Will The 2010 Miami Hurricanes Remind Fans Of 2002?

The year was 2002.   College football mania was running high in the 305.

The University of Miami was coming off of their fifth national Championship in 2001, and even though they had lost several players to the NFLU, the team was loaded with talent. 

Miami's opening game that season, just like this year in 2010, was against FAMU.  And, just like this year when the Hurricanes travel to face 2nd-ranked Ohio State at The Horseshoe in Columbus, the Hurricanes second game of the season was on the road against a highly ranked opponent, the Florida Gators at The Swamp in Gainesville.

The Hurricanes played for the National Championship that year, losing to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. So the question is: "Could the 2010 UM team make fans feel like it is 2002 all over again?" 

Let's take a look back at that season and what was being said about that Hurricane team.  Here is how the FAMU game was described on the UM web site:

As Miami Hurricanes assistant coach Art Kehoe jogged off the Orange Bowl field, he turned to the emptying bleachers and started doing the "Gator Chomp."  After disposing of Division I-AA Florida A&M 63-17 Saturday night, the top-ranked Hurricanes think they're ready for The Swamp.

Ken Dorsey threw three touchdown passes and became the winningest quarterback in school history as the 'Canes overwhelmed Florida A&M in their season opener.  Dorsey improved to 27-1 as a starter and moved past Gino Torretta (26-2) on the school's career victory list. The Hurricanes also extended the nation's longest winning streak to 23 games.

No. 6 Florida will provide a much tougher challenge next Saturday, especially considering how convincingly the Gators beat Alabama-Birmingham.

"It's a huge game, obviously," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "They have great talent. We're playing at their place. It's going to be a tremendous challenge for us, but at the same time, it's what our players are looking for.  "National championships seem to come through the state of Florida, so it's certainly a very important game for both of us."

Dorsey played a little more than a quarter, spending part of the first half with his hands on his hips, a towel around his neck and former Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar by his side.  Dorsey probably wasn't getting any tips from Kosar on how to win in Gainesville. Although Kosar led the Hurricanes to their first national title in 1983, he lost 28-3 at Florida in the opener of that season.

Miami looks much more prepared for the Gators this time. It'll be the first regular-season meeting between the teams since 1987. The Hurricanes were sharp, efficient and almost error-free against Florida A&M.

"It's not about Florida; it's not about FAMU," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "It's about us. If we go out and play like we practice, there's no one who can beat us."

The following week, Miami traveled to Gainesville to play "The Damn Gator" as Eddie Dunn would say.  The Hurricanes smashed the Gators at The Swamp 41-16.  Here is how it read on the UM web site...

Miami dominated. Florida flopped.

The top-ranked Hurricanes left The Swamp on Saturday the same way they came in - best in the state, best in the country, and still waiting for their first big challenge of 2002.

Ken Dorsey threw four touchdown passes, Willis McGahee ran for 204 yards and the Hurricanes rolled through another overmatched opponent with a 41-16 win over No. 6 Florida.

A great opportunity for new Gators coach Ron Zook to prove he can make it in the big time instead turned into a showcase for Dorsey, and a couple of Hurricanes trying to replace key players from last year's national championship team.

Miami (2-0) actually came into this game as a 2-point underdog, but when the day of domination was over, that seemed silly.  "I don't know what that was all about," defensive tackle Matt Walters said. "It's not a big surprise to us that any of that happened."

Safety Maurice Sikes, replacing big-play defensive back Ed Reed, had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a 97-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.  "We have players who want to play and can play," Sikes said. "Just nobody has heard of them."   Until Saturday.

Sure the 2002 season ended with the phantom pass interference penalty that resulted in Miami losing to Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.  But to even be competing for a BCS title again would be a huge step forward for this Hurricane team after several years of being kept off of the National stage.

So Hurricane fans, can this 2010 team compete for a National Championship? 

Can Miami travel to Columbus and beat OSU at The Shoe in week two?

We're not sure but is sure is going to be fun finding out don't U think?

Comments

[SuperCooper]

Let's be honest, either way, this is the year that we HAVE to make a big run. There are no more excuses. The team is not young anymore, they are loaded everywhere (for the most part), and they finally have some stability with the coordinators.

Get it done Shannon. BCS or bust

[SOUP]

Get it done Shannon. BCS or bust

Posted by: SuperCooper | August 13, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Cooper...callin 'em out early! I like it.

[The Advocate]

Cav,

Things are good brotha; good to hear from you. The day before I graduated ND I got hired by a $95.8B technology company whose name is 3 letters ;). Only flaw is when I told them I'd work in either NYC, Miami, or San Fran, they interpreted Miami as "Indiana" (and they need a "Notre Dame guy" at that office in Indianapolis). Little does my network know that instead of Mich-ND, my attention will be 100% focused on the 3:40pm game in Columbus. Funny thing about South Bend, there's a rather famous haircut place called Armando's. The owner's son, Chris, is a Cane all the way. I always went in to him and chatted Canes talk in the heart of South Bend (with ND assistant coaches flanking me).

Oh, and Coker could call some plays. I will admit this, the 1998 UCLA game involved spreading the ball around (I know Edge eclipsed 300 during the game but fell back to 299 a few carries prior to the last TD run, but Najeh had the ability to relieve him every now and then despite the 39 carries). During the FSU games, he always managed to get Moss in 1 on 1 coverage (oddly enough, the Shockey catch was the first true double team I ever saw of Moss).

What's your take on the season? You've always been the optimist to my cautious-pessimism. Maybe I'll be a 12%er this year...

- The Advocate

[willie will in nashville]

411 thanks for the 411!!

[Sarasota 'cane]

U

[411]

J12 just spent the last hour doing a live Q&A on twitter. (at 12:00am , after two a day practice)

If your not following him at: @jacoryharris12 then your missing out!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

CVS, haha, that's classic how you always find some Canes even deep in enemy territory.

Agreed about Coker as OC. He did keep it simple but effective. I was only referring to him as a HC.

This year I can honestly say I've studied more football and the patterns of growth and development of college football players than ever before.

For us, the two-headed or maybe three-headed monster of upperclassmen leadership and immaturity, both physical and mental, are finally solved this year.

These kids have taken their lumps and Team Shannon have them focused and hungry, damn near 85-deep with the same mentality, heart, talent and ballz.

Even the shortcomings at LB are straightening up with Buchanon emerging as the perfect counter-part to Spence, which will eventually force Shannon's hand to move C-Mac to the Mike. I think he's leaving K-Rob in there to get him as many reps as possible before the season starts in case something happens to C-Mac during the season. Smart move from that perspective.

Everything else is deep and strong, too many questions for teams to answer. I'm not even worried about TE. Between Gordon, Ford and Cleveland, who's body is college ready right now, we'll find a nice rotation.

OSU is not the toughest team we'll play and I think we'll shut Pryor down and expose his limitations, which are many. He's a very gifted athlete but he's not a gifted QB...yet. After we abuse that OL and crush him a few times, he'll think it's USC 2008 all over again. haha

OSU actually has some real talent but Tressel's conservatism severely limits them. If Shannon had the same players they'd be much, much better.

That DL is green and not nearly as talented as last year's. This the key to the game cause with our OL gelling and the physical issue no longer an issue, we could run the ball down their throats, and any team that does that either beats them or comes close.

We can whoop every team on the schedule except maybe FSU because of Ponder and UNC but that's only if their DL is at full strength. VT could be interesting as well but they're replacing a lot of OL, not that this is anything new for Beamer-ball. He has a system up there so ballers are always waiting in the wings. And those two RBs will easily be the most dangerous we'll face outside of Greentree.

But at the end of the day, the only team I see stopping Us is Us. Injuries would be a problem, yes, but they are for everyone, so I don't really count that.

I'll be surprised if we lose.

[raizecane]

Captn - nothing good happens past midnight much less 3 am.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Raize, who said I was good?? haha

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

CVS, congrats on the gig. Don't let them turn you into a micromanaged number....unless they make you an offer you can't refuse. ;-)

[Daddeh]

U

[NativeCane]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/um-hurricanes/fl-miami-football-news-0814-20100813,0,360845.story

[NativeCane]

Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/14/1775535/newcomer-allen-hurns-wants-to.html

Manny
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2010/08/video-canes-after-first-twoaday-of-fall.html

[NativeCane]

PBP
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/caneswatch/2010/08/13/randy-shannon-seantrel-henderson-still-has-a-long-ways-to-go/

[usagainstheworld]

soup-- that pic of mcgahee stiff arming the gator defender is gangsta-- can you see the veins popping out of his arms! cat is built!

[usagainstheworld]

WE BALLIN BOYZ! my brother made this song for the team in 2001. perhaps we'll be making another one after this year??? got my brother on standby!!!

(tried to add the link so you wouldn't have to cut and paste but couldn't figure it out)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqWnxp7178&feature=related

[usagainstheworld]

^^^^^^^^there it is!^^^^^^^^

[SOUP]

OSU is not the toughest team we'll play.

I'll be surprised if we lose.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | August 14, 2010 at 02:55 AM

Even though most disagree with you about the "toughest team" part of your statement above most agree with the "surprised if we lose" part.

That's a good sign! If we do win our "toughest game" then what's to stop us?

[SOUP]

^^^^^^^^there it is!^^^^^^^^

Posted by: usagainstheworld | August 14, 2010 at 09:53 AM

GREAT video!!!

[DZ8]

The only team that can beat us is... us.

[CanesCanesCanes]

Is that mp3 (ballin boyz) available anywhere?

[SOUP]

Raize/Six...OK, the tickets that we have are Home Plate Club seats and include food and beverage. They are right behind home plate five rows up so it should be fun!

Check email for other details. The game is at 1:40 but I would like to get there around 1 PM to take full advantage.

I sent phone numbers via email.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

That's a good sign! If we do win our "toughest game" then what's to stop us?

Posted by: SOUP | August 14, 2010 at 10:47 AM

>>>>>

Different matchups....teams with better and more weapons...VT for example is much more dangerous than OSU. Ponder is a much better QB than Pryor.

[usagainstheworld]

Is that mp3 (ballin boyz) available anywhere?

Posted by: CanesCanesCanes | August 14, 2010 at 11:47 AM

^^^^^^^^there it is!^^^^^^^^

Posted by: usagainstheworld | August 14, 2010 at 09:53 AM

GREAT video!!!

Posted by: SOUP | August 14, 2010 at 10:51 AM

ain't it soup?! canes3-- let me check with my brah and i'll get back to you.

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[SOUP]

Different matchups....teams with better and more weapons...VT for example is much more dangerous than OSU. Ponder is a much better QB than Pryor.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | August 14, 2010 at 12:25 PM

Time will tell.

[UGG Sundance]

I like to play.Work is work and play is play.Please let me play football with them.Work while you work, play while you play.