2010 Canes Get "The Flag" Rematch
It's time to fix "The Flag"
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 5:18 PM EDT, Thu, Feb 4, 2010
It won't take long for Miami Hurricane fans to have their game of the year.
Sorry, Florida State, but we are in a Buckeye state of mind.
The NCAA schedule gods have finally decided to give UM a chance at retribution after Ohio State and the referees stole a national title in 2003. Nothing stings worse than losing to a guy in a sweater vest.
On Sept. 11, Miami will travel to Columbus to face the Big Ten perennial power and possibly exorcise some demons.
In the 2003 BCS Championship game at the Fiesta Bowl, arguably the most dominant Miami team in school history lost to underdog Ohio State on what is known in Coral Gables as "The Flag."
Miami had just stopped Ohio State on a fourth down play in overtime to seal their sixth national title. Then came the flag.
Big 12 official Terry Porter threw his belated yellow hanky and made a controversial pass interference call against Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe. Replays showed Sharpe never touched receiver Chris Gamble, but the damage had been done.
The penalty took the air out of Miami's sails and gave Ohio State new life, first-and-goal at the 1. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown to tie it at 24-24 at the end of the first overtime, and Maurice Clarett's 5-yard touchdown run in the second overtime gave Ohio State a 31-24 lead.
Miami didn't score and the school has been looking for payback ever since.
The Canes will face Pittsburgh and former Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt in their next game before jumping into ACC play with a date at Clemson.
It's also nice to see that the UM-FSU rivalry is back in its rightful place in October. For the past few years, the Florida powerhouses have battled on the first week of the season while both teams were not at their sharpest.
But 2010 will be all about beating the Buckeyes.
2010 Cane's Schedule
Sept. 2: FLORIDA A&M
Sept. 11: at Ohio State
Sept. 23: at Pittsburgh, ESPN
Oct. 2: at Clemson
Oct. 9: FLORIDA STATE
Oct. 16: at Duke
Oct. 23: NORTH CAROLINA
Oct. 30: at Virginia
Nov. 6: MARYLAND
Nov. 13: at Georgia Tech
Nov. 20: VIRGINIA TECH
Nov. 27: SOUTH FLORIDA
First Published: Feb 4, 2010 3:38 PM EDT
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