Miami Hurricanes

Oct. 29---College Football---
Miami 34 ... North Carolina 16---College Football---
Miami overcame a sluggish first half to score 27 unanswered points in the second half on three Tyrone Moss touchdowns and a blocked kick for a touchdown. North Carolina dominated the first half with two Ronnie McGill touchdown runs, but missed a chance to go up 23-7 when a pass just missed a wide open Jarwarski Pollack. Miami, thanks to Moss, outgained the Tar Heels 210 rushing yards to 102. The two teams combined for seven turnovers.---College Football---
Player of the game: Miami RB Tyrone Moss ran 24 times for 195 yards and four touchdowns. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: UNC - Passing: ---College Football---
Rushing: Ronnie McGill, 13-66, 2 TD. Receiving: Jesse Holley, 6-48---College Football---
Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 11-16, 111 yds, 3 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 24-195, 4 TD. Receiving: Darnell Jenkins, 3-38---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Yeah, Miami had a lot on its mind with all the hurricane distractions, but the win over North Carolina didn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence going into the Virginia Tech showdown. At this point in the season, QB Kyle Wright has to be much, much better. The defense turned it up a notch in the second half, but got pushed around way too much in the first half. If that happens against the Hokies, it won't be pretty. On the plus side, Tyrone Moss showed once again that he can be a workhorse, but Wright has to provide more for the passing game to become ACC champions.---College Football---
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Oct. 15---College Football---
Miami 34 ... Temple 3---College Football---
Miami got all of its points in the first half as Kyle Wright threw four touchdown passes with two going to Greg Olsen, and Devin Hester made a spectacular 48-yard punt return for a score. Wright missed the second half with an injured thumb, but he's not expected to miss any time, and the Canes couldn't put up any more points. Temple only managed a 40-yard Ryan Lux field goal.---College Football---
Player of the game: Miami QB Kyle Wright completed nine of ten passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 9-10, 196 yds, 4 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 6-29. Receiving: Sinorice Moss, 3-122, 1 TD---College Football---
Temple - Passing: Joe Desanzo, 10-20, 96 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Umar Ferguson, 23-77. Receiving: M. Loveland, 3-27---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Miami, outside of the injury to Kyle Wright, got exactly what it wanted out of the Temple win. It was an easy win, all of the backups got significant playing time, and the team escaped relatively injury-free. Wright is supposed to be fine, so now the team can set its sights on the big ACC games ahead. Now, backup QB Kirby Freeman has a little bit of playing time under his belt if needed.---College Football---
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Oct. 8---College Football---
Miami 52 ... Duke 7---College Football---
Kyle Wright threw three touchdowns in a five minute span as the Hurricanes cranked out a 31-0 first half. Tyrone Moss added touchdowns runs of seven and one yards, and backup QB Kirby Freeman threw two touchdown passes in relief. Duke was outgained 557 yards to 128 with only eight yards of passing offense, but got an 81-yard touchdown run from Ronnie Drummer. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Miami QB Kyle Wright completed 18 of 31 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 18-31, 255 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 12-82, 2 TD. Receiving: Ryan Moore, 7-87, 1 TD
Duke - Passing: Zack Asack, 4-15, 8 yds---College Football---
Rushing: Ronnie Drummer, 9-101. Receiving: Ben Patrick, 1-5---College Football---
What to take away from this game: The 52-7 win over Duke was the type of ugly blowout the team needed. It's not like the Canes played poorly against Colorado and South Florida, but they're better when they have the type of swagger that comes from obliterating the truly awful. Expect more of the same next week against Temple. The key will be to tighten everything up, three turnovers against Duke isn't a plus, but it's hard to argue with a win when you allow eight yards passing. It's also a plus to get backup QB Kirby Freeman more meaningful work.---College Football---
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Oct. 1---College Football---
Miami 27 ... South Florida 7---College Football---
Miami took advantage of USF turnovers and got three touchdown runs from Tyrone Moss and two Jon Peattie field goals on the way to the easy win. The USF offense only managed 174 yards of total offense and didn't get into the end zone until late in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Peyton. The two teams combined for nine turnovers with Miami picking off four Bull passes. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Miami RB Tyrone Moss ran 22 times for 89 yards and three touchdowns. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 13-26, 173 yds, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 22-89, 3 TD. Receiving: Darnell Jenkins, 4-30---College Football---
South Florida - Passing: Pat Julmiste, 8-25, 47 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Andre Hall, 19-53. Receiving: Johnny Peyton, 3-30---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Miami appeared to go through the motions against South Florida not turning it on late because there wasn't much of a need to. The offense got enough out of Tyrone Moss and the defense forced enough mistakes to cruise to the win, but it would've been nice if the offense turned on the jets to come up with a dominant performance. The attack still hasn't exploded on anyone yet, but Duke and Temple are coming up. ---College Football---
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Sept. 24
Miami 23 .. Colorado 3---College Football---
Miami dominated on defense from the start, and eventually, the offense came around with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Sinorice Moss midway through the second quarter for a 13-0 lead. It was 16-0 Miami when Colorado finally struck on a 58-yard Mason Crosby field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Canes put it well out of reach on a two-yard Kyle Wright touchdown run. ---College Football---
Player of the game: Miami SS Brandon Meriweather made 12 tackles with two tackles for loss, one interception and a broken up pass.---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 20-39, 264 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Quadtrine Hill, 4-55. Receiving: Sinorice Moss, 5-111, 1 TD---College Football---
Colorado - Passing: Joel Klatt, 25-41, 228 yds, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Hugh Charles, 19-82. Receiving: Dusty Sprague, 9-55---College Football---
What to take away from this game: Miami's defense looked like the Miami defense again with too much speed for Colorado. The Buffs might have finished with 331 yards, but most of them came in the fourth quarter. The Cane offense finally got a huge play from Kyle Wright on a great deep throw to Sinorice Moss in what might be the pass to break the ice for the air attack. While it wasn't the prettiest performance for the Canes, it didn't have to be. With South Florida, Duke and Temple ahead, the key is to keep improving week after week, primarily on third downs, until the tough part of the ACC schedule kicks back in. ---College Football---
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Sept. 17---College Football---
Miami 36 ... Clemson 30 3OT---College Football---
In the second overtime, Miami's Tyrone moss ran for a 25-yard touchdown diving into the end zone for the final few yards. Clemson's chance fell short when Kenny Phillips picked off Charlie Whitehurst ending the thriller. Whitehurst was nearly perfect up until the final pass throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for a one-yard score with less than three minutes to play, and then led the Tigers to a game-tying field goal drive culminating in a 27-yard Jad Dean kick. In the first overtime, Moss scored on a six-yard run for the Cane, but Clemson answered with a five-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Baham on fourth down.
Player of the game: Miami RB Tyrone Moss ran 31 times for 139 yards and three touchdowns. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 16-26, 152 yds, 1 TD---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 31-139, 3 TD. Receiving: Ryan Moore, 4-54---College Football---
Clemson - Passing: Charlie Whitehurst, 31-55, 288 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Charlie Whitehurst, 5-58, 1 TD. Receiving: Chansi Stuckey, 7-71---College Football---
What to take away from this game: In the most hostile of environments, Miami was able to keep its poise and came through with the tough win over Clemson. The Hurricane coaching staff let Kyle Wright turn it loose only when it was absolutely needed forcing the running game again and again and again. Eventually, Tyrone Moss got the holes he needed despite the average play of the line for a second straight game; the line has to be much, much better in pass protection. The defense might not have been a rock, but stiffened more than Clemson's defense, for the most part, only allowing Clemson to convert three of 17 on third downs. The biggest issue? Penalties. Miami committed 14 for 117 yards. Clemson committed two for 15.---College Football---
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Sept. 5---College Football---
Florida State 10 ... Miami 7---College Football---
For a change in this classic series, Miami's special teams let them down from missed plays from kick returner Devin Hester to botched snaps and holds on field goals including one late in the fourth quarter on a game-tying field goal attempt; Florida State was able to run out the clock. The Seminoles scored all ten of their points in the first quarter on a one-yard James Coleman touchdown run and a 37-ard Gary Cismesia field goal, and then turned the game over to the defense which sacked Miami QB Kyle Wright nine times. Miami's points came on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Moore in the second quarter. ---College Football---
Player of the game: The entire Florida State defense for its pressure in the backfield and holding the Miami offense to seven points. ---College Football---
Stat Leaders: Miami - Passing: Kyle Wright, 16-28, 230 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT---College Football---
Rushing: Tyrone Moss, 23-102. Receiving: Ryan Moore, 3-69, 1 TD---College Football---
Florida State - Passing: Drew Weatherford, 7-24, 67 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Lorenzo Booker, 12-63. Receiving: Lorenzo Booker, 4-33
What to take away from this game: Miami might be angry with itself for the way it lost to Florida State on dropped passes and missed plays on field goal attempts, but there's hope. QB Kyle Wright got better and better as the game went on looking like a star-in-the-making when he wasn't on his back. The offensive line was horrible against the Seminole pass rush, but Wright didn't appear to be shell-shocked. Yeah, Wright held on to the ball way too long, but he was a playmaker. RB Tyrone Moss is in for a huge season. ---College Football---
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2005 Schedule---College Football---
Sept. 5 – at Florida State (projected finish 8-3, 6-2 in ACC) – Offense: Is this the weakest Florida State offense in since 1981? The starting quarterback situation is a potential mess with Xavier Lee not looking ready for primetime this spring, Wyatt Sexton suspended and Drew Weatherford hurt. The best receivers are true freshmen, and the line doesn't appear to be anything special. What the Noles do have are two fantastic running backs with Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker needing to carry the offense until Lee gets his feet wet. Talent-wise, there's enough here to be explosive after fighting through a ton of growing pains, but the jury is out on whether or not Jeff Bowden is enough of a top-shelf offensive coordinator to be able to lead the attack to a better season after finishing 61st in the nation in total offense.---College Football---
Defense: The linebacking corps is among the best in America and safety Pat Watkins is a first round draft pick, but the rest of the defense is a major question mark after finishing seventh in the nation and fourth in scoring defense. The loss of rising star NG Clifton Dickson to academic problems and CB Antonio Cromartie to a knee injury is a huge hit for the rest of the D. The secondary will turn out to be fine if the star recruits of last year can quickly progress. ---College Football---
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Sept. 17 – at Clemson (6-5, 3-5 in ACC) – Offense: Former Toledo offensive coordinator Rob Spence will take over for Mike O'Cain after the Tiger attack finished 110th in the nation in offense and averaged a mere 21.45 points per game. The key will be an improvement on the line as the talent is there in the backfield and the receiving corps, even with the loss of top pass catcher Airese Currie, to see a night-and-day improvement. QB Charlie Whitehurst has to rebound after a lousy season, but he needs time to throw. The running game will be better with the expected emergence of RB Reggie Merriweather as a star for a full season.
Defense: New defensive coordinator Vic Koenning should be able to keep things rolling after a fantastic 2004. Plenty of experience returns, but there are some huge losses hurt most by the departure of LB Leroy Hill and CB Justin Miller. The run defense should be solid with a good front four and solid, deep linebacking corps. Even with the early defection of Miller to the NFL, the secondary will be good if CB Sergio Gilliam can play well right away. CB Tye Hill and FS Jamaal Fudge will be among the ACC's best.---College Football---
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Sept. 24 - Colorado (6-5, 4-4 in Big 12 North) – Offense: Colorado was brutally painful at times last year early, but it got better as the season went on against average teams. Against good defenses, the attack did absolutely nothing scoring nine against Missouri, seven against Texas and three against Oklahoma. With Bobby Purify graduating, the first step is to find a consistent running back to carry the offense. There are plenty of speedsters with several good options to choose from. The passing game needs QB Joel Klatt to revert to his 2003 form, but to do that the receivers have to start catching the ball and the line has to be better in pass protection. The tight ends, Joe Klopfenstein and Quinn Sypniewski, are outstanding.
Defense: The Buffs had a rough 2004 finishing last in the conference in total defense, but the potential is there for this group to be much better with a ton of returning experience that should be used to the 4-3 defense it switched to last year. The back seven should be tremendous and it'll be a major shocker if the pass defense gives up 260 yards per game again. The front four will have issues against great running teams, but it'll get into the backfield.---College Football---
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Oct. 1 - South Florida (3-8, 1-6 in Big East) – Offense: The potential is there for a big improvement after struggling to be consistent. Andre Hall is Big East's best running back working behind a rebuilding, but decent line. The receiving corps is deep and experienced led by tall, speedy Johnny Peyton. The problem is at quarterback where Pat Julmiste couldn't hit water last year if he was standing in the ocean, and Auburn transfer Courtney Denson is a former defensive back. If a steady passer emerges, this should be the Big East's surprise offense.---College Football---
Defense: The normally good Bull defense struggled last year with no pass defense and little success against the run with a line that was too small. Things should be better with a strong linebacking corps and the return of DT Tim Jones and SS Johnnie Jones after missing all of last year. The key will be the improvement in the corners after struggling to stop anyone, but they could use more of a steady pass rush.
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Oct. 8 - Duke (3-8, 0-8 in ACC) – Offense: The Blue Devils can go nowhere but up after finishing dead-last in total offense averaging 266 yards per game and averaging 16.6 points per outing. There's experience returning among the skill players with quarterback Mike Schneider returning for his third year as a starter getting two fantastic tight ends, Andy Roland and Ben Patrick, to work with. The backfield will be a strength as long as Cedric Dargan can stay healthy, but they won't produce much behind a rebuilding offensive line that returns one starter.---College Football---
Defense: The defense couldn't stop anyone's running game finishing 113th in the nation and allowed 426 yards per game of total offense. Expect that to change as the line has gone from a weakness to a strength with star tackle recruit Vince Oghobaase taking over in the middle along with the hopeful return of end Phillip Alexander from a broken leg. The secondary will be fine led by corner John Talley, but the linebackers will be a concern early until two new starters get their feet wet.---College Football---
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Oct. 15 – at Temple (predicted finish: 1-10) – Offense: The loss of do-it-all QB Walter Washington is a good and a bad thing. He was the Big East's best player, but the offense became too reliant on him. Pure passer Mike McGann will retake his starting job, but there's no depth whatsoever. The backfield and offensive line will lead to a strong rushing attack, but the new receiving corps has to make the offense more explosive.---College Football---
Defense: Injuries, inexperience and inconsistency led to a miserable season from the defense allowing 439 yards and 36 points per game. Despite the loss of the two best players, LBs Rian Wallace and Troy Bennett, things should be better with a solid front wall helped by the return of Antwon Burton in the middle and an experienced secondary helped by the healthy return of CB Ray Lamb.---College Football---
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Oct. 22 - Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 in ACC) – Offense: The offense's job will be to simply hold serve so the fantastic defense can win games. That could be a problem. QB Reggie Ball has been too erratic over his first two years throwing 18 interceptions last season. But unlike the talented backup quarterbacks, Ball is mobile making him more valuable playing behind an infant line that needs a ton of work. The running backs are among the best in the country if P.J. Daniels can stay healthy. Sophomore WR Calvin Johnson has future first-round draft pick written all over him, but there isn't a proven number two man to take the heat off.
Defense: It'll be a shock if this isn't one of the nation's best defenses. Nine starters (11 if you include DT Mansfield Wright who moved to offensive guard and CB Dennis Davis who returns from shoulder problems) come back from a defense that was a brick wall against the run and only allowed 18.9 points per game. The defensive front is tremendous with four starters who can do it all and four reserves ready to step into the rotation. Gerris Wilkinson leads a good linebacking corps that's missing experienced depth. The secondary will be better than ever with Chris Reis moving from linebacker to safety and Davis returning to man the corner spot opposite of Reuben Houston.---College Football---
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Oct. 29 - North Carolina (3-8, 3-5 in ACC) – Offense: Coordinator Gary Tranquill did a masterful job last year helping the Tar Heels to a big season finishing second in the ACC in total offense. The line is outstanding and the receiving corps is deep and underrated. There are concerns in the backfield needing new quarterback Matt Baker to be consistent, while inexperienced running backs Vince Wilson and Barrington Edwards need to pick up the slack for injured junior Ronnie McGill.---College Football---
Defense: Nine starters, not including top tackle Chase Page, return to a defense that finished 109th in the nation allowing 446.5 yards and 31.83 points per game. The most work has to be done in the run defense with the veteran linebacking corps needing to make far more plays to allow the safeties to play pass defense. The young, inconsistent line has to generate more of a pass rush and the secondary has to pick off more passes.---College Football---
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Nov. 5 – at Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-2 in ACC) – Offense: The offense was efficient last year, but it didn't move the ball much averaging almost 31 points per game despite only averaging 366 yards. Now this should be a devastating attack as long as Marcus Vick plays like he's supposed to. There are two great quarterback prospects (Sean Glennon and Cory Holt) also in the mix, but Vick is the type of player who can make this loaded attack special. There's too much talent at running back and receiver for one football, and the line is big and will be fine in time. Expect big, explosive numbers, but the question is whether or not someone can pick up the leadership slack left by Bryan Randall.---College Football---
Defense: While this probably won't be the killer defense it was last year when it finished fourth in the nation and second in scoring defense, it'll still be impressive with a tremendous front four, an experienced linebacking corps, and All-America corner Jimmy Williams leading the secondary. Depth is a bit of a problem in the back seven with decent, but mostly inexperienced prospects being shuffled around to find the right fit. Like always with the Hokies, expect plenty of great athletes, lots of big plays, and another good year.
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Nov. 17 – at Wake Forest (5-6, 3-5 in ACC) - Offense: You know what you're getting from Wake Forest. It'll be another great rushing attack led by Chris Barclay and strong backups Micah Andrews and De'Angelo Bryant working behind an experienced, but inconsistent line. The passing game has weapons with most of the top receivers coming back, so now the key is finding a quarterback to get them the ball. Ben Mauk and Cory Randolph are average passers at best and will be in a battle for the starting spot up until the opener.
Defense: The front seven will be the best in the Jim Grobe era with plenty of speed and good depth at almost every spot. The secondary will be the concern losing stars Eric King and Marcus McGruder from a group that wasn't all that great anyway. The safeties will have to be the strength early led by junior Josh Gattis, but the corners will have a hard time with several young players looking to find time. ---College Football---
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Nov. 26 - Virginia (7-4, 4-4 in ACC) – Offense: The Cavaliers had one of the nation's best offenses ... against average teams. Lack of a deep threat receiver and inconsistency in the backfield led to problems against teams like Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech. That should change now that quarterback Marques Hagans has a year of starting experience. The big, fast receivers should be better with more of a focus on the passing attack. The ground game will still be outstanding with Wali Lundy and Michael Johnson working behind a line that'll have to find a way to overcome the loss of Elton Brown and Zac Yarbrough.
Defense: The defense won't be quite the killer it was last year, but it'll be strong led by future millionaires Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham on the inside. Even though there aren't the stars of recent Cavalier defenses, there are plenty of great athletes and plenty of good, steady playmakers like Brennan Schmidt on the end and Tony Franklin at corner. There's decent depth everywhere.---College Football---
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