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It takes some time, but the 'Canes shake off Troy State 38-7 in their last game before a showdown with FSU.
By MICHAEL SNYDER
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 7, 2001
MIAMI -- Bring on the Seminoles.
But whether Miami is ready for them remains to be seen.
Playing against Troy State, recently elevated to Division I-A, the No. 1 ranked Hurricanes were befuddled early Saturday before beating the Trojans 38-7 before 36,616 at the Orange Bowl.
With No. 16 Florida State due up next week in Tallahassee, UM fans have to hope that the 'Canes were looking ahead -- and that 50-point underdog Troy State is better than credited.
"It was a less than beautiful win," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "I don't think we played with a lot of emotion ... a lot of confidence. We were a little flat-footed."
Ken Dorsey completed 18 of 30 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns before exiting in the third quarter so Derrick Crudup could get experience.
"I'm all for it," Dorsey said. "It's not as if the team suffered when I came out of the game."
Miami rushed for 101 yards, a season low, led by Willis McGahee's 45 on 11 carries.
It wasn't the first time the Trojans (1-3) had played a stronger opponent tough early. Troy State trailed Nebraska 14-7 at the half before losing 42-14 in the opener. "I saw what they did to Nebraska," Coker said. "It's what they did to us."
Troy State's Demontray Carter (78 yards) and DeWhitt Betterson (96) put up solid rushing numbers as the Trojans totaled 155 rushing yards. "It was just a lackadaisical effort," UM center Brett Romberg said. "We came out flat. We didn't come out and do what we're coached to do."
Whether that effort hurts Miami (4-0) in the polls will be known today. A lackluster 42-31 win over Louisiana Tech last year cost the 'Canes in the polls.
"Our goal today was not to impress the voters," Coker said. "Our goal was to play a lot of reserves and come out of the game healthy. We could have scored a lot more points and held them to seven if we left Dorsey in."
The Hurricanes drove to Troy State's 29-yard-line on its opening drive, but failed on fourth and 3. A pass to Daryl Jones was good for only 2 yards.
Carter, an Auburn transfer, was Troy State's best weapon early. Two runs for 39 total yards put the Trojans in good field position at the Miami 33 on their first possession but seven plays later Drew Boteler clanged the ball of the right upright after a bad snap.
UM needed only four plays and 1:10 to get in the end zone as Dorsey found Andre Johnson on a slant from 11 yards.
Trojans quarterback Brock Nutter was solid early, completing 13 of 17 in the first half for 149 yards. His 2-yard pass to LeBarron Black tied the score at 7 to end the first quarter and capped an 11 play, 80-yard drive. But that was the extent of the Trojans' scoring.
"They're the No. 1 team in the nation," Nutter said. "They wanted to come out and jump on us early, and get some work in for next week. When you come to the No. 1 team's place, they're daring you to give them a game."
That's exactly -- for almost a half -- what the Trojans, who won two national titles in Division II in the 1980s, did.
"They came out and a very good game plan," UM defensive tackle Matt Walters said. "They were aggressive and kept us on our heels. They had us sitting back a little bit. That's a good job by their coaches."
Todd Sievers' 34-yard field goal and a 22-yard TD from Dorsey to Kevin Beard put UM ahead 17-7 at the half.
Miami opened the second half looking like a team ready to put a quick end to the game -- and start thinking about FSU. Safety Edward Reed picked off Nutter and returned the ball 27 yards for a score.
"That was a momentum turner," Reed said.
"It took us a half to get going," Romberg said. "We can't do that next week or we'll come out with a loss. We need to take every game like a championship game."