Buckeyes, Hurricanes getting along at Shrine Classic

SAN FRANCISCO -- Miami kicker Todd Sievers ran into the Ohio State players at the Phoenix airport while traveling to the East-West Shrine Classic -- and he hoped he wouldn't be forced to room with one of them.

The Hurricanes had lost the Fiesta Bowl to the Buckeyes 31-24 in double overtime only hours earlier, snapping the defending national champions' 34-game winning streak.

When Sievers received his room assignment, it was just what he'd feared. He was rooming with Ohio State punter Andy Groom.

After a few days together, however, Groom decided he wanted to train with Sievers for a couple weeks in Florida before the NFL combine this spring in Indianapolis.

"He's a cool kid," Sievers said. "We've become close friends. He wants to come down and kick in the warm weather, and I don't blame him. He can come down and kick anytime."

Groom also was wary about hanging out with the Hurricanes.

"I thought it might happen, and I was upset about it," he said. "I really didn't want to be stuck with Miami, until I met him."

Groom will be joined by Ohio State teammates Michael Doss and Donnie Nickey.

Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey's locker is right next to Groom's in the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse at Pacific Bell Park, where the East team will dress before Saturday's game.

There have been no problems. Dorsey sees the meaning beyond just football for the Shrine game, which features many of the nation's premier college players, divided into teams from the East and West.

The game, begun in 1925, has raised more than $14 million for the Shriners Hospital.

"This is something where I'm glad I get to come out and play in this game, and get back going again and get back on the field doing the thing I love," Dorsey said. "It's for a great cause and we get to do our part for some special people. Hopefully, we can have an impact on their lives."

Dorsey has never played this close to home. He was a star at Miramonte High School in nearby Orinda.

"It means a lot," Dorsey said. "The closest I've ever played to home was at Washington."

The game is also a homecoming for East coach Tyrone Willingham, who just finished his first season coaching Notre Dame, following seven seasons as coach at Stanford.

He left the visiting with friends to his wife.

"I've been working," Willingham said. "It's an all-star game, but this has taken quite a bit of time."

He led the Irish to eight straight wins to start the season, before losing three of the last five games to finish ranked No. 17.

"It's been a good year," Willingham said. "It's not all that we wanted or all that we hoped for, but we laid the foundation."

Fresno State coach Pat Hill's West team will be led by Nebraska running back Dahrran Diedrick, Oregon receiver Keenan Howry, Southern California receiver Kareem Kelly and Iowa State quarterback Seneca Wallace.

It's been a whirlwind two weeks since the Buckeyes left for the Fiesta Bowl and went on to win their first national championship in 34 years.

"It's not going to sink in for a while," Groom said.

Originally published Saturday, January 11, 2003