PASADENA, Calif. -- Throughout the 2001 college football season, Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey insisted that the only thing that mattered to him, the only thing that would make this season complete, would be a national championship.

Well, his first night after reaching that ultimate goal -- in his home state of California, no less -- was hardly as glamorous as one might expect. Dorsey celebrated with little to no L.A. glitz: A hotel room full of family, a peek here and there at the TV and some nasty room service.

"Honestly, I have no idea what it was," Dorsey said of the mystery meat that was brought to his room. "I'm thankful I didn't have to eat it. I think it was still moving."

	Miami's Larry Coker enjoys a moment with the Sears Trophy with Ken Dorsey (left) and Andre Johnson (right).

Andre Johnson, who shared MVP honors with Dorsey following Thursday night's 37-14 Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska, had a similar low key night, hanging with his parents in his hotel room. Head coach Larry Coker, joined by a group of family members, including his 84-year-old mother took a more social approach.

"What did I do last night? I kissed every baby I could in the hotel lobby," Coker said. "Because this is something that doesn't come around a lot."

And so life as national champions, as someone who has reached the pinnacle of college football and now faces the daunting task of staying there, has begun for the Miami Hurricanes.

For Coker, a rookie head coach who until this year was a relative unknown, it undoubtedly means a busier life as a public figure. For Dorsey, who insisted Friday that he is "100 percent" certain he'll be back at Miami, it's another chance to prove his thin frame can succeed in the next level. And for Johnson, just a sophomore, it's the opportunity to build off the greatest receiving game of his career.

And for all three, as well as the rest of Miami players and coaches, it's the challenge to repeat. Depending on the NFL aspirations of underclassmen Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis and Williams Thomas, the Hurricanes could have as many as 14 returning starters from their 12-0 championship team.

The schedule, though, includes challenging road games at Tennessee and Florida, as well as a home game against Florida State.

"I don't know if next year will actually be more difficult," Coker said. "The schedule will be, I know that. Whether we do it again or not, it won't be about complacency. Ken and the other guys coming back and the coaching staff will make sure that doesn't happen. They have that fire."

Such was the case this year, when the Hurricanes used the pain from being kept out of last year's national championship game to fuel their title run. Talent, Coker said, was never an issue. It was just about executing and having the right mental framework.

"Every time you walk into our meeting room, you see a picture of the Sears Trophy," Coker said. "These guys walk past that every day. And we told them, 'They don't just give those away. You have to earn them.' And it's not just last night. It's a process. Recruiting a Ken Dorsey, an Andre Johnson. All the hard work. Last night was just the culmination."

Talent shouldn't be much of a problem next year, either. Miami will return not only Dorsey and Johnson on offense, but potentially all of its front seven on defense. The same front seven that used its speed and physical prowess to frustrate the Nebraska offense Thursday night.

Though three of the four members of the secondary will be lost to graduation, some still think the defense could be one of Miami's best ever.

"William Joseph was telling me after the game last night, 'Coach, I'm not going anywhere,'" Coker said. "We're going to have the best defensive line in the country next year."

Sophomore linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who tallied eight tackles against Nebraska, including three for a loss and a forced fumble, concurred with Coker.

"Is this going to be a dynasty on defense? I sure hope so," Vilma said. "We've got a lot to improve on and a lot of growing up to do still, but there's no reason why we can't do it."

The biggest holes will be left on the offensive line, where Outland Trophy winner Bryant McKinnie, All-American tackle Joaquin Gonzalez and All Big East guard Martin Bibla will all be lost to graduation.

"Those guys are not only great players, but great friends," Dorsey said. "They're special guys and it will be tough going on without them."

The trio was the core of a group that gave Dorsey more than enough time to drop pack in the pocket, have a sandwich or two, and pick apart opposing defenses. Thursday's Rose Bowl was no exception. The Huskers failing to sack Dorsey even once, allowing him to torch the secondary for a Miami bowl record 362 yards on 22-of-35 passing.

Dorsey is confident, though, that a midseason injury to guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli, which gave sophomore Vernon Carey, as well as a host of others added experience, will pay dividends next year and make the transition up front easier.

"As terrible as injuries are, I think the one to Sherko really helped guys get some experience so that next year, we'll only have to truly break in one fresh body," Dorsey said.

And should the Hurricanes again manage to come out on top, maybe next year's celebration, with Dorsey a senior, will be a little more lively.

"There were a lot of people in our lobby celebrating," Dorsey said. "But the combination of me having a headache and a lot of people making noise really doesn't mix. So I just hung out with my family and friends and ordered room service."

And we all know how that turned out.

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn.com.