Lionel’s Place: 2001 SUGAR BOWL | New Orleans, La. | Jan. 2, 2001
‘Canes Stir Up a Storm: Miami 37 Florida
20
They wanted to play in the national title game, and Tuesday night the Miami Hurricanes made their point that they deserved to be there. Miami handled Florida 37-20 in the Sugar Bowl and finish the season with an 11-1 record. Still, the national title will belong to Oklahoma if it beats Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Wednesday.• Frozen moment: Davenport makes catch that counts
• In the crosshairs: Miami’s Santana Moss | BCS site
• ‘Canes mascot in doghouse | Sugar Bowl notebook
• Sugar Bowl photo galleryMiami and Florida resurrect a sleeping rivalry Back in the day, Miami-Florida was the dominant rivalry in the Sunshine State before Florida opted out of it 13 years ago.Sugar Bowl has its ties to national title The No. 2 team in the writers’ poll is in New Orleans and has title hopes of its own.Butch Davis says he’s staying put with Hurricanes
Florida, Miami players clash in
Bourbon Street brawl
Hurricanes arrive for Sugar Bowl — in an assortment of ways
Reserve Florida DT declared ineligible
Florida’s top rusher Gillespie
undergoes knee surgery
Bowl picture complete: OU vs. FSU in Orange Bowl
Sooners finish regular season as No. 1 teamAP Top 25: Oklahoma, Miami finish 1-2
with Bill Curry
After 13 years the two heavyweights staged their 50th match, and the series score stands at 25-25. The Sugar Bowl BCS pairing of Florida and Miami is history, with the Hurricanes delivering a knockout punch in the fourth quarter with a grueling, determined ground attack.
The score may have been 37-20, but the issue was very much in doubt until the Miami offensive line took control in the fourth quarter. Bryant McKinnie, Greg Laffere, Brett Romberg, Martin Bibia and Joaquin Gonzales pounded away at a salty Gator defense until it yielded to the power thrusts of Clinton Portis, D.J. Williams and Najeh Davenport.
Ken Dorsey was the quarterback of record and won the MVP trophy, going 22-for-40 passing for 270 yards and three touchdowns to go with two interceptions. Santana Moss was wonderful with his scintillating returns and six catches for 89 yards. But this one was decided in the trenches, and we have a new Florida State Champ. Come to think of it, we may a half a national champ!
IT WAS OVER WHEN … Sebastian the Ibis joined the Hurricanes in celebration. Unfortunately for Sebastian, there was still 4:21 left in the game and the officials didn’t like the fact the mascot was all over the field with the Miami players. The Hurricanes were penalized 15 yards.
THE GAME BALL GOES TO … Najeh Davenport, who rushed for the clinching touchdown, but more importantly made a tremendous catch in the end zone for another score. Davenport, a fullback, has been kidded all year by teammates about his porous hands, but came through in the spotlight.
NUMBERS GAME:
1987: The last time the two instate rivals met. a 31-4 Miami win.
71,1,184, 14: Florida freshman WR Jabar Gaffney’s line of receptions, yards and TDs for the year. All set freshman national records.
5-4: Steve Spurrier’s bowl record at Florida.
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