Head Coach Nicole Lantagne guided a young Miami team to a 17-7 overall record last season in the University’s first year of volleyball since 1981. UM finished the season on an 11-match win streak and compiled a 13-1 home record at the Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables.

First Serve, First Kill, First Win

Miami Freshman Jamie Grass had the first serve for Miami volleyball in 20 years as the Hurricanes took on the Davidson (N.C.) Wildcats in the Davidson Tournament on August 31. Senior Kristi Sprinkel had the distinction of recording the first kill for Miami. The Hurricanes took Davidson, the two-time defending Southern Conference champions, to five games but lost 3-2.

Nicole Lantagne recorded her first head coaching victory in the Hurricanes second match of the season as UM swept Coastal Carolina, 3-0, on September 1.

“It was extremely important to get this first win under our belts,” Lantagne said. “I am proud of this group, both in their performance last night and their effort today. We were so composed and came back in so many games. It has been a great effort from a young group.”

Hurricane Invitational

Miami celebrated the return of volleyball to the UM campus with a ceremonial ‘First Serve’. University of Miami President Donna Shalala, Athletic Director Paul Dee and Head Volleyball Coach Nicole Lantagne joined former UM volleyball players on the court for the serve on September 7.

Miami rewarded its home crowd with two wins at the Knight Sports Complex. UM swept Long Island, 3-0, in the first match and defeated Wofford, 3-0, in the second match to advance to the title match against UAB. Although Miami appeared to have the match in hand early after winning the first two games, UAB rallied to win the final three and hand UM its first home loss. Miami wouldn’t lose another home match the rest of the season as it compiled a 13-1 record in Coral Gables.

Streaks

Miami suffered a 3-0 loss to Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on September 18. FAU was the first of 11 in-state opponents the Hurricanes faced in 2001. UM would go 7-4 in those matches.

The middle of the season was marked by a three-match win streak followed by a three-match losing skid.

The Team Gels

The Hurricanes returned to Coral Gables to defeat Tulsa, 3-0, on October 11.

“I thought we played a great match tonight,” Lantagne said. “We’ve really worked hard this week in practice and the things we worked on were reflected in our performance. It was great to see a complete team effort.”

The win over Tulsa marked the beginning of an 11-match win streak for Miami. The Hurricanes won 33 of 38 games during that span.

Serving Notice

Playing as an independent, Miami defeated both Big East teams it faced (St. John’s, 3-0 and Pittsburgh, 3-1) during the 2001 season. UM joins conference play this season.

Miami hosted Florida Atlantic on November 6 in the last home match of the season. In front of a loud and energetic crowd, the Hurricanes won 3-1. The win avenged an early season loss to the Owls and served notice that a volleyball power was rising in South Florida.

“It was everything I could hope for,” senior middle blocker Kristi Sprinkel said. “It was a great match and we played hard.”

Said Lantagne: “We had to play our best to win this match. This has been an incredible year. We’ve really overachieved and we’re just going to get better from here. These young players have worked hard and delivered throughout the season.”

When you took a look at players on the UM baseball team this past season, you may have thought you needed your eyes checked. The Hurricanes have a pair of identical twins on their squad – identical in both their appearance and their play on the field.

Danny and Paco Figueroa have been playing baseball together since little league and they are not about to stop now. The two 5-10, 165-pound freshmen were both new additions to the Hurricanes.

“Our mom put us together from the beginning and that’s how it has always been,” Paco said.

The brothers attended Gulliver Prep School in Miami and grew up following the UM baseball team. The fact that both boys are now attending UM is no accident.

“We always knew that wherever we went, we would go together,” Paco said. “Some schools would call up asking for just Danny and others for me, but right from the start UM called us up saying they wanted to take us both.”

UM is not the first team to make an offer to both brothers. The Atlanta Braves drafted Paco in the 42nd round followed by his brother Danny in the 48th round.

“This is a dream for me,” Danny said. “With us playing close to home it makes it easy for our parents to come see the games, which is nice for us.”

The brothers noted that being identical twins is great but it’s not always easy.

“Everybody always asked me, ‘What is it like to be a twin?’ and I always ask them in return what is it like to just be yourself,” Danny said. “There is a huge competition factor in everything we do.”

Said Paco: “One time we even came home from school with our high school report cards in which we had taken all the same classes and got the exact same grades in every course.”

With high school in the past the twins have begun another chapter of their lives together in Coral Gables.

The twins performed as advertised in their first season as Hurricanes. Danny played most of the year in center field while Paco started the year playing behind fellow freshman Joey Hooft at second base. When the ‘Canes began to tailspin in midseason, head coach Jim Morris shuffled the lineup, allowing Paco to step in as a starter at shortstop while shifting Javy Rodriguez over to second.

The twins contributed throughout and gained some wonderful experience in the process. At playoff time, they were ready, helping to propel the .500 team to within three outs of another College World Series appearance.

After UM knocked off Florida in the Regionals, Danny commented on the win.

“From what everyone in the stands was talking, about this was one of the best, if not the best double headers ever played by these two teams,” Danny said. “I wasn’t on last year’s National Championship team, but I can begin to understand the emotion that must have felt winning the title. It was if we had won it all out there today.”

On the season, both Danny and Paco had an identical .300 batting average. Danny drove in 16 runs, while Paco hit three home runs on his way to 20 RBI for the season.

Paco says that after coming so close to a CWS appearance, the experience should definitely pay off.

“I’ve had a taste at winning, and now I have a thirst for it,” Paco said. “I learned quite a bit from our juniors and seniors this past couple of weekends. I saw University of Miami baseball rise to the challenge. I saw the meaning of a new season. I saw dedication and hard work pay off. This off season, I plan to work harder than ever, and maybe, just maybe I’ll see for myself what Omaha is like.”

Expect the twins to do more damage next year.

At the Rose Bowl post game press conference, UM Coach Larry Coker quipped that he was returning for the 2002 season amidst speculation of some early Hurricane entries into the NFL Draft.

Indeed, three of Miami’s key contributors to last season’s championship run – cornerback Phillip Buchanon, running back Clinton Portis and tight end Jeremy Shockey – all decided to forgo their senior year of eligibility, opting for the riches of the NFL instead.

Compound this with the loss of nine other starters and one would think that the Hurricanes would be a long shot to repeat.

According to players and coaches, that’s not the case at all.

“We expect to (remain at a high level),” said Coker, who will try to follow up on a perfect rookie campaign. “Year in and year out, we should compete at a high level at the University of Miami.”

Said departing offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie: “We’ve got a lot of young guys who played a lot this year. They should be fine.”

OFFENSE

McKinnie, the 2001 Outland Trophy Winner who did not allow a single sack, along with guard Martin Bibla and tackle Joaquin Gonzalez, were members of the best offensive line in the nation. Behind their strength, quarterback Ken Dorsey was sacked just four times and Miami’s offense wracked up the most points in school history. Sophomore Carlos Joseph will try to fill the big shoes of McKinnie and protect Dorsey’s blind side. Junior Vernon Carey, a heavily recruited 369-pound tackle from Miami, will replace the veteran Gonzalez. Both Joseph and Carey saw extensive playing time in fourth quarters last year, as the ‘Canes usually blew out opponents.

Left guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli started the first seven games of last season before tearing his ACL. He is expected to make a full recovery and start at one of the guard positions. Ed Wilkins replaced Haji-Rasouli after the injury and the line didn’t miss a beat. He will likely start at the other guard position.

The anchor of the five will be senior center Brett Romberg – the main signal caller on the line. Reserves such as Joel Rodriguez, Chris Myers and Joe McGrath, should provide depth for the most underrated but possibly the most important position.

Who will play alongside the line will be determined in the fall. Sophomore Kellen Winslow II and David Williams will battle for the starting tight end position left vacated by Shockey. Tight end was a big part of the offense in 2001 as Shockey led the team with 40 receptions. Winslow is the early favorite, but coaches believe that right now Williams is a better blocker.

“I’d say right now (Winslow)’s probably a better runner, but I think he may end up having the total package,” Coker said.

Coker was also really impressed with Winslow’s intensity during spring practices.

“If you had every NFL tight end out here to compete for the job, I don’t think it would really bother him,” Coker said. “He’s just going to go out and catch and run.”

The battle shouldn’t be as stiff for the starting wide receiver jobs. Rose Bowl co-MVP Andre Johnson had a breakout sophomore season and may be one of the top receivers in the country next season. Johnson was second on the team with 37 receptions for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Lining up opposite Johnson will probably be either junior Kevin Beard or senior Ethenic Sands. Beard played in all 1l regular season games last season, starting five, en route to a 25-reception, 409-yard campaign. He also started in the Rose Bowl, collecting four receptions for 41 yards.

Sands was suspended for the title game, but also played in every regular season contest. He caught 26 balls for 385 yards and one touchdown.

Junior Jason Geathers (nine catches, 112 yards in 2001) should see more extensive playing time, while red-shirt freshman Roscoe Parrish could should glimpses of the next Santana Moss. If those weapons weren’t enough, Moss’s brother, Sinorice, is one of five incoming freshmen that could see time at receiver.

Injuries may shake up another of Miami’s skilled positions, specifically that of phenom running back Frank Gore. Gore tore his ACL in spring practice and may be out the entire 2002 season. There is hope that the sophomore will return to follow up on his inaugural campaign, in which he averaged 9.1 yards per carry.

The likely opening game starter will be red-shirt sophomore Willis McGahee, who was ahead of Gore in the depth chart before a midseason knee injury. McGahee returned after a month and was used as a fullback in the Rose Bowl after Najeh Davenport was hurt. McGahee carried the ball 67 times for 314 yards and three touchdowns last season. His backup will likely be Jarrett Payton, who carried the ball only 14 times for 26 yards in spot duty last season. While both have been hampered by injuries at one point, they should pick up where Portis (1,200 yards) left off.

The two struggled mightily, however, in the annual Spring Game, combining for just 69 yards on 25 carries. Coker knows those numbers have to, and will, improve before the start of the regular season.

“For us to be a good team we need to run the ball better than we have this spring,” Coker said. “Our inability to consistently run the ball is our biggest problem.”

Quadtrine Hill, a red-shirt freshman from Sunrise, should push Payton for the No. 2 job.

Blocking for the tailbacks will be projected starting fullback Kyle Cobia. Cobia, who might be known by Hurricane fans as the guy who dropped an easy touchdown pass at Virginia Tech last season, has impressed with his blocking skills. The 6-2, 231-pound red-shirt sophomore will be relied upon for that very reason, as the fullback spot was sparingly used in 2001.

Talib Humphrey, a junior college transfer, impressed coaches during spring practices and will push Cobia for the starting nod.

The head of the offense will once again be quarterback Ken Dorsey, a senior who has compiled a 25-1 record as a starter. Dorsey finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting last season and is expected to be a frontrunner again this year.

Dorsey completed just under 58 percent of his 318 pass attempts last season, throwing for 2,652 yards. He tossed 23 touchdowns passes compared to nine interceptions and is the UM career leader in TD passes thrown. Dorsey also has an incredible 4:1 TD:INT ratio over his career, and is the clear leader on the field.

Dorsey said he was pleased with the way the new guys on offense played during the spring game.

“This is one of the best springs our offense has had in recent years and we played well today against probably the best defense we will have to face,” he said.

DEFENSE

Dorsey alluded to a unit that led the nation in scoring defense (9.4 points per game) and takeaways (45). Almost the entire starting front seven is back with another year of experience under their belt. Experience is an understatement considering Miami sports seniors along the starting defensive line and has two extra seniors backing up. The combination of Andrew Williams and Jerome McDougle at ends and William Joseph and Matt Walters at tackle give the ‘Canes a formidable pass rush. If Williams or McDougle need a breather, Jamaal Green and Cornelius Green (no relation) can replace them. McDougle and Jamaal Green had six sacks apiece while Williams recorded four. Joseph led all Hurricanes with 10 sacks and was tied for third on the team with 59 tackles. Walters record 63 tackles and added four sacks.

If that wasn’t enough, 6-2, 350-pound sophomore Vince Wilfork and 6-4, 302-pound junior Santonio Thomas have extensive experience behind the tackles.

The ‘Canes return everyone at linebacker except for the late Chris Champbell, who passed away in a tragic car accident in February. Middle linebacker Jon Vilma led the team with 73 tackles last season, and impressed with bone jarring hits at the Rose Bowl. D.J. Williams (51 tackles) gets the nod at one linebacker, while Howard Clark (29) may get the start at the other. Also in the mix is super athlete Leon Williams, a red-shirt freshman from Brooklyn, NY, and Rocky McIntosh, who burst on the scene during spring practices with his incredible development and speed. The front seven should continue to put incredible pressure on the opposing quarterback, as witnessed in the Rose Bowl.

The big question mark on defense, and on the whole team for that matter, is the secondary. The Hurricanes lost all four starters and the nickel back from a defensive backfield second to none last year. Safety Ed Reed picked off his nation-leading ninth pass in the final game of the season against Virginia Tech and had a nose for the ball. Phillip Buchanon added five interceptions, while Mike Rumph stymied opposing receiver at the other cornerback spot. James Lewis, the least known of the foursome, was tied for third with 59 tackles at the strong safety spot.

Along with Markese Fitzgerald (two interceptions, 37 tackles), the secondary held opponents to only 138 passing yards per game.

That puts plenty of pressure on Kelly Jennings, Al Marshall, Maurice Sikes, Sean Taylor and Antrel Rolle – none of whom have ever started a game in college.

“We’ve just got to go into it thinking that we’re not them,” Taylor, a sophomore, said. “We have to make a name for ourselves. We’re working right now to try and be one of the best (secondaries) in the country.”

During the spring game, they began towards that goal. After picking apart the secondary in earlier scrimmages, Dorsey completed just one pass over 20 yards. The quarterback said that the more experience they get, the more they’ll improve.

“They just need a good summer of working with our receivers and hopefully we’ll get them to the point where we have shut down corners and safeties that people are scared of,” Dorsey said.

Coaches have said that the main factor for the young group will be consistency, something they hope to achieve by the time the season begins in August.

“We can’t play good for eight plays and then give up a big play,” defensive backs coach Mark Stoops said. “You have to play well all the time in the secondary.”

Said Sikes: “With football, and being a (defensive back), you can’t have bad days. Your bad day has to better than guys’ good days.”

With the exception of Jennings, a red-shirt freshman, the defensive backs had the opportunity to play during fourth quarters of games last year. Marshall, a junior, played in dime situations.

Projected starters in the spring included Sikes at one safety and hard-hitting Sean Taylor at the other. Jennings, Marshall and Rolle will vie for the two corner positions with both spots up for grabs.

“Our coach said no one has a starting job right now,” Rolle said after the spring game. “We just have to go in there in the fall and battle it out and may the best man win.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

The unit lived up to its name in 2001, delivering key plays when the Hurricanes needed them the most. Kicker Todd Sievers connected on all four of his field goals in a narrow win over Boston College. Sievers was consistent throughout the year, hitting 21-of-26 field goal attempts (81 percent). That included 7-of-8 in the 40-49-yard range.

Although not used very often, punter Freddie Capshaw had another solid season. Capshaw boomed 36 punts, 15 of which landed inside the 20. He compiled a 41.8-yard average including a long of 59. Both Capshaw and Sievers will be counted upon again in their senior campaigns.

“Todd Sievers and Freddie Capshaw will be very productive for us next season just as they were in our championship run,” Coker said.

The Hurricanes won’t have the services of Buchanon to return punts. Buchanon averaged 15 yards per return and ran back two punts for touchdowns. Compared to his 31 punts fielded, the next closest returning Hurricanes were Beard and Sands. Each fielded just two last season.

Parrish, who could have the most explosive speed on the team, will probably get a chance to return punts as well.

Miami did not return many kicks last season because the opponents usually didn’t score, but when they did, Johnson was the regular return man.

He averaged 19.5 yards on 13 returns and will be back in that role this season. Parrish or McGahee may line up across Johnson in the end zone.

At long snapper, the ‘Canes will be happy to return to Chris Harvey to the lineup. Harvey, the snapper on all punts, field goals and conversion kicks the last two seasons, missed the last six games of 2001 due to a major knee injury that required surgery. Joe Fantigrassi took his place, but had some difficulties. Harvey participated during the spring and should be ready to go come August.

Despite losing almost half of the starting lineup, the Hurricanes are ready to defend the crown they worked so hard to earn. The 2002 ‘Canes may look young at some positions, but what they lack in experience, they make up in talent.

“With a program like Miami, we reload,” Rumph said. “You don’t lose too much talent too fast.”

Hurricane Sports Writer Brian Poliakoff contributed to this report.

“Quarterback U” should have no problem living up to its name even after Heisman hopeful Ken Dorsey graduates.
In addition to signing freshman quarterback Marc Guillon, UM coach Larry Coker landed the nation’s top recruit, albeit from 1999, Brock Berlin – a transfer from the University of Florida.
“This is a little bit of a bonus to our recruiting class,” Coker said. “I came to Evangel (Christian Academy in Shreveport, La.) trying to recruit a receiver named Abram Booty (who eventually went to LSU). I think Brock was a sophomore or maybe a freshman at that time, but the coaches said, ‘You’ll be back for this young man.'”
Coker was enthusiastic about Berlin, a 6-1, 209-pound junior and possible heir apparent to Dorsey. Berlin signed with the Gators after earning the USA Today’s 1999 National Offensive Prep Player of the Year Award. Under NCAA rules, Berlin will have to sit out this season, Dorsey’s senior campaign, and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Coker stressed, however, that Berlin would have to earn that starting job.
“There are no guarantees here,” Coker said. “All he wants is an opportunity to compete for the job.”
Berlin will be competing with current UM backups Derrick Crudup, a red-shirt junior, and Buck Ortega, a red-shirt sophomore. Also in the mix is Guillon, a 6-4, 185-pound incoming recruit, who is graduating from Dorsey’s old high school, Miramonte (Calif.) High.
“I know there are other guys here that can play,” Berlin said. “I’ll just come in, work hard and compete and see what happens. I don’t want to come here and make (Crudup) feel like I’m the man or anything. I know we’re both up for the job after this year. Let the best man win.”
Berlin had been toiling behind Rex Grossman at UF, and had his red-shirt burned his freshman year by Spurrier. Berlin had made up his mind to transfer before the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2, but hesitated when Grossman contemplated leaving early for the NFL.
“I wanted an opportunity to play,” Berlin said. “If Rex would have left to go pro, then I would have wanted to stay with my buddies at Florida. But Rex decided to stay and I looked for the best opportunity.”
Berlin made the most of his opportunity when he did get to play at UF, completing 53-of-87 passes for 653 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in 11 regular season games. He also started in the Orange Bowl against Maryland, going 11-of-19 for 196 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown. Besides that start, Berlin was used to sitting on the bench and will use that experience to help him through the 2002 season.
“These past two years have been hard,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about patience. Another year, that gets under your skin. You want to be out on the field making plays. But, hopefully, it goes by fast for me.”
If Berlin does start in 2003, he may be highlighting one date on the schedule – a game against UF in the Orange Bowl. He said he enjoyed his time in Gainesville but is ready to help the Hurricanes continue their success.
“I loved playing for the Gators, but I made the move and now I’m a ‘Cane,” Berlin said. “I’m ready to play the Gators when it comes that time.”

After losing 12 seniors and three underclassmen from their 2001 championship team, the Hurricanes proved that speed and talent can be reloaded, as head coach Larry Coker announced one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.

“We had an excellent recruiting season coming off our national championship year and I’m very pleased that we signed a quality group of men who meet the personnel needs we have,” Coker said. “While the athletic ability of these recruits was outstanding, I also was impressed with the way these young men have approached their academics.”

Miami signed 22 players including two Parade All-Americans and 10 SuperPrep All-Americans. The Hurricanes once again signed a rich crop of players from the state of Florida, signing 16 players from the state including 10 from the greater Miami area.

One of the top names in the class is 6-3, 185 pound wide receiver Ryan Moore. Moore, a Parade and SuperPrep All-American from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando was ranked the nation’s no. 2 receiver prospect by SuperPrep.

Moore caught 25 passes for 557 yards and six touchdowns and returned two kicks for a touchdown as a senior.

“Ryan is an extremely special athlete,” Coker said. “He has great size and extraordinary talent.”

Moore is just one member of what Coker called “a receiver strong class.”

Another blue-chip wide receiver recruit is Devin Hester from Suncoast High School in Orlando.

The Parade and SuperPrep All-American, at 5-11, 168 pounds, is regarded as one of the nation’s best all-around prospects.

Hester played extensively at running back, receiver, defensive back and as a return man last season. He rushed for 842 yards and 12 touchdowns while compiling 922 yards receiving for six touchdowns, in addition to throwing for five touchdowns as a senior. Hester came to Miami as a wide receiver.

In addition, with the graduation of Daryl Jones and the early departure of Phillip Buchanon, Hester will feel a much-needed void as a possible return man.

“Devin might be the best athlete in the entire state of Florida,” Coker said.

Another notable receiving recruit is 5-8, 163 pound Sinorice Moss from Carol City High in Miami. Moss is the younger brother of former Hurricanes star Santana Moss.

Coker also announced the signing of two outstanding tight ends that could see playing time next season after the early departure of Jeremy Shockey.

Eric Winston from Lee High School in Midland, Texas, is considered by many the top tight end prospect in the nation. The 6-5, 260 pound ESPN.com First Team All-American caught 20 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns and was named his team’s Offensive Most Valuable Player for the 2001 season.

The team also signed 6-6, 200 pound tight end Curtis Justus from Perry High School in Oklahoma. Justus is already drawing comparisons to fellow Oklahoman and recent Miami star Shockey. Justus had 42 catches for 513 yards and six touchdowns as a senior.

“We signed two of the best tight end prospects in the country,” Coker said. “Both players would have liked Shockey to stay so they could learn from him, but they will be ready to compete and produce.”

The lone quarterback signed was Marc Guillon from Miramonte High School in Orinda, Ca. The 6-4, 190-lb. quarterback is know for his smart decision making and accurate passing as he threw for 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns with only seven interceptions while leading his team to a 13-0 record in 2001.

Hailing from the same school as Ken Dorsey, Guillon will compete with recent transfer Brock Berlin for the starting position in 2003.

“Guillon is a great athlete with an extremely strong arm,” Coker said. “He is a different player than Dorsey, as he is stronger and more of a physical quarterback.”

On the defensive side the ball, Miami signed five defensive backs that will help ease the loss of the entire starting secondary.

The top name is 6-1, 173-lb. cornerback Brandon Meriweather from Apopka High School. Meriweather earned a reputation as a hard hitter as he led Apopka to the Florida Class 6A 2001 State Championship. Meriweather recorded 55 tackles and three interceptions as a senior.

“We play a lot of five and six defensive back formations, so a couple of our defensive back signings will have the opportunity to play early,” Coker said.

Another big name on defense is 6-2, 205-lb. linebacker Nate Harris from Edison High in Miami. Harris made 105 tackles, had eight interceptions, and caused seven fumbles as a senior.

“Nate is a tremendous young man and a great football talent,” Coker said. “He is a great fit for our style of defense.”

The only sour note of this recruiting class is that Miami only signed two offensive linemen. With the graduation of Bryant McKinnie, Joaquin Gonzalez and Martin Bibla, Coker would have liked to sign a couple more linemen.

Coker, however, was excited about the signing of 6-6, 300-lb. offensive lineman Anthony Wollschlager from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. The SuperPrep All-American is an excellent run blocker and led his team to the Class 4 A state championship as a senior.

“This year’s class was the most efficient recruiting I been around as almost all of our commitments stayed with us,” Coker said. “Our coaching staff did an outstanding job recruiting great talent on and off the field.”

At the beginning of the season Andre Johnson and the Miami receiving core was the Hurricanes’ biggest question mark. At the Rose Bowl they became the answer.

Johnson and Co. led the Hurricanes to 362 yards passing – a Miami bowl record. Johnson led the Hurricanes with seven receptions for 199 yards (also a Miami bowl record).

For Johnson, it was the culmination of a quiet, yet productive season. During the regular season, Johnson caught 37 passes for a team high 682 yards and 10 touchdowns yet did not receive much national attention due to the balance of the Hurricane offense.

After his Rose Bowl performance, Johnson is being considered among the nation’s finest receivers in the game.

“Andre Johnson is just a hell of a player,” Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey said after the Rose Bowl.

But if you ask any of the Hurricane players or coaching staff they already knew that.

Johnson was receiving praise before the season started from wide receiver coach Curtis Johnson.

“Andre has great speed and size,” Curtis Johnson said back in spring practice. “He reminds me a lot of Michael Irvin and Reggie Wayne.”

Curtis Johnson’s only concern, like many others, was the wide receiver’s inexperience. But right away, Andre Johnson erased many doubts with strong performances early in the season. Johnson had four receptions for 69 yards against Penn State and a 104-yard performance against Rutgers.

Despite the impressive numbers, Johnson still wasn’t known on a national level until his five-reception performance against Florida State, which led to 111 yards and two touchdowns.

After that game, Johnson’s numbers decreased, but that was only because the respect for Johnson rose. Teams were forced to double cover him due to his 6-3 size and blazing speed. Those qualities are so dangerous that a writer once dubbed him ‘the specimen’, claiming that it was what every recruiter dreamed of and what every defensive back feared.

While defenses were trying to figure out ways to shut down Johnson, much of the attention in the offensive scheme shifted to tight end Jeremy Shockey, who led the Canes with 40 receptions for 519 yards and seven touchdowns.

While Shockey received most of the recognition, Johnson quietly picked apart any defense that didn’t show respect for him (or have the athletes to stop him).

Against Syracuse, Johnson had arguably his best statistical performance with four receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He followed it up a week later with four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown against Washington.

Despite all of this, many still believed that the wide receivers were the ones to test in the Miami offense. A dropped pass here or there was still not out of the question due to their relative inexperience. Johnson, a red-shirt sophomore, was one of the most experienced wide receivers entering the season for Miami despite having caught just three passes for 57 yards in his collegiate career.

But Johnson led UM’s wide outs to a spectacular performance in the Rose Bowl – catching everything in sight while burning the Huskers’ defensive backs.

“Our wide receivers felt we were being overlooked, so I felt I had something to prove,” Johnson said.

Case and point taken.

Next year no one will question Johnson and the wide receiving core at Miami, who lose just one player (Daryl Jones) to graduation. But a new question has risen around the group – even with the respect, can anyone stop them?

The Miami men’s basketball team’s first round loss to Missouri in the NCAA tournament was clearly a disappointment, but it doesn’t overshadow the Hurricane’s success this past season.

The ‘Canes finished the season with a school-record 24 victories with only eight defeats. The 23 regular season wins was the most by the Hurricanes since joining the Big East conference in 1991. Miami also tied a school-record when they began the season with 14 consecutive wins.

“We can’t let one game take away all we have done this season,” said John Salmons, one of the team’s two starting seniors. “I am happy to be a part of a team that accomplished so much this season.”

Miami’s early season success raised expectations for a team that was not supposed to play as well as it did. Fans hoped for a better ending.

“If people can’t be happy with 24 wins, they can’t be happy with 28,” head coach Perry Clark said. “I feel saddest for the three seniors, but I know how hurt everyone was in that locker room. Players were crying because they cared. They cared an awful lot.”

Miami was ranked in the top 25 for 12 straight weeks, peeking at No. 12 on Feb. 4. Quality Hurricane victories included Charlotte, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and St. John’s – all NCAA Tournament teams. The Hurricanes also set the Big East regular season record for team free-throw percentage (81.8).

“We accomplished a great deal this season,” sophomore Darius Rice said. “One loss will not take that away.”

The Hurricanes lost to Pittsburgh in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament and earned a No. 5 seed out West in the NCAA tournament.

The Hurricanes ran into a hungry Missouri team (No. 12 seed), which was ranked in the preseason top 10, but fell during a somewhat disappointing season.

In the 93-80 defeat, the Hurricanes couldn’t overcome the Tigers’ 12-0 run to begin the game and suffered with a 33.8 percent shooting afternoon.

“The loss hurt us a lot because we know that this team had the talent to go further in the tournament,” Salmons said. “However, it wasn’t meant to be. Everything happens for a reason.”

The loss clearly hurt more for the three seniors – starters John Salmons and Elton Tyler, and reserve forward and bench motivator Jerry Schlie. All three graduated in May.

Miami must find a front court presence to replace Tyler and more importantly a point guard and leader to replace Salmons.

“John was a great leader both on and off the court,” Rice said. “I definitely look up to him as a role model. His presence will surely be missed.”

Salmons started 107 consecutive games for the Hurricanes, playing every position but center. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points, six assists, and six rebounds per game. Salmons became the 14th Hurricane in school history to be selected in the NBA Draft when the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the 26th pick.

Salmons, who was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, is the first Hurricane to be drafted since Tim James in 1999.

“I will really miss the University of Miami,” Salmons said. “I matured into a man, became a better basketball player, and received a great education in my four years here.”

The goal for Miami this season will be a return trip to the NCAA tournament with possibly a longer stay. The Hurricanes will have the likes of three returning starters (Rice, James Jones, and Marcus Barnes) and some new faces.

Rice, a 6-10 junior forward, led the team in scoring (14.9), and averaged six rebounds per game. He was named second team All-Big East.

“I am really excited to improve next year,” Rice said. “Individually, I am going to get stronger and work on my ball handling.”

Jones, a 6-8 senior, was a consistent player who averaged 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. Jones, a co-caption last season with Salmons and Tyler, will take over as the vocal leader.

Barnes, a junior who can play both guard positions, improved as the season progressed. He scored a career high 27 points in the quarterfinal win against Georgetown in the Big East tournament and had 20 the next night in the loss to Pittsburgh. Barnes has the potential to be an explosive scorer this season if he can be consistent.

Returning sixth man Michael Simmons will compete for a starting role at point guard with returning reserve Kahleaf Watson and a group of highly touted freshman recruits. Clark signed Armondo Surratt (5-11, 165), a point guard who averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and five steals per game last season at Oakland Technical High School.

“Armondo gives us a pure point guard that can run our team and get our players open shots,” Clark said. “We are very excited about having him join our program.”

Fellow recruits Robert Hite, a 6-2, 185-pound guard from Winton Woods HS in Cincinnati, OH, and Eric Wilkins, a 6-3, 185-pound guard from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia will also compete at the point.

“We need a person who will establish himself as a leader at the point,” Clark said.

Miami will also have to fill the void left at center. Reserves Rafael Berumen and Rodrigue Djahue played well off the bench last season and both will vie for the starting job. Clark hopes to find an additional post player to complement the strong recruiting class.

“We need to find a couple post players and choose a starting point guard for the upcoming season,” Rice said. “But with the nucleus we return, we should make some noise.”

After being guided to their most successful season in school history, members of the women’s soccer team will try to build on that in 2002 with one notable absence.

On May 17, the University announced the resignation of head coach Jim Blankenship – the man who had been at Miami since the program’s inception in 1998. A month later, athletic director Paul Dee announced the hiring of former University of Illinois women’s soccer coach Tricia Taliaferro as the Hurricanes’ new coach.

“I am very excited to coach the women’s soccer program at the University of Miami,” Taliaferro said. “The University of Miami has a strong commitment to athletics and I am honored to be a part of it. I am truly excited to work under the leadership of Paul Dee and President Donna Shalala.”

Under Blankenship, Miami finished the year with a 10-9-1 record and for the first time in school history advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Despite a first round loss to Georgia, there were several highlights over the course of the season for the Hurricanes, including the emergence of freshman Brittany Butcher, and a 5-0 run to start the year.

The highlight of the win streak came in September at then No.20 Florida, as senior Deidre Bass scored the lone goal of the match, and junior goalkeeper Rachel Elsby stopped all seven Gator shots in a 1-0 Miami victory.

“This was a great win,” Blankenship said. “It speaks volumes about our team and the direction our program is going. I am so proud of the team – they did exactly what we asked of them and it paid off.”

The Hurricanes recorded another major victory in their first Big East match of the season as sophomore Allison McWhinney scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 win over No.18 Syracuse. Important Big East victories, however, was hard to come by for the Hurricanes, as Miami dropped conference games to Connecticut, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. A 3-1 loss to Florida State on Oct. 25 left the Hurricanes with an 8-7-1 record going into the final stretch before the Big East Tournament. Elsby attributed much of the drop-off to the events of Sept. 11.

“We lost a lot of momentum, and ended up taking about a week and a half break,” Elsby said. “It affected our fitness levels and also gave us a long break.”

Miami would win their final two games of the regular season – against Stetson and South Florida – by a combined score of 12-1, which seemed to give the team some momentum heading into a first round Big East Tournament match-up at West Virginia. The Hurricane offense, however, went flat against the Mountaineers and, despite eight saves from Elizabeth Swinson, Miami fell 2-0.

The Hurricanes gained a berth into the NCAA Tournament due to their early season success, and took the lead 2-0 against Georgia on goals from Bass and McWhinney. The Bulldogs, however, would strike back with two of their own before halftime, and then put three in the net within the first ten minutes of the second half, en route to a 5-2 win.

“We started the match very strong and played well,” Blankenship said. “We just needed to take that momentum and play strong for the entire match, something we will improve on.”

One of the reasons for the Hurricanes’ first NCAA berth had a lot to do with a solid mix of veterans and newcomers. Butcher led Miami with eight goals and eight assists and 24 points. Junior Laura West was second on the team with 22 points, and Bass chipped in with four timely goals. The Hurricanes also received help from the tandem of Elsby and Swinson, who combined for a 1.93 goals against average.

The Hurricanes signed six new players in the off season, who will look to help Miami improve on their third place finish in the Big East Northeast Division. Among the recruits are Jackie Garcia, a 5-6 midfielder from Gulliver Prep in Miami who was named to the All-Dade team four consecutive years, and 6-0 goalkeeper Jessica Keller, who won two Colorado state championships. The Hurricanes will need all the assistance they can get due to a grueling 2002 schedule, which includes two invitational tournaments, as well as road contests at Connecticut and Syracuse. Nevertheless, the players are ready for the challenge.

“We’re very excited about next season, especially since we are only losing two starters,” said Elsby, referring to departing seniors Alexis MacKenzie and Bass. “Our freshman class is among the best we’ve ever had, so we have a lot of expectations for next season.”

It didn’t matter if the Oregon Ducks were on the other sideline.

Or even the Colorado Buffaloes.

What about Nebraska? Obviously not.

When the 2001 college football season was all said and done, it was perfectly clear that Miami was the best team on the field – regardless of the opponent.

The Hurricanes capped off a 12-0 perfect season and their fifth national championship with a 37-14 shellacking of the Cornhuskers in the Rose Bowl. While many teams were vying for an elusive spot in the Jan. 3 game, the Hurricanes had already secured theirs with an undefeated regular season.

Under the direction of new Head Coach Larry Coker, the ‘Canes absolutely dominated opponents, scoring a school and Big East record 475 points. Coker, Miami’s offensive coordinator from 1995-2000, became the first rookie head coach to win a national title since Michigan’s Bennie Oosterbaan in 1948.

The 2001 season started with Coker facing coaching legend Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions. A crowd of 109,313 – the largest ever for a Miami game – watched the Hurricanes open the season with a resounding statement. Miami raced to a 30-0 halftime lead on the way to a 33-7 victory before a national television audience. Quarterback Ken Dorsey opened his Heisman Trophy campaign with a 344-yard passing performance and the Hurricanes were stifling on defense in the victory.

Victories over Rutgers (61-0), Pittsburgh (43-21) and Troy State (38-7) followed before the annual clash with Florida State. The Seminoles were riding a 54-game home unbeaten streak (37 straight wins), having not lost on their home turf since a UM victory in 1991. Miami’s mission to “Break History and Make History” was accomplished in spectacular fashion with a 49-27 defeat of the Seminoles. Another national television audience watched the Hurricanes’ defense cause six FSU turnovers. Miami scored via offense, defense and special teams en route to its largest points total ever against the Seminoles, a victory that returned UM to the top of the rankings.

Resounding wins over West Virginia (45-3) and Temple (38-0) followed before a heart-pounding game at Boston College. Miami weathered five turnovers and was clinging to a 12-7 lead late in the game on the strength of four Todd Sievers field goals when BC marched to the shadow of the UM end zone. With less than 20 seconds remaining, cornerback Mike Rumph deflected a BC pass into the arms of defensive tackle Matt Walters at the UM nine-yard line.

Walters cradled the ball tightly as he returned it to the 20-yard line before All-America free safety Edward Reed took the ball from Walters and set sail on an 80-yard interception for a touchdown to clinch an 18-7 victory.

The Hurricanes were hitting on all cylinders in their next two home games, laying shocking defeats on nationally ranked Syracuse (59-0) and and Washington (65-7). Those victories were the largest consecutive blowouts over ranked opponents in modern NCAA history. But just when it seemed this Miami team was invincible, and a lock for a Rose Bowl berth, a final test remained.

Miami already had clinched the Big East title and was looking to reserved its place in the National Championship Game in Pasadena, but the Virginia Tech Hokies would not go down quietly as UM’s 11th victim. Miami built a 24-7 lead well into the fourth quarter as tailback Clinton Portis, who rushed for 1,200 yards in the regular season, scored one touchdown and Dorsey connected with tight end Jeremy Shockey for another score. Three Todd Sievers field goals also contributed to the lead and, when he added a fourth midway through the period to give UM a 26-14 lead, it appeared only a miracle finish could deprive the Hurricanes of their goal.

Tech’s miracle would have been Miami’s nightmare – and it almost happened. A blocked punt was returned for a touchdown, drawing Tech to within two points at 26-24. The Hokies then went for two points on a pass play, but the pass fell incomplete. The UM defense held off Tech on two late possessions and Miami survived its closest call of the season, setting up Miami’s Rose Bowl berth for the right to play Nebraska for the national championship.

The Rose Bowl game hosted the Bowl Championship Series title game for the first time, the first time in 56 years that teams from conferences other than the Pacific Ten Conference and the Big Ten Conference were competing in the game. Miami left little doubt about which team was college football’s best, racing to a 34-0 halftime lead behind a huge first half performance by Co-Most Valuable Players Dorsey and Andre Johnson. Dorsey and Johnson connected for two touchdowns and 199 yards in the game with Dorsey throwing for a career-best 362 yards. Portis added another score on a brilliant 39-yard touchdown run and the Hurricanes were able to enjoy the second half of their national title victory.

At the beginning of last football season some people wondered whether Larry Coker was the right man to replace Butch Davis as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes.

Coker’s resume was impressive enough – 22 seasons as a collegiate assistant coach, offensive coordinator of three different collegiate programs (Miami, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State), coach of such players as Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Eddie George and Edgerrin James. But something was missing: collegiate head-coaching experience.

Sure Coker had been a head coach before, but that was 23 years ago at Claremore High, a small school in Oklahoma. But Clamore High is no University of Miami.

Now that the perfect championship season is over, no one wants to admit they ever doubted Coker was the right choice for the UM football program, as he accomplished things no other man in college football history has ever achieved.

Coker was the first man in history to go 12-0 in his first season as a collegiate head coach. He was just the second head coach to win a national title in his first year. Bennie Oosterbaan did it in 1948 with Michigan, but he accomplished the feat by going just 9-0 without participating in a bowl game.

Despite all of Coker’s achievements, his biggest may be in the way he returned the Hurricanes to their glory without returning them to their old antics.

The Hurricanes of the late 1980s and early 1990s were not only notorious for winning but also for getting into trouble. They over-celebrated on the field and received plenty of negative publicity as a result.

Last year’s squad was similar to those teams only in their dominance on the field. Coker kept the Hurricanes focused on winning, while doing it with style.

“We don’t like to talk trash,” Hurricane wide receiver Andre Johnson said. “We do our talking on the field with the scores doing the talking for us.”

The Hurricanes shocked the nation, not only with their dominance, but also with their new “cleaner” attitude. The only time the Hurricanes disrespected their opponents is when they were down right dominating them on the field. The only time they got in trouble was…well it was almost never. Except for wide receiver Ethenic Sands’ unspecified run-in with the law early last year, the team was almost angel-like. Coker says the team’s character was hands down the most important aspect of their success.

“No doubt about it,” Coker said. “We talked about talent all along, but the thing that sets this team apart is their great character.”

The new character of these Hurricanes is a direct reflection of its head coach. Coker’s style of coaching is unlike any other seen in Coral Gables. His laid-back personality has been exactly what the Hurricane program needed.

He’s joked about himself and his players constantly when he is off the field. His attitude has kept players relaxed, easing the stress of being a football player at one of the most scrutinized universities in college football.

On the practice field he walked around like a hawk, eyeing everything that goes on – yet he took a back seat to his coordinators and assistant coaches during these times. Coaching up his own staff just as much as the players, he was the general of a well-machined army and the main concern was keeping the players focused and happy.

Despite the seriousness during practice, once the whistle sounded Coker was back to his old playful self. He often enjoyed dunks into the large garbage cans filled with ice water, which in the past were only home to the bravest of players who had the guts to stand freezing temperatures.

Coker also hired the perfect staff this year. There were plenty of concerns about the youth of the two new coordinators. Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is 33 and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon is 35. But no one was too concerned about their age after the Hurricanes defeated opponents by an average score of 43-9 during the regular season.

Coker knew that their coaching style and skills were much more important than their age or experience.

No one is concerned anymore about Coker’s inexperience either. Hurricane supports have all of their confidence in Coker now. Coker is “the man” in Miami. But more importantly, Coker has a new addition to his resume – head coach of the 2001 National Champions.

Looking at the conclusion of the 2002 Hurricane baseball season, one might think it was just another typical year of UM baseball. The team won yet another regional championship and were three outs away from heading to Omaha for the eighth time under head coach Jim Morris.

Even though the results were similar, the 2002 squad took a far different route to get to there.

“Roller coaster,” was how starting pitcher Kiki Bengochea summed up Miami’s 2002 campaign.

After an 8-4 start to the season, including a series win against 2001 College World Series opponent Tennessee, the team settled into a plague of mediocrity which lasted until the very end of the regular season. The team was on the bubble to even make the NCAA Tournament. The Hurricane coaching staff found themselves in uncharted waters since the arrival of Morris back in 1994.

Morris spoke about the team’s dilemma in midseason.

“I can tell you everything that happens at the College World Series from the time we step off the plane until we leave the field for the last time,” Morris said. “This is something new to us and as a staff we are still figuring out how to deal with it.”

After losing 13 players from the 2001 national championship team, the Hurricanes introduced many new faces to the club. Adjustment time for these new players proved lengthy. It wasn’t until the postseason that the team began to click on all cylinders. Batting orders were shuffled and players were dealt in and out of the lineup like a deck of cards.

Results were mixed. Streaks of greatness reminiscent of the championship squad, followed by games that made the Bad News Bears look like All- Stars characterized much of the season.

Finishing the season at 30-27, the Canes huddled in front of a television to see if they had just enough to break into the field of 64. A collective sigh of relief went throughout the clubhouse as they had drawn a No. 3 seed in the Gainesville Regional.

“It was a huge sigh of relief for us to make the tournament,” Morris said. “Sometimes people think that because I am the coach that I know before hand if we get in or not and I don’t. I sit there waiting in that clubhouse like everybody else, and if we get good news, we face it together, and if not then we face that together as well.”

With a clean slate for the postseason, the ‘Canes went on a mission, destroying rivals FIU and Florida in regional play. Led by veteran catcher/designated hitter Danny Matienzo and third year sophomore right fielder Jim Burt, UM threw the Gators off their back. Not only did the Hurricanes beat them for the first time all season, but UM knocked them out of the postseason – a scene all too familiar for Gator fans.

“I think the veteran players really stepped it up for the playoffs and that made all the difference,” Morris said. “I really think the younger guys did well all season long, and when the veterans started playing like they can, I think it gave the entire team a boost of confidence that they had not had all year long.

“It seemed like every time we would get ahead of the game a little bit during the regular season, we would turn around and have a terrible weekend.”

The buzz amongst the media following Miami’s regional championship was “The Miami Hurricanes are playing on tradition right now. There is something about the orange and green uniform that the Florida Gators simply can not get around when it comes playoff time.”

Florida Gators head coach Pat McMahon openly wept at a press conference after the loss. “We really thought things were going to turn out differently,” he said.

They didn’t turn out differently and the defending champions were on their way to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks for a chance to return to Omaha. Miami won in dramatic fashion thanks primarily to Burt.

“I truly believe that Jim Burt’s at bat in game one with a home run to tie the game in the final inning was the best moment of his two year career here at Miami,” Morris said. “He then turned around in game two and immediately had another career best moment by knocking the Gators clean out of the playoffs.”

For a moment it looked as if the ‘Canes would get back to Omaha, but an absolute collapse of the UM bullpen sent them packing for South Florida – falling just three outs shy of the CWS.

Leading 4-1 in the top of the ninth, UM relievers combined to allow five runs, thus ending UM’s magical run.

“We had the College World Series dangling in front of us,” Morris said. “In the eighth and ninth innings I began believing that we were going back to Omaha. It’s funny how baseball works.

“They only beat us three out of 27 innings that weekend, but those three innings were enough to send them to Omaha.

“Once you get to Omaha, anything can happen, and I think if we would have won that inning, our team would have felt like the team of destiny.”

In the wake of the devastating defeat, newcomers on this Hurricane squad gained an eagerness for college baseball glory. That will be key in a longer offseason than usual.

“I have had a taste for winning,” freshman shortstop Paco Figueroa said. “Now I have a thirst for it.”

With a passion for winning, a fervor for success and this year’s playoff experience in their back pocket, expect this young squad to be right in the mix next season.