Jon Vilma still stewing over 2002 BCS loss with Miami

METAIRIE - New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma has a national championship ring from the 2001 season at Miami when he was a sophomore and a Super Bowl championship ring from last season with the Saints.

But do not remind him of Miami's 31-24 loss to Ohio State in the BCS national championship game for the 2002 season.

"We won it my sophomore year. Then we got robbed my junior year," he said Friday after the first Saints' first practice of training camp. "We should've won. But, hey, it was a terrible ref."

The Hurricanes had stormed the field along with some fans, and Miami coach Larry Coker had just taken off his headphones to celebrate when a late flag landed in the end zone after a fourth-and-three pass from Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel was ruled incomplete. The Hurricanes apparently had a 24-17 win in overtime, but pass interference was called on Miami's Glen Sharpe. Ohio State then scored a touchdown to tie it and later won 31-24.

Saints defensive end Will Smith enjoys reminding Vilma of the Buckeye's national title, and Vilma was asked if he has ever tried to steal Smith's championship ring.

"No," he said. "But if I steal it, I'll burn it."

Vilma landed on the subject of Miami's national championship because he was asked how his team was able to follow the 2001 national title with such a good season in 2002. The Saints are trying to do the same this season after winning the Super Bowl.

"We were able to humble ourselves and get after it," he said. "That's what we have to do. We had to regroup and get guys to fill the roles of guys we lost. We have to do that here, too. As a player, you always try to improve yourself from the year before."

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(thenewsstar.com)