University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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A RETURN . . . them to the playoffs on a losing note. The Hurricanes, however, spoiled Maine ' s intentions of upset by easily winning the first two games 8-1 and 1 1-3. In the third game, the Bears avoided the sweep by handing Miami its first extra inning loss 6-5 in 13 innings. Mike Fiore sparked the offense with a run scoring triple in the top of the first, which gave him his second game win- ning RBI of the series and his ninth of the year. With a record of 47-12-1 at the conclusion of the regular season, Miami received its NCAA record 1 6th consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA post- season tournament. As the Atlantic Region ' s top seed, the Canes hosted the NCAA regionals at Mark Light Stadium. Behind the excellent pitching of Joe Grahe, who picked up his 12th win of the year, and Greg Knowle s, who won his eighth, Miami erased sixth seed Towson State 4-0 and fourth seed James Madison 18-8. In defeating the second seed Georgia Tech Hornets behind a Frank Dominguez game win- ning double, Miami won its 50th game of the year and ad- vanced to the Atlantic Region finals. With a trip to Omaha and a berth in the College World Se- ries at stake, Coach Ron Fraser called on Joe Grahe to take the mound against number three seed South Carolina. Over 4,000 fans watched a close game through five innings until the previous night ' s hero Frank Dominguez again ignited the Hurricane offense with a sixth inning home run that later proved to be the game winner. For Dominguez, this was his sixth game winner of the year and second consecutive in the regional tournament. The Canes never looked back and soundly defeated the Game- cocks 10-3 as Grahe pitched his 1 1 th complete game of the sea- son. The Hurricanes, with a record of 51-12-1, had earned, for the tenth time in school history, a trip to compete for the national championship in the College World Series. This, the Canes ninth trip in the last 1 1 years, was their seventh appearance in the 80 ' s which included two national championships in 1982 and 1985. Miami, playing in front of the largest crowd of the year, lost 9-3 to FuUerton State in the first game of the double elimination tournament. Behind a 13 hit at- tack and fine pitching of Greg Knowles, the Canes kept alive by beating Fresno State 8-4 in 13 innings. The next game for the Hurri- canes matched them against the Stanford Cardinal, a team the Canes had defeated twice in the regular season. With each team requiring a win to advance in the Series, Miami sent Will Vespe to the mound. The worn-down Canes battled in a tight 1-1 con- test into the bottom of the ninth when a Stanford batter reached first base with one out. Then, on a routine ground ball that should have been an inning-ending dou- ble play, the dream of a national title was tossed into left field by second baseman Jose Trujillo. Trujillo ' s high toss sailed over the head of shortstop Jorge Robles, and Miami could do nothing as the winning run raced around the bases to end the game. With a 1-2 record in Omaha, the Hurricanes finished the sea- son at 52-14-1 and placed fifth in the College World Series. Bill Reinhardt and Darren Dupriest All-American outfielder Mike Fiore prepares to catch a fly ball as shortstop Jose Trujillo backs him up. Fiore, the 1988 Olympian, led Miami in every batting category and holds 12 school records. In a 9-3 win over Stanford, staff ace Joe Grahe pitches his elev- enth complete game of the year while picking up his tenth win. At the conclusion of the seaso n, Grahe is drafted by Oakland Baseball 117

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M I A M I 2 3 NEBRASKA3 Canm im After a Notre Dame bowl victory, the Hurricanes crush Nebraslta 23-3 in the Orange Bowl to claim second in the polls On a sparkling January 2 eve- ning in 1984, the University of Miami battled the University of Nebraska in the golden anniver- sary edition of the Orange Bowl Classic in a game which mark- ed the turning point for Hurri- cane football. In what many have called the most exciting college football game ever played, Miami, led by a wild-throwing freshman quarterback named Bernie Ko- sar, beat an undefeated and top- ranked Cornhusker team that was favored by two tou- chdowns, 31-30, to win its first- ever national title. Exactly five years later, the Hurricanes and Huskers met again on the same date, same time, same channel, and the same field, but the situation was not nearly the same. Miami was now an estab- lished winner and a heavy favor- ite while Nebraska had played bridesmaid to Big Eight rival Oklahoma for the last four years. The biggest difference, how- ever, was in what the game actu- ally meant. In 1984, the game decided the national champion. In 1989, the game decided the runner-up. Only minutes after Notre Dame beat up on an over- matched and overhyped West Virginia team to win the year ' s title, the Hurricanes blitzed Nebraska with an incredible first-half performance which put them up 20-0 and allowed them to coast the rest of the evening to a dominating 23-3 victory. Did someone hear the word blitzed ? Miami sent linebacker after linebacker on play after play after Cornhusker quarterback Steve Taylor, resulting in six Appearing in the final collegiate football of h;s career, middle line- backer Rod Carter reflects his feelings of Miami ' s rankings dur- ing a bittersweet win over Ne- braska in the Orange Bowl. Michael DIBah The 54th Orange Bowl Classic pits number two Miami against the number six Nebraska Corn- huskers. Before taking the field, the crowd of 79,480 cheers the Canes as they are introduced. sacks, a third-down efficiency of barely seven percent and a complete nightmare for the se- nior quarterback. Taylor, who came into the game with 13 rushing tou- chdowns and averaging 5.3 yards per carry, was limited to a mere 12 yards rushing on 17 attempts, completed only 8 of 21 passes for 55 yards. The Huskers managed only two first downs in the first half (both assisted by Hurricane penalties) and had only 29 yards of total offense against a relentless Miami defense. Did someone hear the word relentless ? On the final play of the first quarter with Nebraska having a first and 10 on its own 30 after a Miami punt, Nebraska ' s lead- ing rusher. Ken Clark, took a pitch from Taylor, who was probably glad to get rid of it, and attempted to sweep around the left side. At the 29-yard line, Clark was hit by Maurice Crum, Hawkins, Jimmie Jones, Rod Carter, Russell Maryland, Bub- ba McDowell, Charles Pharms, Donnie Ellis, Shannon, Greg Mark, and Bobby Harden, Orange Bowl 119