Hurricane Bowl History: The 2000s

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
Canes Rising Staff Writer

Miami returned to the national limelight in 2000. After an early season loss in Seattle to Washington, the Canes beat #1 FSU, #2 Virginia Tech and #7 Florida in the Sugar Bowl on the way to a 11-1 season which could have ended in a national title. We'll save the BCS controversy in 2000 for another post but the bottom line was this: Miami had overcome probation and increasing academic standards to rebuild a winner. Ken Dorsey had an outstanding season as a Sophomore, and James Jackson ran for a 1,000 yards in pacing a potent Canes rushing attack.

Miami entered 2001 as a co-favorite to win the national title with Florida. But they would do so without Butch Davis who bailed on the program late in the recruiting season to coach in the NFL. Larry Coker a lifetime assistant whose only head coaching experience was with a Indian tribal school team in the 1970s. But Coker kept Miami rolling in 2001 with a decisive wins at Florida State and against Washington, coupled with dramatic late game victories on the road against Boston College and Virginia Tech. The Canes then crushed Nebraska in the Rose Bowl to win the BCS title, the first for the school and its fifth AP national title.

The next season, Dorsey returned for his Senior year and Willis McGahee a sophomore running back from Miami broke all the single season school rushing records. The Canes crushed Florida in the Swamp and looked invincible yet again. Still Miami struggled in a midseason stretch of games needing a missed last second FG to beat a five loss Florida State team at home, giving up 300 yards rushing in a close win at West Virginia and a fourth quarter comeback to beat lowly Rutgers. It was becoming obvious in hindsight that Larry Coker could not motivate the Canes to play week in and week out. Blowouts of Tennessee in Knoxville, and Virginia Tech at home gave the impression that all was right in Miami when it was not.

Matched up with Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title, the Canes were overwhelming favorites. While Miami was robbed of the game late the bottom line is Ohio State had outplayed Miami in regulation. The Buckeyes had out schemed and out thought the Canes. A little freshman, Roscoe Parrish who was not recruited by Butch Davis and represented Larry Coker's first signing almost single handily kept Miami in the game. The Overtime loss always had an asterisk but with far superior talent, the fact the game went to overtime means Miami underperformed.

Coming off this rough defeat and losing several top player Miami entered 2003 with questions abound. Brock Berlin, a onetime High School All American who flopped at Florida replaced the graduated Dorsey. Playing rival Florida at home, the Canes fell behind 33-10 in the 3rd quarter but Berlin rallied the Canes to a 38-33 win. Berlin then led Miami to a 22-14 win in Tallahassee despite being a seven point underdog. But Berlin was mistake prone and back to back loses to Virginia Tech and Tennessee as well as lackluster performances against Syracuse and Rutgers put Berlin's miscues in the spotlight entering the Orange Bowl against FSU.

The Canes however behind Kellen Winslow and Jarrett Payton, both scions of NFL royalty, beat the Noles for the fifth straight time 16-14. Miami joined the ACC and began 2004 by beating FSU again, and Louisville in a great shootout. Brock Berlin was on a roll but the defense collapsed losing late season games to North Carolina, Clemson and Va Tech which sent Miami to its first non BCS bowl since 1999.

The opponent in the Peach Bowl was Florida and the stakes massive: a rivalry game when Larry Coker had more questions about his coaching ability being asked than ever before. The Canes responded with a resounding 27-10 win, paced by Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester.

The next season Miami was solid in the regular season. The only loses were games to FSU and Georgia Tech where Miami had a chance for the winning score in the last minute of the game. A resounding win in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech and the second ranked defense in the country paced the Canes. Thus Miami entered the Peach Bowl against SEC West Champion LSU feeling pretty good about the program. Then everything changed: The Canes were embarrassed in the fashion which Miami used to humiliate other teams. 40-3 was the final and to this day Miami still hasn't fully recovered.

2006 and 2007 were poor seasons for Miami. A win in the MPC Computers Bowl in 2006 behind a big effort from QB Kirby Freeman. But these were bad years for Miami and hopefully tonight's Emerald Bowl against a top class opponent in Cal in a virtual road game can help the Canes return to form.