Miami loses 12 starters, but there are no worries. High expectations abound yet again.
By BOB HARIG
Published August 28, 2003
“Maybe it’s the Miami mystique. There are high expectations here. The guys have responded,” says Miami coach Larry Coker.
[AP]
CORAL GABLES - Now in his third year as coach and approaching a decade on the Miami staff, Larry Coker still marvels at what he has at his disposal:
An abundance of talented players who love to practice, compete and uphold the Miami tradition of excellence.
That is why Coker expects no dropoff this season, despite the loss of 12 starters, including several key performers, from last year's 12-1 team that lost to Ohio State in the national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl.
"Maybe it's the Miami mystique," said Coker, 55, who was UM's offensive coordinator under Butch Davis before becoming coach and going 24-1. "There are high expectations here. The guys have responded. They really want to excel and do the very best they can. And obviously they see maybe an opportunity at the next level if they play well. I think our players sense that this is a special place."
That is why, despite the loss of record-setting players such as quarterback Ken Dorsey, tailback Willis McGahee and receiver Andre Johnson, the Hurricanes expect their offense to be as explosive.
That is why, despite big holes on the defensive line, the Hurricanes expect their defense to be as dominant.
And that is why, despite having to replace a solid kicker (Todd Sievers) and punter (Freddie Capshaw), the Hurricanes expect no problems with special teams.
In short, the Hurricanes will be disappointed if they do not win the Big East title and again contend for the national championship.
"We just reload," said senior linebacker Jonathan Vilma, one of two starters left from the 2001 national championship team. "The young guys see how it is, what it takes to win, how they have to put in the work, the time and the effort. And they do that. It's not a matter of who's young, who's not. If they're talented enough, they step up and play. That's what the secondary did last year. That's what our (defensive) line has to do this year."
The same is expected on offense, where Dorsey went 38-2 as a starter, McGahee shattered the school touchdown record for a season with 28 and Johnson left early for the NFL (third overall pick) after averaging 21 yards per reception.
Brock Berlin, a former Florida quarterback and high school phenom from Louisiana, steps in for Dorsey after a year on the sideline because of transfer rules. Berlin won a hotly-contested quarterback race in the spring over Derrick Crudup, whose family charged racism after Coker made his decision, then backed off.
McGahee seems a tough act to follow, except that Frank Gore had beaten out McGahee for the position before injuring a knee during spring practice in 2002. And though Johnson will be missed, he was not even the team's leading receiver - returning tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. caught 57 passes and promises to be a top draft pick after this season.
"We know what we can do," Berlin said. "We know what kind of players we are and what kind of players we're surrounded by. I'm surrounded by so many talented players. We're going to go out there and play our game. ... I think we'll pick up where (the offense) left off. We take it personal. We want to go out there and play well. We don't want to look like a bunch of fools. We'll be prepared, ready to go."
There are no guarantees, however, and the upset loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl is a constant reminder. The schedule is daunting, with Florida and Tennessee visiting the Orange Bowl and Florida State on the road. And with a last run through the Big East, the Hurricanes expect to get the best from conference foes, including nationally-ranked Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh on the road and Syracuse at home. "What gets me going around here are these players," said assistant coach Art Kehoe, part of the UM staff since 1982. "We have great kids and they're great workers and they're so competitive against each other. I like where our kids are. I like the attitude and the work ethic. That's what has made us great. Great players who work hard and have a great attitude."
