After LSU dominates Miami, teams get into fight in tunnel

ATLANTA -- Matt Flynn did so well in his first start, the Peach Bowl turned into 60 minutes of fun for No. 10 LSU.

What happened after the game wasn't nearly so nice.

Flynn threw two touchdown passes, Joseph Addai rushed for 130 yards and the Tigers humbled Miami's proud defense, even running a couple of fake kicks after the game was a rout and romping 40-3 Friday night in the Hurricanes' most-lopsided bowl loss ever.

There were shoves and punches thrown between players immediately after the game as both teams left the field into the same tunnel. Georgia State Patrol officers intervened, and minutes later Miami's Andrew Bain, apparently dazed, was escorted by officers back out of the tunnel.

Miami coach Larry Coker said Bain and Miami's Khalil Jones were knocked unconscious in the brawl. Coker said no players were detained by police. No players were hospitalized.

"I don't know what happened, and I don't condone it," Coker said.

LSU's Jacob Hester, who ran for 70 yards and a touchdown said trash-talking, some involving LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe, a Miami native, began as good-natured fun.

"We had a guy who is from Miami who was kidding around with one of his boys," Hester said. "Miami thought it was something serious. They came in the tunnel and they were swinging, but it was just a joke between friends."

After a few minutes, the entire LSU team was back on the field celebrating the win with fans.

Flynn, a sophomore filling in for injured starter JaMarcus Russell, completed 13 of 22 passes for 196 yards with no interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards and was named the offensive MVP.

Led by Flynn, LSU (11-2) rebounded from its worst game of the year, a 34-14 loss to Georgia in the Dec. 3 Southeastern Conference championship game, returning to the Georgia Dome and delivering one of its strongest performance of the season.

LSU scored on eight straight possession in a streak that started with a field goal late in the first quarter, included two third-quarter scoring drives, and lasted into the final quarter.

Even with a lopsided lead, LSU attempted to add to the rout, faking a field goal while leading 34-3 late in the third quarter and then failing on a fake punt with a 40-3 lead late in the game.

LSU piled up 471 yards, the most allowed by Miami this season. The Hurricanes (9-3) entered leading the nation in pass defense and ranked third in total defense.

The Tigers were just as impressive on defense, holding Miami to 153 yards and six first downs -- none in the second half. Kyle Wright completed only 10 of 21 passes for 100 yards.

LSU had its largest margin of victory in a bowl game, easily surpassing its 45-26 win over Michigan in the 1995 Independence Bowl. Miami's previous most lopsided loss in a bowl game was a 29-0 loss to Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 1994.