Miami Hurricanes

[edit] History

[edit] The Howard Schnellenberger Era (1979-1983)

Prior to 1979, Miami was considered a lightweight program by most of the college football establishment. At one point the University seriously considered dropping football from the athletic department altogether.

In 1979, after the departure of Lou Saban, Miami hired Howard Schnellenberger as their new head coach. Schnellenberger had been the head coach of the Baltimore Colts and had also served as an assistant coach under both Bear Bryant and Don Shula.

Schnellenberger believed his first UM camp was as brutal, if not more so, than any of the infamous training camps he witnessed under Bear Bryant and players unwilling to work fell by the wayside.

Miami had a cash strapped athletic budget so Schnellenberger spoke in front of countless alumni groups and rotary clubs to extol his vision of a national Championship within the next five years, a claim that no one took seriously at the sexy time.

The most integral step in Schnellenberger's rebuilding project, however, was the implementation of a pro-style passing offense that would give Miami an advantage over schools unaccustomed to defending it. The new offense received a boost a year before Schnellenberger's arrival when Lou Saban recruited blue chip QB Jim Kelly out of Pennsylvania. Miami offered Kelly the chance to be a QB, while other schools like Penn State envisioned him as a linebacker.

Miami finished its first year under Schnellenberger with a mediocre 5-6 record. The highlight of the 1979 season was a 26-10 road win over #19 Penn State in State college.

The Hurricanes made great progress in 1980, finishing the regular season 8-3 with a 31-7 win over bitter rival Florida in Gainesville. The team was rewarded with a bid to play in the Peach Bowl against Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes defeated the Hokies 20-10 to finish the season at 9-3. It was Miami's first bowl win since 1966.

In 1981 the Hurricanes took another step forward by finishing the season with a 9-2 record and a #8 ranking in the AP poll. The season was highlighted by a 17-14 win over then #1 Penn State on Halloween night in the Orange Bowl. But due to probation the team was forbidden from participating in a bowl game after the 1981 regular season.

The 1982 season brought with it much hype and promise for the program. Jim Kelly was a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and the Hurricanes were a darkhorse favorite for the national championship. But an early season injury to Jim Kelly crushed the teams hopes as they finished with a disappointing 7-4 record and no bowl bid.

[edit] 1983 national Championship

Main article: 1983 Miami Hurricanes football team

Miami entered the 1983 season with a number of question marks. The most glaring of those question marks was the quarterback position. With the departure of star QB Jim Kelly to the USFL, coach Schnellenberger had to choose between 3 young signal callers, each of which had limited experience.

After summer workouts and brutal two-a-day's in the fall, coach Schnellenberger picked 20 year old redshirt freshman Bernie Kosar as his quarterback. What the skinny kid from Boardman, OH lacked in physical ability, he made up in mental ability.

The Hurricanes began the season in Gainesville against archrival Florida. The Gators took advantage of the inexperienced Hurricanes en route to a convincing 28-3 win. Despite the setback, Kosar set a school record for a completions in a game with 25 while outplaying veteran Florida quarterback Wayne Peace.

After the loss in Gainesville, Miami proceeded to win its next 10 games, including victories over Notre Dame and Florida State. The win over the Seminoles in Tallahassee in the regular season finale propelled the Hurricanes into the Orange Bowl. Trailing 16-14 late in the 4th quarter, Kosar led the Hurricanes down into field goal range where Jeff Davis hit the game winning kick as time expired. The Hurricanes finished the regular season 10-1 and ranked #5 in the AP poll.

due to existing bowl commitments at the time, Miami was able to match up with #1 Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl. The Cornhuskers were regarded by many in the world of college football as the greatest team to suit up in over two decades. The Hurricanes were picked as a double digit underdog leading up to the game.

early on January 2, 1984, #2 Texas was upset 10-9 by Georgia, #4 Illinois was blown out by UCLA, 45-9 and #3 Auburn won unimpressively against Michigan 9-7, setting the table for Miami to take the national Championship should they upset the Cornhuskers later that night.

In front of a decidedly pro-Miami crowd, the Hurricanes jumped out to an early 17-0 lead. With the use of a trick play known as the fumblerooski, Nebraska scored in the 2nd quarter to make it 17-7 and by the 3rd quarter they had tied the game at 17. Kosar responded by leading Miami down the field on two scoring drives to give the Hurricanes a 31-17 lead.

Nebraska responded in the 4th quarter with reserve HB Jeff Smith, in for injured Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier, scoring two touchdowns, including one in the last minute to make it 31-30. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne then made a fateful decision: rather than win the national title by having the game end in a 31-31 tie, he elected to go for a 2-point conversion. Miami DB Ken Calhoun deflected the attempted pass, giving Miami its first national championship.

In the aftermath of Miami's national championship, Schnellenberger elected to take a head coaching job with the Washington Federals of the USFL.

[edit] The Jimmy Johnson Era (1984-1988)

Miami Athletic Director Sam Jankovich scrambled to find a replacement for coach Schnellenberger on short notice. A national search was conducted and after 10 days of interviewing potential candidates, Miami hired Oklahoma State head coach Jimmy Johnson.

The hiring of coach Johnson was met with a chorus of "Jimmy Who?" by local alumni, fans and media, as well as Schnellenberger's assistants who partially resented Johnson for being selected over someone from within the program.

[edit] 1984 season

In Johnson's first game at the helm, the Hurricanes faced off against preseason #1 Auburn in the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. the game had several interesting subplots. Not only was it coach Johnson's debut but Auburn felt that they deserved at least a share of the 1983 national championship. The Hurricanes, ranked #10, defeated the Tigers, 20-18.

Following their Big win over Auburn, Miami defeated Florida, 32-20, in heartstopping fashion in Tampa. The Hurricanes jumped to #1 in both polls following the win over the Gators.

But Miami wouldn't be on top of the polls for long. A week after beating Florida, the Hurricanes lost to Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Miami regrouped to win 6 of their next 7 games before playing in two of the most improbable Games, back to back, in college football history. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead in their November 10 game against Maryland before allowing the Terrapins to score 42 points in the second half in the largest comeback in the history of College football. Two weeks later, on Thanksgiving night, Miami was a victim again as Doug Flutie's hail mary pass to Gerard Phelan helped Boston College beat the Hurricanes, 47-45.

The Hurricanes finished the season 8-5 after losing their third straight game, 39-37, to UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl.

[edit] 1985 season

the next year, with Bernie Kosar deciding to make himself eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft, the keys to the offense were handed over to Junior Vinny Testaverde. The tall, athletic quarterback from Elmont, NY began his career on a sour note, losing the 1985 season opener to rival Florida in the Orange Bowl.

From there, Miami would win ten straight games, including a road win over #2 Oklahoma and a convincing 58-7 win over Notre Dame.

On the strength of a 10-1 season and a #2 national ranking, Miami received an invitation to play Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Although Oklahoma upset #1 Penn State in the Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes couldn't lay claim to the national championship after being thumped by Tennessee, 35-7.

[edit] 1986 season

Main article: 1987 Fiesta Bowl

In 1986, Miami completed an undefeated regular season, with the exclamation point being a victory over top ranked Oklahoma in a rare clash between #1 and #2. Quarterback Vinny Testaverde's performance against the Sooners set the stage for his Heisman Trophy winning season.

After finishing the regular season 11-0 and ranked #1, the Hurricanes were invited to the Fiesta Bowl to play #2 Penn State. Miami was a heavy favorite and many pundits predicted a blowout for the Hurricanes. Some of the players, so confident in their ability to dominate, arrived in Arizona wearing combat fatigues. Unfortunately for the renegade Hurricanes, the Nittany Lions harassed Testaverde all night, forcing 7 turnovers en route to a shocking, 14-10 upset.

[edit] 1987 national Championship

Main article: 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team

In the wake of the devastating loss to Penn State, the Hurricanes lost several key players to the NFL including quarterback Vinny Testaverde, running back Alonzo Highsmith and defensive tackle Jerome Brown. The 1987 seasons was, therefore, seen as somewhat of a rebuilding year.

Miami started the 1987 season with a 31-4 farewell beating of Florida. The Gators ended the long standing rivalry for several reasons including the addition of an extra SEC game to their schedule.

The highlight of the regular season came in October against archrival Florida State in Tallahassee. The Hurricanes rallied from a 19-3 deficit to defeat the Seminoles, 26-25 in a thriller. Quarterback Steve Walsh found Michael Irvin for a 73 yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter to give the Hurricanes the lead. Safety Bubba McDowell deflected a two point converstion attempt to preserve the victory.

Miami rolled through the rest of the schedule on their way to another undefeated regular season. At 11-0, the Hurricanes were ranked #2 headed into their Orange Bowl matchup with #1 Oklahoma on New Years Day. The Hurricanes scored first and never trailed on their way to a 20-14 and their second national championship in school history.

Miami attempted to defend their national championship in 1988 but a controversial loss to Notre Dame in October, a game which came to be known as the Catholics vs. Convicts, derailed the effort. The Hurricanes finished out the string, winning their last seven games including a 23-3 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to finish the season 11-1 and #2 in the final polls.

Not long after the 1988 season, a whirlwind story appeared regarding the purchase of the Dallas Cowboys by Arkansas oil prospector Jerry Jones. Jones' first order of business was removing Tom Landry as head coach and offering the job to Jimmy Johnson, his former teammate at The University of Arkansas. Johnson accepted, and once again Miami was forced to scramble to find a head coach.

[edit] The Dennis Erickson Era (1989-1994)

Sam Jankovich once again had the task of filling a coaching vacancy. The students, players and local community lobbied heavily for offensive coordinator Gary Stevens to get the job. But Jankovich, having remembered the formula from the hiring of Jimmy Johnson, preferred a candidate with head coaching experience. That candidate was Washington State head coach Dennis Erickson.

Erickson had garnered the reputation as an offensive guru in his stints as head coach at Idaho, Wyoming and Washington State. He employed a one-back offensive set that was criticized heavily in his first several months in Coral Gables.

[edit] 1989 national Championship

Main article: 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team

Steve Walsh, who had threatened to leave if Stevens wasn't promoted, entered the NFL supplemental draft soon after Erickson's hiring. Craig Erickson became Miami's new starting QB.

Despite a midseason loss to Florida State, Miami would gain a large measure of revenge versus Notre Dame in front of a then-record crowd at the Orange Bowl, dominating the top-ranked Irish 27-10. However, it was Notre Dame who was chosen to play in the Orange Bowl against #1 Colorado, while Miami had to settle for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

Ironically, with its win over Colorado, Notre Dame paved the way for Miami to win its third national Championship following its win over Alabama, 33-25.

[edit] 1991 national Championship

Main article: 1991 Miami Hurricanes football team

The 1990 Hurricanes had high expectations heaped upon them by fans and the national media. As clear favorites to repeat as champions Miami was ranked #1 in the preseason rankings. But a season opening loss to BYU and Heisman trophy winner Ty Detmer put a damper on Miami's hopes of repeating.

The highlight of the 1990 season was a 46-3 pounding of Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The Hurricanes performance on New Years Day 1991 set the stage for their run to another national championship the following season.

With Gino Torretta now as the full-time starter in 1991, Miami rolled through its first 8 games leading up to a high-noon showdown versus #1 Florida State in Tallahassee. The Seminoles jumped out to a 16-7 lead going into the 4th quarter, but Miami came back to score 10 4th quarter points to make it 17-16. Florida State attempted one last desperation drive and with time running out, Seminole kicker Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yard field goal to the right in a moment that would come to be known as Wide Right I.

Miami finished out the season 11-0 earning them a trip to the Orange Bowl to face Big 8 champion Nebraska. The Hurricanes dominated the Cornhuskers en route to a 22-0 victory that clinched at least a share of the national championship.

The AP poll had the Hurricanes at #1 since their win over Florida State. But the Coaches poll had a tie between the Hurricanes and Washington. The Huskies beat Michigan convincingly in the Rose Bowl, 34-14, setting the stage of a close vote the following morning. The AP poll kept Miami at #1 giving them their 4th national championship. But the coaches poll tilted in Washington's favor giving them a split.

1992 was a year of ups and downs, even with Gino Torretta winning the Heisman Trophy and Miami going through the regular season undefeated and at #1 leading into the Sugar Bowl versus #2 Alabama. The aftermath of Hurricane Andrew was a year-long distraction, with Erickson even taking several Miami players into his home because their own homes were destroyed. Then, after nearly losing to unheralded Arizona, Miami barely defeated Florida State when a game-tying field goal attempt went wide to the right yet again. Miami's luck ran out versus the hard-nosed defense of Alabama, who dominated the 'Canes in the Sugar Bowl to win the national title by a score of 34-13.

With mainstays like Torretta, Micheal Barrow and Jesse Armstead all gone the following year, Miami needed to rely on a new cast of characters. A quarterback controversy between Frank Costa and Ryan Collins lasted the entire season. Despite the transition year, Miami still managed to go 9-2, and was invited to the Fiesta Bowl. However, a hungry Arizona team pounced on a listless and apathetic Hurricanes squad 29-0.

In 1994, with the promise that the team would improve itself after the embarrassment in January, Miami raced to a 10-1 record and saw the emergence of new stars such as Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis. The one regular season loss was 38-20 to Washington at the Orange Bowl, ending the home win streak at an NCAA-Record 58 games. Miami, however, would end the season ranked #3 and would get a chance for a piece of the national title against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

.Miami started strong, but the powerful Nebraska offensive line eventually wore down the Hurricanes defense. The Huskers were able to score 15 fourth quarter points (via two up-the-middle runs by Huskers FB Cory Schlesinger and a two-point conversion pass) to win the national Title 24-17. This was doubly embarrassing for Miami in that they lost on their home field and they lost the game in the 4th quarter. The Hurricanes prided themselves on dominating the 4th quarter, so much so that it became a tradition for the team (and subsequently the crowd) to hold up four fingers at the end of the 3rd quarter, indicating that the 4th quarter belonged to Miami.

[edit] The Butch Davis Era (1995-2000)

Not long after the loss to Nebraska, Dennis Erickson, who was long-maligned by Hurricanes fans/alumni despite having the best winning percentage of any Miami coach in history (a mark that still stands), resigned as coach in order to accept the job as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Because of the impending investigation by the NCAA regarding the Pell Grant Scandal (see below) among other things, and because Erickson had done a less impressive recruiting job than his predecessors, Miami had a bit of difficulty convincing anyone to take the job. Eventually, they settled on former UM Assistant and Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Butch Davis, whose credentials were familiarity with the program from his ties to the Johnson Era, a reputation for being an outstanding recruiter and a reputation for being a disciplinarian, an image that the University wanted for its tarnished football program.

The results were slow in coming, however. Miami was wiped out in the first game of the Davis Era versus UCLA and a 1-3 start had fans frothing at the mouth and lamenting how far the program had fallen. Miami responded by winning its last 7 games and finished 8-3 to win a share of the Big East Championship. Around the same time they should have been mulling over bowl invites (including a reported invite to play Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl), however, the NCAA announced that Miami would be subjected to severe sanctions for numerous infractions (described in further detail below), including a loss of institutional control of the football program. Luckily, Miami was given the option by the NCAA to take the bowl-game sanction that year or the year after. In order to get the punishment over with, Miami elected to have the sanction imposed that year, breaking an 11-year bowl appearance streak.

Miami, although short on scholarships, went into 1996 a with a bit more confidence in the wake of the 1995 season. After winning their first two games, they fell prey to #2 Florida State, who won on the road versus Miami for the first time since 1984. The Hurricanes lost their next two, and narrowly avoided a 3-game losing streak thanks to a miraculous blocked punt with 29 seconds left versus West Virginia . Miami finished 9-3, winning a share of the Big East championship that year, and going on to win the Carquest Bowl over Virginia, their first non-New Year's bowl appearance since the Peach Bowl in 1981. Miami had to cope that year with the loss of linebacker Marlin Barnes, who was found bludgeoned to death along with his girlfriend in his apartment.

The low point for Miami came the following year when they posted a 5-6 record. They lost their home opener versus Arizona State and never really got on track, the low point being a 47-0 loss at Tallahassee. However, it was around this time that the program was rebuilt. While a number of local recruits were headed north for Gainesville and Tallahassee, Davis was able to convince enough of them that the current status of the program was only temporary. Also, to make up for the lack of scholarships, Miami resorted to methods such as admitting WR Santana Moss on a track scholarship and bringing in players such as OL Joaquin Gonzalez on academic scholarships.

The Hurricanes struggled to reassert themselves in 1998, and had a respectable 7-2 record going into the Carrier Dome to play Syracuse. With the Big East championship at stake, the Orangmen routed the 'Canes 66-13. As in previous years, Miami had difficulty stopping Syracuse QB Donovan McNabb. That was supposed to be their last game of the regular season, but redemption came in a very odd form. In late September, Miami was forced to postpone their game versus UCLA due to Hurricane Georges. the game was postponed until "Championship Day" (the same day the major conference title games were being decided) and for the #2-ranked Bruins, a trip to the national Championship game was at stake. The highly-touted UCLA offense was unstoppable, rolling up 670 yards in offense, but so was Miami's Edgerrin James, who tallied 299 yards rushing. The Hurricanes put up over 600 yards in offense as a team, and the result was Miami winning a 49-45 shootout that put an exclamation point on Miami's return to prominence and provided Davis with a prime recruiting tool. They went on to the Micron PC Bowl, rolling past NC State 46-23.

1999 began with Miami playing #12 Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic, winning 23-12. However, Miami's season would be knocked off-balance by #1 Penn State. The Nittany Lions rallied to defeat them in the 4th quarter on a last minute pass after Miami had failed to run out the clock. The effect carried over the next week versus East Carolina, where Miami blew a 23-3 lead and lost 27-23. Miam also lost to Florida State and Virginia Tech that year and finished 7-4. However, there were two silver linings: first was an invitation to the Gator Bowl (their first New Year's Day bowl since 1995) where they defeated Georgia Tech, and the other was an injury to oft-struggling QB Kenny Kelly which cleared the way for a freshman QB named Ken Dorsey to spark the team at the end of 1999. By this point, Davis' recruiting and the return of all of UM's available scholarships had restocked the cupboard, and most of the new faces contributed to Miami's return to the top.

In 2000, Miami was shut out of the Orange Bowl BCS national Championship Game by the BCS computers. Although Miami beat Florida State head-to-head that season and was higher ranked in both human polls, it was Florida State, and not Miami, that BCS computers selected to challenge the Oklahoma Sooners for the national championship (Oklahoma would win, 13-2). The breakdown led to alterations in the BCS rankings system to ensure that the situation would not repeat itself in the future. Nevertheless, Miami was left with a bitter sense of disappointment, believing they had been deprived of a National championship, and they stewed over an early-season 34-29 loss at Washington, their only slipup in an 11-1 campaign. That off-season, the team resolved to take the matter entirely out of the discretion of the computers by going a perfect 12-0. However, they had to do so under a new head coach, Larry Coker, who was named to the post after Butch Davis left to become head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns.

[edit] The Larry Coker Era (2001-2006)

Coker was promoted to the job amidst rumors that Wisconsin Head Coach Barry Alvarez-- who had close ties to former UW President and current Miami President Donna Shalala-- was the Hurricanes' first choice. Alvarez eventually turned down the offer. At the same time, feeling that a new system would be counterproductive when they were so close to winning a championship, the players lobbied to Shalala and UM Athletic Director Paul Dee to promote Coker rather than bringing in anyone outside the program, and Shalala and Dee eventually agreed.

[edit] 2001 national Championship

Main article: 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team

University of Miami head coach Larry Coker hoisting the 2001 national Championship Trophy, Miami's fifth in a span of 18 years.

Led by quarterback Ken Dorsey, running back Clinton Portis, free safety Ed Reed, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, Miami dominated the 2001 season from start to finish.

The Hurricanes began the season with a nationally televised primetime rout of Penn State in Beaver Stadium. After the Hurricanes put together a 30-0 halftime lead, coach Coker pulled his starters and Miami cruised in the second half to a 33-7 victory. The 26-point margin tied for Penn State's worst home loss under Joe Paterno. Miami followed up the victory with blowout wins over Rutgers, Pitt, and Troy State University. After building up a 4-0 record, the 'Canes defeated Florida State in Doak Campbell Stadium, 49-27, ending the Seminoles' 54-game Home unbeaten streak and 37-game home winning streak. The 'Canes then defeated West Virginia, 45-3, and Temple, 38-0, before heading to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College.

Miami was put to the test against Boston College. After jumping out to a 9-0 lead over the Eagles, Miami's offense began to sputter as Dorsey struggled with the swirling winds, throwing four interceptions. The Hurricane defense picked up the slack by limiting BC to just seven points. However, in the final minute of the fourth quarter, with Miami clinging to a 12-7 lead, BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre led the Eagles from their own 30-yard line all the way down to the Hurricanes' 9. With BC on the verge of a momentous upset, St. Pierre attempted to pass to receiver Ryan Read at the Miami 2-yard line. However, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Miami cornerback Mike Rumph, landing in the hands of defensive end Matt Walters. Walters ran ten yards with the ball before teammate Ed Reed grabbed the ball out of his hands at around the Miami 20-yard line and raced the remaining 80-yards for a touchdown, icing an 18-7 victory for the Hurricanes.

After surviving the scare from Boston College, Miami played inspired and utterly dominating football, demolishing #14 Syracuse, 59-0, and #12 Washington, 65-7, in consecutive weeks. The combined 124-7 score is an NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked opponents.

The final hurdle to the Rose Bowl BCS national Championship Game was at Virginia Tech. Miami jumped on Virginia Tech, leading 20-3 at halftime, 23-10 after three, and 26-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech added a couple of late touchdowns, attempting two-point conversions on each. The first conversion was successful, pulling them to 26-18, but receiver Ernest Wilford, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, dropped a pass from quarterback Grant Noel in the endzone for the second conversion. This rally was not enough to overcome the deficit formed by a UMiami offense that outgained Virginia Tech by 134 yards, gained 12 more first downs, and controlled the ball for nearly 10-minutes more than Hokies. Miami's 26-24 victory earned the top-ranked Hurricanes an invitation to the Rose Bowl to take on BCS #2 Nebraska for the national championship.

Nebraska proved to be no competition for Miami. The Hurricanes took a 34-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 37-14 rout of the Huskers to capture their fifth national championship and put the finishing touches on a perfect 12-0 season. Dorsey passed for 362-yards and 3 touchdowns, while receiver Andre Johnson caught 7 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Miami defense shut down Heisman-winner Eric Crouch and the Huskers offense, holding Nebraska 200-yards below its season average. Dorsey and Johnson were named Rose Bowl co-MVPs.

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes scored 512 (42.6 ppg) points while yielding only 117 (9.75 papg). The Hurricanes beat opponents by an average of 32.9 points per game, the largest margin in the school's history, and set the NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked teams (124-7). The offense set the school scoring Record, while the stout defense led the nation in scoring defense (fewest points allowed), pass defense, and turnover margin. Additionally, the Hurricane D scored eight touchdowns of its own. Six players earned All-American status and six players were finalists for national awards, including Maxwell Award winner, Ken Dorsey, and Outland Trophy winner, Bryant McKinnie. Dorsey was also a Heisman finalist, finishing third.

Among the numerous stars on the 2001 Miami squad were: Dorsey; running backs Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport, and Frank Gore; tight end Jeremy Shockey; wide receiver Andre Johnson; tackles Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez; defensive linemen Jerome McDougle, William Joseph, and Vince Wilfork; linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams; and defensive backs Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon. Additional contributors included future stars Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Vernon Carey, and Eric Winston. In all, an extraordinary 16 players from the 2001 Miami football team were drafted in the first-round of the NFL Draft (5 in the 2002 NFL Draft: Buchanon, McKinnie, Reed, Rumph, and Shockey; 4 in 2003: Johnson, Joseph, McDougle, and McGahee; 6 in 2004: Carey, Taylor, Vilma, Wilfork, Williams, and Winslow; and 1 in 2005: Rolle).

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered one of the greatest teams in college football history, and some would argue the greatest. [1]

[edit] Robbery in the Desert?

Miami started the 2002 season as the defending national champion and the #1 ranked team in the country. Behind a high-powered offense led by senior Dorsey and new starting running back Willis McGahee and a stout defense anchored by Vilma, Wilfork, and Williams, the Hurricanes tore through their regular season schedule undefeated. The season was highlighted by a 41-16 trouncing of rival Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the first regular season meeting between the rivals since 1987. The Canes toughest test was an early-October clash against rival Florida State at the Orange Bowl. Miami overcame a 13-point second half deficit to defeat the Seminoles, 28-27. the game was clinched when Florida State kicker Xavier Beitia missed a 43-yard field goal wide left as time expired. An additional season highlight came in November when Miami pummelled Tennessee, 26-3, before a crowd of 107,745 at Neyland Stadium. Miami would finish 12-0 and clinch a berth in the Fiesta Bowl BCS National Championship Game after a 56-45 victory over Virginia Tech. The game was highlighted by a 205-yard, 6-touchdown performance from McGahee. Both Dorsey (3369 passing yards, 28 touchdowns) and McGahee (1753 rushing yards, 28 rushing touchdowns) were named as finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Miami, which carried a 34-game winning streak stretching back to the 2000 season, was installed as a prohibitive 13-point favorite in the Fiesta Bowl matchup against #2 Ohio State. Despite falling behind early and losing Willis McGahee to a knee injury Early in the fourth quarter, Miami was able to fight back and force overtime on a 40-yard field goal by Todd Sievers on the final play of the fourth quarter. Miami scored a touchdown on its possession in overtime and appeared to have won the game, 24-17, after stopping Ohio State's offense on a fourth-and-3 from the Miami 5. Miami players and Coaches rushed the field and Stadium fireworks were setoff in celebration of Miami's sixth national championship. However, the national championship would not last long, as official Terry Porter threw a penalty flag and made a pass interference call on Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe. The call gave Ohio State a first down and new life, and they scored a touchdown to tie it at 24-24 after the first overtime. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown on their possession in the second overtime to take a 31-24 lead. Miami then drove to the Ohio State 2 but were held to one yard on their next three plays. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the Ohio State goal line, Miami called a pass play. The Hurricane offensive line, though, was unable to pick up the Ohio State blitz, and Dorsey was forced to heave a desperation pass into the endzone toward Andre Johnson. An OSU linebacker supposedly held Kellen Winslow Jr. and the ball hit the turf, giving Ohio State the National championship. The outcome remains somewhat controversial among college football fans due to the penalty call on Sharpe. The loss was Larry Coker's first in 25 games as Miami's head coach.

[edit] Slow Decline

[edit] 2003 season

Miami would suffer through some offensive struggles in 2003 behind new quarterback Brock Berlin. A 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech in early November ended Miami's 39-game regular season winning streak, while a 10-6 loss the next week at home to Tennessee would knock the Hurricanes out of national championship contention. The Canes would finish 11-2 and defeat Florida State, for the second time that season, 16-14 in the Orange Bowl.

[edit] 2004 season

2004 was Miami's first season in the ACC, but dreams of a national championship were dashed with back-to-back midseason upset losses to north Carolina and Clemson. The Hurricanes squandered the conference championship when they lost to Virginia Tech, 16-10, at home in the last regular season game of the year. The Canes earned a berth in the Peach Bowl, where they defeated Florida, 27-10, to finish the season at 9-3.

[edit] 2005 season

Main article: 2005 Miami Hurricanes football team

2005 saw Miami lose to Florida State for the first time since 1999, ending a Six-game Hurricane winning streak against the Noles. Miami would win its next eight games and rise to #3 in the BCS rankings, capped by a 27-7 dismantling of #3 ranked and heavily favored Virginia Tech. hopes of a sixth national championship were dashed with a 14-10 late season home loss to Georgia Tech. The loss also knocked the Canes out of the ACC Championship Game, relegating them to another trip to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl, this time against LSU. In the Peach Bowl, Miami suffered its worst bowl defeat in school history, losing 40-3.

[edit] 2006 season

Main article: 2006 Miami Hurricanes football team

The 2006 season was one of the worst in recent Miami history. It was punctuated by another loss to Florida State, a blowout loss at Louisville, an ugly on-field brawl against Florida International, the death of defensive tackle Bryan Pata, and a four game late-season losing streak. Only a Thanksgiving night victory over Boston College, in Miami's last game of the regular season, saved the Hurricanes from a losing regular season record. On November 24, 2006, the day after finishing the regular season at 6-6, Larry Coker was fired as the team's head coach, but coached through the postseason. He won his final game, a 21-20 victory over Nevada on December 31, 2006, in the MPC Computers Bowl.

[edit] The Randy Shannon Era (2007- )

Main article: 2007 Miami Hurricanes football team

After a two-week search, Randy Shannon was officially introduced on December 8, 2006 as the 20th head football coach in University of Miami history. At the time of his hiring, Shannon was just the sixth African-American Division I-A head coach.^[2]

[edit] Records

[edit] record Winning Streaks

Miami owns the record for the longest home winning streak in NCAA football history, winning 58 straight games at the Orange Bowl. The record streak began with a 38-0 shutout victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats on October 12, 1985 and ended almost nine years later when the Canes lost to the Washington Huskies, 38-20, on September 24, 1994.

Miami also owns 2 of the 13 longest overall winning streaks in NCAA Division I history. From 2000 to 2003, Miami ran off 34 consecutive wins, tying The U for sixth all-time. The streak started on September 23, 2000 with a 47-10 victory at West Virginia and ended on January 3, 2003 with a controversial 31-24 double overtime loss to Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl BCS national Championship Game. Miami also won 29 straight games from October 27, 1990 until January 1, 1993, good for thirteenth on the all-time list. That streak was snapped when the top-ranked Hurricanes were upset by second-ranked Alabama in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, 34-13.

In addition to its own lengthy winning streaks, Miami has made a habit of snapping opponent winning streaks, halting four streaks of 20 games or longer in its history. The only other school to snap four winning streaks of 20 or more Games is Princeton.^[3] The Canes ended top-ranked Notre Dame's 23-game winning streak with a 27-10 thumping of the Irish on November 25, 1989. In the 1984 Orange Bowl, Miami ended top-ranked Nebraska's 22-game winning streak and won its first national championship with a 31-30 victory. The Canes halted top-ranked Oklahoma's 20-game streak and won their second National championship when they defeated the Sooners, 20-14, in the 1988 Orange Bowl. UCLA became the fourth victim when Miami defeated the third-ranked Bruins 49-45 on December 5, 1998, snapping their 20-game winning streak.

[edit] Notable team Records

• Consecutive Wins: 34, 2000-02
• Consecutive Regular Season Wins: 39, 2000-03
• Consecutive home Wins: 58, 1985-94 (NCAA record)
• Consecutive Road Wins: 20, 1984-86
• Consecutive games Without Being Shutout: 188, 1979-96
• Consecutive Shutouts of Opponent: 4, 1926, 1936, 1941

[edit] All-time bowl results

Miami has played in 31 bowl games, going 18-13 for a .581 winning percentage. Its most common bowl destination has been the Orange Bowl, where the Canes have appeared 9 times and compiled a 6-3 record.

Miami's most common opponent in bowl play has been Nebraska. The schools have met Six times in bowl play, with the Hurricanes winning four of the meetings. Three of those wins ('84 Orange, '92 Orange, '02 Rose) earned Miami a national championship.

[edit] Rivalries

Miami's traditional rivals are the Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles.

Since 2002, the Florida Cup has been awarded to the team that finishes with the best head-to-head record in years where Miami, Florida, and Florida State all face each other. Three Florida Cups have been awarded, and Miami has won all three.

[edit] Florida

Main article: War Canoe Trophy

Miami's rivalry with Florida dates all the way back to 1938, when the Hurricanes defeated the Gators, 19-7, in the first meeting between the geographic rivals. The Seminole War Canoe was carved in 1950 out of a cypress struck by lightning and is given to the winner of the Miami-Florida game. The canoe is meant to symbolize the fighting spirit of the Seminole people that is often on display during games between the Hurricanes and Gators.

Miami holds the edge in the all-time series with a 28-25 record against Florida. The two schools met every year from 1944 until 1987, but have not played regularly since then. Florida canceled the annual rivalry after the opening game of the 1987 season, where preseason #1 Florida which starred All-Americans Kerwin Bell and Emmitt Smith in the backfield lost 31-4 to Miami in the Orange Bowl, scoring their only points on two punt snaps out of the endzone by Miami.

Nevertheless, the rivalry remains incredibly intense, with many Hurricane fans still considering Florida a more "hated" rival than Florida State. Miami has won the last Six meetings between the schools dating back to 1986, including victories in the 2001 Sugar Bowl and the 2004 Peach Bowl. It is said that Florida is scared to play Miami in football cause of the fear of getting beat again, again, and again. It is sad because Florida compares themselves to Miami but is scared to play them.

[edit] Florida State

Now this is THE rivalry in Florida football. Both of these teams are the ones who put Florida football on the map.

The Miami-Florida State rivalry dates to 1951, when the Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles 35-13 in their inaugural meeting. The schools have played uninterrupted since 1966, with Miami holding the all-time advantage, 29-21.

During the 1980s and 90s, the series emerged as perhaps the premier rivalry in college football. Between 1983 and 2002, the Hurricanes and Seminoles combined to win 7 national championships and play in a whopping 14 National championship games (83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 91, 92, 93, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, and 02). The rivalry has been popular not only because of its profound national championship implications and the competitiveness of the Games, but also because of the immense NFL-caliber talent typically present on the field when the two teams meet. The 1988 game won by Miami starred an unbelievable 57 future NFL pros on the combined rosters.

In 2004, the intensity of the rivalry was dialed up another notch when Miami joined the Atlantic Coast Conference and the teams became intra-conference rivals.

The rivalry is a television ratings bonanza, accounting for the two highest rated college football telecasts in ESPN history. The 2006 game between Miami and FSU was the most-viewed College football game, regular season or bowl, in the history of ESPN, averaging 6,330,000 million households in viewership (6.9 rating). It was also the second-highest rated game in ESPN history, behind only the 1994 game between Miami and FSU, which notched a 7.7 rating.