Ken Dorsey was the Miami Hurricanes' last great quarterback, and he sees a lot of himself in current Canes passer Jacory Harris.

``Yeah, we're both lanky,'' Dorsey says with a laugh.

Before Dorsey's senior season he weighed in at a whopping 6-5, 200 pounds. Harris, a sophomore, is listed at 6-4, 190 pounds.

Arm strength?

``I think we're similar,'' Dorsey said. ``I think he definitely has a little more athleticism than I did, but I think his ability to throw all the throws, timing and precision are going to be crucial for him because he's not the rocket arm. But at the same time, he has plenty of arm to make every throw on the football field, and make them well and get the ball there on time.''

Competitive spirit?

``Jacory is a competitor,'' Dorsey said. ``When you look at all the Miami quarterbacks, we were all competitors. We care a lot about each other, and we like to push each other.''

With that in mind, here are a few words of advice from Dorsey that Harris should take to heart before Monday's season opener at Florida State.

In case anyone needs to be reminded, Dorsey's breakout game in his sophomore season was a heart-pounding 27-24 come-from-behind win against the top-ranked Seminoles in 2000. With such a demanding schedule to begin the season, a strong performance in the season opener is vital to Harris' development, according to Dorsey.

``Leadership is earned on the field,'' Dorsey said. ``The way you play dictates your credibility a lot of times. So, I think it's a great opportunity for him Monday to solidify his role on that team as the leader and the guy everyone can look to.''

Like Harris, Dorsey started a few games as a freshman before earning the starting role in his second season. Like the team in 2000, these current Canes don't have much of a backup plan beyond the starting quarterback. In 2000, the backup quarterback was actually a receiver. Despite the overwhelming need to remain healthy, Dorsey says he approached his first season with reckless abandon and so should Harris.

``You can game-plan to protect the quarterback, but he's going to get hit, so you just can't change your offense to try and protect the kid,'' Dorsey said.

``If you want to win, you can't compromise or ease up. That's when you get hurt.''

Talent surrounded Dorsey in 2000. Similarly, the 2009 Canes aren't lacking at the skill positions. Dorsey's best advice: Let the playmakers make the plays.

``I'm not saying he needs to be conservative, but take the throws that are there,'' Dorsey said. ``In Miami's offense, there are players who can turn a 5-yard hitch route into 20 yards. It's all about taking what the defense gives you and being smart.

``Those big plays are going to come if you make completions.''

OLE MISS ON RISE

Ole Miss went 10-0 in 1962 and claimed a share of the last of three national titles under the guidance of legendary Rebels coach Johnny Vaught.

Just as they did in 1962, the Rebels begin the 2009 season with an away game against Memphis (3:30 p.m. Sunday). What would Vaught have told this year's group of Rebels on the eve of their most anticipated season since the early 1960s?

We tracked down the All-American quarterback of Vaught's 1962 unbeaten and untied Rebels to find out.

According to former Ole Miss quarterback Glynn Griffing, his coach began the 1962 season with this reminder, ``Here's what it's about. People don't care what you did last year. They're looking for now.''

``I believe that is the first time I ever heard that, and he was exactly right,'' said Griffing, now 68 years old. ``As you find out later on in life, people don't really care what you did yesterday. They're looking for today.''

Vaught, who doubled as the Rebels' quarterbacks coach, certainly would have impressed that life lesson upon current Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, who now must shrug off all those pats on the back he received for last season's turnaround. No. 8 Ole Miss is ranked in the preseason top 10 for the first time since the early 1970s.

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