Florida A&M collected a fat $600,000 paycheck Saturday night, but I don't know that you can put a price on the humiliation the Rattlers paid.

Miami's Hurricanes pounded them, 48-16, in about as easy a game as the orange and green will play.

Also, Jacory Harris looked like a million dollars.

All told, after UM cut loose and FAMU bled, the wearying evening proved perhaps nothing in terms of national rankings or Heisman Trophy standing.

That's because some people don't look when you're playing a team in a division below you. But this time they should have. The Rattlers came in 4-0 and averaging 33 points a game and were rendered helpless.

No one expected the Rattlers to win, but I'm not sure anyone figured they would get swamped like this. The runaway brought some welcome rest to Miami regulars fairly worn by their Murderers' Row start against Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma.

Now, face it: Did you really expect the Canes to stand 4-1 at this point?

I didn't.

I figured Harris for money, but nothing quite like this.

Thought the defense would be sturdy. Again, not this sturdy.

Shannon keeps unholstering so many young guns, you get the idea the Hurricanes aren't just back to winning -- at 4-1 they're charging back in the direction of greatness.

Not this year. That's a bit quick. But down the line, this bunch is going to be a monster.

AN EASY STRETCH

True, we might not know much more after next Saturday's match at Central Florida. But then the more respected, and respectable, opponents arrive in plenty -- Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke and South Florida.

Those games look medium to hard. And still nothing these Canes can't handle on a good day.

Even Harris' backup, for crying out loud, is getting into the act. That's A. J. Highsmith, the 6-foot, 190-pound freshman who might not be a match for his storied father Alonzo, but packs an offensive wallop of his own.

FAMU came in here undefeated, so it was a chastened group winging back to Tallahassee at eve's end. The Rattlers were so overmatched they weren't in it after the first few minutes when their up-tempo offense turned the Canes a little jumpy and A&M led 3-0.

After that, the deluge.

Miami opened its offense without benefit of huddle, and Harris came on relentlessly with 217 passing yards in the only half he played.

``We just made a lot of plays,'' Harris said.

He understates almost as impressively as he throws.

Significantly, too, the Miami Northwestern kid is developing some receivers.

Two of Miami's first three touchdowns came on passes to Leonard Hankerson and Jimmy Graham. Then Damien Berry and Kendall Thompkins joined the catchers' parade.

YOUNG GUNS

Before it was over, we got an eye-propping look at Thearon Collier, a wide receiver by position who just happens to have a knack for returning a punt 61 yards down the middle of the field goal for the touchdown that makes it 37-13.

So, one more time, blowing out the Rattlers (or Central Florida this coming weekend) cannot be taken as authentic indication of glory to come.

But weapons are weapons whether they came against FAMU or a third-grade pickup club. Undeniably, this morning, the University of Miami's arsenal is brimming over once again.

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