‘Canes’ Davis In Tough Debut
Butch Davis was a Dallas assistant when the Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 52-17 in the 1993 Super Bowl at the Rose Bowl.
Davis returns to the stadium Saturday night for his debut as coach of the Miami Hurricanes. The 12th-ranked Hurricanes play No. 15 UCLA in a game that will be televised to most of the nation by ABC.
This trip to Pasadena won’t be as enjoyable as the one Davis made in 1993.
UCLA has 17 starters back, including potential All-Americans Kevin Jordan (wide receiver), Donnie Edwards (linebacker) and Jonathan Ogden (offensive tackle). Edwards led the team with 12-1/2 sacks and 106 tackles, and Ogden allowed only one sack.
Coach Terry Donahue, entering his 20th year at UCLA, also has a 1,000-yard rusher with a winning name. Karim Abdul-Jabbar, formerly known as Sharmon Shah, is the top returning rusher in the Pac-10 and no relation to the former Bruins basketball star.
In contrast to UCLA’s experience, Miami has 12 new starters, a new coach and a new offense.
Miami is favored by four points, but that’s based on past accomplishments. Right now, UCLA has the better team … UCLA 24-21.
Today
No. 2 Nebraska (minus 27) at Okla. St.
Defending national champs haven’t lost to Cowboys since 1961 … NEBRASKA 38-10.
Saturday
No. 1 Florida St. (minus 26) vs. Duke at Orlando
FSU is 24-0 in ACC … FSU 44-14.
LSU (plus 15) at No. 3 Texas A&M
Aggies’ first test comes Sept. 23 at Colorado … TEXAS A&M 31-7.
Houston (plus 45) at No. 5 Florida
Gators have won 23 of last 24 home openers … FLORIDA 55-0.
Mississippi (plus 17) at No. 6 Auburn
Tigers coming off probation, Rebels going on … AUBURN 28-10.
East Carolina (plus 16) at No. 8 Tennessee
Vols QB Peyton Manning was SEC frosh of year … TENNESSEE 31-10.
Northwestern (plus 28) at No. 9 Notre Dame
Lou Holtz gets 200th career win … NOTRE DAME 28-7.
No. 11 Alabama (minus 14) at Vanderbilt
Vandy has lost 12 in a row to Tide at Nashville … ALABAMA 20-17.
No. 13 Michigan (even) at No. 25 Illinois
Wolverines coming off last-play win over Virginia … ILLINOIS 17-14.
No. 14 Colorado (minus 1-1/2) at No. 21 Wisconsin
Badgers avenge last year’s 55-17 loss to CU … WISCONSIN 21-17.
William & Mary (no line) at No. 17 Virginia
Cavs rebound from heartbreaking loss at Michigan … VIRGINIA 34-10.
No. 18 Texas (minus 10-1/2) at Hawaii
Longhorns enjoy their first trip to Hawaii …TEXAS 28-14.
Pacific (plus 31) at No. 19 Arizona
Pacific 0-8 vs. Wildcats … ARIZONA 28-0.
Syracuse (plus 7) at No. 20 North Carolina
First meeting between the schools … N.C. 24-21.
Arizona St. (plus 12) at No. 22 Washington
Probation-free Huskies back in Rose Bowl hunt … WASHINGTON 24-10.
Purdue (plus 10-1/2) at No. 23 West Virginia
Mountaineers’ Aaron Beasley led nation in interceptions last year … W. VIRGINIA 27-14.
Last week: 2-0 (straight); 1-1 (spread).
Season: 2-0 (straight); 1-1 (spread).