Miami didn`t just produce a rout Wednesday night. The Hurricanes delivered a rebuttal.
In a point-counterpoint day of football, top-ranked Miami answered Washington`s claim to No. 1 with a convincing argument of its own. The Hurricanes fueled the debate with a 22-0 victory over Nebraska in the rain-soaked Orange Bowl.
Coming after No. 2 Washington`s 34-14 romp over Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the pressure was on Miami to match the Huskies in style points to impress the impressionable voters. The Hurricanes did.
Now it`ll be up to the pollsters to determine the national champion. Both the Associated Press media poll and the USA Today/CNN coaches poll will be released Thursday morning.
With both teams finishing 12-0, the odds are strong that the polls will be split. Going into Wednesday`s games, Miami held a 14-point edge in the AP poll. However, the teams were tied in the coaches poll.
”I just wish we could play Washington,” said Miami defensive back Charles Pharms. ”Then we could squash all that talk, and end all this campaigning. We could just play the game.”
But it won`t happen, leaving the teams to campaign for one more day. Many experts believe Washington has the better talent. But Miami is quick to point out that it played five bowls teams, compared to three for Washington. And one of Miami`s victories came on the road at then-No. 1 Florida State.
Miami is shooting for its fourth national title in nine years, and its third in the last five seasons. Washington has yet to win a national crown.
”Washington has been trying to get the sympathy vote,” said receiver Lamar Thomas. ”They`re trying to get their program on the map. We already have the attention. We should be No. 1.”
Nebraska was supposed to viewed as a barometer, although it appeared to be a wash Wednesday. Washington beat Nebraska on the road 36-21 in September. Playing on Miami`s home field, Wednesday`s game hardly could be considered a fair fight. The Hurricanes bullied Nebraska to the point of making the Cornhuskers regret they had won the Big 8 title.
Nebraska didn`t get a first down until midway through the second quarter. The Hurricanes simply were too quick for the bigger Nebraska front line.
Offensively, Miami scored on its first three series. Early on, the Hurricanes relied on big pass plays from quarterback Gino Torretta.
Then as the field got wetter, the Hurricanes turned to freshman running back Larry Jones. The third-stringer, who was starting in place of Stephen McGuire (knee injury) and Martin Patton (disciplinary reasons) didn`t leave Miami short. He picked up 83 yards in the first half.
Then, with Miami leading 13-0, Jones dominated on the Hurricanes` first drive of the second half, capping it with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Carlos Huerta later converted a 54-yard field goal to give Miami its 22-0 final spread.
Miami set the tone almost from the opening kickoff. On Nebraska`s second play, Miami`s Anthony Hamlet sacked Keithen McCant for a 7-yard loss. The Cornhuskers should have gotten the idea then that it was going to be a long evening.
They did a few plays later. On Miami`s second offensive play, Torretta hit Kevin Williams for 36 yards to the Nebraska 13. Then Torretta went to the same target, connecting with Williams on a crossing pattern for an 8-yard touchdown.
Nebraska responded by going three plays and out again. Miami countered by counting on the big play once more. This time Torretta hit Thomas for 38 yards to the Nebraska 12.
But the drive died at the 7, and Huerta kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Miami a 10-0 lead.
It only got worse for Nebraska. On its first play from its 20, McCant went outside for the option. But Hamlet hit him as he made the pitch, causing the ball to bounce off running back Derek Brown. Miami`s Ryan McNeil recovered the fumble on the Nebraska 14.
Miami, though, blew another touchdown opportunity. The Hurricanes relied again on a 24-yard field goal by Huerta, stretching the lead to 13-0.
Nebraska got the ball back at its 20. The Cornhuskers then gained all of one yard. For the first quarter, they netted one yard and no first downs.
Penalties held back Miami on the next drive. Williams broke free on a reverse and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. But a holding call nullified the score.
On Nebraska`s next series, the Cornhuskers` lowlight came when McCant tripped over his guard, Erik Wiegart, for a 1-yard loss.
Nebraska later made history-or at least a first down, its first of the game. It came when Lance Lewis gained 3 yards on third and 2 from the 28. McCant followed with a 32-yard pass to tight end Johnny Mitchell, who made a beautiful diving catch.
Nebraska eventually drove to the Miami 21. But in going for it on fourth down and 3, McCant was called for delay of game. Instead, Nebraska opted for the field goal, but Byron Bennett missed from 43 yards.
