Miami, Wisconsin share goal in Champs Sports Bowl

Dec 28, 2009 - 8:34 PM By ANTONIO GONZALEZ Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) -- The first time Miami coach Randy Shannon watched film on Wisconsin, he thought he was watching another team run his playbook.

"You look at a team that resembles what you can do," Shannon said.

The more he studied the more similarities he saw.

Shannon and Badgers coach Brett Bielema are former defensive coordinators who run the same scheme. Each rely on the run to setup the play-action pass and both have improved on last season's lowly 7-6 records.

When the 14th-ranked Hurricanes face No. 24 Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday night, the schools will also will be chasing an even bigger goal: a 10-win season to help propel their programs back to national prominence.

"It's one win," Bielema said. "But 10-win seasons are special, because not very many people get it done."

This game might be an even bigger hurdle for Miami.

After dipping into mediocrity, the Hurricanes have a chance for their first 10-win season since 2003 and can position themselves for a big run next year. The milestone would be a big step on the road back for a program that was dominant at times earlier this decade, won five national titles between 1983-2001 and captured the eyes of college football fans with so much speed and swagger.

Miami has improved in each of the first three seasons under Shannon - with regular seasons of 5-7, 7-5 and 9-3 - and made perhaps the biggest jump this year. The Hurricanes went 3-1 to start the season in a brutal stretch against four ranked teams, jumped back into the top 10 briefly before fizzling out and again missing the Atlantic Coach Conference title game.

By Miami standards, any bowl that doesn't start with BCS is a disappointment. Still, the Hurricanes believe they have more at stake in this year's bowl than any time in recent memory.

"A win and we're going to be all set for next season," Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris said. "To finish the regular season 9-3, we feel like there's no point not finishing with a victory. To get 10 wins, I don't see how we wouldn't start next year in the top 10."

Wisconsin is looking to make its own statements.

Even with all the similarities the coaches outlined, there is a big contrast with how these teams get things done. It's a classic matchup of speed vs. power.

The Hurricanes rely so much on their quickness, and the Badgers have had success this season bullying teams around with big and bulky lines. But Wisconsin has not beaten a ranked opponent this year.

"Don't think we don't know that," said Badgers running back John Clay, the Big Ten offensive player of the year. "That's why we were really glad to not only being playing a ranked team, but to play a team ranked higher than us. It's a big opportunity for us."

It's also another chance for the Big Ten to show it can hang with a team from the South.

Since 2004, the Big Ten has the worst bowl record (12-23) among the six BCS conferences, including two blowout losses by Ohio State in the national title game. The defeats have led to the perception, fair or not, that the league can no longer compete with programs from warmer climates who rely more on speed and less on power.

"The one thing you can't argue with is facts. We weren't very good in bowl games last year, with us being included in that," said Bielema, whose Badgers were routed 42-13 by Florida State in the same bowl a year ago. "The only way you can change perception is to change results. So for us to gain respect as a conference, we need to win football games. Plain and simple."

Shannon has preached similarly to his players how much a win would mean, too.

The Hurricanes have a young core that is still developing, and with a somewhat softer schedule next season, expectations will be even higher. A loss wouldn't diminish those goals, but it would make things easier preparing for next year.

"The end of the season is the key," Shannon said. "You win your last football game, you go into next season, you go into spring football with some excitement and a lot of enthusiasm. And especially when you get 10 wins."