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| Willis McGahee was the 'Canes' third-string running back last season. Andy Lyons/Getty Images |
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Miami
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Virginia Tech
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Pittsburgh
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Boston College
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West Virginia
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Syracuse
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Temple
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Rutgers
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True freshmen Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni has already used this season.
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"I think they are better than they were last year."
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Boston College coach Tom O’Brien on Miami, a 38-6 winner over the Eagles and last season’s national champion.
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By Mitch Vingle, Special to CNNSI.com
Looking for a Heisman Trophy winner?
Boston College coach Tom O’Brien and Miami coach Larry Coker have just the guy for you.
He’s a UM Hurricane. And he’s not Ken Dorsey, who simply won the Maxwell Award last season as the nation’s top quarterback and is 4-0 this season.
The man is tailback Willis McGahee, who amassed 221 total yards in Miami’s 38-6 late-game dismantling of Boston College. The sophomore had 135 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. This season, he is averaging 133.2 yards for the No. 1 'Canes.
“He’s the best running back I’ve seen in the Big East since I’ve been here," said O’Brien.
Those are strong words, especially when you consider O’Brien, in his sixth season with the Eagles, coached first-round NFL pick William Green just last season. And those words also cover such performers as ex-Eagle Mike Cloud, ex-West Virginia back Amos Zereoue, Virginia Tech’s Lee Suggs and ex-Hurricanes Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James.
Even Coker agrees McGahee might be surpassing Portis and James.
“I think at this stage Willis is ahead of the game,’’ said the UM coach. “He’s bigger than either one of those guys; he’s stronger; he’s faster; and he jumps better than those guys.
“I think he’s potentially better than either one of those backs.’’
McGahee is currently the nation’s No. 8 rusher. He could, however, be higher yet if he didn’t share time with backup Jason Geathers, who is also playing well.
McGahee has helped Miami fans all but forget Frank Gore, who was supposed to be the Hurricanes’ tailback this season before blowing out his knee in the spring. Now, though, Gore can burn a redshirt year instead of trying to come back next month. He played as a true freshman.
This week, McGahee and the rest of the Hurricanes will sit out after overwhelming the country with their start. They have been essentially unchallenged, including by a Florida team that just whipped national contender Tennesee 30-13 Saturday in Knoxville. The 'Canes crushed the Gators 41-16 in Gainesville.
O’Brien can’t stop shaking his head.
“They’re better up front on defense [than they were last season]," said the BC coach. “They have four All-America candidates and two of them don’t even start. Their linebackers are better than they were last year. And I know they’re young in the secondary, but there’s a lot of talent there."
To make matters worse for those -- which won’t include Connecticut, UM’s next opponent -- who hope to challenge the Hurricanes, there’s this from Coker:
“Health-wise,’’ he said, “we are in as good a shape as we could hope to be.’’
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Virginia Tech quarterback Bryan Randall is starting to pay back Hokies coach Frank Beamer for the recent vote of confidence.
When last year’s starter, Grant Noel, quickly returned from injury, Beamer stuck with Randall. Not known as a great passer, Randall’s ability to take Tech deep was questioned.
After Saturday’s 13-3 win over Texas A&M, though, those questions are disappearing.
Making his second college start, Randall, a sophomore, was more than efficient, converting 10 of 11 passes for 119 yards. And he didn’t turn the ball over once in front of the 83,746 fans at Kyle Field.
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HOT:
Virginia Tech’s defense
A&M didn’t penetrate the Hokies’ 25-yard line.
NOT:
Pittsburgh’s running attack
The Panthers have started three tailbacks in four games.
HOT:
Miami’s young secondary
The ‘Canes have allowed but seven TD passes (including two in 2002) in the last two years.
NOT:
Rutgers’ offense
Ranked 110th in total offense, the Knights had 164 yards versus Pitt.
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Let’s see, Rutgers scheduled Tennesee for what reason?
Here you have the Scarlet Knights, one of the worst Division I-A teams in America. You have a coach, Greg Schiano, who gave up a cushy assistant’s job at Miami to take over and rebuild. And for some reason the RU athletic department decided to send the bunch to Tennessee, the third-winningest program in the nation since 1997.
"They have a lot of weapons," said Schiano. “And they do a lot with those weapons.’’
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Miami running back Willis McGahee
Rushed for 135 yards and two TDs on 17 carries and added three catches for 86 versus BC.
Virginia Tech safety Willie Pile
Had 10 tackles, a pick and a fumble recovery in Tech’s win over Texas A&M.
Pittsburgh punter Andy Lee
Had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line against Rutgers.
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In the case of the Syracuse Orangemen, it’s time to resume the normal non-conference drill. After, that is, drilling Rhode Island 63-17 and taking a week off.
SU will take on another tough opponent in No. 25 Auburn. The hope for the Orangemen is to again beat the Tigers and again turn around a season. In 2001, Syracuse beat Auburn 31-14 to begin an eight-game winning streak. Then, like now, the Orangemen were 1-2.
“The kids came out of that game with a great deal of confidence and we were able to keep that momentum going,’’ said Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni. “There’s no question it would help the confidence of this football team, of any football team [to beat the Tigers].’’
Last year, though, SU hosted Auburn after losing to Georgia Tech and Tennessee and beating Central Florida. This year, the Orangemen go to Auburn after beating Rhode Island and losing to BYU and North Carolina.
“As great as a challenge as that was last year,’’ said Pasqualoni, “it’s an even bigger one this year.’’
Especially when you consider the 3-1 Tigers are coming off a 42-14 win over Mississippi State on coach Tommy Tuberville’s birthday. Quarterback Daniel Cobb threw for three touchdown passes.
Auburn’s offense is averaging 36.5 points a game, while SU is 114th nationally in total defense.
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Temple running back Tanardo Sharps had 143 yards rushing against South Carolina, then sat out the second half when he was hit in the jaw. The hit compressed a tooth against a nerve, but he should play against Cincinnati. … Virginia Tech’s game at Western Michigan is being hailed as the biggest home game for any Mid-American Conference school ever. The Hokies are believed to be the highest nationally-ranked team to ever play in a MAC stadium… Pitt is one of only two teams in the country yet to give up a touchdown pass. The other is Oklahoma. … Syracuse defensive tackle Christian Ferrara is back and practicing with the Orangemen for the first time since spraining his left knee in the season opener against BYU.
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