January 3, 2003
The Fiesta Bowl
Miami, FLA, vs Ohio State
The top-ranked, 12-0 Miami Hurricanes & coach Larry Coker had a 31-game Belt reign as they prepared to meet the 2nd ranked, 13-0 Ohio State Buckeyes of coach Jim Tressel in the BCS Championship game. The Hurricanes were 11 ½ point favorites & almost all of the national prognosticators expected Miami to roll to an easy win over the upstart Buckeyes. The Hurricanes found out the Buckeyes were much faster & stronger than anyone expected while the clash between these two teams ended up being one of the greatest college football games ever. Ohio State had spent the season playing “Tressel Ball” which was dependent upon limiting turnovers, good special teams & solid defense so while they had won all their games, it wasn’t often pretty to fans who love high-powered offenses. Miami took their second possession on their own 48-yard line & drove 52 yards in 5 plays with All-Big East QB Ken Dorsey hitting WR Roscoe Parrish for a 25-yard touchdown pass as Miami took a 7-0 lead. Things looked headed the Hurricanes way when Ohio State’s QB Craig Krenzel threw an interception to Miami’s All-Big East S Sean Taylor on the next snap. The Buckeyes’ defense forced a punt & the 1st quarter ended with Miami leading 7-0. Another exchange of punts & Miami had the ball at their own 29-yard line when Ohio State’s CB Dustin Fox intercepted Dorsey but the Buckeyes were unable to convert a fourth down & gave the ball back to the Hurricanes at their 17-yard line. Five plays later, Ohio State’s All-American S Michael Doss intercepted Dorsey & returned it to the Miami 17-yard line. This time the Buckeyes converted the turnover into a score when Krenzel scored from 1 yard out after a 7-play, 17-yard drive to tie the score 7-7. With only 2:28 left in the half, the Hurricanes took the ball at their own 20-yard line planning for a final 2-minute drive but Dorsey fumbled when hit by Ohio State’s DT Kenny Patterson & DT Darrion Scott recovered giving the ball back to the Buckeyes at the Hurricane 14-yard line. Two plays later, Ohio State’s All-Big Ten RB Maurice Clarett scored from 7 yards out giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 halftime edge. Ohio State’s plan of “Tressel Ball” seemed to work as Miami had been unable to score at will & Ohio State was winning the battle for field position. In the 3rd quarter, the Buckeyes were driving for another score when Taylor intercepted Krenzel near the goal line. On the interception return, Clarett was able to steal the ball away from Taylor & the Buckeyes got a 44-yard field goal from All-Big Ten PK Mike Nugent giving them a 17-7 advantage. Miami put together their longest scoring drive of the game, 7 plays & 55 yards, as Hurricanes’ All-American RB Willis McGahee scored from 9 yards out to get Miami close at 17-14. McGahee sustained a severe knee injury in the 4th quarter & the Hurricanes played without him for the rest of the game. Each team missed a field goal & exchanged punts before Miami took possession at the Ohio State 23-yard line with 2:02 to play. Miami was unable to move the ball against the Buckeyes’ defense & All-Big East PK Todd Sievers hit a 40-yard field goal as time expired forcing the game to overtime tied at 17-17. In the first possession of overtime, Dorsey connected with All-Big East TE Kellen Winslow, Jr. on a 7-yard touchdown pass & 24-17 Miami lead. Ohio State responded by converting a 4th & 10 for a first down & another 4th down play was converted when Miami’s CB Glenn Sharpe was called late for a controversial pass interference penalty against Ohio State’s WR/CB Chris Gamble in the end zone. Krenzel pushed across from 1 yard tying the score at 24-24. In the 2nd overtime, Clarett slid in from 5 yards out giving the Buckeyes a 31-24 edge. Dorsey tried to rally the Hurricanes but he was pummeled by the Ohio State defense even leaving the game for a play after a hit by Buckeyes’ All-American LB Matt Wilhelm. On 4th & goal from the 5-yard line, Ohio State’s LB Cie Grant blitzed & Dorsey’s pass was knocked down by Wilhelm ending the longest reign in Belt history while giving The Belt & the BCS Championship to the Buckeyes. It was the third Belt reign for Ohio State & first since 1982. Dorsey finished with 296 yards passing with 2 touchdowns but had 2 interceptions & was sacked 4 times. Winslow finished with 11 catches for 122 yards with his touchdown. Krenzel finished with 122 yards passing but 2 interceptions & a sack but he also rushed for 81 yards with 2 touchdowns. The Hurricanes finished the season 12-1; Big East Champions, ranked 2nd nationally while the Buckeyes finished 14-0, Big Ten Co-Champs, & National Champions. Miami has not played for The Belt again.
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