Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Wednesday, March 05, 2003 Page: 1B
The morning after the University of Miami’s disappointing and controversial
double-overtime loss to Ohio State in college football’s national championship
game Jan. 3, Art Kehoe, like most coaches, swore he wasn’t going to torture
himself by rehashing the matter over and over in his mind.
One look at the film to correct mistakes and that would be that, the
Hurricane coaching staff decided.
About 157 viewings later …
“We’re still poring over this game,” Kehoe, Miami’s assistant head coach,
said last Friday from the Ramada Inn, where he was a featured speaker at the
annual Coaches’ Clinic Football Seminar. “We’re doing everything possible to
avoid it happening again.”
Such is life in big-time college sports, where the pain that comes from
defeat lingers far longer than the exhilaration that accompanies victory.
Five minutes alone with Kehoe confirmed as much.
“I don’t think we deserved to win. Not from the offensive line’s
perspective, anyway,” said Kehoe, who also serves as UM’s O-line coach. “We
played hard, but I thought our guys were confused, a little bit late off the
ball, and a little bit outfoxed. And it’s kind of hard to deal with.”
Especially for a perfectionist like Kehoe, who played a key role in the
development of Bryant McKinnie (Lackawanna Junior College) and Martin Bibla
(Crestwood) – two former ‘Canes now in the NFL.
“Me, personally, I thought I did a bad job of coaching and adjusting
during the game,” he admitted. “We had the most pressure on our quarterback
that we’ve had in probably three years.”
This coming from a program that values protecting the quarterback just
under God and family.
Preparation draws critical eye
Kehoe can live with the notion that the Buckeyes simply played better that
night in Tempe, Ariz., and were as well-prepared as any team Miami had faced
during its remarkable 34-game winning streak.
What he can’t accept is the staff’s failure to recognize the telltale signs
of a team that had become complacent with success.
“The little things had broken down, like we were a little late coming out
for practice, we were not doing certain drills with the same intensity,” he
said. “You know, you win that much and everybody keeps patting you on the
(behind) and telling you, `Hey, you’re 13-point favorites.’ Ohio State was
13-0 and they played a great schedule. And they played the game exactly like
they played the game the whole year, where they were fighting their (behinds)
off, making a few plays and doing all right.”
The law of averages already weighing heavily against his team extending its
streak and defending its national title, Kehoe knew the ‘Canes could
ill-afford not being at their best in the desert.
“We were probably a little full of ourselves. You get your (behind) kicked
and now you gotta do something about it. It happens.”
Consider the team well-advised.
“I’m impressed with Ohio State,” Kehoe said. “I’d like to play ’em
again, though.”
Reach Kellar at 829-7243 or jkellar@leader.net