There is no valid reason why the football team should not contend for the national title next season.

I know that it had nine players drafted and set a record with six first round picks. However, at the University of Miami, there are always players ready to step up and fill the void.

The 2004 Miami Hurricanes may not be as good as last year’s team on paper, but they have a favorable schedule. The two toughest games on Miami’s schedule are Florida State and Virginia Tech, and both of those games will be played in the Orange Bowl. Their only tough road game will be in Raleigh, N.C., in October when the Hurricanes battle the N.C. State Wolfpack.

With an easy schedule, there is no reason why this team should not be a contender for the national title game. Brock Berlin returns for his second year as the starting quarterback. While Berlin is not the most popular guy on campus, he has a year of experience under his belt, and that should help him entering the 2004 season.

The running back situation is perhaps the most intriguing, with Frank Gore trying to battle back from another injury and Tyrone Moss battling to win the starting job. This means that Miami has a good backfield that is capable of making big plays and will help the offense.

The receivers are all a year older, which is good news for Ryan Moore, Darnell Jenkins, Roscoe Parrish, and Kevin Everett. Greg Olsen is a promising young tight end who should get some playing time. The Hurricanes offense should definitely be one of the nation’s best units, but it will all come down to Berlin and his ability to execute and make plays.

Defensively, the Hurricanes lost Vince Wilfork, D.J. Williams, Jonathan Vilma, Al Marshall, Mo Sikes, Darrell McClover, and Sean Taylor. However, the defense is not in bad shape for next season.

On the line, the Hurricanes will be led by Baraka Atkins, who could become one of the best pass rushers in the country. Santonio Thomas, Javon Nanton, Orien Harris and Thomas Carroll will play a big role as well. The defensive line will definitely miss Wilfork, but it should be able to absorb the blow.

The biggest area of concern, if you ask me, is the linebacker spot. The Hurricanes lost three linebackers to the NFL draft, including Vilma and Williams, their best two players at the position. If Willie Williams plays, he might be able to provide depth and give the Hurricanes a solid player, but they are lacking a lot of experience here. They have Rocky McIntosh, who has played some. They also have Leon Williams, who will be a senior, but has not played all that much in college. Other than that, they lack experience and could be the weak point of the Hurricanes defense.

Despite losing Taylor and Sikes, the secondary is in good shape for next season because of the return of Antrel Rolle. Rolle, who decided to stay for his senior year, gives the Hurricanes arguably the best cornerback in the nation. Along with Rolle, the ‘Canes have Kelly Jennings and Glenn Sharpe, who have big game experience. The safeties will be young, but they are very talented as Brandon Meriweather got to play a lot last season and strong safety Willie Cooper led the defense with eight tackles during spring practice.

Overall, the Hurricanes lost a lot of talent, but as is the norm in South Florida, they will reshuffle the deck and be poised to make another title run in 2004. If they beat Florida State in the first game of the season, they have a schedule that is favorable for them running the table. How sweet would it be for the first year in the ACC to result in a conference title and perhaps a national championship?

Darren Grossman can be contacted at d.grossman@umiami.edu.

Men’s Basketball

University of Miami basketball players Armondo Surratt and Karron Clarke have decided to leave the team and will not rejoin the Hurricanes next season, Head Coach Frank Haith announced Friday.

Surratt has been granted a release from the University and is eligible to transfer to another institution.

“We are disappointed that Armondo has decided to leave the University of Miami, but we are certainly respectful of his decision,” said Haith. “We will help him in any way possible with the transfer process and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Surratt (5-11, 173) played in all 30 games last season making 29 starts. He averaged 5.6 points and a team-high 4.0 assists per game. In his two seasons with the Hurricanes he played in 58 games, including 44 starts, and averaged 6.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest.

Clarke (6-6, 197) played in all 30 games last season averaging 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game. He was 26-81 (.321) from the field, including 5-36 (.139) from three-point range, and 35-52 (.673) from the line.

In other basketball news, Tim Fuller was named the new Director of Basketball Operations. Fuller had spent the last two seasons at Elon, Haith’s alma mater.

Women’s golf

The University of Miami women’s golf team received an at-large bid to the 2004 NCAA East Regional Women’s Golf Championship and will be the 17th-seed, May 6-8, at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. The regional berth is the first for the Hurricanes since 1998.

Miami, which finished second at the Big East Championships this past weekend, has finished in the top-5 of all 10 tournaments this season including a victory at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational, March 8-9. The win was Miami’s first since the fall of 1998.

Miami has been led this season by junior Tina Miller. Miller has recorded eight top-10s this season including two victories. She won the Cougar Classic, September 15-16, and the Beacon Woods Invitational, October 10-12 during the fall season. Miller currently leads the team with a 75.8 stroke average.

Seniors Camilla Hilland and Jazmin Cataldo give UM a very deep lineup. Hilland has four top-10s and has finished in the top-20 of four other events this season. Her 77.2 stroke average ranks second on the squad. Cataldo has a 78.0 stroke average this season, but has been one of the Hurricanes’ most consistent players this spring finishing among the top-3 Hurricanes in all five tournaments.

Head Coach Jim Morris found himself more than just a pitcher when J.D. Cockroft came to one of the pitcher/catcher camps a few years back. Cockroft has become Miami’s most consistent pitcher, whether it is out of the bullpen or in the starting rotation.

From Foster City, Calif., Cockroft attended Bellarmine College Prep, the same high school that produced former Hurricane great Pat Burrell.

Although Cockroft, a senior, has won the Ron Fraser Award the past two seasons for being the ‘Canes’ top pitcher, he was demoted from the No. 1 starting job at the beginning of the season. After a tough 3-0 loss to Florida on opening night in which his team got him no run support, things went downhill in a hurry and Morris put him in the bullpen. Cockroft took the switch hard.

“It really hurt,” Cockroft said. “Being the number one [starter] had been my goal ever since I got here and it seemed like everything I worked for was going down the drain.”

After five appearances out of the bullpen, a spot in the rotation opened up when Morris felt that starter Dan Touchet needed a couple weeks of rest due to a dead arm. Cockroft has taken full advantage of his opportunity.

“I think I pitched my way back into the role,” Cockroft said. “I’m pitching the best I’ve really pitched in a really long time. It really feels great to be back out there to set the tone for the series.”

His first start back in the rotation was against Florida State, where he went seven innings and only allowed three hits, as Miami shutout the Seminoles 10-0.

“I think I pitched my way back into the role. I’m pitching the best I’ve really pitched in a really long time. It really feels great to be back out there to set the tone for the series” -J.D. Cockroft

When watching Cockroft out on the mound, one immediately realizes that he isn’t a typical lefty pitcher. He doesn’t come after hitters with overpowering fastballs. Instead, he throws slow curveballs that drop out of the zone and changeups that are able to baffle even the best hitters in the country. Cockroft has always heard that he might not have what it takes to be a great pitcher, but he has proved skeptics wrong time and time again.

“I’ve been hearing that I wasn’t going to make it ever since I was a little kid,” Cockroft said. “But I took everything they said and made it fuel my desire to prove them wrong.”

Cockroft feels that there are benefits to not throwing as hard as some other pitchers. These help him when he’s out there on the mound starting, where he prefers to be.

“I’m the kind of pitcher that has good endurance,” Cockroft said. “I don’t throw as hard as the other guys do, but I feel it is an asset to me because I can go longer in games.

Cockroft takes every game the same way. Whether it is the last game of the College World Series or a midweek game against Campbell, he treats it as if the season is on the line. Morris feels that Cockroft has been a special part of his ball club during the past four years.

“He’s done a great job for us. No matter what role we’ve asked him to do, he has gotten it done,” Morris said. “He’s a captain for us, which makes him a leader on the field and off the field. He’s really a great kid.”

Cockroft gets the call Friday, as the No. 5 Hurricanes take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the opening game of a three-game set.

-Doug Kroll can be contacted at d.kroll@umiami.edu.

The baseball team did it again last weekend. It faced a tough ACC opponent, Virginia, and won two out of three games.

April was a tough month for the Hurricanes, as they faced ACC opponents in Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Virginia. In all four series, the ‘Canes came out on top, winning two out of three games each time.

This weekend the Hurricanes will face Coastal Carolina. While they are not an ACC school, Coastal Carolina is a good team that is expected to win its conference. The Chanticleers are not a great team, but they are capable of winning in South Florida. The Chanticleers lost to Elon on Tuesday and have been on a slide as of late. However, this is a dangerous spot for the Hurricanes.

“It’s easy to overlook teams like Coastal Carolina but our coaching staff keeps us focused,” outfielder Richard Giannotti said. “We have a target on our back because every team who comes here wants to beat us and if they win a game here, it’s a huge victory for them.”

The danger is in looking past Coastal Carolina with games against Long Beach State, ACC powerhouse North Carolina, and Jacksonville still ahead in May. In addition, the Hurricanes are coming off four huge series against ACC schools. Hence, Coastal Carolina is the classic sandwich game.

“This is the only thing we have to get up for,” Head Coach Jim Morris said. “I think the players understand we are winding down. We don’t have a tournament, so we have to treat every game like our tournament. Every game is important.”

The Hurricanes can feel encouraged by the solid starting pitching they got against Virginia last weekend. J.D. Cockroft was brilliant on Friday and Cesar Carrillo was successful Saturday as well.

“Consistency is a big thing when it comes to starting pitching,” Giannotti said. “The further into the season we get, the better our starting pitchers will be.”

On a negative note, closer George Huguet allowed his first earned run of the season Sunday and could not get the job done in the ninth inning for the first time this season. Regardless, Huguet’s scoreless streak was impressive and something that the team knows they can expect from him again.

“You always expect to win at the end of a game with George. He had not given up a run all season until Sunday. He has done a tremendous job for us all season,” Morris said.

Ryan Braun is starting to feel better in his recovery from a strained rib cage. He is listed as day-to-day and could be ready to play by this weekend. If he is not ready to go, Roger Tomas will get more playing time at shortstop. Also, Dan Touchet will be available for bullpen work this weekend after missing the last two series resting his arm.

Perhaps the most ironic thing about the Hurricanes recent success is that despite winning series against ranked schools, they dropped from fourth to fifth in the polls. However, Morris agrees with the Hurricanes dropping due to Long Beach State earning the sweep last weekend.

“I actually voted for us to drop a spot too,” Morris said. “It is hard voting but if we sweep this weekend, then we have a good chance to move back up if someone loses in front of us.”

Darren Grossman can be contacted at d.grossman@umiami.edu.

10

Volleyball pulls off five-set win over Syracuse
The University of Miami volleyball team needed five sets but pulled out the win over Syracuse, 30-27, 31-29, 27-30, 27-30, 15-10, at the Women’s Building on the campus of Syracuse University Nov. 7. Leyre Santaella Sante led the Hurricanes with 21 kills, while hitting .260 for the match. The 21 kills for Santaella Sante was a career-best. Karla Johnson recorded a career-high 10 blocks, while adding 13 kills. Santaella Sante pounded out four kills to lead Miami to a 15-10 fifth-set win, while Valeria Tipiana added two kills. The Hurricanes hit .615 as a team in the fifth set. The Hurricanes ended up finishing with a 22-9 record.

9

Six Hurricanes selected in first round of NFL Draft, a new record
Last Saturday the Miami football program reached yet another milestone when six Hurricanes were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, breaking their own record of five (in 2002). Sean Taylor was the first ‘Cane taken at No. 5 by the Washington Redskins, immediately followed by Kellen Winslow at No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns. Jon Vilma was chosen with the 12th pick by the New York Jets, and his line backing partner-in-crime D.J. Williams went 17th to the Denver Broncos. The Miami Dolphins traded up to the 19th spot to select Vernon Carey, and Vince Wilfork was taken by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots with the 21st pick. Darrell McClover, Carlos Joseph, and Al Marshall were selected in the later rounds to give the Hurricanes nine draftees.

8

Women’s basketball upsets No. 20 Boston College in Chestnut Hill
The women’s basketball team earned its most impressive victory Jan. 10 over then-No. 20 Boston College by a score of 70-66. Yalonda McCormick scored 14 of her 23 points in the final six minutes to propel the Hurricanes to the win. Tamara James added 11 points, and Shaquana Wilkins and Hutashi Wilson each had 10 for the Hurricanes, who were coming off their first loss of the season after opening with 12 straight wins. The ‘Canes ended up losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Maryland, but their season was still considered by most to be a success.

7

Starks named Big East’s top diver
Freshman Derek Starks was tabbed the Big East’s Most Outstanding Diver after taking his second conference title at the final day of the Big East Swimming and Diving Championships in Syracuse, N.Y.
Starks turned in a score of 553.15, nearly 200 points ahead of Pittsburgh’s Devin Aikins, to take first place in the men’s platform finals Sunday. The freshman won the three-meter springboard in Friday’s finals.
Starks’ title of Most Outstanding Diver prolongs UM’s men’s diving team’s dominance in the Big East as the Hurricanes have taken the honor every year since 1992.

6

Williams posts fastest times in United States
Junior Lauryn Williams won the 100-meters and 200-meters posting the fastest time by an American this season in both events to highlight the Miami Gatorade Track and Field Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.
Williams, who won gold medals in the 100-meters and 4×100-meter relay at last summer’s Pan Am Games, posted an American and collegiate best mark of 11.01 seconds to run away with the victory in the 100-meters.
She came back an hour later to cruise to an easy win in the 200-meters with a time of 22.46 seconds. Her 200-meter time was also an American and Collegiate best. In addition, both her winning times were school, stadium, and meet records.

5

Winslow temporarily saves season with miraculous catch
Facing a fourth-and-13 situation from his own 25 trailing 20-19 to West Virginia, Kellen Winslow leaped over a defender to haul in a high Brock Berlin pass and keep the Hurricanes’ drive, and national title hopes, alive. Jon Peattie converted his fifth field goal of the game with 11 seconds left to help the ‘Canes escape with a victory over the Mountaineers.
Winslow finished the game with 10 catches for 104 yards and solidified his place as the best tight end in the country.

4

Baseball team beats Tennessee with back-to-back homers
Paco Figueroa and Joey Hooft hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning to shock the Tennessee Volunteers 8-7 on Feb. 20 at Mark Light Field. Cesar Carrillo earned his first career win for the Hurricanes in relief.
The ‘Canes entered the ninth trailing 7-6 after surrendering the lead in the eighth, giving up three runs and two hits. After Jon Jay grounded out to start the inning, Figueroa went deep to right field and Hooft ended the game with a blast to left-center.
Will there be more memorable moments for the baseball team in Omaha? We will have to wait and see how the rest of the season plays out.

3

Women’s soccer notches biggest win in program history
The women’s soccer team earned a marquee win for its program Sept. 26 when the Hurricanes knocked off then-No. 10 Connecticut 3-1 in the first Big East game of the season at Cobb Stadium.
The win marked the first time the Hurricanes beat UConn and upset a Top 10 opponent. They improved to 5-0 in Big East openers.
Sophomore Lindsey Yach scored the first two goals for Miami and assisted with the third goal.

2

Payton, Peattie lead Hurricanes past Seminoles in Orange Bowl
This was typical Florida State-Miami. A close game and a missed kick.
No wonder the Seminoles didn’t want the rematch.
Jarrett Payton ran for 131 yards, Jon Peattie kicked three field goals and Miami shut out Florida State in the second half to give the Hurricanes a 16-14 win in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night.
It was No. 10 Miami’s fifth consecutive victory in the heated series – its longest winning streak since 1957. No. 9 Florida State lost consecutive bowl games for the first time since the 1979 and 1980 seasons.
Like several other memorable games in this storied rivalry, the outcome was decided by a kicker.
Not only did Peattie hit a career-long 51-yarder to give the Hurricanes the lead in the third quarter, but Florida State’s Xavier Beitia missed a 39-yarder with 5:30 to play.
And yes, it was wide right.

1

Berlin rallies Hurricanes past Gators
Brock Berlin enjoyed his finest hour as a Hurricane last Sept. 6 when he rallied his team from a 23-point deficit to demoralize the Florida Gators 38-33. Berlin, who was a Gator for two years before transferring to Miami last year, threw for 340 yards to overcome two costly interceptions and a lost fumble that helped create the deficit.
Florida had the ball with 1:37 left and a chance to win the game, but Al Marshall picked off Chris Leak’s pass attempt to preserve a victory for the then-No. 2 Hurricanes.