced 3 fumbles and racked up 31 tackles and 3.5 TFL. #NoseFortheFootball
* MLB Gionni Paul made career-first start vs @PackFootball and tallied career-high 11 tackles (had 11 career tackles prior). #GreatDebut
* Freshman S and Miami product Deon Bush has tallied 18 tackles – all solo stops. #SoloMachine
PLENTY OF OPTIONS
* Miami has 14 different players that have at least one reception in the first five games of the season.
* Allen Hurns, Rashawn Scott, Phillip Dorsett, Clive Walford, Malcolm Lewis, Duke Johnson, Devon Johnson, Mike James, Asante Cleveland, Kendal Thompkins, Eduardo Clements, Dyron Dye, Maurice Hagens and Herb Waters each have at least one grab through two games.
* Sophomore WR Phillip Dorsett leads UM with 28 receptions and 464 receiving yards this season.
MIAMI’S THUNDER AND LIGHTNING
* Senior RB Mike James and freshman RB Duke Johnson have combined for 637 of Miami’s 721 rushing yards on 112 carries through five games. The lightning-quick Johnson, who has already collected two ACC Rookie of the Week honors this season, has amassed 359 yards and five rushing TDs on 52 carries, while the bruising James has 278 yards and three touchdowns on 60 carries.
* The duo has combined for 160-plus rushing yards in three of Miami’s first five games. In the Hurricanes’ 41-32 season-opening win at Boston College, Johnson rushed for 135 yards, while James added 54 yards. Two weeks later, the pair amassed 171 yards — Johnson 94 yards and James 77 yards (both season highs).
* Johnson (7) and James (4) have combined for 11 of Miami’s 22 total touchdowns this season.
BIG ARM MORRIS
* Junior QB Stephen Morris recorded five touchdowns, tying five other UM play callers for the school record for most TD passes in a game. The last UM QB to score five TDs was Kyle Wright at Wake Forest in 2005. Morris’ previous career high was two touchdowns, which he had recorded twice in his career.
* Morris set an ACC record with 566 passing yards against NC State. The previous record was 545 by Rusty LaRue (Wake Forest vs. NC State, 1995).
* In the past two games, Morris has totaled 1,002 passing yards (436 at Georgia Tech; 566 vs. NC State).
TWO-MINUTE OFFENSE
* 12 of Miami’s 26 scoring drives this season have needed less than two minutes, including five that have needed less than 60 seconds.
* At Boston College, Miami had three scoring drives that lasted under two minutes, including a pair of drives that resulted in a Duke Johnson TD run of more than 50 yards.
* Six of the 12 scoring drives have occurred in the last two weeks. In Miami’s 44-37 home win over NC State, the Hurricanes had four scoring drives that needed less than 100 seconds – a 14-yard TD pass (0:42), a 24-yard TD pass (1:36), a 76-yard TD pass (1:12) and the game-winning 62-yard TD pass (0:29).
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED FROM @BYTIMREYNOLDS (POST-NC STATE)
* Miami has now won 100 straight games when scoring at least 40 points. Last loss: Hail Flutie game, 1984.
* Stephen Morris‘ 21.77 yards-per-completion rate was 4th-best in the country this year, and best by an ACC QB since 9/27/08.
* Morris had seven completions of at least 40 yards on Saturday. He had a total of five in 2012 entering the day.
* Morris’ 1,635 yards in five games this season exceed his total from his first two years at Miami (1,523).
* Morris’ average of 327 yards passing per game is on pace to be most in ACC since Philip Rivers (345.5, 2003).
* UM’s 1,260 yards of offense in last two games is most in two-game span since last 2 games of 1998 (1,283).
* Miami is 1 of only 4 FBS schools to post consecutive 600-yard games this season. (OK St 3, FSU 2, UCLA 2).
* Of those four schools with at least two straight 600-yard games, only Florida State and Miami have done it against BCS opponents.
* Miami’s Phillip Dorsett is the only WR in the country with at least two 180-yard games this season. His total last year: 147 yards.
* Miami is 3-0 in league play for the 11th time in program history. The Hurricanes have ended each of the other 10 seasons ranked no lower than No. 15. (Avg 7.4)
* Miami is now just 11-27 since 1996 when rushing for less than 100 yards (won five of last eight).
* Miami is 3-1 this season when allowing 30 points this season. Since 2004, the Hurricanes had been 3-20 when allowing 30 points.
* And finally, Miami is the only team in the nation with two safeties so far this season.
