Garrett Hartley (L) attempts a field goal; Kyle Wright (R) takes a big hitPLAYIN' DIRTYNote to self: Don't pick noseNorman, OK (AP) – In a battle of two of the dirtiest programs in the NCAA, neither Miami nor Oklahoma could even buy a touchdown – but the boosters did their best to find a way to make it theoretically possible.
The last time Miami and Oklahoma played each other it was in the 1987 National Championship game. Since then both teams have been on a crash course of unethical program decisions. Oklahoma (1-0) recently had their 2005 season vacated from them, and the Miami Hurricanes (1-0) lead the NFL in arrests – which is never a category a college program strives to lead.
When they met on September 8th, the atmosphere in Gaylord-Oklahoma Memorial was unbelievable. Former Penn State assistant Dan Thompson said it was the loudest game he’s ever been to, and that was coming from a coach who spent most of his career in the raucous Beaver Stadium.
The result of this game was so intense, it will not be revealed just yet. C’mon I’ve got to milk it a little.
It was apparent from the onset of the game that defense would dominate the tempo of the game. Joey Halzle threw two first quarter interceptions to senior cornerback Glenn Sharpe. But the 7th-ranked Sooners defense clamped down on Miami’s rushing attack and did not allow them to convert the turnovers into points.
The ‘Canes run defense was just as dominant.
For the second consecutive game the Hurricanes held their opponent to less than 30 yards rushing. In this game AP, Allen Patrick, was knocked out of the game in the first half and only recorded 15 rushing yards. Halzle had 13 rushing yards on five carries.
The Hurricanes tried to salvage some points before the half’s end, but kicker Daren Daly could not convert from 39 yards out. This missed kick was just a precursor for the exciting final quarter.
As a result both teams entered halftime knotted at nil. Statistically, the Hurricanes were kicking the Sooners butts in total offensive yards with a 97-66 advantage, but proved to be less opportunistic than they expected.
As the third quarter morphed into the fourth the assumed defensive grudge did not lift. The yardage total had shifted to the favor of the Sooners, 108-99. The Hurricanes managed to pick up two net yards in the third quarter. “That was a rough quarter, but I was not worried at all. Our defense was still keeping the Sooners at bay. All we needed was one big play to break the thing open,” head coach Dan Thompson stated.
Thompson’s hindsight proved to be 20/20.
With 1:39 left in the fourth quarter, impact safety Kenny Phillips broke the game open with his second interception of the season. The Sooners had driven the ball to midfield, but Phillips stopped the drive abruptly with an interception. He raced down the field and was finally pushed out at the Sooner’s 17 yard line. All of the excitement in Gaylord-Oklahoma Memorial had shifted to a small portion of the stadium: the Hurricanes fan base.
With 1:08 left in the game, kicker Daren Daly booted a 32 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. It looked like Miami was headed for a monumental upset, but there was still over a minute left in the game; just enough time to collapse.
The Sooners wasted no time in breaking the hearts of all Hurricanes fans. The ensuing kickoff was returned 98 yards to the 2 yard line. As time expired All-American Garrett Hartley kicked the game-tying 19 yard field goal to tie the game at 3 and send it to overtime.
“We could take consolation that we didn’t let them score and lose outright,” said Thompson. “But you could definitely tell all of our momentum had been stripped from us.”
The Hurricanes took to the field first on offense. They stuttered and sputtered only gaining one yard and they left inexperienced kicker Daren Daly with a crucial 41 yard field goal. His kick was short and left, leaving his defense with the impossible task of stopping the Sooners with their backs against the wall.
The Sooners first play of their possession went 21 yards. Darjarbinx was controlling his linebacker and was in the action of picking his nose when an unexpected early snap came. With his finger trapped deep in his nostril and his left hand unable to cover the tight end, he blew his coverage and paid for it.
Three plays later it all came down to the kicking game. Garrett Hartley became the hero once again. He booted a 23 yard field goal through the uprights and gave his 7th-ranked Sooners the 6-3 victory.
Demoralized by the loss, Miami walked off the field in shock. “I was just glad no one took the liberty of taking a cheap shot after the game ended. I was responsible for this loss – I got greedy and thought I could pick my nose under pressure.”
Every loss is a test for any team, but this was a crucible for the Miami Hurricanes. Their will was tested and the players passed the test. All the players treated the loss with class, and can take solace in the fact that next week they head back to the Orange Bowl to take their anger out on Florida International – a team that has not won a game since 2005.
MIAMI HURRICANES NOTABLES[/size]
QB Kyle Wright - 14/20 123 yds
HB Javarris James - 20 att 44 yds
WR Lance Leggett - 5 rec 34 yds
CB Glenn Sharpe - 6 tkls 2 int
SS Kenny Phillips - 5 tkls int
K Daren Daly - 1/3 32 long
OKLAHOMA SOONERS NOTABLES[/color][/size]
QB Joey Halzle - 13/21 104 yds 3 int
HB Allen Patrick - 12 att 15 yds
LB DJ Wolfe - 6 tkls
K Garrett Hartley - 2/2 23 long
Javarris James (L) takes a hard hit; But Charlie Jones (R) gets the last laughNo Brawl, Just Business[/size]
Thompson treats Florida International game as recruiting device[/font]
Coral Gables, FL (AP) – Dan Thompson, a recruiting-savvy guru, used the rematch against Florida International on September 20th as a recruiting outing for some of the finest high school players.
Thompson invited nine of his targeted 35 recruits to witness a 31-0 blowout against Florida International. Much to relief of Thompson, no brawl ensued, and the nine recruits that attended the game all rated their trips as a B or better.
The list of visiting recruits was as follows: LB Dominique Crosby, HB Jermaine Finnerty, FS Stephen Osborn, LB Lorenzo Houston, ATH James Bush, QB Chris Wilcox, LB Justin Butler, FS Robert Brown, and DT Ryan Grant.
“My feeling was if I could get these guys together to watch the game, they would start talking about their future and hopefully form a friendship. That way when one of those guys needs advice they may give one another a call and hopefully he’ll want to come to Miami,” Thompson told a local media outlet. All players had Miami listed in the top two on their lists of top schools.
Oh, by the way – there was a game.
Miami (1-1) struggled to get things going on offense as evidenced by a 10-0 lead at halftime. They busted things open in the second half with 21 points. The defense remained fierce as they shut out Florida International (0-2) for the second straight year. In three games this season Thompson’ team has given up just 16 points.
Kyle Wright offset two interceptions with two touchdowns, and halfback Javarris picked up 92 rushing yards. Senior Charlie Jones had 46 rushing yards and scored a touchdown.
Defensively it was defensive tackle Teraz McCray who led the way. He recorded three sacks in the game, and only played three quarters.
The only worry is the run defense. After shutting down Allen Patrick is a 3-6 OT loss, the Hurricanes gave up 81 rushing yards to Amod Ned. Thompson blames this anomaly on his second team defense. “That first team defense shut this kid down, but the second I subbed in the second-teamers Ned looked like a cheesed-up Darren McFadden.”
The Hurricanes will have an intense Thursday night battle against 19th-ranked Texas A&M (3-0). The game will be played in The O.B. and Thompson has ordered all students to attend the game.
MIAMI HURRICANES NOTABLES[/size]
QB Kyle Wright - 11/25 174 yds 2 TD 2 INT
HB Javarris James - 24 att 92 yds
HB Charlie Jones - 10 att 46 yds TD
WR Lance Leggett - 3 rec 51 yds TD
DT Teraz McCray - 4 tkls 3 scks
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN PANTHERS NOTABLES[/color][/size]
QB John Paul Fraites - 7/19 93 yds 2 INT
HB Amon Ned - 21 att 81yds
DE Audric Adgers - 3 tkls for loss
WR Jeremy Dickens - 3 rec 64 yds
FS Kent Henderson - 10 tkls INT
Lance Leggett en route a 62 yard touchdown reception
Marques Carpenter (L) silences The O.B; Howard Morrow (R) makes an unbelievable one-handed catchScrew You, Lee!Thompson blames Lee Corso for late blunderCoral Gables, FL (AP) – The Miami Hurricanes own worst enemy was not Mike Goodson, it was not Stephen McGee, and it was not the referees – it was Lee Corso.
With 1:49 left in the game Corso urged head coach Dan Thompson to run a triple option on a 3rd and 1. Thompson obliged and sophomore Javarris James fumbled the ball; the 19th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (3-0) recovered the football and all hell broke loose in The O.B.
After the fumbled was reviewed and upheld, Corso lambasted Thompson for running the option and denounced
his playcall. “That was it – no more Ask Corso for me at crucial points in the game. If that washed up hippie doesn’t have the jublets to man up and realize it was his call, I am done listening to him,” an irate Thompson addressed the media.
Putting the fumble in context is even more excruciating for Miami Hurricane (2-1) fans. The Hurricaes were in the clear – they had a 14-10 lead and were running out the clock when James slipped on a rain-soaked field and fell to the ground without the ball.
“I don’t fault Javarris,” Thompson stated. “I had never run the option in practice but figured Lee knew what he was talking about.”
After recovering the fumble, quarterback Stephen McGee and halfback Mike Goodson roared down the field. It was a spectacular one-handed reception that ultimately did in the helpless Hurricanes.
On 4th and goal from 8 yards out McGee threw a perfectly-placed fade to wide receiver Howard Morrow for a one-handed catch. The requisite foot hit the endzone barely in bounds and the Aggies took a 17-14 lead as a result with 0:22 left in the game.
The late comeback overshadowed a superhuman effort by Lance Leggett in the second quarter. On a 3rd and 15, he was being covered one on one by cornerback Marques Carpenter running an out route. Leggett made the reception and made a quick cut up field. He would go 62 yards untouched for the go-ahead touchdown.
It was perfect revenge for Leggett, who was embarrassed just minutes before. Carpenter intercepted a pass intended for Leggett and he was a lackluster effort at a tackle. Carpenter returned the interception 67 yards for a touchdown. It left Leggett a sour taste in his mouth, but fueled his speed on the next possession.
The Hurricanes dealt with the loss with class once again, but it was Dan Thompson that had the worst taste left in his mouth, for three recruits made the trip to Miami to watch the game. The three recruits were TE Bryan Jones, G Brent Vaughn, and TE Adam McDonald. All three of them relayed to Thompson their trip was worthy of a C- grade.
“I bet if Corso hadn’t screwed us over they’d have loved the trip,” Thompson continued to pout. “Either that or the rain.”
MIAMI HURRICANES NOTABLES[/size]
QB Kyle Wright - 14/22 183 yds TD 2 INT (one on hail marry)
HB Javarris James - 22 att 74 yds TD
WR Lance Leggett - 2 rec 77 yds TD
DT Antonio Dixon - 8 tkls sck
LB Glen Cook - 7 tkls
DE Calais Campbell - 6 tkls 2 scks
TEXAS A&M AGGIES NOTABLES[/color][/size]
QB Stephen McGee - 11/22 161 yds TD INT
HB Mike Goodson - 21 att 111 yds
WR Earvin Taylor - 4 rec 88 yds
CB Marques Carpenter - 6 tkls INT for TD (game-changing performance)
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS NOTABLES[/color][/size]
DUKE BLUE DEVILS NOTABLES[/color][/size]
NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS NOTABLES[/color][/size]
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES NOTABLES[/color][/size]
SEPTEMBER 1st - vs. MARSHALL[/size] - W 37-10
NOVEMBER 3rd - vs. NC STATE
NOVEMBER 10th - vs. VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 17th - @ VIRGINIA TECH
NOVEMBER 24th - @ BOSTON COLLEGE