UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Hurricanes pack a wallop of a win streak

A victory over the Buckeyes would extend the winning streak to 35.
By WENDELL BARNHOUSE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win.
That's 34 wins in a row. That's the streak that Miami has built over the past three seasons. The Hurricanes (12-0) go for their second consecutive national championship, and sixth since 1983, when they face Ohio State (13-0) tonight in the Fiesta Bowl. The championship chase has overshadowed The Streak.
"We were doing a photo shoot for ABC, and Tommie Harris of Oklahoma, the first thing out of his mouth was, 'The streak,' " Miami senior center Brett Romberg said. "We really don't even think about it. We know what we're doing, but we're not really going to think about how many we've won in a row until the season's over."
The last team to win as many games in a row was Toledo, which won 35 consecutive games from 1969-71. The longest winning streak in Division I-A history belongs to Oklahoma, which won 47 consecutive games from 1953-57 under Bud Wilkinson.
Opinions
Miami is another undefeated season from challenging the Sooners' DiMaggio-type accomplishment. But give the Hurricanes their due. What Miami has accomplished ranks favorably with OU's winning streak.
"The streak has been underplayed. I think it's one of the most amazing things in modern college sports," said Chris Fowler, host of ESPN's "College GameDay". "There has been so much talk about the BCS standings and some other sub plots that people kind of take Miami's streak for granted. Miami has taken on all comers. It's been challenged; it's had some luck.
"It's been an awesome run, and it's one of the great story lines for the Fiesta Bowl."
In an age of parity, where the talent is spread among more teams, where upsets rule the day, where 11- and 12-game schedules turn the season into a marathon, Miami has persevered. The Hurricanes' last loss was a 34-29 decision at Washington on Sept. 9, 2000. They've been good, and they've been lucky. Florida State came the closest to ending the streak, on Oct. 12, but a 43-yard field-goal attempt that would have won the game was wide left.
"Perspective? Yeah, the field goal is wide," said former Texas coach Darrell Royal, whose Longhorns won 30 consecutive games in 1968-70. "And we had a fourth-and-three (against) Arkansas and James Street throws it through a keyhole. You need to have some luck.
"Miami has played great football in pressure situations. But they've still got a long way to go."
Royal, who played for and coached against Wilkinson, is still in awe of Oklahoma's 47-game winning streak. The Sooners' accomplishment came nearly half a century ago, but some statistical comparisons show that Miami's 34-game streak is as impressive.
Oklahoma's average winning margin during its winning streak was 28.7 points; Miami's average winning margin is 28 points.
Oklahoma beat 21 opponents that finished with a record of .500 or better. Miami has defeated 24 opponents that were .500 or better.
Oklahoma's 47 opponents had a combined winning percentage of .464. Miami's 34 opponents had a combined winning percentage of .568.
Oklahoma defeated six ranked teams. Miami has defeated 12 ranked teams.
Oklahoma had nine games decided by nine or fewer points and won 16 by 40 or more. Miami has had four games decided by nine or fewer points and eight by 40 or more.
Unparalleled
"As far as a streak and what Miami has done, I think it's unparalleled," ESPN "College GameDay" analyst Kirk Herbstreit said. "The game today, the parity, the athleticism, how easy it is for individuals to forget about the team. ... The fact Miami has been able to overcome that, block all that out, is an accomplishment.
"People want to say, 'Ah, they play in the Big East.' They won at Florida, they won at Tennessee. What Miami is doing right now, we'll look back in 20 years and say, 'Oh my gosh, those guys could play with anybody.' "