Miami Is KOd by LSU, 40-3

ATLANTA —  Matt Flynn did so well in his first start, the Peach Bowl turned into 60 minutes of fun for No. 10 Louisiana State.

What happened after the game wasn’t nearly so nice.

Flynn threw two touchdown passes, Joseph Addai rushed for 130 yards and the Tigers humbled Miami’s proud defense, even running a couple of fake kicks after building a big lead and romping to a 40-3 victory Friday night in the Hurricanes’ most-lopsided bowl loss ever.

There were shoves and punches thrown between players as both teams left the field into the same tunnel. Georgia State Patrol officers intervened, and minutes later Miami’s Andrew Bain, apparently dazed, was escorted by officers back out of the tunnel.

Miami Coach Larry Coker said Bain and Miami’s Khalil Jones were knocked unconscious in the brawl. Coker, who was told that those players were injured by someone swinging a helmet during the scuffle, said no players were detained by police. No players were hospitalized.

Coker said he was told the incident started when an LSU player tried to grab a game ball from a ballboy on the Hurricane sideline.

“As a university, as a football program, we don’t condone any type of activities such as that,” Coker said. “Certainly, I think, that detracts from a great bowl game and what the spirit of college football is all about.”

Miami players were not made available for comment.

LSU had a different version of how the brawl started.

The Tigers’ Jacob Hester, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown said trash-talking, some involving LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe, a Miami native, began as good-natured fun.

“We had a guy who is from Miami who was kidding around with one of his boys,” Hester said. “Miami thought it was something serious. They came in the tunnel and they were swinging, but it was just a joke between friends.”

LSU offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said of the incident, “That was a bunch of craziness.”

After a few minutes, the LSU players were back on the field celebrating the win with fans.

Flynn, a sophomore filling in for injured starter JaMarcus Russell, completed 13 of 22 passes for 196 yards with no interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards.

Led by Flynn, LSU (11-2) rebounded from its worst game of the season, a 34-14 loss to Georgia in the Dec. 3 Southeastern Conference championship game.

LSU scored on eight consecutive possessions in a streak that started with a field goal late in the first quarter, included two third-quarter scoring drives and lasted into the fourth quarter.

Even with a lopsided lead, LSU attempted to add to the score, faking a field goal while leading 34-3 late in the third quarter and then failing on a fake punt with a 40-3 lead in the fourth.

LSU piled up 471 yards, the most given up by Miami. The Hurricanes (9-3) entered leading the nation in pass defense and ranked third in total defense.

The Tigers were just as impressive on defense, holding Miami to 153 yards and six first downs -- none in the second half. Kyle Wright completed only 10 of 21 passes for 100 yards.

LSU’s play negated Miami’s plan to utilize cornerback Devin Hester as a multiple threat on offense. On Miami’s first possession, Hester lined up at tailback and receiver and also took a direct snap at quarterback. Hester had two catches for 40 yards and six carries for 24 yards.

LSU had its largest margin of victory in a bowl game, surpassing its 45-26 win over Michigan in the 1995 Independence Bowl. Miami’s previous most lopsided loss in a bowl game was a 29-0 loss to Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 1994.