The Associated Press

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Center Joel Rodriguez scanned the interview room and found several new starters for the Miami Hurricanes.

Quarterback Brock Berlin. Running back Frank Gore. Wide receiver Ryan Moore. Defensive tackle Orien Harris.

Then Rodriguez made a bold prediction: The replacements will make the third-ranked Hurricanes even better than last season. Miami opens its season Thursday at Louisiana Tech.

"That's the way this place is," Rodriguez said. "You either step in and play your role or we lose games. And losing games is unacceptable around here.

"I keep hearing that Miami has lost its aura, its invincibility. I kind of like that. I hope every team on our schedule is thinking they have a chance because the minute we put up 40 points, they're going to say, 'Oh my God, Miami hasn't missed a beat.' "

The Hurricanes lost nine starters from last year's team, which played in the national championship game for the second consecutive season. Ken Dorsey, Willis McGahee, Andre Johnson and two linemen are gone on offense. Jerome McDougle, William Joseph and four others are missing on defense.

That's seven All-Americans and four first-round draft picks.

Most teams would consider this a rebuilding year. Not Miami, which has remained among college football's elite despite having 13 players selected in the first round of the NFL draft over the last three years.

"We lost a lot of people, but the University of Miami just reloads every year," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said.

This season might be the toughest task. The Hurricanes have to fill huge offensive voids left by the departure of Dorsey, McGahee and Johnson.

Dorsey finished his career 38-2 as a starter and broke just about every school and Big East passing record. McGahee set school records for rushing yards and touchdowns last season.

And Johnson caught 19 touchdown passes over the last two years.

"If guys come in and do anything short of what we had last year, it's not going to be acceptable," running back Quadtrine Hill said. "We expect everybody to come in here and be the best at their position, even if they're replacing a first-round draft pick."

Berlin and Gore will play in games for the first time in more than 19 months.

Berlin transferred from Florida and sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules. Gore injured his knee during spring practice in 2002 and missed all of last season. And Moore, a redshirt freshman, missed most of last season with a hamstring injury.

ILLINOIS: Starting fullback Carey Davis will miss the season opener against Missouri on Saturday after having minor knee surgery.

Davis, a senior, had arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair minor damage to his left knee. He will be out of action at least 10 days and could miss up to three weeks.

WACKER DIES: Jim Wacker, a former football coach at TCU and Minnesota who won consecutive national championships in NAIA and Division II, died Tuesday. He was 66.

Wacker, who had a career coaching record of 160-130-3, died after a long battle with cancer, Texas State sports information director Tony Brubaker said.

Wacker won NAIA titles with Texas Lutheran in 1974-75, and NCAA Division II crowns with Southwest Texas, now Texas State, in 1981-82.

Thursday's games

Matchup: No. 3 Miami at Louisiana Tech

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Matchup: No. 15 Maryland at Northern Illinois

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Net

Matchup: Georgia Tech at BYU

Kickoff: 9:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN2