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Univerisity of Miami game-by-game

By MICHAEL SNYDER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 30, 2001

SEPT. 1 AT PENN STATE: On paper, this should be an easy opener for the 'Canes. The Nittany Lions are coming off a disastrous 5-7 season and UM is loaded. But Joe Paterno, who needs two victories to pass Paul "Bear" Bryant for the most wins in major college football history, isn't likely to repeat that. And playing in front of 100,000-plus rabid fans won't make the task any easier. This is a game UM must take control of early to keep the fans out of it. Expect the 'Canes to be flying high as well in Larry Coker's head-coaching debut.

SEPT. 8 VS. RUTGERS: The Scarlet Knights are traditionally one of the weakest programs on the college landscape. Rutgers went 3-8 last year after going 1-10 in 1999. UM leads the series 8-0 and has scored at least 51 points in the past three meetings at the Orange Bowl. Miami crushed Rutgers 64-6 last year and should do likewise this time.

SEPT. 15 VS. WASHINGTON: This is a game many of the 'Canes have circled on the schedule. Last season's 34-29 loss to the Huskies cost Miami a chance to play Oklahoma for the national championship. Marques Tuiasosopo has departed and sophomore Cody Pickett, who attempted all of two passes in 2000, takes over at quarterback. Washington also has a young secondary that likely will have 'Canes QB Ken Dorsey salivating. And this time around it's the Huskies who have to make the cross-country journey.

SEPT. 27 AT PITTSBURGH: The Panthers have been showing improvement the last few seasons, culminating in last year's 7-5 record and Insight.com Bowl appearance against Iowa State. They also have talent, especially at receiver. But don't let that fool you. UM hasn't lost to Pittsburgh since its bottoming out season of 1997. The Hurricanes have outscored the Panthers 106-20 the last three meetings.

OCT. 6 VS. TROY STATE: This is a breather in the schedule, nothing more. Troy State went 9-3 last season and returns 12 starters. The Trojans also are two-time defending Southland Conference champions. But they aren't in Miami's league and are playing this game -- as well as road trips to Nebraska, Mississippi State and Maryland -- for financial reasons, not competitive ones.

OCT. 13 AT FLORIDA STATE: Easily the biggest game of the season, this one or any other. Miami finally beat FSU last season after losing the annual matchup five straight years. The 'Canes are not intimidated playing at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. They almost won the last meeting on Seminoles' turf. This year's FSU edition has less of the big-name flash, but the talent is still there. FSU hasn't lost at home since 1991, a 52-game streak, but the team that beat the 'Noles that day was UM.

OCT. 25 VS. WEST VIRGINIA: Longtime Mountaineers coach Don Nehlen has retired, handing over the program to Rich Rodriguez, a Tommy Bowden protege. West Virginia was a respectable 7-5 last year but will be hard-pressed to improve on that even in the weak Big East. Miami won 47-10 last year, and that was in Morgantown where the 'Canes struggle. This one shouldn't be difficult.

NOV. 3 VS. TEMPLE: This is Miami's annual chance to pad its stats against the Big East doormat. Miami leads the series 9-1, but that loss occurred when the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression. UM won 45-17 last season in Philadelphia. The Owls, who actually won four games in 2000, will no longer compete in the Big East after this season.

NOV. 10 AT BOSTON COLLEGE: This could be a surprisingly tough game. UM leads the series 19-3, but usually struggles at Chestnut Hill. Miami has won the last 11 dating to the infamous Hail Flutie game in 1984 at the Orange Bowl, but the last two road games have been close. In 1997, Miami won 45-44 in double overtime. In 1999, the 'Canes had to come back from a 28-0 deficit, their biggest comeback ever, to eke out a 31-28 win.

NOV. 17 VS. SYRACUSE: Coming off a 6-5 season, expect more mediocrity from the Orangemen. After losing two in a row, including a 66-13 embarrassment in the Carrier Dome in 1998, Miami has won the last two meetings in impressive fashion. What once looked like it had the makings of a rivalry now looks decidedly one-sided.

DEC. 1 AT VIRGINIA TECH: Among the many demons Butch Davis exorcised last season before jumping ship for the Cleveland Browns, was an 0-5 streak against the Hokies. Miami won 41-21 at the Orange Bowl last year. Virginia Tech is Miami's only obstacle to a cakewalk to the Big East Championship. The Hokies have 17 starters back from last year's squad. The 'Canes' last trip to Blacksburg was a 43-10 disaster. This year, it may be the only thing standing between Miami and an 11-0 record.

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