Ken Dorsey and Andre Johnson 2002 Rose Bowl two of BCS era Best
The Co-MVP’s of the 2002 Rose Bowl title that clinched a national championship for the Miami Hurricanes, quarterback Ken Dorsey and wide receiver Andre Johnson have been named by Sports Illustrated in the top title game performances during the BCS era.
Dorsey, Johnson and their Miami teammates only basically needed a half to wrap up the National Championship at and in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on January 3, 2002. It was one of the most dominant team and individual performances in a title game ever.
Dorsey completed 22 passes in 35 attempts for 362 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Johnson caught seven passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. The Hurricanes scored 34 of their 37 points in the first half of their 37-14 victory over Nebraska to claim its fifth National Championship.
The final score could have been much worse. Miami could have named the final score that night in Southern California. Although the Hurricanes had 18 first downs to the Cornhuskers 16, Miami outgained Nebraska 472 yards to 259.
Dorsey and Johnson ranked sixth on the Sports Illustrated list. If Miami had wanted to run up the score like Nebraska did on Florida about four years earlier Dorsey and Johnson would have been much higher.
"“6. KEN DORSEY AND ANDRE JOHNSON, QB AND WR, MIAMI (JAN. 3, 2002)The 2001 Hurricanes boasted one of the greatest collections of talent in college football history, and the 2002 Rose Bowl represented the height of their power (Miami would go on to win 34 consecutive games before losing to Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl).Dorsey turned in a career performance in a 37–14 romp of Nebraska, throwing for 362 yards and three touchdowns on an efficient 22-of-35. Johnson scored twice and tied Peerless Price’s BCS championship game record for receiving yards with 199.”"
The Rose Bowl was the sixth time Nebraska and Miami had met in a Bowl game. It was their fifth Bowl game in a row in the series. It was also the fifth time in a row that the game would decide a National Championship. Four of those went to the Hurricanes.
The only postseason meeting Miami has lost to Nebraska that decided a National Championship was the 1995 Orange Bowl. Miami held a 17-7 lead in the third quarter of that game. Miami would not have won the National Championship if they had won.
The Cornhuskers did win the National Championship. Penn State finished the 1994 season undefeated but finished second to Nebraska. Now both Penn State and Nebraska are members of the Big Ten.
Dorsey and Johnson returned for the 2002 season. If not for an extremely questionable call in overtime, Miami would have made it back to back. Some would say the Hurricanes were robbed of three straight National titles. One on each side of the 2001 National Championship.
In 2000 Miami was denied a chance to play for the National Championship in the Orange Bowl Game against Oklahoma when Florida State finished a mere percentage points ahead of them in the BCS Computer. Miami defeated Florida State earlier that season.
The five performances that Sports Illustrated ranked ahead of Dorsey and Johnson were:
5. PEERLESS PRICE, WR, TENNESSEE (JAN. 4, 1999)
4. TRE MASON, RB, AUBURN (JAN. 6, 2014)
3. PETER WARRICK, WR, FLORIDA STATE (JAN. 4, 2000)
2. MATT LEINART, QB, USC (JAN. 4, 2005)
1. VINCE YOUNG, QB, TEXAS (JAN. 4, 2006)
It’s impossible to argue with the top two. Mason and Warrick being ahead of Dorsey and Johnson are debatable. Johnson and Price both had more receiving yards than Warrick. Johnson had more yards, receptions and touchdowns. Mason’s performance came in a losing effort.
Miami’s 2002 Rose Bowl win was a team effort. It was a complete annihilation of a team many thought didn’t belong in the game. The Hurricanes showed that in the opening 60 minutes.
Next: Miami Hurricanes 2001 Defense better than 2016 Alabama
Miami made a statement against Nebraska and their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Eric Crouch. Dorsey had a lot of support for the award. The Hurricanes offense took their foot off the accelerator in the second half. The defense dominated throughout and left no doubt who the best team ever was.