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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 10, 2002
CORAL GABLES -- The debate has started: Are the top-ranked Hurricanes better than last season? Maybe the best ever?
The Hurricanes last season embarrassed Penn State and Florida State on the road, hammered Syracuse and Washington at the Orange Bowl and won close games against Boston College and Virginia Tech with late defensive stops.
They outscored opponents 475-103 in the regular season and thumped Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl to finish 12-0 for a fifth national championship.
Three months later, 11 'Canes were selected in the NFL draft, including a record five first-rounders. How could they be better?
"From what I see, it's Miami and the rest of the world," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose No. 9 Seminoles play at Miami on Saturday.
Bowden's not alone:
Florida coach Ron Zook, whose Gators lost 41-16 to the Hurricanes on Sept. 7: "I think you're going to find out that Miami is maybe better than it was last year, if that's possible."
Boston College coach Tom O'Brien, whose Eagles lost 38-6 to the Hurricanes on Sept. 21: "I think they're more explosive on offense than last year, especially with that tailback (Willis McGahee). That tailback is a difference-maker."
Connecticut coach Randy Edsall, whose Huskies lost 48-14 to the Hurricanes on Saturday: "These guys should be playing on Sundays and Mondays. Not Saturdays. I think they'll run the table again and be the national champions."
Coach Larry Coker has heard the compliments, but they haven't convinced him to make plans for the national title game in the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl at Tempe, Ariz.
"I think it's a setup," Coker said. "I hope people are saying that two years from now, five years from now. We have excellent talent, but so does Florida State and Florida. ... Everybody has talent."
Also, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., cornerback Al Marshall and safety Sean Taylor are expected to regain their starting jobs this week after being punished for violating team policy. The three did not start against UConn. "We're just making sure the academic part of their life is in order," Coker said.
AUBURN: Brandon Cox, a freshman quarterback who left school in two-a-day practices after experiencing health problems, hopes to return in January and participate in spring workouts. Cox was Alabama's "Mr. Football" as a senior at Hewitt-Trussville and one of the Tigers' most coveted recruits. The week before he returned home to Trussville, Cox suffered a concussion in a single-car accident. He was diagnosed with a muscle degenerative disease three years ago, and he said the medicine can cause double vision. Doctors slowly have weaned him from the drug.
NEW MEXICO: Starting quarterback Kole McKamey was suspended for one game, coach Rocky Long said after police cited the freshman for underage drinking. McKamey, who got the starting job last week, will miss Saturday's game at UNLV and will be replaced by senior Justin Millea. McKamey replaced Casey Kelly, who broke his arm in the Lobos' Sept. 27 loss to Texas Tech. Also, running back Tony Frazier and safety Gabriel Fulbright were suspended for academic problems.
TENNESSEE: Coach Phillip Fulmer said quarterback Casey Clausen was "making progress" and denied reports the third-year starter has a hairline fracture in his left collarbone. Clausen has not practiced after hurting his non-throwing shoulder in Saturday's 41-38 six-overtime win over Arkansas. Fulmer said Clausen was probable for Saturday against Georgia.
VANDERBILT: Norval McKenzie, the team's leading rusher, broke his right leg in the closing minutes of Tuesday's practice. He had replaced Ronald Hatcher, who broke his leg in the second game of the season. Freshman Kwane Doster replaces McKenzie as the starter.
IOWA WESLEYAN: Quarterback D. Bryant has been declared ineligible by the NAIA. Bryant transferred after being declared academically ineligible at Duke, where he started for two years. A player who transfers after being academically ineligible must sit out two semesters.