To Win Big Is Miami’s No. 1 Goal

MIAMI —  Here in the land of stone crabs and snowbirds, this is all about looking out for No. 1.

For Miami’s Hurricanes, this quest is literal. They rank No. 1 in the nation, but their hold is rather tenuous. In the other corner of the continent, the Washington Huskies are probably wearing red and black and rooting for . . .

You guessed it.

San Diego State’s Aztecs.

The Aztecs figuratively are looking out for No. 1, as in themselves, and literally gunning for No. 1, as in the mighty, mouthy ‘Canes. They never have faced a team ranked atop the nation at the time of their encounter. And they encounter one surly at the notion of being voted rather than beaten out of its position.

You see, Miami must win and win comfortably to retain its No. 1 spot. It cannot win 30-28, as it did a year ago against the Aztecs at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. It cannot win 19-14, as it did a week ago at Boston College. It cannot win by two points or five points, but rather by two touchdowns or five touchdowns.

“We get to be No. 1,” said Hurricane quarterback Gino Torretta, “and everybody says why we shouldn’t be No. 1.”

Therein lies the challenge, the latest challenge, for Coach Al Luginbill’s Aztecs. They travel across the country to face a bunch of guys who think the proof is in the pounding when it comes to gaining respect. You know who is supposed to get the pounding.

“Washington,” grumbled Miami center Kelvin Harris, “would be the fourth best team in the state.” He meant Florida, of course, which has Florida State ranked third and Florida ranked fifth . . . and facing off today. “(Washington) wouldn’t beat any team in Florida.”

He probably meant to exclude the University of Central Florida and other such cupcakes . . . but maybe not.

The Aztecs, meanwhile, really get no respect. Here they are 8-2-1 and headed for the Freedom Bowl, and oddsmakers have them anywhere from 26- to 28-point underdogs. They are considered little more than a house of cards in the face of the Hurricanes.

It is especially so because these ‘Canes are so worked up with this inferiority complex. Maybe it’s a persecution complex. Maybe it’s paranoia. Maybe it’s just a feeling that no one loves them outside ZIP code 33124, which approximates the boundaries of their Coral Gables campus.

So maybe these trash-talking, taunting bullies can’t be No. 1 in anyone’s heart, so they will settle for being No. 1 in the polls.

Indeed, Miami’s weekly news release, which arrives in the form of a mini-magazine with everything but a linebacker in the centerfold, lists 10 reasons why the Hurricanes should be No. 1.

And the No. 1 reason for No. 1 is...

To quote: “ESPN’s Lee Corso and ABC’s Bo Schembechler say Miami is No. 2.”

Shame on them. This Bo just don’t know football. Not at all. And Lee just can’t see the glory of the ‘Canes.

Among other reasons listed are that Miami plays more .500-plus teams than Washington, SDSU among them, and more bowl-bound teams than Washington, SDSU among them.

This supposes, I suppose, that Miami is going to defeat San Diego State. That’s probably a rather safe assumption.

However, it says something about attitude hereabouts.

Mind you, no Miami player is brashly predicting a lopsided victory. They have been uncharacteristically restrained in that sense. But it is almost as if they are playing against other people’s perceptions of them rather than another football team having a rather nice year.

The Aztecs are simply there , is all.

History says this should be easy for the Hurricanes. They have won 50 straight games against unranked opponents, SDSU being unranked. They have won 43 straight games in the Orange Bowl. They have won 16 straight games, period.

For heaven’s sake, what are these Aztecs doing here? Who’s next on their schedule? The Redskins?

Just remember for a second what happened a year ago, when three missed field goals deprived the Aztecs of what would have been a rather shocking 31-30 victory. Miami (and the oddsmakers) must be forgetting that game.

Let just one of those field goals make it through the uprights, and these Aztecs would be getting much more respect for their 8-2-1 record. Had they won that final game in 1990, which they came so close to winning, and they would be ranked here in 1991.

You can bet on that. And you can take 26 points to the bank, too.