PASADENA, Calif. -- The Green and Orange left the Big Red in shambles Thursday night.
Nebraska's option-oriented offense proved hardly any match for Miami's defense. The Hurricanes pulverized Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and his offensive mates in the first half, shutting them out as Miami took a 34-0 lead.
``For the first-team defense,'' defensive tackle Matt Walters said, ``that was the best first half we played all year.''
But the success was not limited to the first half. The Hurricanes pitched a shutout through the 2:39 mark of the third quarter, when Nebraska scored its lone offensive touchdown in Miami's 37-14 victory.
To say that kind of defensive dominance was unexpected is an understatement.
Miami had shown itself somewhat vulnerable against the run this season, partly because of its aggressive style. But it was still a cause for some concern, particularly with the Cornhuskers' running attack.
Crouch and running back Dahrran Diedrick combined for more than 2,400 yards rushing this season.
Nebraska rushed for 197 yards, but the Huskers were largely ineffective when the down and distance called for a big play. Consider the 329 rushing yards Nebraska compiled earlier this season in its victory over Oklahoma, one of the nation's top defensive teams.
``They talked all year about us not stopping the run,'' defensive end Jerome McDougle said, rolling in the Rose Bowl turf in celebration. ``But you know what? We won the championship. Forget about the run.''
Said linebacker Jonathan Vilma: ``We had to prove a point. They said we couldn't stop the run, but look what we did tonight.''
No one will soon forget the way the Hurricanes defense obliterated Nebraska.
By the night's end, Miami had amassed 13 tackles for losses, with Vilma and William Joseph recording three each.
The defense forced three turnovers, recovering two fumbles and intercepting Crouch once.
As usual, the big play was the key for Miami's defenders.
Linebacker D.J. Williams forced a fumble early, which Joseph recovered. That set up a Hurricanes touchdown on the next play, when quarterback Ken Dorsey connected with Andre Johnson 49 yards downfield.
In the second quarter, with Miami up 14-0, Miami's defense struck again when safety James Lewis nabbed a Crouch pass and sprinted 47 yards to the end zone.
It was Miami's 11th defensive touchdown this season.
The secondary shut down Crouch -- he completed five of 15 passes for 62 yards and did not complete a pass in the fourth quarter -- but the game was won in the trenches.
``I think [defensive coordinator] Randy [Shannon] did a great job to get our guys penetration,'' coach Larry Coker said. ``We were dominant up front.''
