The college football off-season is notorious for its lack of brevity. The longest break of any major sport, where May rolls along, and we are still only half way home. In lieu of reporting on every trivial news item, I will start this (hopefully) four part series on past great Miami Hurricane teams.

We all know of the recent illustrious history of the 5 national title winning teams. What many outside the superfandom do not know is how many times Miami was in the title game on the losing side. This fact is what I believe separates Miami from any other program of the last 25 years. Today’s focus: the 2002 Fiesta Bowl losing edition.

While the 2001 team gets all the national recognition, and more than deservedly so, I will always prefer the 2002 edition. I always enjoy the naysaying being silenced, and this entire season was full of them. The schedule on paper looked extremely daunting, with Florida and Tennessee on the road, to go along with a presumably more experienced Chris Rix and his Florida State squad (0-5 career what!). Here is a rather positive preview from NationalChamps.net, picking Miami to lose one game but still make the Fiesta Bowl and play for the title once again. 

Losing so many first round NFL draft picks seemed too difficult a task to overcome to repeat as champs. However, lest our immediate history is already past minds forget, and not unlike USC now, Miami famously reloaded. Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Willis McGahee, Vernon Carey, Antrel Rolle…..all were backups and special teams stars in 2001. Little did any of us know these guys would arguable be better than the recent versions. 

Game 1: @Miami 63, Florida A&M 17

The “pre-season” opener against Florida A&M went as intended; a warm-up. Up 42-0 at halftime, FAMU was sacked 7 times, and hopefully Miami didn’t have to extort themselves too heavily to get FAMU to play at the ole OB for a class 1 whooping. Suprisingly, at least when looking back, Jason Geathers had 199 yards rushing. I’m sure after this week we all thought we had our new Clinton Portis, a week later this would still be the case. 

Game 2: Miami 41, @Florida 16

The real opener to the season.  If I remember correctly I think Miami might have been a mental underdog, if not an actual Vegas dog. Florida was coming off a 10-2 Orange Bowl thumping of media darling Illinois the year prior, but the Ole Ball Coach decided he’d had enough of the unrealistic expectations and peaced out. I remember watching this game on tv, and being worried relatively late when Miami was holding an 11 point lead and Rex Grossman had UF inside UM’s 10 yard line. Maurice Sikes, 99 yards, and six points later, the score was 34-16, and this game was effectively over. Willis broke out on the national stage, rushing for over 200 yards, and I told anyone I knew in Michigan how I was in English 101 with McGahee. What a nerd. Although Miami was #1 entering this game, in reality they “were back” once again in the minds of the nation, back to being the odds on favorite to reach the Fiesta Bowl. 

Game 3: Miami 44, @Temple 21

Nothing shocking here, other than Miami being up only 10 at halftime. Woke up in the 2nd half, cruised to their expected win. 

Game 4: @Miami 38, Boston College 6

The curse of Flutie. Miami beat BC every time they played after the infamous 1984 game, all the way until the final days of Coker and his motivation less squads ruining another great streak. I can’t find an article to this one, no doubt because the year prior was where the real fireworks occurred. This year was business as usual, retribution of sorts for causing high stress levels for Canes fans nation wide the previous year. 

Game 5: @Miami 48, Connecticut 14

Another tune up to the FSU tilt a week later, the Huskies proved no match for the brooding juggernaut of Miami. Connecticut was actually still an independent this season, in their lead up to joining the Big East. Again with no success locating any archives, we can treat this UConn team like a Southern Directional school as they had just emerged from D1AA, and not waste any more time.

Game 6: @Miami 28, Florida State 27

Probably the most exciting Miami game I’ve ever watched on TV. FSU had lost to a medicore Louisville squad two weeks prior, but was 5-1 coming in and ranked in the mid teens. I recall Bobby Bowden saying if his Seminoles could defeat the #1 Canes it would drive them right up the polls and propel them to a great  year, not unlike similar scenarios in the independent 80s days. Little did Grandpa Bowden realize, but in the land of the conference play, especially the ACC prior to their grand larceny in 2003, you have to win all your games first and argue later. Nevertheless, Miami would use some of their typical late game heroics and pull this one out of their Ibis asses. We all know about the Wide Left, and it indeed was fantastic. From about midway through the 3rd quarter, I succeeded defeat and starting envisioning all scenarios where Miami could still make it to Tempe. Then Willis and Geathers happened. Never again would I doubt a Miami team late in a game to make a come back, and that to me is the best part of being a Canes fan. When comparing to growing up a Michigan fan, as I did, you could pop a diamond out of a coal miners ass who rooted for Michigan in the Lloyd Carr years. The 2004 FSU tilt would prove my faith in this theory, as I truly enjoyed that game envisioning a victory the entire time. Back to this game however. Wide Left, game over, Miami moves on.

Game 7: Miami 40, @West Virginia 23

After a week off to revel in the FSU comeback, and to in theory fix their run defense, WVU didn’t break stride and ran all over the Hurricanes. 363 rushing yards later, the Mountaineers proved Miami had some serious problems with their front 7, but still couldn’t produce a victory. Miami had a couple of their infamous one minute drives to open the game up early and late, sandwiched by a WVU mini comeback. In the end, Rich Rodriguez’s offense inability to pass proved their downfall.

Game 8: Miami 42, @Rutgers 17

This was the game when Miami came out flat on all facets of the game, and I believe it was tied at halftime. Then they were behind in the 4th quarter. And this was old school Rutgers! As in 1-7 coming in, and played one competitive game each year against Temple. This was astounding that is was close for that long. As was the custom, Miami realized it was light years ahead of Schiano’s group, and blew them out running in the 2nd stanza. But again, a trend was being established, of Miami playing down to competition, of not being as hungry for that title that Ed Reed wouldn’t let them forget about the year prior. 

Game 9: Miami 26, @Tennessee 3

After falling to #2 in the polls due to their disgusting play the week prior, Tennessee started the game off with a field goal, and decided that was enough for them. Game over. Volunteer QBs were sacked 7 times, and managed only 77 passing yards in total. Willis ran roughshod again on the national SEC stage, breaking off 145 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee wasn’t all that great coming in, but this win in Knoxville combined with the early season victory in the Swamp quieted all the critics from the previous weeks follies with RU and WVU. I’d love to get a schedule like this in the coming years. An away game against an SEC opponent mid to late in the year is great entertainment. I remember the best part of this game was President Shalala coming into the booth for a cameo, and when asked where she was taking her next road trip with the Canes, she made no attempt at political correctness, didn’t play coy, showed no hesitation, and said flatly “The Fiesta Bowl.” Great television. 

Game 10: @Miami 28, Pittsburgh 21

Another Thursday night showcase game, which nearly always benefits the underdog at home and away, Miami snuck out a victory to stay undefeated. After this victory they finally overtook Ohio State for the top spot in the BCS standings, and with OSU’s season ending (ridiculously) on that third weekend of November, Miami knew they could not lose even one and make it up in the polls this late. 

Game 11: Miami 49, @Syracuse 7

Always great to watch a game played in the Carrier Dome. Raucous crowd (at least back when they could still score points), fast field, nice tradition of the program. Of course, this game was really just a continuation of the year before, a 59-0 embarrassment  of an eventual 10-win team at the Orange Bowl, where Bryant McKinnie tossed Dwight Freeney’s salad and fed it back to him for a late lunch. This was the beginning of the end for the Syracuse program, still in the hole created during these lean years. 

Game 12: @Miami 56, Virginia Tech 45

Very odd to have a non conference title game season finish in December. Many fans forget in 2001, after getting pure revenge on Washington for the 2000 lone loss, with Miami players brandishing roses in their teeth on the sidelines, Virginia Tech was a two point conversion away from sending the game into overtime and possibly ruining Miami’s greatest team and season. Ah, revisionist history. The final score of this one looked somewhat close, but in actuality Miami was comfortably ahead for the duration. Dorsey has another highly efficient game with 60% completion rate and 300 yards passing, and McGahee rushing over 200 yards again, and a crazy total of six touchdowns. Miami fans across the nation were booking flights and hotels to Tempe. 

Game 13: Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 31, Miami 24

I despise Ohio State. Let me just get that out of the way. I grew up a Michigan fan, and these were the John Cooper years. To Wolverine fans, 2-10-1 is the sound of a free hooker who has UAW membership. Knowing this, 2002 was the worst time of my college football fandom. I don’t think anything will top it. Michigan nearly beating an undefeated Ohio State on the road, with their shiny new coach, followed by Miami losing to the white trash scripted Ohio two months later? Not a nice two months for me. That said, you will not hear any redundant negative rehashing from me. We did enough of that years ago.

I still remember verbatim the events as I was watching the game with my Big Ten friends, all either Michigan or Michigan State fans, who were practicing the ridiculous art of rooting pro-conference, cheering against Miami, not caring the atrocities they were committing in terms of the rules of pure fandom. Once “The Incident” happened, all eyes turned to me. What would the Miami fan say? How would he react? Everyone in house knew the absurdity of the call. I calmly replied, “That call didn’t make them lose. The game isn’t over. It’s overtime. Miami has to win it again.” And that was that.

Over six years later, I can watch this game on ESPN Classic and appreciate the overall beauty of the Miami program. Seeing the official breakout party of Sean Taylor, after no one thought anyone could replace #20, we knew we were back in terms of talent. Battling back each time Ohio State’s fantastic game plan would put them ahead, and that kick by Todd Sievers to send it into OT?! How does no one remember this moment? Everyone figured it was an after thought he would make it, but it was a 40 yard kick on the final play! Or the 4th down conversion Derrik Crudup made coming in off the sideline cold when Dorsey was knocked out for one play? Ugh, I am starting to get angry again researching this game. I can’t help it. Rawr!

Not unlike the 1986 juggernaut, this 2002 team committed costly turnovers, five in total, that would prove it’s downfall. Still, a fantastic season. Should Miami have won, this team would be on par with Godfather 2 status to the Godfather 1 status of the 2001 team. In 2004 they set the first round NFL draft day record, all from players who starred on this 2002 squad. However, just like you will never win the argument that the sequel starring a tour de force Pacino is better than the original, all because Brando isn’t in it, it is the same with my favorite Canes team ever. No title? No respect. We’ll always have Gainesville.

How in the name of The Judge did this great story slip through the cracks? Miami has already taken over the NFL in the past fifteen years, and no doubt will conquer the Hall of Fame for the next twenty. But heavyweight boxing? Now that would be something to hang your 1946 Frankfield fedora hat on. 

National title contributing FB Quadtrine Hill is attempting a career in the ring. 

“I took to it right away, my learning curve is really high,” said Hill, 26, of Sunrise, who has shadow boxed with Klitschko. “I have always been a person who felt if I boxed I would be great at it. A great athlete, for the most part, is if he has a good head on his shoulders and put the right amount of work into it, you could turn him pretty much into anything you want.”

From what I hear, Q in the ring is fast like Sinorice and smooth like Ginuwine. And if you get that latter reference then you are laughing right now.

As I sit in my living room, on my comfy couch, a built in chaise, sipping on a Diet Dew, complaining about my quads hurting after running a mere 2 miles, waiting for my Chicken Cordon Bleu to finish baking, I sure do feel like a major pussy. Seems Swasey has brutally tortured our beloved Canes on their first day back for off-season strength and conditioning. 

JaScory’s Facebook status reads “32 110’s…… I feel like Jesus, Nobody can’t tell me nothing right now.” Demarcus Van Dyke? ”32 100s = sleep …..Swasey is not playing this year!” Hole. E. Fuckin. Shit. From minions deep within the program’s conditioning history, I gather 16 110’s was the norm in past years. Gassers, as most teams call them, are some of the hardest mental workouts you can attempt. Not even taking in account the humidity of South Florida in late May. I think I’d rather sprint a mile in hiking boots than do 32 fucking 110 yard gassers. 

We all know this is great news. The 2004 FSU game was won in the off season. Same with 2002. Your talent will get you 7 wins a year, your coaching another 2 you maybe shouldn’t have, and your conditioning, equating to depth, will finish out the difference between a 9-3 Gator Bowl trip to Jax and an 11-1 Sugar Bowl demolishing of whatever SEC team dares to bestow their conference superiority arrogance against a resurgent Canes team. Keep them lungs burning Swasey!

Fantastically candid interview with Randy Shannon, from Bruce Feldman. The guy can do no wrong when writing about the Canes. Four (!!!) first round picks potential in 2011???? Woooo Eeeeeee!!!

If you are a Canes fan, have an IQ over 80 (hard to find, I know) and don’t get excited reading this, then my friend, you should give up on life.

 

The ACC has finally come to the realization that us fans have known for years: the Blue Turf in late December blows. Especially when, more often than not, you are literally playing an away game against Boise State if they decide to not go undefeated that year. 

Now this is not to say Mobile is much better. Late December in Alabama is not exactly South Florida. At least it is SEC country, fans will show up, hopefully even neutral ones. The ACC can easily garner one more postseason win against presumably C-USA opponents, and cut down on some travel costs. Do I want Miami playing here? Um, no.

I do like the uniqueness of Miami playing in cold weather cities. Busting out the all whites, with most players sporting some white under gear as well. Pure college football beauty*. Alas. Chesnut Hill every two years will have to suffice.

 

 

*Best jersey combo in all of college football? Texas’ all white away jerseys, with their all white helmets, and burnt orange “trim” all over. Delish.

Spencer Adkins kept the overall draft streak of Miami alive and well. Not since 1974 has a player from Miami not been drafted. If the streak ended, who really cares? I know I didn’t. But, when Miami is back to laying DefCon 1 to the rest of the nation, we’ll all be happy each April as the streak continues. Just ask any Michigan fan come late December for the next three years. 

Now on to the more important subject matter. After speaking with my Canes Consiglieri, we have agreed that the Atlanta Falcons ownership should begin to build a team of all Canes. Now, I don’t mean the best of the best, although that would also be an obvious idea. No, I am merely speaking of Atlanta filling their roster with former University of Miami players. Not only would this team rival any on the field (sans QB of course), but the publicity, good and bad, would drive up the national interest for these Atlanta Canes so high, the ownership would revel in the dough. In deciding our NFL city to base these Canes, and after throwing out Baltimore, current home of the closest thing Miami has to an NFL alumni team, we decided Hotlanta, the capital of the South, would easily suffice. Think of the self pride these new look Atlanta Falcons would play with! Their natural desire, each and every week, to prove they are better than all! Think of the hatred from opposing teams’ fans! Their need to destroy those cocky, obnoxious, bastard thugs from Miami! I get giddy just thinking about it.

The Dolphins would’ve be the natural location choice in this matter, but seeing as players currently all live in Atlanta in the off season, and I just plain don’t like the Dolphins, they were scratched. I’ll draft my letter to Athur Blank in the morning, you provide the signatures.

Man, news has been slow. As. Shit around here. With the Canes spring game finishing before spring break, this dead period will not see an end anytime soon. 

I know Gino’s career is too far removed for most of today’s high school athletes to appreciate (including myself), but it still is one more arguing point in the overall totals. His announcement into the College Football Hall of Fame, no matter his disastrous pro career, is a great day for Miami football. I think we all forget how great Gino truly was. QB of two title teams, and also the great ‘92 team that coughed it up to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. This guy was Dorsey before Dorsey knew what a 4 TD game courtesy of being surrounded by first round talent was. 

One question, after reading the accompanying article: How in the name of Michael Irvin are there only three other players in the College Football HOF?? Seriously? I don’t know off hand the requirements for inclusion, if it is like Cooperstown, with its near impossible entry, or Springfield Mass, where they let near anyone in. But come on! It’s not like those 5 national title teams, amongst another handful of title losing teams, were full of Penn State style overrated role players, coming together as one, for the betterment of JoePa’s win total. These were superstar laden clubs full of superstar laden personalities. Yet another media snub. Round the wagons, we going on a rampage*! 

 

*circa 2010, please be patient!