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Belittled foe a bad match for 'Canes

Nebraska may appear unworthy, but option attack might give it best shot of beating Miami in title game.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 3, 2002

PASADENA, Calif. -- For all the bellyaching about the BCS, for all the talk about computers and conspiracies, there is a sense of irony to the whole situation. Miami, perhaps more than any pundit, did not want Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. And absence of merit isn't the reason. The Hurricanes have toed the line, said all the right things, propped up the opponent in true conciliatory pregame style. Nebraska is deserving, all right. Maybe too deserving.

When the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes (11-0) take on the fourth-ranked Cornhuskers (11-1) tonight in the Rose Bowl with college football's national championship at stake, they may have wished all those BCS scenarios had worked out differently.

Despite reports to the contrary, Nebraska is a big hurdle in Miami's path to a fifth national championship. Sure, the Cornhuskers looked feeble in their last outing, a 62-36 whipping at Colorado. The defense, however, is better than that, good enough to bloody the noses of the Hurricanes and ruin championship celebrations.

Then there is Nebraska's offense, led by quarterback Eric Crouch, the Heisman Trophy winner. He put up 360 yards of total offense at Colorado. He runs and pitches and operates an option attack that Miami is not used to seeing. And if he's on the field for sustained periods, UM is not getting a shot at exposing the supposedly weak Nebraska defense.

Face it: Miami might have had its way with second-ranked Oregon had the Ducks and quarterback Joey Harrington made it to Pasadena. The 'Canes also would have matched up favorably with Florida, despite the passing prowess of Rex Grossman. Even Colorado, a power running team, would have presented fewer problems than Nebraska.

"Sure, I would love to play a passing team," UM cornerback Philip Buchanon said. "But unfortunately, we can't. We have to play a running team, one that runs more than they pass. They try to catch you off guard."

Miami leads the nation in scoring defense (9.4 points) and turnover ratio (plus-2.36). The 'Canes are first in passing defense, allowing 138.2 yards per game. And they are first in passing efficiency defense.

All of which means little against a team that doesn't make a living off the passing game.

"Our best opportunity to make anything happen against their defense is just to be physical," Crouch said. "That's what our offense has been all about. It's running, it's power football. You try to wear them down. We feel to win a national championship we have to run the football."

And if you're looking for a soft spot in the Miami defense, it's against the run. UM is a pedestrian 40th in the country, yielding 132.7 yards per game. Florida State, not noted for its rushing attack, got 142 yards between tailbacks Nick Maddox and Greg Jones.

Perhaps more alarming was Virginia Tech's effort Dec. 1. The Hokies, who employ some option, got 160 yards on 24 carries from tailback Kevin Jones. The Hurricanes were burned on several option plays.

"They ran the option on us about 10 plays, and they gained like 130 yards," UM defensive tackle Matt Walters said. "If I was Nebraska and I saw that and the option was my main weapon, I would probably get excited."

"We probably would rather face a passing team," safety Edward Reed said. "The challenge is tougher (against Nebraska). But you just have to prepare for who you play. That's what makes great teams great. You have to prepare for whoever you're going to face."

The good news is, the Hurricanes have had several weeks to get a feel for the option. It is a difficult offense to defend, but easier when given time. Miami's speed also is a huge plus.

But then, how do you prepare for Crouch? No scout team, no amount of practice time, can provide the same feel. Crouch scored 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,115 yards, and he pitched to a running back, Dahrran Diedrick, who scored 15 touchdowns and rushed for a Big 12-leading 1,299 yards. Nebraska leads the nation in rushing at 315 yards per game.

It doesn't help Miami that starting outside linebacker Chris Campbell will be out. Campbell had his best game of the season against Virginia Tech, then had routine arthroscopic knee surgery. Because of an infection, he won't be able to play. Howard Clark, who backs up all three linebacker positions, will start.

"There's a lot of athletes over there who can make plays, and they're a really fast defense," Diedrick said. "But all we have to do is do what we do best, and that's run the football right at them. All we do is keep running and running. If they don't stop it, we win."

The Cornhuskers will be running with plenty of purpose. This is the Bowl Championship Series title game, but there are plenty who view the Cornhuskers as an unworthy participant. Should they win, they will be crowned national champions by the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll.

But the Associated Press writers poll does not have to choose the winner of this game. If Nebraska wins, the AP poll could vote No. 2 Oregon, which defeated third-ranked Colorado on Tuesday in the Fiesta Bowl, the national champion. Miami would make it moot with a victory.

Such talk has been bubbling beneath the surface for several weeks. Miami is favored by eight points, unheard-of territory for Nebraska.

"For once, the pressure's off," Crouch said. "We're the underdog, which allows us to relax. We've taken a lot of heat since the Colorado game, and the negative things that are said just motivate us.

"You can see it in the guys' eyes. You can sense it. I think it's going to make us play better than we're even capable of."

Which doesn't make this the greatest matchup for Miami.

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