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Potential exists for FSU, Miami to share title

By BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 24, 2000

Now here's a voting process that really would split the state of Florida.

How about a national championship shared by Florida State and Miami?

It could happen. Here's how.

Let's assume -- a dangerous proposition, of course -- Oklahoma wins out, Miami defeats Boston College on Saturday and Florida State keeps its No. 2 position in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

That would mean an Oklahoma-Florida State showdown in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.

If Florida wins the Southeastern Conference title, the Gators would head to the Sugar Bowl, where it's possible they could renew their rivalry with Miami for the first time since 1987.

But the Hurricanes could be playing for more than pride.

Although the winner of the Oklahoma-Florida State game would be declared the national champion by the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, the writers voting for the Associated Press poll have no obligation to vote the winner the champion.

And because the Hurricanes are ranked second in both polls -- and defeated FSU -- what would keep the writers from giving Miami the No. 1 spot with a bowl victory over Florida?

"Clearly, if you're not in (the Orange Bowl), you're going to play somebody that's pretty good," UM coach Butch Davis said. "You never know how the writers are going to vote. Depends on the outcome of the other game. There's a lot of scenarios that can happen."

The Hurricanes need lots of help to pass the Seminoles in the BCS standings. Unless Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State or to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, a slew of scenarios would have to unfold for FSU to drop behind Miami in the complicated formula.

So maybe it's better for Miami to think about the alternative. After all, it does no good to complain about being ranked behind FSU when the Hurricanes are ahead of Washington -- which beat UM 34-29 on Sept. 9.

And one factor of the BCS -- the polls -- has given UM credit for beating FSU by ranking the Hurricanes second, ahead of the third-ranked Seminoles.

"We kind of blame ourselves because if we would have went to Washington and taken care of business, it would have been us hands down," UM receiver Reggie Wayne said. "We got our own selves in this predicament."

"We've reconciled ourselves the last couple of years that we're going to do everything possible to play the best we can, and there are some things that are out of our control," Davis said. "We beat the No. 1 team (Florida State), the No. 2 team (Virginia Tech). We've done everything you can, and that's all you can ask a football team to do."

COACHING COMMODITY: Texas Christian's Dennis Franchione might be among the hottest coaching prospects. He's being mentioned as a candidate at Missouri and Arizona State while TCU is trying to put together a rumored seven-year, $7-million contract extension to keep him in Forth Worth.

All the interest in Franchione is understandable. TCU is ranked 13th and is 9-1 for the first time since 1955. The Horned Frogs have not won 10 games in a season since 1938, and they close the season against SMU.

Since a 1-10 season in 1997 under former coach Pat Sullivan, TCU has gone 7-5, 8-4 and 9-1 under Franchione and will play in a school-record three consecutive bowl games.

To get Franchione, another school likely would have to take care of the $1-million buyout clause in his contract. But according to his contract, the buyout would be less expensive for four schools: Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M and Arizona State, which recently fired Bruce Snyder.

MORE COACHING: Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer says he is happy at his alma mater, but it's difficult not to listen when Alabama comes calling. At the very least, it should help him get another raise. Beamer's contract was upgraded substantially two years ago. North Carolina, which fired Carl Torbush this week, also is said to be interested in Beamer, whose pay reportedly is $750,000 and likely will go to more than $1-million.

"I honestly believe Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech are as good a match as there is in college football," Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said. "I believe making his situation better is the right thing to do. Hopefully, he'll coach here through the rest of his career."

STILL MOURNING: Last year's Texas-Texas A&M game was marred by the Aggies' bonfire tragedy that killed 12 A&M students. Texas coach Mack Brown said the game should not have been played.

"How can you talk about a football game when 12 young people lost their lives?" Brown said. "I know I didn't do a good job of handling it last year because it really bothered me. The rivalry will be fine. I worry about the families of those children and how they'll feel this year."

The 1999 game was played, and Texas A&M pulled out an emotional 20-16 victory. Today's game is the 106th meeting between the schools.

"I don't necessarily dislike that team," Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer said. "But I do want to kill them. I want to shut down my man. I want us to put up as many points as we can. And I don't want them to score any points at all."

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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