The 2002 Rose Bowl was on today and I didn’t even watch the anticlimactic “battle”. No. 1 Miami had No. 2 Nebraska in a 34-0 hole by halftime. The only blunder, a missed extra point by Todd Sievers.
Ken Dorsey was near perfect. Clinton Portis couldn’t be stopped. Andre Johnson was a man amongst boys. Jeremy Shockey is still flexing somewhere after a touchdown grab.
James Lewis had a great pick six. Portis just broke off another run. Johnson just embarrassed the boy-sized corner who couldn’t keep up with him. Halftime.
Fast forward the majority of the second half, in order to not stomach Larry Coker taking his foot off the gas and allowing two uncalled for scores. Marvel at the fact future superstars like Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor and Antrel Rolle are playing special teams as freshmen.
Learn the true meaning of the word ‘depth’ when you look at the Canes ground game. Portis as your starting tailback. Najeh Davenport injured and on the sidelines, allowing Willis McGahee to take over at fullback. Watch future NFL star Frank Gore taking some meaningless handoffs in mop up duty.
While watching, try not to let your mind wander as to how Coker let the wheels fall off a handful of years later.
The 2002 Rose Bowl is a thing of beauty. At least the first half is. I own it on DVD, I have the game on the ol’ iPod for when I get drunk and want to show friends how great we were and I’ve beaten the 2001 highlight DVD into the dirt.
I appreciate ESPN Classic replaying this one, but next time dig a little deeper in the vault and show me something a bit more exciting. Here are five semi-recent Miami classics I’d rather have watched this week – not counting UCLA (1998), Florida State (2002) or any CBS epics that can’t be shown on the Disney-owned ESPN Classic (re: FSU 2000, VT 2000, UF 2002, etc.):
5. – Miami 16, Florida State 10 (OT) – [2004] – You can literally have the first 50 minutes of this snoozefest. Give me the Devin Hester blocked field goal, the Sinorice Moss jailbreak screen, the Chris Rix OT fumble and the Frank Gore rumble to paydirt for the game winner. You could easily sub this one out for the win over West Virginia in 2003, another average game with an amazing final few minutes. The 28-21 win over Pittsburgh in 2002 could make it’s way into this fifth slot as well.
4. – Miami 65, Washington 7 – [2001] – So NOT a great or entertaining football game for anyone that doesn’t bleed orange and green. The epitome of the all time revenge beat down for a team you wanted to send a message to.
3. – Miami 41, Louisville 38 – [2004] – Flew from San Diego to Miami for this all time Thursday night classic comeback. One of my favorite Orange Bowl experiences ever. Something about the magic that comes from a night game, a huge deficit and the validation of making the right call to trek east. Had the Canes lost, this one would be in the vault as one of the worst weekends ever.
2. – Miami 18, Boston College 7 – [2001] – “The Immaculate Interception”. Ed Reed being Ed Reed. Matt Walters displaying some of the best hands a defensive lineman has ever shown. The brilliant knee of Mike Rumph. Dorsey’s struggles on a cold, windy day in Chestnut Hill. The look on the faces of all those loser Bostonians, still living in an era where the Red Sox were bums and the Pats were just starting to make some noise. I doubt it came as a shock to their fans that the Eagles gave another one away. Seeing the Canes steal a would-be loss en route to Pasadena… epic game.
1. – Miami 38, Florida 33 – [2003] – A comeback for the ages. One of my favorite all time games to put on and enjoy like a fine wine. Down 33-10 late in the third, Miami’s defense shuts down the dirty Gators and scores 28 unanswered. All. Time. Classic. Just mentioning this one to a filthy Florida fan makes them squirm.
Honorable Mention – Miami 27, Virginia Tech 7 – [2005] – ESPN’s theme this week was “Before They Were Stars” for the upcoming NFL Draft and the ’05 Canes weren’t necessarily chock full o’ stars, so it doesn’t fit the bill. That said, a good reminder that Miami isn’t really that far away from some semi-memorable days. The win propelled the No. 5 Canes to No. 3, behind No. 2 Texas and No. 1 USC. A loss to Georgia Tech two weeks later erased all that, but for one night Miami proved that they could rise to the occasion and shine on a national stage.
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all canes i have to tell you i was at the miami vs v tech agame in 2005 bleeding the orange and green getting beer thrown all over me and hot dogs thrown on me from the upper deck... i love it..rocky macintosh punished marcus vick..i loved it...i will never forget that night...i remember running into a friend at the half when it was 10-0 canes and him telling me we did not have enough left in the tank for va tech...and we blasted those po dunk red neck fuckers all night..last thing i knew there were no keys being shook and the score was 27-0 before sorry ass marcus vick did anything and tech got a score...i talked shit all the way back to my suv...and almost got killed for it...i have never met such a bunch of sore losers as tech...i hate tech...and uva...i love it when the canes hand it to them...i will be at tech this year..bleeding the orange and green..hope you are there brotha...hope you are there brotha supporting our future...i love this school and these kids that work there assess off for fans like me...i cannot ask for anything more...i miss nights like that..recent memory has me thinking of when i saw them play at nc state last year and saw that bad game...i love to live in the great past...we will be back soon...love the blog homie...love it..hope to see you at the fsu game this year and maybe oklahoma in miami..we kiled marcus vick that night..sorry ass bitch...played like marve that night...like a gay bitch...ha...i love it...the dolphins should have known something from that game before they put sorry ass marcus vick on the practice squad...and i hope a pittbull eats mikes ass..i live down the street from peta in norfolk, va..you would not believe the heat that sorry ass has takin for that shit..deserves it in my opinion...we are on our way back...hey all canes mark this down...mark it down...We WILL 8 GAMES THIS YEAR...a nice year with our schedule...i keep saying it2-3 years...be back...lamar miller under 10.8 on the 100 meter in highschool...are you f'n kidding me...coming our way...we just got kids coming like this...give randy a shot...a extension...i am so excited for our near future...read the article from manny about lamar posted this week...will wake you up and blow your mind about this kid...the real deal...i will never forget that game ever...ever..love the blog homie...lets get something to eat next time you are in miami when i am ...peace brotha keep up the great work..shit got to get another drink...ha
va cane
Back in '03, I was newly inducted 'Cane having just began my freshman year of college. I was attending my first college football game...ever! (Had watched plenty of 'Canes, Gators, and 'Noles TV games growing up in South Florida, but had no ties to any FL institution before) We were herded into our holding pen outside the OB about 4 hours before kickoff...all of us crazy freshman not knowing any better. Then, the game against our rivals, those pesky Gators, began, and it looked like it was going to be a disaster. Then, that fourth quarter came, and that place went nuts. It was the closest I have ever been to any of winning our national championships. It is also the reason I always gave Brock Berlin the benefit of the doubt. (Especially over Kyle's inability to have any game that was as exhilarating as this one) You can ask any member of the Class of 2007 which football game was the most memorable, and this one would be a clear winner! I am forever comparing ever experience and every "comeback" to this game. I was hoping last year's FSU disaster would follow suit, but to no avail...plus teeming rain! I hope the 2009 Hurricanes have some of these exciting and unforgettable moments in store of us!
-Chicago Cane.