By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

Suddenly, Miami is a mess. In eight days, the world has caved in on the Hurricanes.

The national championship is gone. The high ranking is gone. The home winning streak is gone. The aura is gone. In their place is a fading team that has scored one touchdown in two games. A team with a quarterback problem and attitude issues.

What do the Hurricanes need? At the moment, a mirror.

"We're the University of Miami," said defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. "We're not supposed to lose."

But they have, to Virginia Tech and Tennessee. And this time, they have lost like the Bad Miami from the old days. The one with the undisciplined penalties, and careless words.

Miami's offensive collapse against Tennessee in the Orange Bowl - the first game in 19 seasons it scored no touchdowns at home - was made worse by Kellen Winslow's post-game tirade. The tight end blamed the officials for all his troubles, claiming they were out to get him, and showed not the slightest compassion that one of his blocks - a legal one - momentarily left a Tennessee player hurt and lying prone on the ground.

"I don't give a flying you-know-what," Winslow said in the locker room. "He'd do the same thing to me. It's war. ... They're out to kill you. So I'm going to kill them. You write that in the paper."

Counseled a cooler head, tackle Eric Winston, "Maybe some egos need to be checked at the door."

Two weeks ago, Larry Coker had never lost a regular season game as a head coach. Now he is in crisis-control mode. Including at quarterback, where Brock Berlin has 17 turnovers.

"Unacceptable," said Coker, who added the position is under review.

Miami has three regular season games left, to play for its pride and Big East title. And to prove this program is not slipping back into its unsavory days.

"No one will be scared of us now," center Joel Rodriguez said.

Charging Bucks

As the national championship wannabe list loses more faces - say goodbye to Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech - Ohio State keeps hanging around. The Buckeyes, resentful of how the polls have slapped them around, are trying to storm to the Sugar Bowl with a season-ending trifecta against three ranked opponents - Michigan State last week, Purdue this week, Michigan next week.

"I think there's a sense of urgency in everything we're doing," said quarterback Craig Krenzel.

But as far as the Buckeyes' BCS chances, it's all academic unless USC loses.

Stat of the week

Only twice in 19 years have Miami and Florida State lost on the same day. One was Oct. 20, 1990. The other was Saturday.

Thumbs of the week

• Up to Oklahoma. Payback is bloody. Sooners' combined score against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State, who upset them last season? 129-9.

• Up to Duke. Blue Devils can take the bags off their heads. Smash Georgia Tech to end 30-game ACC losing streak.

• Down to Mississippi State. Not exactly winning one for the Gipper. They're 0-3, by a combined score of 125-30, since Jackie Sherrill said he was retiring.

• Down to Kansas. OK, which idiot fan slashed the tires of 30 cars with Nebraska license plates the night before the Jayhawks were drilled by the Cornhuskers ... for the 35th straight time?

• Down to Penn State. Six-game losing streak is longest since 1931. It is sad watching Joe Paterno suffer.

TCU's BCS quest ...

The biggest winners this weekend might have been Conference USA's Texas Christian.

The Horned Frogs (9-0, 6-0 C-USA) survived to beat Louisville 31-28 Wednesday night and moved up three spots to No. 10 in the Associated Press poll when so many teams lost Saturday. TCU could be as high as No. 5 in the BCS standings today, according to expert Jerry Palm.

If the Horned Frogs can stay in the top six, they'll be the first team from the five outside conferences to make a BCS bowl.

TCU has three games remaining this season, at home against 5-4 Cincinnati this week, and then at Southern Mississippi (6-3) and Southern Methodist (0-10).