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Flashback Friday: 10/7/00 - #7 Miami 27, #1 FSU 24 "Wide Right III"

This is the next in a series of memorable Canes games spanning the decades, as we continue to try to survive the longest offseason in sports - the college football offseason. This week, we look back at the game that fully returned Miami to the national spotlight - Wide Right III. Enjoy.

By Craig T. Smith
Scott Halleran

As the kick sailed wide of the upright, coaches, players, and even a few fans flooded onto the field, celebrating beneath the scoreboard that flashed what the fans had witnessed over the previous 3-plus hours of exasperating play in yet another classic matchup in the Miami-FSU series: Wide Right III.

Joining Dan Mowrey and Gerry Thomas in the club would be kicker Matt Munyon, who earlier had duck-hooked a chip shot field goal.  His 49-yard effort at the gun had the distance, but again, not the accuracy.

Through the first three-plus quarters, it appeared that Miami wouldn't need the good fortune of Bobby Bowden's never-ending misfortune to strike thrice.  Miami took a 17-0 lead into the halftime locker room, thanks in large part to a Dan Morgan interception of Chris Weinke at the goalline shortly before the half.

But, with FSU on the comeback trail, Miami opened the door for the Noles.  Najeh Davenport, who scored the game's first touchdown, took a Dorsey pass and burst upfield with less than 2:30 remaining.  Cane fans' hoots and cheers turned into a collective facepalm, as Davenport fumbled the fall away at the Miami 47 yard line. 

Moments later, it seemed as though Weinke had done it.  496 yards passing, topped off by a 29-yard completion to Atrews Bell for the game-winning score with merely 1:37 remaining in the game had lifted FSU to a 24-20 lead and a stirring comeback.  It appeared the Noles were about to beat the Canes for the 5th straight time and remain undefeated since a loss to Tennessee in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. 

Ken Dorsey had other plans. 

With 1:32 on the clock and 68 yards to go, the sophomore signal caller stepped onto the field and got the Canes moving.  He found Santana Moss across the field for 13 yards.  A Reggie Wayne diving grab put Miami inside the FSU 35 yard line. Moss snared a ball and weaved his way through defenders to put the Canes in first-and-goal.  After a false start, Dorsey found Shockey matched up on a linebacker for the game winning score.  Miami needed only 46 seconds - half the time on the clock when they started the drive.

The win vaulted Miami back among college football's elite.  They would go undefeated the rest of the season, pounding Michael Vick's Hokies in the Orange Bowl later in the year 41-21.  However, it wouldn't be enough to put the Canes in the BCS championship game in Miami against undefeated Oklahoma.  That honor would go to FSU over Miami and Washington - who handed the Canes their only loss of the season - 34-29 in Seattle in the second week of the season. 

While Oklahoma shut down the Noles 13-2 and culminated a perfect season, Miami put away the Gators in the Sugar Bowl 37-20.  The Hurricane defense pounded Rex Grossman, who completed only 18 of 41 passes for 252 yards. 

UM finished as state champs and ranked second in the final poll, led by seniors Dan Morgan, Damione Lewis, Reggie Wayne, and Santana Moss.  Accordingly, the 2000 season, highlighted by wins over rivals FSU, Virginia Tech, and Florida, ranks up with the championship seasons in the minds of many UM fans.

After all, Miami was truly back.