'Canes hope QB change sparks offense

Originally Published: November 12, 2003

By Jorge Milian | Special to ESPN.com

After two consecutive losses and a season-long struggle on offense, Miami coach Larry Coker decided to bench starting quarterback Brock Berlin in favor of Derrick Crudup. Crudup, a junior, will make his first career start against Syracuse on Saturday.

Berlin was benched after back-to-back lackluster performances against Virginia Tech and Tennessee, during which he threw four interceptions and fumbled once without leading the Hurricanes to a single touchdown. Overall, Berlin has thrown 14 interceptions and accounted for 17 of Miami's Big East-worst 27 turnovers. Berlin's pass efficiency rating of 119.3 ranks 71st out of 100 Division I-A quarterbacks listed by the NCAA. Coker called Berlin's interceptions "unacceptable."

Berlin survived with his job following the Hurricanes' 31-7 loss to Virgnia Tech, but wasn't so lucky after Saturday's 10-6 defeat to Tennessee on Saturday that ended Miami's national-best 26-game winning streak in the Orange Bowl.

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