Hurricanes Shut Down Hamilton

Linebacker Nate Webster and the rest of No. 23-ranked Miami’s overlooked defense was fed up with hype over Joe Hamilton and high-scoring Georgia Tech. On Saturday, they did something about it.

The Hurricanes unleashed their frustrations with a defensive performance that would have made past Miami championship teams proud, holding No. 17 Georgia Tech to its lowest output of the season for a 28-13 victory in the Gator Bowl.

“At all the functions this week, we kept hearing how Joe Hamilton was going to do this, Joe Hamilton was going to do that, Georgia Tech was going to score 40 points,” Webster said. “The whole time, it was building up inside of us.”

Webster had 14 tackles and became the first defensive player since 1989 to be selected most valuable player of the Gator Bowl.

Defensive tackle Matt Sweeney also got into the act, catching a deflection of Hamilton’s pass on the Yellow Jackets’ first possession for an interception that set the tone for the game.

“No credit was given to our defense,” Sweeney said. “That put a spur under our saddle.”

The Hurricanes (9-4) showed they can play offense too.

Freshman tailback Clint Portis scored on a 73-yard run and finished with 117 yards in 12 carries. James Jackson had 107 yards rushing, and Miami got a touchdown pass each from Kenny Kelly and Ken Dorsey.

“They came out and made plays when it really mattered,” Hamilton said. “I wish I could give an explanation, but I can’t.”

The Yellow Jackets (8-4) had a season-low 421 yards, and 13 points were their fewest since a 34-7 loss to Florida State last season. Hamilton was 20 for 40 for 245 yards and two interceptions, and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 14 games.

“I really, truly believed that we would stuff them,” Miami Coach Butch Davis said. “The one equalizer against Georgia Tech was team speed, and I don’t know that they’ve seen our speed.”