Florida A&M Rattlers	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played August 31, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Florida A&M	0
Miami, FLA ©	2	22	7	0	.759	11	1	0	.917	8	3	0	.727	3	3	0	.500

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker welcomed the Division 1-AA Florida A&M Rattlers with coach Billy Joe to the Orange Bowl in the season opener for both teams.  No Division 1-AA team had ever won The Belt & the defending National Champion Hurricanes had no intention of allowing the Rattlers to be the first.  Miami scored 28 points in the 1^st quarter on their way to a 63-17 win.  Florida A&M was held to 61 yards rushing, 155 total yards, & sacked 7 times by the Hurricane defense as Miami rolled to an easy win.  All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey threw for only 110 yards but 3 touchdowns in limited action.  All-American RB Willis McGahee had 60 yards with a touchdown on just 6 carries & back-up RB Jason Geathers rushed for 199 yards with 2 touchdowns as the Hurricanes made this look more like a scrimmage than a regular season game.  DT Vince Wilfork & DT Matt Walters each tallied 2 sacks for the Hurricane defense.  Florida A&M QB Casey Printers threw for just 42 yards completing 8 of 22 pass attempts in the loss.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Rattlers finished 7-4 & MEAC Champions.  Florida A&M had not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Florida Gators
Played September 7, 2002 at Florida Field

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	23	7	0	.767	12	1	0	.923	8	3	0	.727	3	3	0	.500
Florida	2	5	7	0	.417	3	3	0	.500	2	3	0	.400	0	1	0	.000

 

The top-ranked, 1-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker traveled to Gainesville to meet the 6^th ranked, 1-0 Florida Gators & first-year coach Ron Zook.  Neither team had been challenged in their opener as Florida had defeated Alabama-Birmingham & Miami rolled over Florida A&M.  Florida missed a field goal on their opening drive &, after both teams exchanged punts, All-Big East PK Todd Sievers got Miami on the board first with a 53-yard field goal.  Sievers connected from 38 yards early in the 2^nd quarter to give the Hurricanes a 6-0 lead.  Florida took the lead when RB Ernest Graham scored from 18 yards &, after a blocked Miami punt; PK Matt Leach added a 34-yard field goal giving Florida a 10-6 advantage.  The Miami offense started clicking on the next drive as All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey drove the Hurricanes 80 yards hitting All-Big East WR Andre Johnson for the 7-yard touchdown pass giving Miami a 13-10 lead.  Florida turned the ball over at their own 19-yard line when they mishandled a punt on 4^th down.  Dorsey connected with WR Ethenic Sands on a 10-yard touchdown pass giving the Hurricanes a 20-10 halftime lead.  Miami opened the 3^rd quarter still rolling as Dorsey directed a 79-yard scoring drive finishing with an 18-yard touchdown pass to RB Jason Geathers.  After another Gator punt, a Dorsey pass was intercepted by LB Byron “Bam” Hardmon who returned it 26 yards for a Florida touchdown but Miami still led 27-16 after Leach missed the extra point kick.  After another exchange of punts, the Gators drove 88 yards to the Miami 5-yard line but All-Big East S Maurice Sikes intercepted QB Rex Grossman’s pass & returned it 97 yards as Miami took a 34-16 lead.  Miami was driving for another score as the 3^rd quarter ended but Dorsey was intercepted to give the Gators hope as the 4^th quarter started.  Florida was unable to capitalize as their third snap of the 4^th quarter saw Sikes intercept Grossman again.  Four plays later, Dorsey connected with Geathers for their second touchdown in the game, this time from 19 yards, giving the Hurricanes an insurmountable 41-16 lead.  Florida was unable to threaten the rest of the game as Miami claimed the victory.  Dorsey finished with 202 yards passing with 4 touchdowns but 3 interceptions & All-American RB Willis McGahee added 204 yards rushing for the Hurricanes.  Grossman threw for 191 yards but 2 interceptions & Graham added 89 yards rushing with his score.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Gators finished 8-5.  Florida would play for The Belt again in 2006.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Temple Owls
Played September 14, 2002 at Veterans Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	24	7	0	.774	12	1	0	.923	9	3	0	.750	3	3	0	.500
Temple	0	0	3	0	.000	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000

 

The top-ranked, 2-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker would meet the 1-1 Temple Owls of coach Bobby Wallace in Philadelphia.  Coming off their win over Florida, the Hurricanes were on a 21-game reign as Belt champion as they battled the overmatched Owls.  The 1^st quarter saw Miami score on a 1-yard touchdown run by All-American RB Willis McGahee & a 9-yard touchdown pass from All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey to WR Kevin Beard.  The 2^nd quarter started almost the same way as McGahee added a 6-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 Hurricane lead.  Temple finally got on the board after recovering a fumble by Miami P Freddie Capshaw at the Hurricanes’ 21-yard line.  Seven plays later, RB Tanardo Sharps scored on a 1-yard touchdown run but the Owls still trailed 21-7.  Another Miami fumble, this one by McGahee, gave the Owls the ball at the Miami 16-yard line.  This time, Sharps scored on the next snap from 16 yards making the score Miami 21, Temple 14.  All-Big East PK Todd Sievers’ 31-yard field goal as time expired sent the teams to their locker rooms with Miami holding a 24-14 halftime lead.  Miami dominated the 2^nd half.  McGahee scored twice in the 3^rd quarter on runs of 1 & 4 yards.  Dorsey connected with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on a 3-yard touchdown pass giving Miami at 44-14 lead.  Temple closed the scoring when back-up QB Mike Frost hit WR Sean Szarka on a 22-yard touchdown pass leaving the final score Miami 44, Temple 21.  Dorsey finished with 314 yards with 2 touchdowns & McGahee rushed for 134 yards with his 4 touchdowns.  For Temple, All-Big East DE Dan Klecko did have a sack with 4 solo tackles while Sharps finished with 68 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns & QB Mike McGann threw for just 36 yards while being sacked twice.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Owls finished 4-8.  Temple has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Boston College Eagles	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played September 21, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Boston College	0	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000
Miami, FLA ©	2	25	7	0	.781	12	1	0	.923	10	3	0	.769	3	3	0	.500

 

 

The 2-0 Boston College Eagles with coach Tom O’Brien met the top-ranked, 3-0 Miami Hurricane & coach Larry Coker in the Orange Bowl.  The previous game between these teams saw a near upset by the Eagles.  As Boston College was driving for the go-ahead score, an interception by Miami was returned for a touchdown giving the Hurricanes an 18-7 win.  This match-up would be far less exciting as Miami’s defense kept the Eagles out of the end zone & the Hurricanes coasted to a 38-6 victory to retain The Belt.  Boston College led 6-3 after field goals of 35 & 41 yards from Eagles’ PK Sandro Sciortino & a 45-yard kick from Hurricanes’ All-Big East PK Todd Sievers.  But with 1:13 left in the half, Miami drove 80 yards in 4 plays with All-American RB Willis McGahee carrying the final yard for the touchdown giving Miami a 10-6 halftime lead.  McGahee scored again in the 3^rd quarter from 5 yards out & the 4^th quarter saw the Miami scoring machine come to life.  All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey hit McGahee for a 77-yard gain then connected with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown pass capping the 70-yard drive.  Miami’s LB D.J. Williams caused a fumble by Boston College RB Derrick Knight that was recovered by the Hurricanes’ All-Big East LB Jonathan Vilma who returned it 2 yards for a score.  Dorsey then connected with All-Big East WR Andre Johnson from 33 yards for the final score.  Dorsey finished with 202 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns & McGahee added 135 yards rushing with 86 yards receiving to his 2 scores.  For the Eagles, QB Brian St. Pierre threw for 138 yards with an interception & was sacked 3 times.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Eagles finished 9-4.  Boston College had not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Connecticut Huskies	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played October 5, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Connecticut	0
Miami, FLA ©	2	26	7	0	.788	13	1	0	.929	10	3	0	.769	3	3	0	.500

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

In their first season in Division 1-A, the 2-3 Connecticut Huskies of coach Randy Edsall met the top-ranked, 4-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker.  Miami used this game to get ready for their match-up with Florida State the following week as the Huskies, playing without leading rusher RB Terry Caulley, were no match for the defending national champions in a 48-14 Miami win.  All-American RB Willis McGahee scored twice in the 1^st quarter, both on 15-yard runs.  McGahee added an 11-yard run in the 2^nd quarter & DE Andrew Williams scored on a 56-yard fumble recovery giving Miami a 28-0 advantage.  All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey hit WR Kevin Beard for touchdowns of 5 & 8 yards as the Hurricanes pushed their lead to 42-0 at the intermission.  Dorsey connected with WR Ethenic Sands from 15-yards on the first drive of the 2^nd half & Miami rested most of their frontline players the rest of the game.  Connecticut scored near the end of the 3^rd quarter on a 14-yard pass from QB Dan Orlovsky to TE Tommy Collins.  The Huskies other score came when CB Ezra Carey returned a blocked punt 5 yards for a touchdown.  Dorsey finished with 216 yards passing with 3 touchdowns & McGahee finished with 107 yards rushing with 3 touchdowns on just 11 carries.  Orlovsky threw for 100 yards with a touchdown but the Huskies were held to 190 total yards with 6 sacks in the blowout.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Huskies finished 6-6.  Connecticut has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Florida State Seminoles	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played October 12, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Florida State	2	25	3	0	.893	12	1	0	.923	10	1	0	.909	3	1	0	.750
Miami, FLA ©	2	27	7	0	.794	14	1	0	.933	10	3	0	.769	3	3	0	.500

 

Previous Belt Meetings

 

 

 

The 9^th ranked, 5-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden provided the Homecoming opposition for the top-ranked, 5-0 Miami Hurricanes & coach Larry Coker.  Miami had taken The Belt from Florida State 2 years earlier in the game known as “Wide Right III” & had easily won the rematch last season but now the Seminoles hoped to end the 24-game Belt reign of the Hurricanes.  After a Florida State punt, Miami took their opening drive 89 yards with All-American RB Willis McGahee scoring from 4 yards giving the Hurricanes a 7-0 lead.  Neither team was able to score the rest of the 1^st quarter.  After recovering a fumble by All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey at their 16-yard line, Florida State drove 84 yards in 4 plays with RB Nick Maddox scoring on a 30-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.  PK Xavier Beitia’s 45-yard field goal gave the Seminoles a 10-7 lead & a 10-yard touchdown pass from QB Chris Rix to WR Talman Gardner put Florida State up 17-7.  Miami took their next possession 80 yards in 12 plays in 2:08 with Dorsey connecting with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on a 5-yard touchdown pass as the teams went to intermission with Florida State leading 17-14.  The Seminoles got the only 3^rd quarter points on a 42-yard field goal by Beitia.  With 11:44 to play, Florida State’s RB Greg Jones scored on an 11-yard run & the Seminoles had a 27-14 advantage.  Miami’s belt reign was in jeopardy but the Hurricanes would not go away without a fight.  After exchanging punts, Dorsey lead a 70-yard drive hitting WR Kevin Beard for a 2-yard touchdown with 8:10 to play making the score Florida State 27, Miami 21.  Miami’s defense forced a Seminole punt on their next possession & the Hurricanes went 79 yards in 2 plays – a 68-yard screen pass from Dorsey to McGahee & 11-yard touchdown run from RB Jason Geathers giving Miami a 28-27 lead.  Each team punted again & Florida State took possession at their own 46-yard line with 2:05 to play.  7 plays later, the Seminoles set-up for the winning field goal at the Miami 25-yard line as time was expiring.  Beitia’s 43-yard field goal attempt was wide left & Miami had held on for a 28-27 victory.  Dorsey finished with 362 yards passing with 2 touchdowns & 2 interceptions.  For Florida State, Rix threw for just 83 yards with a touchdown while Jones finished with 189 yards rushing with a touchdown in the losing effort.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Seminoles finished 9-5, ACC Champions, & ranked 21^st nationally.  Florida State has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	West Virginia Mountaineers
Played October 26, 2002 at Mountaineer Field

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	28	7	0	.800	15	1	0	.938	10	3	0	.769	3	3	0	.500
West Virginia	0	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000

 

The top-ranked, 6-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker traveled to Morgantown to meet the 5-2 West Virginia Mountaineers of coach Rich Rodriguez.  The Mountaineers were dominated the previous year in a 45-3 loss but they believed they had a shot at the upset at home this season.  After West Virginia punted, Miami took their opening possession 66 yards in 5 plays with All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey hitting All-Big East WR Andre Johnson on a 42-yard touchdown pass.  The Mountaineers responded with an 80-yard, 9-play drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run from All-Big East RB Avon Cobourne, the nation’s leading rusher.  All-Big East PK Todd Sievers hit a 47-yard field goal as Miami closed the 1^st quarter with a 10-7 lead.  All-American RB Willis McGahee finished a 69-yard, 12-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown as Miami stretched their lead to 17-7.  Mountaineer PK Todd James hit from 24 yards as the teams went to the half with Miami leading 17-10.  The Mountaineers recovered a McGahee fumble at the Hurricane 13-yard line on the first play from scrimmage in the 3^rd quarter &, three plays later, QB Rashe Marshall scored from 12 yards out tying the score at 17-17.  McGahee’s second touchdown came on a 2-yard run at 8:51 to play in the 3^rd quarter & gave the Hurricanes a 24-17 edge.  The Mountaineers responded with a 64-yard, 8-play drive with RB Quincy Wilson scoring from 1 yard to finish the drive.  James missed the extra point though & Miami held a 24-23 lead.  Dorsey connected with Johnson from 11 yards for their second touchdown & the Hurricanes lead 31-23 as the 4^th quarter started.  McGahee scored his third touchdown on a 1-yard run & Sievers added a 37-yard field goal as Miami’s defense shutout West Virginia in the final quarter on their way to a 40-23 victory.  Dorsey finished with 422 yards passing with 2 touchdowns, McGahee had 112 yards rushing with 3 touchdowns, Johnson had 6 catches for 111 yards with 2 touchdowns, & WR Quadtrine Hill added 6 catches for 108 yards.  For West Virginia, Marshall finished with only 60 yards passing but 131 yards rushing with a touchdown while Cobourne added 175 yards rushing with his touchdown.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Mountaineers finished 9-4 & ranked 25^th nationally.  West Virginia has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Played November 2, 2002 at Rutgers Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	29	7	0	.806	15	1	0	.938	11	3	0	.786	3	3	0	.500
Rutgers	0	0	1	0	.000					0	1	0	.000

 

 

The top-ranked, 7-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker traveled to New Brunswick to meet the 1-7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights of coach Greg Schiano.  Miami had won last season’s meeting 61-0 & the Scarlet Knights appeared undermanned for this game as well but a surprising 1^st half awaited the Hurricanes.  Rutgers drove 80 yards in 7 plays with Clarence Pittman scoring on a 1-yard run as the Scarlet Knights took the lead 7-0.  Miami responded with a 7-play, 78-yard drive but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from All-Big East PK Todd Sievers.  Miami returned an interception to the Rutgers 21 yard line but had to settle for another Sievers’ field goal, this one from 24 yards as the Scarlet Knights still led 7-6.  Miami got a safety when Rutgers fumbled the ball out of the end zone giving the Hurricanes an 8-7 lead.  The Miami offense was unable to move the ball against the Scarlet Knights defense & Rutgers got a 38-yard field goal from PK Ryan Sands giving them the lead at 10-8.  Things kept going wrong for the Hurricanes when CB Shawn Seabrooks returned a blocked punt 2-yards for a 17-8 Scarlet Knight lead.  Miami finally got rolling offensively with a 73-yard, 7-play drive in just 1:32.  All-American RB Willis McGahee scored on a 2-yard run to finish the drive but the Scarlet Knights blocked the extra point sending the teams to their locker rooms with Rutgers leading 17-14.  Neither team was able to score in the 3^rd quarter as Miami punted four times while Rutgers punted three times & turned the ball over when a fake field goal was stopped short of a first down by All-Big East LB Jonathan Vilma.  Things finally broke loose for Miami in the 4^th quarter.  After a punt gave the ball to the Hurricanes at the Rutgers 38-yard line, Miami took only three plays & 0:45 to score on a 20-yard touchdown pass from All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey to All-Big East WR Andre Johnson.  Three plays later, Miami CB Kelly Jennings intercepted a pass from Scarlet Knights QB Ted Trump that gave the Hurricanes the ball back at the Rutgers 21-yard line.  This drive took five plays before Dorsey hit All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown & 28-17 Miami lead.  Another interception, this one by CB Alfonso Marshall, gave the Hurricanes the ball at the Rutgers 4-yard line & McGahee scored for Miami on the next play.  Miami closed the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown pass from back-up QB Derrick Crudup to WR David Williams as the Hurricanes used a 28-point 4^th quarter to escape with a 42-17 victory.  Miami had won even though they were flagged for 13 penalties for 120 yards & made only 2 of 15 third down conversions.  Dorsey finished with 192 yards passing with 2 touchdowns while McGahee had 187 yards rushing with his 2 scores.  Rutgers QB Ryan Hart threw for 110 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Scarlet Knights finished 1-11.  Rutgers has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Tennessee Volunteers
Played November 9, 2002 at Neyland Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	30	7	0	.811	15	1	0	.938	12	3	0	.800	3	3	0	.500
Tennessee	1	6	5	2	.538	4	2	1	.643	0	2	1	.167	2	1	0	.667

 

                       Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

The 2^nd ranked, 8-0 Miami Hurricanes & coach Larry Coker traveled to Neyland Stadium to battle the 5-3 Tennessee Volunteers of coach Phillip Fullmer.  This game marked the first time this season the Hurricanes were not top-ranked & Miami wanted to prove the voters had made a mistake.  But it was the Volunteers who struck first.  RB Cedric Houston broke loose for a 74-yard run on the second play of the game setting up a 21-yard field goal from PK Alex Walls.  Miami RB Jason Geathers returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the Tennessee 45-yard line & the Hurricanes drove 26 yards before All-Big East PK Todd Sievers connected on a 37-yard field goal tying the score 3-3.  Miami’s defense forced a Volunteer punt & after an 11-play, 50-yard drive, Sievers added a 39-yard field goal giving Miami the 6-3 advantage.  Miami used a strong defensive performance that included 7 sacks & a solid, ball-control offense to dominate the rest of the game in a 26-3 victory over the Volunteers.  Tennessee, playing the 2^nd half without starting QB Casey Clausen due to injury, never got closer than the Miami 40-yard line & only crossed midfield 3 times the rest of the game as they were held to 77 yards passing for the game.  All-American RB Willis McGahee scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 80-yard, 5-play drive.  Sievers added field goals from 44 & 25 yards as Miami led 19-3 at the half.  The only 2^nd half score came on an 11-yard touchdown pass from All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey to All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr.  Dorsey finished with 245 yards passing with a touchdown while McGahee added 154 yards rushing with his score & All-Big East WR Andre Johnson caught 5 passes for 103 yards.  For Tennessee, Houston finished with 111 yards rushing & All-SEC TE Jason Witten was held to 1 catch for 28 yards in the losing effort.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Volunteers finished 8-5.  Tennessee would play for The Belt again in 2007.

 

 

 

Pittsburgh Panthers	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played November 21, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Pittsburgh	0	0	5	0	.000	0	3	0	.000	0	2	0	.000
Miami, FLA ©	2	31	7	0	.816	15	1	0	.938	13	3	0	.813	3	3	0	.500

 

 

The 17^th ranked, 8-2 Pittsburgh Panthers of coach Walt Harris traveled to the Orange Bowl to meet the top-ranked, 9-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker.  The Hurricanes survived a late rally maintaining their 29-game Belt reign with a 28-21 victory over the Panthers.  Miami took an early lead when Pittsburgh’s opening drive was stopped & All-Big East S Sean Taylor returned All-Big East P Andy Lee’s punt 78 yards for a 7-0 Hurricane lead.  After another Pittsburgh punt, All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey’s pass was intercepted by LB Brian Beinecke & the Panthers drove 34 yards in five plays with QB Rod Rutherford hitting All-Big East WR Larry Fitzgerald for a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the score 7-7.  Both teams missed field goals in the 2^nd quarter before Pittsburgh got a break.  After deflecting a punt, the Panthers took the ball at the Miami 30-yard line.  Pittsburgh used seven plays to get into the end zone with Rutherford connecting with WR Roosevelt Bynes for the 4-yard touchdown pass & a 14-7 Pittsburgh lead.  After the kickoff, Miami’s All-American RB Willis McGahee took the next snap on a 69-yard run for the tying touchdown.  Miami opened the 2^nd half with a 71-yard, 4-play drive that ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dorsey to All-Big East WR Andre Johnson for the only points of the quarter as Miami led 21-14.  The Hurricanes opened the 4^th quarter with McGahee scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run giving Miami a 28-14 advantage.  The teams exchanged punts before Pittsburgh scored on Rutherford’s 3-yard run after a 73-yard drive to close to within 7 points at 28-21.  The Panthers’ defense held Miami & the offense got the ball back at their own 42-yard line with 2:12 to play.  Rutherford drove the Panthers to the Miami 20-yard line with just 0:20 to play but his 4^th down pass to WR Yogi Roth at the goal line was just out of reach & the Hurricanes had the 28-21 victory.  Dorsey finished with 163 yards passing with a touchdown & McGahee added 159 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns.  For Pittsburgh, Rutherford finished with 150 yards passing with 2 touchdowns as well as 69 yards rushing with a touchdown but was sacked six times & RB Brandon Miree added 118 yards rushing.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Panthers finished 9-4 & ranked 19^th nationally.  Pittsburgh had not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Syracuse Orange
Played November 30, 2002 at the Carrier Dome

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	32	7	0	.821	16	1	0	.941	13	3	0	.813	3	3	0	.500
Syracuse	0	0	2	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	0	1	0	.000

 

 

The top-ranked, 10-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker would travel to the Carrier Dome to meet the 4-7 Syracuse Orangemen of coach Paul Pasqualoni.  Syracuse had played 2 previous Belt game against Miami & had been shutout in both games.  Miami used their dominating defense & explosive offense that accounted for 565 yards to rout the Orangemen again, this time by a score of 49-7.  After stopping the initial Syracuse drive, Miami’s All-American RB Willis McGahee took a handoff on the second snap from scrimmage 61 yards for a touchdown & 7-0 Hurricane lead.  All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey lead an 85-yard, 7-play drive finishing with a 23-yard touchdown pass to WR Ethenic Sands for a 14-0 advantage.  Another long drive, this one 70 yards in seven plays, lead to Dorsey hitting All-Big East WR Andre Johnson for a 4-yard touchdown & 21-0 Miami lead.  Syracuse finally scored their first points in a Belt game when RB Walter Reyes finished a 69-yard, 10-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 0:39 to play in the half.  The 2^nd half was all Hurricanes as WR Quadtrine Hill scored on a 2-yard run, & McGahee added a 51-yard touchdown run for a 35-7 Hurricane lead as the 4^th quarter started.  Miami added insult to injury with a fake punt that saw P Freddie Capshaw throw to All-Big East S Sean Taylor for a 47-yard touchdown & a 42-7 Miami edge.  All-Big East S Maurice Sikes returned an interception 53 yards for the final score in the Miami win.  Dorsey finished with 345 yards passing with two touchdowns, McGahee had 134 yards rushing with his two touchdowns, and Johnson had six catches for 181 yards with his touchdown.  For Syracuse, Reyes finished with 110 yards rushing with his touchdown & QB Troy Nunes threw for 145 yards but was intercepted once & sacked 3 times in the losing effort.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Orangemen finished 4-8.  Syracuse has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Virginia Tech Hokies	Miami Hurricanes ©
Played December 7, 2002 at the Orange Bowl

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Virginia Tech	0	0	6	0	.000	0	1	0	.000	0	4	0	.000	0	1	0	.000
Miami, FLA ©	2	33	7	0	.825	16	1	0	.941	14	3	0	.824	3	3	0	.500

 

 

The 18^th ranked, 9-3 Virginia Tech Hokies of coach Frank Beamer were the final obstacle between the top-ranked, 11-0 Miami Hurricanes of coach Larry Coker & a shot at their second consecutive BCS Championship.  The Hokies had played six Belt games in their history but had never been victorious while the Hurricanes were on a 30-game Belt reign.  All-American RB Willis McGahee scored 6 touchdowns to lead the Hurricanes to a 56-45 victory.  Miami scored twice in the 1^st quarter on a 1-yard touchdown by McGahee & a 49-yard touchdown pass from All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey to All-Big East WR Andre Johnson for a 14-0 Hurricane lead.  The 2^nd quarter saw both teams score 21 points.  The Hokies got scores on a 1-yard run by RB Lee Suggs, a 4-yard pass from QB Bryan Randall to WR Shawn Witten & a 7-yard pass from QB Grant Noel to WR Ernest Wilford.  All three of Miami’s touchdowns came on runs by McGahee.  He scored from 4, 3, & 10 yards as the Hurricanes took a 35-21 halftime lead.  The offensive slugfest continued in the 3^rd quarter when McGahee added two more touchdowns on runs of 1 & 31 yards.  Virginia Tech got a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown by S Willie Pile when RB Jarrett Payton tried unsuccessfully to hit Dorsey on an option throwback.  PK Carter Warley’s extra point kick was blocked & the Hokies trailed 49-27.  CB DeAngelo Hall returned a Hurricane punt 71 yards setting up Warley’s 20-yard field goal for the Hokies.  Suggs added a 9-yard touchdown run after CB Roynell Whitaker returned a Dorsey interception 56 yards but the Hurricanes still led 49-37 heading into the 4^th quarter.  Dorsey connected with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on an 11-yard touchdown pass &, with 10:06 to play, Miami led 56-37.  The Hokies got a 4-yard touchdown run from Suggs & 2-point conversion but with 1:51 to play & still trailing 56-45, Virginia Tech was unable to overcome the deficit.  Miami held on for the 11-point win in the highest scoring game in Belt history & made their reservations for the Fiesta Bowl.  McGahee finished with 205 yards rushing with six touchdowns, Dorsey finished with 300 yards passing with a touchdown, & Johnson had 6 catches for 193 yards.  For the Hokies, Randall threw for 165 yards with a touchdown while rushing for 132 yards.  Miami finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2^nd nationally while the Hokies finished 10-4 & ranked 18^th nationally.  Virginia Tech would play for The Belt again in 2004.

 

 

 

Miami Hurricanes ©	Ohio State Buckeyes
The Fiesta Bowl Played January 3, 2003 at Sun Devil Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team	Belt Reigns	Overall Record				Home Record				Away Record				Neutral Record
		W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT	W	L	T	PCT
Miami, FLA ©	2	34	7	0	.829	17	1	0	.944	14	3	0	.824	3	3	0	.500
Ohio State	3	13	6	1	.675	6	1	1	.813	6	0	0	1.000	1	5	0	.167

 

                       Previous Belt Meetings:       None