Canes Warning
Fansided

Miami Football half dozen non-championship bowl games to watch

By Alan Rubenstein

2 Jan 2001: Santana Moss #6 of the Miami Hurricanes is brought down by Todd Johnson #26 of the Florida Gators during the Nokia Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisana. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
2 Jan 2001: Santana Moss #6 of the Miami Hurricanes is brought down by Todd Johnson #26 of the Florida Gators during the Nokia Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisana. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT /
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2001 Sugar Bowl Miami 37 Florida 20

The 2000 Miami football team entered the 2001 Sugar Bowl after feeling snubbed by the Bowl Championship series computers out of the championship game. The Hurricanes defeated Florida State that season and finished 0.32 points behind the Seminoles in the BCS. Miami was on a mission in the Sugar Bowl.

The Hurricanes felt that a victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl and victory by Florida State over undefeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl game would give Miami the National Championship. The day after Miami defeated Florida 37-20 in New Orleans, Oklahoma beat FSU 13-2 to win the National Championship.

Florida opened the scoring with a 25-yard TD pass from Rex Grossman to TE Kirk Wells. Miami scored the next 13 points with two Todd Sievers FGs and a Ken Dorsey to Jeremy Shockey eight yards TD pass. Miami led 13-10 at halftime.

A 36-yard TD run in the third quarter by Earnest Graham put Florida back in front 17-13. The Hurricanes dominated the game from that point on. Dorsey threw TD passes to running backs D.J. Williams and Najah Davenport and Davenport added a three-yard TD run. A Jeff Chandler FG was Florida’s only scoring in the second half.

The Hurricanes dominated the last quarter and a half to earn the convincing 37-20 victory. The game vaulted Miami into the 2001 season with a chip on their shoulder towards the fifth National Championship and what is widely regarded as the best team in college football history.

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