College Football: Excessive celebration penalty irks UM's Coker

The 15-yard penalty was marked off on the following kickoff. Fortunately for the Hurricanes, the game wasn't close at the time.

"I didn't like the call," said UM head coach Larry Coker following the Hurricanes' 34-10 win. "But if the flag is thrown, it's a penalty and you have to accept it. But I didn't think Sean was taunting anybody."

According to Coker, flagging players for getting a little excited following a big play can take away an element of the game that Coker believes is necessary.

"We were feeding off each other's energy at the time," Coker said. "Something like that can take that (energy) away from you and make it difficult to get back."

Taylor just shrugged the call off.

"I can just smile at it and keep going," he said. "I didn't really mind. I could have done a lot more. I guess you're just better off not doing anything."

Welcome home

South Florida isn't so far away from Piscataway, N.J. Rutgers' roster includes 25 players from Florida, 24 of those players coming from South Florida and eight of those coming from Miami.

The list of locals on the Rutgers roster includes quarterback Ryan Hart, who attended Cardinal Gibbons in Coral Springs.

A combined 21 players from the Rutgers and Miami rosters attended high school together. In all, 15 players from Florida have started at least one game for the Knights this season.

Sour Orange

This was Rutgers sixth trip to the Orange Bowl and their sixth loss. Since beginning play in 1993, Miami is 11-0 against the Knights.

Last season, Rutgers led 17-8 at the half and 17-14 going into the fourth quarter. It wasn't quite enough. Miami went on to win, 42-17, after scoring 28 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes.

Saturday, Miami scored 28 unanswered points in the third quarter.

Don't I know you?

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano also has Miami ties.

The third-year coach served as the Canes' defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2000. He took over the Scarlet Knights two months before former head coach Butch Davis left for the Cleveland Browns and the NFL.

Coker, who was the team's offensive coordinator at the time, took over the head coaching duties.

After Saturday's game, Coker and Schiano hugged each other at midfield.

Tough at the top

Miami was the second ranked team the Knights have faced this season. They lost to then-No. 4 Virginia Tech, 48-22, on Oct. 4.

The last time Rutgers beat a ranked team was on Sept. 24, 1988 when it defeated No. 15 Penn State, 21-16.

So long, Orange Bowl

It was seniors day at the Orange Bowl, with 21 UM seniors playing in their last game at the Orange Bowl. The 16 scholarship players and five walkons were recognized in pre-game ceremonies. Quiet stadium

Despite the mild weather, only 39,579 fans turned out at the Orange Bowl to see Miami play its last home game of the season.