12 -NC State game notes-ROB.qxp - University of Miami Athletics

GAME 12 - NOV. 29, 2008MIAMI VS. NC STATE2008 GAME NOTESUSA TODAY COACHES’ TOP 25Nov. 23, 2008No Team Record Pts. LW1. Alabama (56) 11-0 1,518 12. Oklahoma (4) 10-1 1,412 53. Florida (1) 10-1 1,401 34. Texas 10-1 1,370 45. Southern California 9-1 1,288 66. Penn State 11-1 1,157 87. Utah 12-0 1,153 78. Texas Tech 10-1 1,073 29. Boise State 11-0 1,033 910. Ohio State 10-2 994 1011. Missouri 9-2 896 1112. Oklahoma State 9-2 858 1213. Georgia 9-2 842 1314. TCU 10-2 695 1715. Ball State 11-0 673 1616. Cincinnati 9-2 572 2017. Oregon State 8-3 544 2118. Oregon 8-3 397 2219. Brigham Young 10-2 321 1420. Northwestern 9-3 310 2421. Michigan State 9-3 296 1522. Boston College 8-3 290 2523. Georgia Tech 8-3 241 NR24. Florida State 8-3 204 NR25. West Virginia 7-3 83 NRARV: Pittsburgh (7-3) 43; Mississippi (7-4) 40; LSU (7-4) 30; Iowa (8-4) 26; Western Michigan (9-2) 20; Connecticut (7-3) 15; Maryland (7-4) 9; Tulsa (9-2) 6; Nebraska (7-4) 3; South Florida (6-4) 3; California(7-4) 2; Miami (Fla.) (7-4) 2; South Carolina (7-4) 2; Virginia Tech (7-4) 2; Wake Forest (6-5) 1.ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25Nov. 23, 2008No Team Record Pts. LW1 Alabama (63) 11-0 1622 12 Florida (2) 10-1 1512 33 Oklahoma 10-1 1486 54 Texas 10-1 1482 45 Southern Cal 9-1 1352 66 Penn St. 11-1 1238 77 Texas Tech 10-1 1212 28 Utah 12-0 1206 89 Boise St. 11-0 1064 910 Ohio St. 10-2 1043 1011 Oklahoma St. 9-2 997 1112 Missouri 9-2 917 1213 Georgia 9-2 874 1314 TCU 10-2 750 1515 Ball St. 11-0 731 1416 Cincinnati 9-2 640 1917 Oregon St. 8-3 604 2118 Georgia Tech 8-3 339 NR19 Oregon 8-3 320 2420 BYU 10-2 309 1620 Boston College 8-3 309 NR22 Michigan St. 9-3 274 1723 Florida St. 8-3 214 NR24 Northwestern 9-3 145 NR25 Mississippi 7-4 127 NRARV: West Virginia 120, Pittsburgh 108, Iowa 54, LSU 35, California11, Tulsa 8, W. Michigan 8, Cent. Michigan 5, South Carolina 5,Connecticut 2, Nebraska 1, Rice 1.PAGE 7ITS ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINOne a team full of freshmen standouts, its hard to argue that anyone has stood out more than widereceiver/return man Travis Benjamin. Benjamin leads the Hurricanes in all-purpose yards (968), punt returnyardage (173) and kick return yardage (477) while ranking second in receiving yards (276) despite missingmost of the last two games with an ankle injury. The Belle Glade native has played a crucial role onoffense and in the return game in Miami’s 7-4 start.Below are some highlights and notes about Benjamin’s first 11 collegiate games:After collecting just 183 all-purpose yards through Miami’s first four games (45.75 ypg), he had 753 hisin UM’s next five contests (150.6 ypg) before missing most of the last two games.He ranks second on the team with four touchdowns, trailing only sophomore running back Graig Cooper,who has six thus far.His 968 all-purpose yards through 11 games is the most by a Hurricane since Frank Gore had 971 allpurposeyards heading into the 12th game of the 2004 season.Benjamin had his best game of his young career against rival FSU (10/4), collecting an impressive 274all-purpose yards agai`nst the Seminoles. In an increased role, Benjamin finished with 185 yards on kickreturns, 71 yards receiving and 18 yards rushing against the Seminoles.His 274 all-purpose yards against FSU was the most by a Hurricane since Edgerrin James had 310 allpurposeyards (299 rushing, 11 receiving) against UCLA in 1998.He scored his first two touchdowns of his career against the Seminoles with an 18-yard rushing TD anda 51-yard receiving TD on a pass from running back Graig Cooper.Against UCF on Oct. 11, Benjamin led the Hurricanes again in all-purpose yardage, collecting 112 (34receiving, 62 kick returns, 16 punt returns) against the Knights. Against Duke in Durham, he had 170 allpurposeyards (3 rushing, 45 receiving, 92 kick returns, 30 punt returns) and in the game against WakeForest, he had 115 (10 rushing, 72 receiving, 31 kick returns, 2 punt returns).At Duke on Oct. 18, Benjamin’s versatility was on full display when the Hurricanes ran a double reverseand he completed his first career pass to quarterback Jacory Harris for a 17-yard reception.Benjamin’s 93.6 all-purpose yards per game ranks seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference through thispast weekend’s games.Benjamin ranks second in the ACC and 25th nationally in punt return average (11.5) and seventh in theACC and 58th nationally in kick return average (23.4).He owns the team’s longest kickoff return (57 yards) and longest reception (51).He is averaging 16.7 yards every time he touches the football, whether it be rushing, receiving, kickreturns or punt returns.The Hurricanes have 22 plays of 30 or more yards this season and Benjamin has played a part in eightof those 22 plays. In fact, five of the team’s seven-longest plays this season have involved Benjamin,including a pair of 50+ yard plays against FSU and two more over 40 yards against Wake Forest on Oct.25.2008 Longest Plays (30+ yards)Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Opponent66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graig Cooper . . . . .Punt Return (TD) . . . . . . . .Charleston Southern57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . .Kick Off Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida State51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graig Cooper . . . . . . . . . . .Rush (TD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas A&M51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . .Reception (TD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Florida State48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wake Forest45 . . .Travis Benjamin (10), Sam Shields (35) . . . . . .Kick Off Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wake Forest44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . . . . .Punt Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas A&M43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thearon Collier . . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Virginia43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Marve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wake Forest41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brandon Harris . . . . . . .Kick Off Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas A&M37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . . . . .Punt Return . . . . . . . . . . . .North Carolina37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graig Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duke37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kayne Farquharson . . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Virginia Tech36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dedrick Epps . . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas A&M35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dedrick Epps . . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . .Charleston Southern34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Derron Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas A&M32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . .Kick Off Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duke31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shawnbrey McNeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rush . . . . . . . .Charleston Southern31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graig Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Carolina30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Travis Benjamin . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Virginia30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacory Harris . . . . . . . . . . .Rush (TD) . . . . . . . .Charleston Southern30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dedrick Epps . . . . . . . . . . .Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Georgia TechMIAMI FOOTBALL GAME NOTES