Tennessee Benefits From Fall of Berlin

Brock Berlin slowly walked through the Orange Bowl with his girlfriend on one side, his parents on the other and two security guards close by.

The Miami quarterback needed consolation -- and maybe some protection.

Berlin threw two interceptions and fumbled once Saturday as No. 18 Tennessee stunned sixth-ranked Miami, 10-6, knocking the Hurricanes out of the national championship picture for the first time in four years and ending the nation’s longest home winning streak at 26 games.

The Volunteers (7-2) became the first visiting team to celebrate a victory at the Orange Bowl since Penn State did it Sept. 18, 1999. Tennessee won with only 170 yards of offense.

“It was probably the prettiest, ugliest win I’ve ever had,” said Coach Phillip Fulmer, who posed for pictures with his family in the Orange Bowl after the game.

The biggest play came when Fulmer gambled on fourth and goal from the two in the second quarter. Derrick Tinsley scored on an end around to give Tennessee a 10-3 lead.

The victory helped Tennessee’s chances of getting a berth in the bowl championship series.

The Volunteers are tied with Georgia and Florida in the Southeastern Conference East Division.

If all three still have two conference losses at the end of the season, the division champion will be decided by the team ranked highest in the BCS.

The Hurricanes (7-2) failed to score a touchdown at home for the first time since 1984. It also was the first time since a 47-0 drubbing at Florida State in 1997 that Miami failed to score a touchdown in any game.

And the Hurricanes looked bad doing it. They had 12 penalties for 121 yards.

After the game, Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. lashed out at Southeastern Conference officials, saying they targeted him.

Winslow caught seven passes for 88 yards but had a costly penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter.

Winslow said his helmet was ripped off on the 22-yard reception. He said he was penalized for taking off his helmet.

“I hate refs,” Winslow said, his voice raised in the locker room. “They were looking at me the whole time. I can’t even get hyped up after a play. I can’t even get my crowd hyped up.”

Winslow took some of his frustration out on the Vols with a hard-hitting block that knocked Corey Campbell to the ground and briefly out of the game. He nearly got flagged for standing over and taunting a shaken Campbell.

“It’s war,” Winslow said. “They’re out there to kill you, so I’m out there to kill them. We don’t care about anybody but this U. They’re going after my legs. I’m going to come right back at them.”

Winslow refused to comment on whether the Hurricanes had lost faith in Berlin.