Like a Brock

Erratic Berlin continues to show his flair for the dramatic

Brock Berlin was 16-of-21 for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Eliot J. Schecter/Getty Images

MIAMI -- Second and 10 at the Louisville 14, her team down four with less than three minutes to play, the Miami cheerleader closed her eyes and clenched her hands. She was praying.

You would be too if you've seen as many miracles as the Orange Bowl has the past two years.

The 'Canes would in fact answer her prayer, scoring a touchdown with 49 seconds left to take a 41-38 lead over Louisville. Forty-four seconds later, with the Cardinals lining up for one last desperate heave, a sideline spectator shouted to anyone in listening range, "This is the reason you watch Hurricane football -- all four quarters."

Nancy Berlin, mother of Miami quarterback Brock Berlin, would describe it a different way: "Leaves you weak in the knees."

For the fifth time in their past 13 home games, the 'Canes pulled out a victory in the most dramatic fashion imaginable here Thursday, overcoming their worst defensive effort in four years (507 yards allowed) and rallying from deficits of 31-14 and 38-34 to avoid what would have been the most significant upset of the BCS era. And they did it much the same way they did earlier this season against Florida State, or last year against Florida and West Virginia: Putting America's most schizophrenic quarterback, Berlin, in the shotgun and letting him fire at will.

"It's what this program's all about," said Miami offensive coordinator Dan Werner. "Some way, we find a way to win."

One time, it's a fluke. Twice, maybe there's something wrong. But this many last-minute comebacks can't be an accident. So the 'Canes aren't blowing people off the field like they did in 2001 and '02. But swagger has a way of showing itself in the most trying situations. It's gotten to the point where you can feel the comeback mounting even before it truly starts.

After a mistake-filled first half in which Louisville quarterback Stefan LeFors shredded Miami's second-ranked pass defense to the tune of 13-of-15 passing, 202 yards and two touchdowns, and in which the oft-maligned Berlin threw one of his patented interceptions and barely missed another, 'Canes return specialist Devin Hester took the opening kickoff for an apparent touchdown that would have cut Louisville's lead to 24-14. It was called back, however, for holding on Buck Ortega, and suddenly it seemed as if Miami truly was doomed. Louisville would continue to pester Berlin, eat some clock and score the biggest win in school history.

Right?

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Instead, Berlin, looking like Joe Montana in the hurry-up, shotgun offense he's been running since his days at Shreveport (La.) Evangel, drove Miami right down the field, capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdown to Roscoe Parrish. Now the score was 24-14. And now 63,715 Orange Bowl spectators had reason to think, "Here we go again."

The Cardinals would score twice more, even after freshman QB Brian Brohm replaced the dinged-up LeFors in the fourth quarter. But the 'Canes one-upped them, scoring every time they touched the ball in the second half. On what would wind up becoming the game-winning drive, Berlin, after narrowily avoiding a pick, completed a 26-yard pass to freshman Lance Leggett on third and 10, then, four plays later, converted a fourth and four at the Louisville 8 to set up Frank Gore's clinching run.

After a mediocre first half in which he went 9-of-16 for 93 yards, eliciting his latest round of boos from the home crowd, Berlin finished 25-of-37 for 308 yards and three TDs.

Observers were left wondering the same thing they did after Berlin's four previous fourth-quarter comebacks -- how can the same quarterback look so bad early in a game and so brilliant when his back is against the wall?

"He obviously feels comfortable running the no-huddle," said Werner, who, responding to the obvious question, added that the two-minute drill will not become Miami's base offense anytime soon. "We're running along so fast, he doesn't have time to think. He's instinctive. It's what he's been doing for years."

Just a few weeks ago, Berlin was drawing the scorn of not only his fans but his own head coach, Larry Coker, following a horrific performance against Houston. On the airwaves and the message boards, even the pages of Sports Illustrated, a familiar refrain could be heard: Miami can't win a national championship with Berlin at quarterback. Coker hinted he'd think about pulling Berlin quicker if he continued to struggle and gave playing time to redshirt freshman Kyle Wright the next week against Georgia Tech.

"I kind of took that personal," said the fifth-year senior. "That motivated me to come out and play well. I knew I had to."

In a 27-3 win over the Yellow Jackets, Berlin had his best performance of the season, going 10-of-20 for 200 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions (his career TD-to-INT ratio as a 'Cane before that was 14-to-19). Two straight solid performances -- especially considering how injury-riddled Miami's offensive line and receiving corps are -- is a significant development for the 'Canes' national title hopes.

"He's played a lot better the last two weeks," said Werner. "He knew this is it for him. He's got to play good and lead us to the promised land."

The questions surrounding Berlin will never go away completely. And some might wonder whether the Miami's vaunted defense is now a question mark itself after Thursday night's performance. But at this point, anyone still waiting for Miami to wilt may find himself with a lot of time to kill.

As long as there's still time on the clock and Berlin is in the shotgun, there's a good chance the 'Canes' prayers will be answered.

Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.