The men’s basketball team’s season can be labeled a success at this point because they already have more victories than last season.

Entering Wednesday’s game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, the ‘Canes were 12-5 overall and 2-1 in the Big East Conference. The 12 victories surpass their total of a year ago, and they still have 15 games to play before the Big East Tournament. The goal, of course, is to make the NCAA Tournament, and the ‘Canes anticipate they will need about 20 victories to get there.

“If we get to 20 wins in the Big East, we’ll have a strong enough schedule to get in the tournament,” Head Coach Perry Clark said. “Obviously, we would like to win every game, but I think every coach looks at 20 wins as the number that the team needs to be at to get in the tournament.”

The ‘Canes’ strength of schedule has been questionable, but with the Big East conference play starting in the beginning of January, the ‘Canes will now face several good teams for the rest of the season.

One of those teams is the Pittsburgh Panthers, who beat Miami 84-80 in double overtime on January 10th. In this game, the ‘Canes led by two points with 3.9 seconds on the clock, but failed to seal the deal when Carl Krauser went the length of the floor to tie the game with no time left. Then, after a Guillermo Diaz three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left sent the game into a second overtime, the Panthers finished strong and earned the victory.

Still, this game proved that the ‘Canes could play with the elite teams in the conference.

“I don’t see squandering leads as a problem we have had this season,” Clark said. “Sometimes against good teams, they have a capability to make a comeback, and they get the job done.”

The Hurricanes went 7-2 over the winter break, losing to Pittsburgh and a formidable North Carolina team on the road. Their victories included two Big East conference road victories against St. John’s and Virginia Tech. They also defeated John Chaney’s Temple Owls on December 20.

“The Temple game was a great win for us,” Clark said. “The one thing I said we needed to do was to teach these guys how to win.”

The ‘Canes 12-5 record can be attributed to the emergence of Robert Hite, the team’s leading scorer at 17.2 points per game. Hite has scored in double digits every game this season and averages 1.62 points per shot, which is second in the Big East in that department. Hite is averaging 21.2 points per game in his last five games, in which he shot 67.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.

The success of Robert Hite gives the ‘Canes a legitimate scorer besides Darius Rice, who is second on the team with 16.2 points per game.

“Teams will start to adjust to what Robert is doing, but that will open things up for Darius.” Clark said.

With games against UConn, Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Georgetown still ahead, the season is far from over, but the team is playing well right now. If the team can win eight games the rest of the way, the Hurricanes should be dancing into the NCAA Tournament in March.

“It’s important to win at home in the Big East conference now,” Clark said. “I’m pleased with our effort, competitiveness, and resiliency, but we still need to get better.”

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

* Winslow, Wilfork and Taylor all enter the NFL draft leaving UM, senior year behind
* Rolle will stay at the University of Miami
* Chudzinski resigns as offensive coordinator to take job with the Browns

The Hurricanes’ victory over Florida State was not the only important football news occurring over winter break. Three of the ‘Canes’ key contributors this season, tight end Kellen Winslow, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, and safety Sean Taylor announced that they have decided to forgo their senior seasons and enter the N.F.L. Draft.
Winslow finished the season with 60 receptions for 605 yards and one touchdown. Various scouts project the 6’5″ tight end to be selected in the first half of the first round.
Wilfork ended up with 64 tackles and six sacks. The 6’2″, 344 defensive tackle from Boynton Beach could be chosen in the first round as well.
Taylor was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, picking off 10 passes. Taylor returned punts on occasion for the ‘Canes, returning one for a touchdown in addition to his two interception returns for scores. Taylor will likely be chosen in the early portion of the first round.
Head Coach Larry Coker told ESPN that he let all three players make their own decisions.
“I kind of left it up to them,” Coker said. “It’s their careers. But Kellen is going to go and should go.”

Rolle decides to stay put
Junior cornerback Antrel Rolle will return to Miami for his senior season. After Winslow, Wilfork, and Taylor decided to bolt for the N.F.L., most people assumed that Rolle would follow, but the 6’1″ cornerback has chosen to pursue a college degree.
“After evaluating the situation with my family and Coach Coker, I have decided to remain at the University of Miami for my senior season and work towards getting my degree,” Rolle said. “I look forward to providing leadership to the team, and I am confident we will continue UM’s history of excellence.”
Coker was thrilled to learn that his star cornerback would be returning in 2004.
“I am elated that Antrel has decided to return for his senior season, and continue his studies toward his degree,” Coker said. “He is an exceptional person and player and will provide leadership as we begin our first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
Rolle finished the 2003 season with 51 tackles and two interceptions. He was named to the All-Big East first-team this year.

Chudzinski resigns as offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski resigned to accept the position of tight end coach with the Cleveland Browns. The 35-year old had spent his entire playing and coaching career in Miami.
“To say that my time as a player and coach at UM was special would be an understatement,” Chudzinski said. “However it has always been a goal of mine to coach in the NFL and the opportunity to do so was something that I felt I could not pass up at this time.”
Chudzinski was a three-year letterman as a tight end for the ‘Canes from 1988-90, playing on two national championship teams. Under his tutelage, the Hurricanes have produced the All-Big East First-Team tight end the past six seasons.
“Rob’s contributions to the UM football program as both a player and coach have been invaluable,” Coker said. “While he will be missed on both a personal and professional level, I am confident we will find an excellent coach to compliment our football program and university.”
The Hurricanes are expected to promote quarterbacks coach Dan Werner to offensive coordinator.

Eric Kalis can be contacted at e.kalis@umiami.edu.

Another stellar senior class has culminated their football careers at UM.

They will graduate with an overall record of 46-4 over the past four seasons, including five victories over FSU, three wins over Florida, and invitations to all four BCS bowls. This four-year run will be one to remember for ages.

However, the senior class should have three national championships.

Yes three…in 2000 the one-loss ‘Canes were forced to play in the Sugar Bowl due to the still unjust BCS system that put Florida State, whose sole loss came against Miami earlier that season, in the title game against Oklahoma. In 2001, of course, Miami would not allow the nation’s bias against the Hurricanes to burn them again. The ‘Canes took care of business and went undefeated, defeating Nebraska in the Rose Bowl for the 2001 National Championship. In 2002, the ‘Canes took an undefeated regular season to the Fiesta Bowl for the title game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. After two overtimes and a horrendous pass interference call against the Hurricanes by the blind Terry Porter, the ‘Canes had their second consecutive title taken away from them. Ahhh…. three thrilling seasons that should have given the ‘Canes three National Championships.

But instead of dwelling on what should or could have been, even though I just did for informative purposes only, the last four years of Miami football have been a great success for a program that Sports Illustrated in 1995 said should drop football all together. Hail to Mr. Butch Davis for saving this program, and bringing it back to national prominence.

For the seniors on the team, and us fans who will graduate in 2004, we must look back at how amazing this four-year run has been.

First and foremost, after losing to arch state rival Florida State five seasons in a row from 1995-99, the ‘Canes have defeated the Seminoles the last four seasons and twice this season with the 16-14 Orange Bowl victory. History was made in every contest. No one will forget the UM-FSU games from the past four seasons.

“We don’t bow down to FSU,” senior linebacker Jonathon Vilma said after the Orange Bowl victory. “They better put this on my grave, that I was on the UM team that beat FSU five times in a row.”

Here is a quick look back at the five consecutive UM victories over FSU.

The ‘Canes 27-24 victory over FSU in 2000 ended the Seminoles streak over UM, and brought back the old Miami swagger. Ken Dorsey and Jeremy Shockey had breakout games, and history was made again when FSU’s Matt Munyon’s 49-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired.

History was made once again in Miami’s 49-27 victory over FSU in 2001. The ‘Canes ended FSU’s 54-game home unbeaten streak, and handed the ‘Noles their second loss of the season, putting them out of the National Championship hunt. In 2002 it came down to another missed FSU field goal attempt, as Miami slipped passed the ‘Noles 28-27 after Xavier Beitia pushed his game-winning attempt wide left as time expired. This past season, Jarret Payton led the ‘Canes over FSU 22-14 with 97 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first career start.

As if four wins in four seasons over FSU were not enough for the senior class, the BCS matched up the two rivals once again in January’s Fed Ex Orange bowl.

We all know what happened – Jon Peattie made three field goals, the game winner being a career long 51 yards and Beitia pushed a 39-yard attempt wide right with 5:30 left in the game.

“We’ve got something on their kicker,” Vilma said. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m glad we got it.”

Fellow senior linebacker D.J. Williams added: “It feels great to beat anyone, but it’s especially sweet to beat your biggest rival. Maybe it’s a mystique, some kind of a curse. I know it’s always in the back of their kicker’s mind.”

“There isn’t anything like beating your rivals five times in a row,” said senior defensive back Alfonso Marshall. “I can hold my head up high and have bragging rights for the rest of my life…this Orange Bowl victory is just so important for Miami.”

Just when college football fans think the only goal is to win the National

Championship, we must not forget the importance of beating your rivals and holding bragging rights over them. In addition to beating FSU five consecutive times, the ‘Canes are 3-0 against Florida in four years, and we must not forget the win over Florida A&M in 2002. That makes the Hurricanes 9-0 against the state of Florida in the past four years. It goes without saying how important in-state victories are for the highly competitive recruiting battles between the Florida schools.

“I never lost an in-state game…we beat FSU, Florida, and FAMU,” said senior safety Maurice Sikes. “This senior class gets to say we beat FSU five times.

That is something very special. What a remarkable feat.”

The first victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl set off a string of four consecutive BCS bowl game bids for the ‘Canes, all of which came in different bowls. Although the results were not four straight National Championships, the ‘Canes won three of their four BCS bowl births, the one loss coming in double overtime after a horrible penalty.

The last four seasons far exceeded my initial expectations when I began reporting on the team in 2000. In addition to the success the ‘Canes have enjoyed, we must not forget the accomplishments not measured in wins and losses.

Here are some shout outs if you will and personal things I would like to say now that my time covering the ‘Canes football team has come to an end.

We will always remember ‘Canes linebacker Chris Campbell who died tragically in

2002…Once again, thank you Butch Davis for saving the Miami football program…Ken Dorsey was an outstanding college quarterback, and if Brock Berlin’s lackluster season does not convince Dorsey skeptics, shame on them…Vilma should be a role model for all college athletes…the rest of the country hates the U and it is because they are jealous…Miami has the best program in the nation and the list of NFL players from the past four years proves this…I will end this rant as Kellen Winslow II says: “I don’t care about anything but this U.”

Brian Poliakoff can be contacted at b.poliakoff@umiami.edu.

MIAMI-A football season deemed by some as a disappointment ended on a high note at the Orange Bowl as the Miami Hurricanes edged intrastate rival Florida State 16-14 in front of 76,739 spectators at Pro Player Stadium.
In his last game as a Hurricane, senior tailback Jarrett Payton tallied a career-best 131 yards on 22 carries, earning MVP honors and recording the top rushing performance against the Seminoles in 2003. Freshman Tyrone Moss added 35 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, and red shirt freshman kicker Jon Peattie connected on three of four field goals, including a 51-yarder in the third quarter that gave the ‘Canes the lead for good.

The Hurricane defense held the vaunted Seminole offense to 206 total yards. Junior quarterback Chris Rix completed only six of 19 passes for 96 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Florida State’s leading rusher, Greg Jones, carried the ball only six times for 38 yards.

The ‘Canes started the game with a nine play, 59 yard drive resulting in a 32-yard Peattie field goal to open the scoring. Payton came through with a 37-yard scamper to set up the field goal opportunity.

“I had this feeling that we could come out and run the ball and be successful at it,” Payton said. “We wanted to prove to everyone that we could play better and that the first game wasn’t a fluke.”

The Hurricanes had another chance to score in the first quarter, but Jerome Carter picked off Brock Berlin’s pass on the Florida State goal line. Rix wasted no time in making Miami pay for the mishap, connecting with Chauncey Stovall for a 52-yard gain. The ‘Noles would get on the board shortly thereafter, as Lorenzo Booker ran untouched into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown, giving Florida State a 7-3 lead.

After forcing the Hurricanes to punt, the Seminoles received a gift as Brian Monroe could only manage an eight-yard kick, giving Florida State the ball at Miami’s 39-yard line. Six plays later, Rix found backup tight end Matt Henshaw wide open in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown and a commanding 14-3 Seminole lead.

Feeling pressure to respond quickly, the Hurricanes took advantage of a 46-yard Payton run on third-and-two, scoring moments later when Moss plunged into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown, cutting Miami’s deficit to four points. Peattie added a 44-yard field goal with no time left in the half to make it a 14-13 game at intermission.

Both defenses tightened up in the second half, as yards were difficult to come by for each team. The Hurricanes were forced to punt early in the third quarter, but an illegal substitution penalty on the Seminoles gave Peattie a chance to attempt a career-long 51-yard field goal. His kick sailed through the uprights, and the ‘Canes had a 16-14 lead.

After the game, Peattie struggled to find reasons why his range had expanded to 51 yards in the biggest contest of the season.

“I think I have kind of been the same all season but I guess I had a little bit more confidence [tonight],” he said. “I had a couple of games under my belt. I had pretty good practices. I think I made all of my field goals in our team practices. I just came out relaxed.”

The Seminoles had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fourth quarter, as Kendyll Pope forced a Berlin fumble, giving Florida State possession at the ‘Canes’ 30-yard line. However, kicker Xavier Beitia, notorious for missing a game-deciding field goal against the Hurricanes last season, sailed a 39-yarder wide right with 5:30 left in the game.

Miami took over and attempted to control the clock and clinch the victory, but the Seminole defense stopped the ‘Canes on third down, setting up a fourth-and-one at Miami’s 32-yard line. Head Coach Larry Coker decided to gamble instead of punting the ball to the ‘Noles, calling for a direct snap to D.J. Williams, a play that had been used in the Temple game earlier in the season. The direct snap shocked the Seminoles, as Williams plowed through an enormous hole for a critical 31-yard gain.

After Peattie’s field goal attempt was blocked, the Seminoles got the ball back with one last chance to win the game. Penalties kept Florida State from mounting a drive, and when Rix’s fourth-down pass to P.K. Sam fell incomplete, the celebration began for the Hurricanes.

After the game, Coker praised the defense for holding the favored ‘Noles to 14 points.

“Our defensive coaches did a great job,” he said. “Coach [Randy] Shannon had them very prepared. We knew we had to play a great defensive game to play a great game.”

While the Hurricanes did not earn a third consecutive national championship appearance, the team left Pro Player Stadium on top with no regrets.

“Winning the game was a great thrill for our team and our program,” Coker said. “FSU is a class act and Coach Bowden is a class coach.”

Eric Kalis can be contacted at e.kalis@umiami.edu.