Miami Throws Brock Party

Brock Berlin threw two interceptions, saw a fumble returned for a touchdown and directed the Miami Hurricanes to a mere 16 yards in the first quarter of his much-anticipated matchup against his former friends and teammates at Florida.

Berlin faced a 23-point deficit in the third quarter Saturday night at the Orange Bowl and didn’t flinch. He completed 27 of 41 passes for 340 yards by game’s end, rallying the Hurricanes from a 33-10 deficit to a 38-33 victory over the Gators.

While guiding the Hurricanes on an 89-yard drive that ended with Frank Gore scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 12-yard run, Berlin had to overcome leg cramps after converting on a fourth-and-one play.

Moments later, Florida freshman Chris Leak had his pass intercepted by Al Marshall along the sideline to end the Gators’ final threat deep in Miami territory.

When time ran out on a game that took nearly four hours to play, Berlin did what came naturally: He mocked Florida fans by doing their famous Gator chomp.

That’s when Berlin finally cut loose. After a week of trying to say all the right things, it was time to celebrate.

“When I left Florida, there was no grudge or anything,” he had said during a week when the focus was all on him and his departure from Florida after spending two seasons as a backup. “It was just something I had to do. I’m here now and I’m happy to be here.”

Berlin’s happiness grew by leaps and bounds after directing the Hurricanes to 28 consecutive points and an improbable victory over the Gators.

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Just a Little Respect

Jim Brown, a Hall of Fame running back and the greatest Brown in history, has been acting as an advisor to suspended Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett. Last week, Brown was quoted as saying he doubts Clarett will play this season for the No. 2 Buckeyes, who have kept him off the field during an investigation into his off-season behavior.

Brown also said Andy Geiger, Ohio State’s athletic director, has been dismissive of him and that he was acting like a “slave master.”

“When I am being respected by a mother and a son and they are giving me that respect, I doggone expect to be respected by an athletic director,” Brown said, referring to Geiger. “When you have the power to destroy a kid’s life, you have to be gracious in your investigation.”

Ohio State suspended Clarett because of allegations the sophomore received improper benefits and misled investigators.

“I think Andy Geiger wants to start a revolution,” Brown told ESPN.com last week. “He is acting like a slave master. If Andy Geiger wants to act like God, then this ballgame is over.”

Said Geiger: “I do what I think is right. I do the job I’m supposed to do, and I respect other people’s opinions. I don’t wish to elevate or denigrate or do anything else.”

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‘N’ Stands for Knowledge

You have got to hand it to Nebraska Coach Frank Solich. He was mighty original in his postgame analysis, saying after the No. 23 Cornhuskers’ 31-7 victory over hapless Utah State that he wants his team to score more touchdowns.

Well, duh.

That’s the whole idea, isn’t it? Score more touchdowns than the other guys and you’ll win more often than not. Gee, thanks for the update, Coach.

“The offense continues to move the ball, but we’ve having trouble getting touchdowns,” Solich said after the Cornhusker offense scored three touchdowns and gained 405 yards a week after scoring one touchdown in a victory over Oklahoma State. “We’ve got to be more point-productive at the end of our drives.... It wasn’t the kind of game where you ever feel real comfortable. There were enough things that weren’t crisp and sharp that it was a little frustrating.”

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Another Lou-Lou

Lou Holtz’s method of operation never changes. He builds up the opposition during the week, downplays his team’s chances, then takes care of business on Saturday afternoon.

Asked early in the week about South Carolina’s chances of a victory against No. 15 Virginia, Holtz said, “Comparable to the stripper that’s running for governor of California. We probably don’t have as many supporters, but it’s not good.”

Naturally, the Gamecocks whipped the Cavaliers, 31-7, sparked by a 99-yard touchdown pass play from Dondrial Pinkins to Troy Williamson in the second quarter.

The usually conservative Holtz decided against a running play after a Virginia punt pinned the Gamecocks on their own one while trailing the Cavaliers, 7-3. The Pinkins-to-Williamson hookup is the longest touchdown pass play in school history, eclipsing a 97-yard scoring play in 1988.

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Payback for 1896?

The Georgia Tech-Auburn rivalry dates to the 19th century, when legend has it that Auburn students spread so much pig grease on the railroad tracks that the train carrying the Georgia Tech team slid five miles past the town and forced the players to hike back.

Auburn defeated Georgia Tech, 45-0, in 1896, but the Yellowjackets could claim a measure of revenge with a 17-3 victory over the Tigers in the first game between the schools -- located only two hours apart -- since 1987.

By the looks of it, through two games, the 2003 Tigers might have trouble beating the 1896 Tigers. Blanked 23-0 last week by USC, the Tigers managed only a field goal and 223 yards against Georgia Tech.

And to think, one national publication had the audacity to pick Auburn as its top-ranked team in the preseason.

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Ghosts of South Bend Strike

Washington State Coach Bill Doba worried that the Cougars might be overwhelmed by all the pomp and circumstance at Notre Dame.

“I told them, Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian ... were there before most of these kids were born,” Doba said. “If they focus on that [history and tradition], we’ll get killed.”

As it turned out, the Cougars had only themselves to blame for a 29-26 overtime loss to the Fighting Irish, when they squandered a 19-6 lead going into the fourth quarter and shanked a 34-yard field goal that would have given them the lead in OT.

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Bible Thumpers

Rockford, a Division III school in Rockford, Ill., rolled to a 105-0 victory over Trinity Bible College, breaking the division scoring record of 97 points set by Concordia-Moorehead in 1977.

Marcus Howard rushed for 334 yards and scored a school-record five touchdowns and backup Isaac Holloway gained 78 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Rockford threw only two passes in the farce, for touchdown plays of 44 and 40 yards.

“It was unbelievable,” Rockford Coach Mike Hoskins said. “You hate to see a score get like that, but when you play all of your people and don’t even throw the football there’s not much else you can do.”

Hey, here’s something you can do, Coach. In the future, how about not scheduling pushovers such as Trinity Bible College?

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Brock of Ages

Breaking down Miami quarterback Brock Berlin’s passing performance against Florida, his former school:

*--* FIRST 38 MINUTES (Miami trails, FINAL 22 MINUTES* 33-10) Comp-Att (Pct.) 9-19 (.473) 18-22 (.818) Yards 71 269 Intertercep 2 0 TDs 0 2

*--*

* (Miami scores 28 unanswered points to win)