Most college football teams would wave a white flag if they lost three of their four top running backs.

The Miami Hurricanes talk about raising another national championship banner.

Concern about Miami's backfield situation was washed away on Saturday as the Hurricanes began defense of their 2001 national title with a 63-17 rout of Division I-AA Florida A&M in the Orange Bowl.

Huskies No Longer NI-Who

Not since 1990 had Northern Illinois scored a victory against a major conference opponent. The Huskies finally broke through last Thursday against Wake Forest, utilizing more heroics than a James Bond movie during a thrilling 42-41 overtime victory in DeKalb. NIU's biggest play may have been its last one. After Wake Forest fullback Ovie Mughelle scored in overtime to cut NIU's lead to one point, Demon Deacons coach Jim Grobe opted to go for a two-point attempt and the win. Huskies' backup free safety Devron Francis -- inserted for injured starter Lionel Hickenbottom -- dropped Wake Forest runner Cornelius Birgs before he reached the end zone, preserving NIU's first win against a BCS conference member in 12 years. "Three or four years ago we were kind of at the bottom of the pack so we worked our way up the last few years with small steps," said NIU coach Joe Novak. "One thing we had never done was beat a BCS team. We were close, but couldn't get it done. To play a team like that and win the football game is certainly a great boost for our program." Francis' game-ending play was just one of several outstanding performances by the Huskies, who are coming off their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1989-90. Among the most notable individual showings were: Senior tailback Thomas Hammock, who rushed for 172 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run in overtime that proved to be the game's decisive score. Hammock, an All-MAC running back and two-time, 1,000-yard rusher, ran for more than 100 yards for the 12th time in his career. The Huskies are 9-3 in those games. Kicker Steve Azar, who drilled a 46-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to tie the game at 35-35. Azar, the MAC's 2001 co-special teams player of the year and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, also hit a 51-yard field goal at the end of the first half, tying the school record for distance set originally by Vince Scott in 1983. "The thing with Steve, he has ice water in his veins," Novak said. "Nothing fazes him." Sophomore quarterback Josh Haldi, filling the large shoes left by the departure of Chris Finlen, played well in his first collegiate start. Haldi completed 13-of-25 passes for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. "I didn't know what to expect from him," Novak said. "He made a couple of mistakes, but he did a lot of good things." NIU never gave up, bouncing back from deficits of 14-0, 21-7 and 35-24 before tying Wake Forest on Azar's last-second field goal. The comeback was nothing new for NIU fans. The Huskies won five of their six games last season after trailing. One of those wins came against South Florida, which NIU meets on Saturday in Tampa. -- Jorge Milian

Miami rushed for 312 yards, including 199 by converted receiver Jason Geathers, on its way to a 23rd straight victory, the longest win streak in the nation.

Willis McGahee, the Hurricanes' starting tailback, carried only six times for 60 yards. McGahee was limited to one carry in the second half after Miami built up a 42-0 second-quarter lead.

"That might be the best tandem that ever came through here," said Don Soldinger, Miami's running back coach.

McGahee and Geathers figure to have it tougher this Saturday when the No. 1 Hurricanes travel to Gainesville to face sixth-ranked Florida at The Swamp in Gainesville. It's the first regular-season meeting between the two teams since their bitter rivalry came to an abrupt halt in 1987.

Miami's coaches say they never lost confidence in their running back situation despite a rash of misfortune at the position that began shortly after the Hurricanes wrapped up their fifth national championship in January by beating Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.

The first piece of bad news came two days after that game when Clinton Portis, who rushed for 1,304 yards last season, announced he was skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

That was followed early in spring practice by a potentially season-ending knee injury to sophomore Frank Gore. Gore rushed for 562 yards in 2001 and averaged 9.1 yards per carry, the second-best total in school history.

As if that weren't enough, the Hurricanes lost Jarrett Payton indefinitely with back problems before fall practice began. It's unknown when, or if, Payton will be able to play this season.

Down to only one healthy, full-time tailback in McGahee, Miami coach Larry Coker decided to move Geathers, a junior, from receiver to the backfield when fall practice started.

Geathers wasn't new to the position. He rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 48 touchdowns during a standout career at Boca Raton Spanish River High School, but requested a move to receiver when he arrived at Miami as a freshman.

Despite Miami's manpower problems, Coker said he had to be convinced to make the switch this fall.

"We talked about this early in the summer, but I said, 'Let's give Jason Geathers a chance to be something. He's a receiver and he's starting to get good at it,'" Coker said. "But, when our (injury) situation developed, it was a no-brainer for us."

Geathers made it seem that way in the opener. The 199 yards, which included touchdown runs of 20 and 62 yards, is the fourth-highest, single-game total in UM history.

"We have to realize that wasn't Lawrence Taylor out there, it was Florida A&M," Coker said. "But, he did an excellent job."

As well as Geathers played, Miami's coaches think McGahee is even better.

"He's a stud," Soldinger said. "If he plays like he works out, he's going to be the best in the country."

McGahee's physical numbers are unmatched. The junior ran 40 yards in a team-best 4.28 seconds this spring and can bench press 375 pounds, squat 500 pounds and has a vertical jump of 41½ inches.

"It's like running with the bulls trying to tackle him," Coker said.

McGahee seemed on the verge of a big season last year before injuring an ankle against West Virginia. He missed the next two games and, upon returning, found himself third on the depth chart behind Portis and Gore.

"I feel it's my turn," McGahee said. "I just know this season is going to be mine. Everyone is counting on me to step up and feel the shoes of Portis, which I know I'm going to do."

McGahee is lightning fast, but physical enough at 6-1 and 224 pounds that he started at fullback in the Rose Bowl. McGahee also was used at fullback in the opener against FAMU.

"I just like the thought of the more weapons you have, the better you are," said Coker, of using McGahee at fullback in front of Geathers. "If you have both of those players in at the same time, you got something pretty special."

Around the Big East

Boston College
The Eagles struggled in the 24-16 win over Connecticut as did quarterback Brian St. Pierre who threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted twice. ... Horace Dodd, a transfer from Penn State, started at tailback, but was held to eight yards on six carries. Derrick Knight came off the bench and contributed 105 yards on the ground in 15 attempts. Knight also caught four passes for 39 yards, including a 24-yard screen pass that he turned into a touchdown. BC coach Tom O'Brien said he did not know who would start on Saturday against Stanford. ... Defensive end Antonio Garay, returning from neck surgery, had a sack. ... Stanford quarterback Chris Lewis is suspended for Saturday's game against the Eagles.

	Ken Dorsey now owns the UM record for wins for a QB with 27.

Miami
All-Big East defensive end Jerome McDougle did not dress out for the opener because of a strained pectoral muscle. McDougle's availability for Saturday's game against Florida is uncertain. ... Quarterback Ken Dorsey improved his record as a starter to 27-1. The 27 wins are the most by a UM quarterback, breaking a tie with Gino Torretta, who had 26 victories from 1989-92. ... Dorsey has thrown three touchdowns or more in 13 of 28 career starts. He's failed to throw a touchdown pass in a start only once. ... All-Big East punter Freddie Capshaw missed the FAMU game with a sprained right ankle. ... The Hurricanes' 23-game win streak is six short of the school record of 29 set between the 1990 and 1992 seasons.

Pittsburgh
Panthers' coach Walt Harris said his team was "fortunate" to pull out a 27-14 victory against Ohio. ... Quarterback Rod Rutherford was shaky in his first career start, completing only 9-of-22 throws for 97 yards. Rutherford threw two touchdown passes, but was picked off three times. ... Tailback Brandon Miree, an Alabama transfer, rushed 15 times for 62 yards, but Pittsburgh managed only 96 rushing yards on 44 attempts. Raymond Kirkley, who started the game at tailback, was held to 17 yards on seven carries. ... Tyler Palko won the backup quarterback job and played for one series against Ohio, throwing an incomplete pass on his only attempt. ... The Panthers have started a different quarterback in their opener for 11 straight seasons. ... Pittsburgh shares the nation's second-longest winning streak with South Florida. Both teams have won seven consecutive games.

Rutgers
Just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse for the Scarlet Knights, it did. Rutgers' 37-19 loss to Villanova marked the first time the Scarlet Knights lost to a Division I-AA opponent in school history. ... Quarterback Ryan Cubit threw two touchdown passes to L.J. Smith, but completed only 17 of 38 passes for 184 yards and was intercepted once. Cubit was unable to generate any consistent offense. Rutgers gained only 269 yards and its' three touchdown drives covered a total of 80 yards. ... The Scarlet Knights' defense, which allowed a Big East-low 420 yards per game last season, gave up 476 yards to the Wildcats.

Syracuse
Quarterback R.J. Anderson, who threw only two interceptions in 144 attempts last season, was picked off twice in 24 attempts in the 42-21 loss to Brigham Young on Thursday. Anderson also fumbled. ... Syracuse allowed 615 yards to the Cougars, the first time and opponent has gained more than 600 yards since West Virginia piled up 654 during a 43-0 rout in 1993. ... The Orangemen also gave up 31 first downs, the most since East Carolina picked up 32 first downs in 1995. ... .One of the Orangemen's few bright spots against BYU was freshman tailback Damien Rhodes, who rushed 14 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns in his debut.

Temple
The Owls' new no-huddle, spread offense generated 379 yards in a 34-7 win over Division I-AA Richmond. ... Tailback Tanardo Sharps ran for 118 yards in the first half against Richmond and finished with 121 for the night. The 100-yard game was the 10th in Sharps' career, which ranks second all-time at Temple behind Paul Palmer's 21. ... All-Big East defensive tackle Dan Klecko did not play in the opener because of a sprained left ankle. ... Only 15,329 showed up at Franklin Field for the opener. Temple averaged 18,440 fans for six games last season -- worst in the Big East. The Owls' next two games -- against Oregon State and Miami -- are also at Franklin Field. ... Temple has won three straight games dating back to last season. It's the Owls' first three-game win streak since 1990.

Virginia Tech
All-Big East cornerback Ronyell Whitaker sat out the Hokies' first two games because of a suspension. ... Michael Vick had his jersey, not his number, retired prior to the LSU game. Tailback Kevin Jones will continue to use the No. 7 Vick made famous. ... The 65,509 who attended Sunday's game set a Virginia Tech record and were the most fans ever to see a game in the state of Virginia. ... Virginia Tech and Marshall haven't played since 1953.

West Virginia
Quarterback Rasheed Marshall looked good in his first start, completing 14-of-22 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountaineers' 56-7 win against Division I-AA Tennessee-Chattanooga. Marshall did not throw an interception. ... The Mountaineers gained 560 total offensive yards to UTC's 150, with 65 of the Mocs' yards coming on their final drive. ... Tailback Avon Cobourne ran for 106 yards on 20 carries. It was the 19th time Cobourne has gone over 100 yards in his career and the ninth time in his last 12 games. Cobourne needs 526 yards to break WVU's career rushing record of 4,086 yards held by Amos Zereoue. ... West Virginia have played twice previously, but not since 1957.

Around the MAC
Akron allowed a school-record 37 points to Iowa in the first quarter on the way to a 57-21 win. ... Sophomore quarterback Charlie Frye played well, completing 21-of-29 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns, but was unable to play in the second half because of dehydration. ... Akron is now 1-11 all-time against Big Ten opponents. ... Ball State begins its season this week against Missouri on the road. Ball State will play their schedule in 12 consecutive weeks. ... Tailback Marcus Merriweather needs 1,100 rushing yards to break Bernie Parmalee's school record of 3,483 yards. ... Bowling Green has a week off before meeting Missouri at Perry Stadium on Sept. 14. BGU defeated the Tigers, 20-13, last year on the way to becoming the first MAC team to beat three BCS conference-affiliated schools in one season. ... Bowling Green has scored 40 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time in school history. ... Buffalo got off to a bad start, losing their season opener at home to Division I-AA Lehigh, 37-26. ... The last time Buffalo lost its season opener and came back to have a winning season was in 1969. ... Andre Ford's 83-yard punt return for a touchdown was the second longest in school history. ... Central Michigan halfback Terrance Jackson, who finished third in the MAC in rushing last season, missed the Chippewas' season-opening 34-10 win over Sam Houston State with a knee injury. Senior Robbie Mixon took Jackson's place in the lineup and rushed 30 times for 140 yards and a touchdown. ... Derrick Vickers, named the starting quarterback two days before the opener, completed his first 10 passes of the game. Vickers started the final five games of the 2000 season and the first seven in 2001 before being sidelined by an injury. ... Eastern Michigan managed only 10 rushing yards in the first half in the 56-7 loss to Michigan State. ... Coach Jeff Woodruff said he has yet to decide whether Troy Edwards or Jeff Crooks would start at quarterback against Toledo on Saturday. ... Kent State sophomore quarterback Joshua Cribbs produced a career-high 191 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Flashes' 34-7 victory against Division I-AA New Hampshire. Cribbs, who passed and ran for 1,000 yards last season, scored on touchdown runs of 71 and 5 yards, but was held to only 64 yards through the air. ... Tailback Eddie Beccles played for injured starter David Alston and rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown. ... Marshall QB Byron Leftwich threw for 469 yards and four touchdowns in the Thundering Herd's 50-17 win against Appalachian State. Receiver Josh Davis caught 11 of Leftwich's passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. ... Marshall generated big offensive numbers without All-MAC receiver Darius Watts, who sat out with a shoulder injury. ... Marshall is off until Sept. 12 when they meet No. 10 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. ... Miami forced nine North Carolina turnovers (six fumbles, three interceptions) on their way to a 27-21 upset of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The six recovered fumbles matched Miami's total for the entire 2001 season. ... Miami hosts Iowa on Saturday. The Hawkeyes will become the first Big Ten team ever to play at Yager Stadium. ... Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak said the Huskies may have lost free safety Lionel Hickenbottom for the season with a knee injury. "We may not have him the rest of the year," Novak said. "It did not look very good. Certainly, if we lose him, it's going to be a real blow." . ... Thomas Hammock was named the MAC's West Division offensive player of the week and kicker Steve Azar was named the division's special teams player of the week. ... Ohio QB Dontrell Jackson threw four interceptions against Pittsburgh, one more than he tossed all of last season. ... Senior tailback Chad Brinker, who missed the last seven games of the 2001 season after an arachnoid cyst was removed, came back strong. Brinker gained 119 yards on 24 carries and scored a touchdown. ... Senior cornerback Bop White picked off two passes, giving him 13 for his career. That total ranks tied for second in school history. ... The loss was the seventh straight for Bobcats dating back to last season. ... Toledo's William Bratton, a sixth-year senior taking over for 2001 MAC rushing leader Chester Taylor, rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries in Toledo's 44-16 victory over Cal-Poly. Bratton, who suffers from a blood disorder, was awarded a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. ... Toledo won its 15th straight game in the Glass Bowl. ... The Rockets have won their last three openers by a combined 133-23. ... Starting defensive end Frank Ofili could miss Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan with an injured elbow. ... UCF QB Ryan Schneider completed 32 of 46 passes for 345 yards in the loss to Penn State. It was the third-highest yardage total in Schneider's career. ... The Knights are 0-11 against ranked opponents. ... Western Michigan coach Gary Darnell went with two quarterbacks in the Broncos 48-17 rout of Indiana State, rotating Jon Drach and Chad Munson by series. Both played well with Drach completing 9 of 17 passes for 112 yards while Munson connected on 14 of 19 throws for 197 yards. Munson threw four touchdown passes, but Darnell said Drach would remain the starter next week when WMU plays Michigan. ... Two-time All-MAC defensive end Anthony Allsbury will miss the season after tearing a ligament and fracturing a bone during preseason workouts.

Jorge Milian covers college football for the Palm Beach Post.