Shannon Undecided About Starting QB

CORAL GABLES - The Miami Hurricanes have a quarterback controversy.

After their 51-13 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, Coach Randy Shannon said he does not know who will start this week.

'I don't worry about the quarterbacks. You all keep worrying about the quarterbacks,' Shannon said to reporters. 'My thing is, I am trying to find us a way to give us the best opportunity to win the games. It don't make a difference who we play at quarterback. It depends on who is going to give us the best opportunity to win the game. If we have to line up RB Graig Cooper at quarterback this week to win the game, then we are going to line up Graig Cooper at quarterback to win the game.'

While Cooper is unlikely to start, a decision between Kirby Freeman and Kyle Wright might be made by Tuesday.

Freeman started against OU but was relieved in the second quarter after getting just one first down during the first seven possessions. Wright guided the Canes down the field, scoring a touchdown on a 6-yard pass to Ryan Hill.

'Wright was just a spark to get things going, that's all it was,' Shannon said.

Wright played the entire third quarter and got the Canes within 21-13, but after a three-and-out, Wright took the final two snaps of the third quarter before Freeman relieved him to start the fourth quarter.

'To give him another opportunity,' Shannon said of putting Freeman back in. 'We were trying to find another way to spunk the offense and get things going.'

Freeman finished three of nine passing for 17 yards. Wright was seven of 14 for 65 yards and a touchdown. Neither quarterback threw an interception and they each were sacked once.

'The quarterbacks had time,' Shannon said.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Walk-on K Francesco Zampogna hit two field goals (20 and 45 yards) and converted an extra point. It was the first big-time road game for Zampogna in his career and he responded. His 45-yard field goal closed the gap to 21-13 in the third quarter.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The offense had just seven first downs and the defense struggled to defend the pass, allowing six touchdown passes.

CB Randy Phillips had the toughest day among the defensive backs as he gave up three touchdown passes - two to Malcolm Kelly (23 and 30 yards) and one to Adron Tennell (61 yards) at the end of the game.

'He knows that now he is exposed,' Shannon said. 'Now he has to do some things and we are going to play other guys at the position that can compete for the job now.'

INJURY UPDATE: At one point in the third quarter, all of the defensive tackles - Teraz McCray, Antonio Dixon, Dwayne Hendricks and Joe Joseph - who made the trip were out with ankle or knee injuries. Shannon said he did not know the extent of the injuries.

Christopher Stock