Football Opens Homestand vs UNC

GAME INFORMATION
Date/ Time:Sat., Oct. 13, 2012 / 2:32 p.m. ET

Site: Miami Gardens, Fla. / Sun Life Stadium (74,916)
TV: ESPNU
    Play-by-Play: AnishShroff; Analyst: Dan Hawkins
Local Radio: 560 WQAM
    Play-by-Play: Joe Zagacki; Analyst: Don Bailey Jr.;
    Sideline: JoshDarrow
Spanish Radio: Caracol 1260 AM
    Play-by-Play: Roly Martin;
    Analysts: PepeCampos and Joe Martinez
Student Radio: 90.5 FM WVUM
    Talent: Kyle Sielaff, AJ Ricketts, Chip Brierre
Satellite Radio: Sirius 123, XM 191 (UM broadcast)
Live Stats: HurricaneSports.com
Twitter Updates: @HurricaneSports / @LosHuracanes
Series: Tied, 7-7
    Miami: Miamileads, 6-3
    Chapel Hill: NorthCarolina leads, 4-1
    First Meeting: 1946- L, 0-21
    Last Meeting: 2011- W, 30-24
    Streak: Miami, 2wins

 STORY LINES

• After its fourth road game in the first six weeks of the season, Miami willopen a season-long three-game homestand Saturday when it faces North Carolinaat Sun Life Stadium at 2:32 p.m. ET.
• Saturdaywill mark the 15th series meeting, with both schools having won seven games.The Hurricanes have won the previous two meetings, including a 30-24 win atChapel Hill in 2011.
• Miami,tied atop the ACC Coastal Division standings, is the only ACC team with threeconference wins thus far. The Canes are looking for their first 4-0 start inACC play.
• SeniorCB Brandon McGee recorded a career-best nine tackles against Notre Dame.Eight of the tackles were solo and one was for a four yard loss.
• With 168.3all-purpose yards per game, RB Duke Johnson ranks 14th nationally amongFBS players (first in the ACC) and leads all freshmen in that category.
• Ninedifferent Miami players had a reception in Miami’s loss to Notre Dame,including four catches each by senior WR Davon Johnson and sophomore WR RashawnScott.
• In each of Miami’s four wins, Miami made up a deficit of at least seven pointsto come back and win.
• The Canes became the first team since Stanford in 2011 to score in the firstquarter against the Notre Dame defense after Jake Wieclaw hit a 28-yardFG on UM’s second drive of the night.
• Four different Hurricanes have receptions of 50 yards or more on the season. WRRashawn Scott (76 yards, 52), WR Phillip Dorsett (65, 62), TE CliveWalford (56) and RB Duke Johnson (50) each have 50-yard receptions.
• The Hurricanes are the only team in the nation to have two RBs that have scoredat least four touchdowns in a game this season. Duke Johnson scored fourtimes against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 15 and Mike James scored four atGeorgia Tech a week later.

NATIONAL TELEVISION COVERAGE

• Saturday’s contest between Miami and North Carolina will be televisednationally at 2:32 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. Anish Schroff (play-by-play), DanHawkins (analyst) will call the action.

QUICK HITS

• Notable Miami ACC statistical rankings: 2nd in kickoff coverage (42.1), 3rd inpassing offense (307.2), 3rd in sacks against (1.17), 3rd in turnover margin(0.50), 4th in kickoff returns (24.7), 4th in 3rd down conversions (45.1), 5thin total offense (441.3), 6th in scoring offense (30.2), 6th in first downs(20.7).
• Notable Miami NCAA statistical rankings: 18th in passing offense, 26th in sacksallowed, 29th in kickoff returns, 33rd in turnover margin, 40th in total offense.
• DukeJohnson ACC statistical rankings: 1st in all-purpose yards (168.3), 3rd inkick return average (27.9), t4th in scoring TD among non-kickers (7.0), 5th inrushing (63.5),
• DukeJohnson NCAA rankings: 14th amongst all-purpose runners, 20th in kickoffreturns.
• JuniorQB Stephen Morris ranks first among ACC quarterbacks in passing yardsper game (306.0) and is second in total offense (313.5).
• StephenMorris NCAA rankings: 18th in total offense.
• PhillipDorsett NCAA rankings: 45th in receiving yards per game (78.3).
• Through six games, 18 freshmen have seen action for the Miami Hurricanes,including 15 true freshmen.
• Sixfreshmen have started at least one game for the Miami Hurricanes – truefreshman RT Ereck Flowers, true freshman RB Duke Johnson, truefreshman WR Malcolm Lewis, true freshman S Deon Bush, redshirtfreshman LB Eddie Johnson redshirt freshman DL Corey King.
• In thefirst 18 games of the Al Golden era, Miami has used 16 differentdefensive starting lineups.

NORTH CAROLINA SERIES HISTORY

• Miami is 7-7 all-time against North Carolina, but has won the last twomeetings with the Tar Heels.
• The series opened in 1946, with UNC beating the Canes 21-0 in the OrangeBowl.
• The Canesare 6-3 against North Carolina at home and has won six of the last sevenmeetings on their home field, including a 33-10 win at Sun Life Stadium in2010.
• Miamidefeated the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill for the first time in five chances lastseason.

A WIN BY MIAMI WOULD…

• Givethe Hurricanes their 4-0 start in conference play since joining the ACC in2004.
• Surpass Miami’s ACC win total from 2011.
• Givethe Hurricanes their third consecutive win over UNC and an 8-7 all-time seriesedge between the teams.

THE GREAT WALL OF CORAL GABLES

• Miami’s offensive line has allowed just one sack – Sept. 29 against NC State -in the last four games, while helping pave way for offense to average 353.5yards through the air and 492.8 yards of total offense.
• InMiami’s first two games, the Canes O-Line surrendered six sacks, while theoffense managed 338.5 yards of total offense.

TWO-MINUTE OFFENSE

• 12 ofMiami’s 27 scoring drives this season have needed less than two minutes,including five that have needed less than 60 seconds.
• AtBoston College, Miami had three scoring drives that lasted under two minutes,including a pair of drives that resulted in a Duke Johnson TD run ofmore than 50 yards.
• Six ofthe 12 scoring drives have occurred in the last two ACC games. In Miami’s 44-37home win over NC State, the Hurricanes had four scoring drives that needed lessthan 100 seconds – a 14-yard TD pass (0:42), a 24-yard TD pass (1:36), a76-yard TD pass (1:12) and the game-winning 62-yard TD pass (0:29).

THE #DUUUKE OF MIAMI

• In thefirst quarter against Bethune-Cookman, Johnson returned a kickoff 95 yards forMiami’s first score of the game. The return tied Tremain Mack (atSyracuse, 1996) for the eighth-longest kickoff return in Hurricanes history. Itwas Miami’s third kickoff returned for a touchdown since 2005.
• Johnsonranks 14th nationally with 168.33 all-purpose yards per game.That total is 13.5 yards per contest more than Maryland’s Stefon Diggs, whoranks second in the ACC.
• Against Boston College in the season-opener, Johnson became the first UMfreshman RB to rush for 100 or more yards in first college game since ClintonPortis in 1999.

DUKEJOHNSON SCORING PLAYS

OPPONENT              SCORING PLAYDRIVE LENGTHBoston College54-yard run1:51Boston College56-yard run1:17Bethune-Cookman95-yard kickoff return–Bethune-Cookman1-yard run2:31Bethune-Cookman50-yard reception2:09Bethune-Cookman28-yard run1:24NC State4-yard run3:24

SIX WEEKS, SEVEN ACC PLAYER HONORS

• Through the season’s first six weeks, the Miami Hurricanes have collected sevenACC Player of the Week honors, including a season-high three honorees Oct. 1.
• Freshman RB Duke Johnson and redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnsonhave tallied two honors each, three of which were ACC Rookie of the Weekhonors. Junior QB Stephen Morris (Offensive Back), sophomore LB GionniPaul (Linebacker) and sophomore WR Phillip Dorsett (Receiver) eachhave one ACC weekly honor.

DORSETT ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF WATCH LIST

• Sophomore WR Phillip Dorsett was one of 11 receivers added to theBiletnikoff Award Watch List.
• Dorsett was one of 11 watch list additions released Tuesday. The othersincluded Davante Adams (Fresno State), Brandin Cooks (Oregon State), MikeEdwards (UTEP), Quintin Payton (NC State), Chip Reeves (Troy), Alonzo Russell(Toledo), Dawan Scott (Miami, Ohio), Tommy Shuler (Marshall), Willie Snead(Ball State) and Marquelo Suel (Akron).
• JuniorWR Allen Hurns was on the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch Listreleased in July.
• TheTallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. will announce the 10 BiletnikoffAward semifinalists on Nov. 12, 2012, following the vote by the BiletnikoffAward National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will bedeclared, following another vote, on November 19, 2012.

#CANESNOTES

• In thefirst 18 games of the @GoldenAl era, Miami has used 15 differentdefensive starting lineups.
• DukeJohnson one of 9 players with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards this season- tops among ACC players and FBS freshmen.
• Miami’s O-Line allowed 6 sacks in first 2 games. Men in the trenches have givenup only 1 sack in last 4 games. #GreatWallofCoralGables
• Miamiis first @125NDFB opponent since @StanfordFBall in 2011 (first in2012) to score against the Irish in first quarter.
• TheHurricanes have posted their first 3-0 ACC start since 2004 – their firstseason in the conference.
• Miamiis one of only eight FBS schools with at least three conference wins.
• Miami has now won 100 straight games when scoring at least 40 points. Lastloss: Hail Flutie game, 1984.
• StephenMorris set Miami and @theACC single-game record with 566 passingyards vs @PackFootball.
• #Canesrecorded 23 points in first quarter against @PackFootball, most sinceMiami scored 27 points in 1Q at @OwlSports_com on Oct. 15, 2005.
• Miami’s651 yards against @PackFootball are third-most in UM history, trailing689 vs. @UCLAFootball in 1998 and 655 vs. @BCSportsNews in 1984.
• 12 ofMiami’s 26 scoring drives this season have needed less than two minutes.#TwoMinuteDrill
• Miamihas trailed at some point in each of its first six games.
• Ineach of Miami’s four wins, the Canes made up a deficit of at least seven pointsto come back and win. #ComebackCanes
• InMiami’s three @theACC wins, #Canes have scored 41 (@BCSportsNews),42 (@GTAthletics) and 44 (@PackFootball). Have won by combined22-point margin.

TIME OF POSSESSION BATTLE

• Miamihas trailed its opponents in time of possession in seven consecutive games,dating back to the 2011 season finale against Boston College. Miami has led intime of possession in six of 24 quarters this season.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED FROM @BYTIMREYNOLDS(POST-NOTRE DAME)

• There is one team at 3-0 in the ACC. It is the Miami Hurricanes.
• Since 1944, three Miami teams have lost twice by at least 38 points in sameseason: 1977, 2007 and 2012. (And they have best record in ACC)
• The seven sacks allowed by Miami through six games is the fewest given up inthe first half of a Hurricanes season since 2003 (three).
• All or nothing: When it wins, Miami averages 41.3 points. When it loses, Miamiaverages 8.0 points.
• Even after a season-low 201 yards Saturday against @125NDFB in Chicago,junior QB Stephen Morris is fifth nationally in passing yards (1,836).
• Freshman RB Duke Johnson is 14th nationally in all-purpose yards pergame (168.3), and tops in that category among freshmen.
• Combined records of the teams that have beaten Miami: 10-0. Combined records ofteams Miami has beaten: 11-11.
• Only five teams in the nation have faced more ranked opponents so far thisseason than Miami. (4 – @AZAthletics, @UKAthleticsNews; 3 – @MSU_Football,@CalAthletics, @UW_Football).
• Only one team – @ULMWarhawks – has played fewer home games this seasonthan Miami.
• Miamihas won its last two meetings with next week’s opponent, @TarHeelFootball.Combined score of those games: 63-34.
• Miami enters its upcoming three-game homestand as one of 49 teams in thecountry still perfect at home this season (2-0).
• Miami’s defense is on the field an average of 35:07 per game, fifth-most in thenation.
• Miami has given up more total first downs (158) and more rushing first downs(82) than any team in the nation this season.

 #ROOKIECANES

• InMiami’s sixth game of the season, 15 freshmen (12 true freshmen) played vs.Notre Dame.
• Redshirt freshman LB Eddie Johnson made his fifth start while truefreshman S Deon Bush made his third. Redshirt freshman DL Corey Kingmade his career-first start.
• Truefreshmen DL Dequan Ivery and LB Raphael Kirby made theircollegiate debuts.
• In histhird start, Deon Bush tallied four tackles and forced two fumbles. Heis tied with fellow freshman teammate Eddie Johnson with three forcedfumbles on the season – the most in the ACC.

MIAMI’S THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

• SeniorRB Mike James and freshman RB Duke Johnson have combined for 687of Miami’s 806 rushing yards on 126 carries through six games. Thelightning-quick Johnson, who has already collected two ACC Rookie of the Weekhonors this season, has amassed 382 yards and five rushing TDs on 60 carries,while the bruising James has 306 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries.
• Theduo has combined for 160-plus rushing yards in three of Miami’s first sixgames. In the Hurricanes’ 41-32 season-opening win at Boston College, Johnsonrushed for 135 yards, while James added 54 yards. Two weeks later, the pairamassed 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 touchdownsthis season.

CAREER DAYS ON DEFENSE

• SeniorCB Brandon McGee recorded a career-best nine tackles against Notre Dame.Eight of the tackles were solo and one was for a four yard loss.
• In hiscollegiate debut, LB Raphael Kirby recorded five tackles (1 solo, 4assist).
• Freshman S Deon Bush forced a career-best two fumbles. He now has threeon season, tied with teammate Eddie Johnson for the conference lead.
• DL CoreyKing recorded three tackles in his first career start.
• In hiscollegiate debut, DL Dequan Ivery was in on two tackles.