Hurricanes’ Berlin to Feel Right at Home

No. 3 Miami opens its season on the road tonight against Louisiana Tech in what will be a homecoming for Hurricane quarterback Brock Berlin.

Berlin’s passing prowess at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La., made him the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country and he signed with Florida in 2000. But after getting little playing time behind Rex Grossman, Berlin transferred to Miami. He sat out last season as Ken Dorsey guided Miami to the national championship game. Now the junior is back in his hometown in his first start for Miami.

“It’s just unbelievable that it’s worked out this way,” Berlin said. “I’ll be playing in front of a ton of people from my hometown in a stadium that’s just about five or 10 minutes from my home. It can’t work out any better than that.”

Louisiana Tech usually plays at least one game a season at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, about 70 miles from its Ruston campus. It’s rare, however, for a superpower such as Miami to agree to play a team like Louisiana Tech on the road. Athletic Director Jim Oakes brokered the two-for-one deal that brought the Hurricanes to Shreveport.

“Miami gets two home games and we get the biggest home game in the history of the school,” Oakes said.

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No. 15 Maryland also opens on the road, playing Northern Illinois at DeKalb, Ill. The Terrapins will be trying to stop the Huskies’ Michael Turner, who is the nation’s leading returning rusher with 1,915 yards last season.... Brigham Young plans to honor former quarterback Steve Young when it plays host to Georgia Tech at Provo, Utah. Young’s No. 4 jersey will be retired, although it is still alive in the program and will be worn this season by starting quarterback Matt Berry.... Urban Meyer, who guided Bowling Green to a 17-6 record in two seasons as coach, makes his debut as coach of Utah when the Utes play host to Utah State at Salt Lake City.... Kent plays Akron in the annual Battle of the Wagon Wheel at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio.