Miami Hurricanes football
2517648
225572072
2008-07-14T10:56:01Z
80.255.97.36
/* 2004 to 2006 Miami Hurricanes football ₪ */
{{current sport-related|image=AmericanFootball current event.svg|mini=1|2008 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
{{NCAAFootballSchool
| TeamName = Miami Hurricanes football
| Image = MiamiHurricanes.png
| ImageSize = 120px
| HeadCoachDisplay = Randy Shannon
| HeadCoachLink = Randy Shannon
| HeadCoachYear = 1st
| HCWins = 5
| HCLosses = 7
| HCTies = 0
| Stadium = Dolphin Stadium
| StadCapacity = 76,500
| StadSurface = Grass
| Location = Miami, Florida
| ConferenceDisplay= ACC
| ConferenceLink = Atlantic Coast Conference
| ConfDivision = Coastal
| FirstYear = 1926
| AthlDirectorDisp = Kirby Hocutt
| AthlDirectorLink = Kirby Hocutt
| WebsiteName = HurricaneSports.com
| WebsiteURL = http://hurricanesports.com
| ATWins = 545
| ATLosses = 302
| ATTies = 19
| ATPercentage = .644
| BowlWins = 18
| BowlLosses = 13
| BowlTies =
| NatlTitles = 5
| ConfTitles = 9
| Heismans = 2
| AllAmericans = 72
| Color1 = Orange
| Color1Hex = FF6308
| Color2 = Green
| Color2Hex = 223732
| FightSong = Miami U. How-dee-Doo
| MascotDisplay = Sebastian the Ibis
| MascotLink = Sebastian the Ibis
| MarchingBand = [[Band of the Hour]]
| PagFreeLabel = Outfitter
| PagFreeValue = [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
| PagFreeLabel = Rivals
| PagFreeValue = [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State Seminoles]]<br>[[Florida Gators football|Florida Gators]]<br>[[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech Hokies]]
}}
''"The U" redirects here. For other uses, see [[The U (disambiguation)]].''
'''The [[University of Miami]] Hurricanes [[American football|football]] team''' is a collegiate football program that represents the [[University of Miami]]. The team is a member of the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]], which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision conference governed by the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]. The program began in 1926 and is the winningest program of the last quarter century. The Hurricanes have won 5 national championships ([[1983 Miami Hurricanes football team|1983]], [[1987 Miami Hurricanes football team|1987]], [[1989 Miami Hurricanes football team|1989]], [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|1991]], [[2001 Miami Hurricanes football team|2001]]) and two of its players have won the prestigious [[Heisman Trophy]]. In addition, the program holds the record for the longest home winning streak in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] history with 58 straight victories.
The team is currently coached by [[Randy Shannon]] and its home games are played at [[Dolphin Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, FL]]. At the time of his hiring, [[Randy Shannon]] was only the sixth [[African-American]] head coach in Division I-A college football.<ref>{{cite web | title= Shannon: 'Hard Times' to 'Canes Coach | accessdate=2006-12-08 | url= http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=2713375 | format=HTML | publisher= abcnews.go.com | language=English }}</ref>
<div style="font-size: 80%">
__TOC__
</div>.
==Head Coaches==
{| border="0" width="80%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="70%"
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Tenure
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Coach
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Years
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Record
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Pct.
|- align="center"
| 1926-1928 || [[Howard P. Buck|Howard Buck]] || 3 || 15-10-2 || .593
|- align="center"
| 1929 || [[J. Burton Rix]] || 1 || 3-2-0 || .600
|- align="center"
| 1930 || [[Ernest E. Brett|Ernest Brett]] || 1 || 3-4-1 || .438
|- align="center"
| 1931-1934 || [[Thomas McCann|Tom McCann]] || 4 || 18-15-4 || .541
|- align="center"
| 1935-1936 || [[Irl Tubbs]] || 2 || 11-5-2 || .667
|- align="center"
| 1937-1942, 1945-1947 || [[Jack Harding]] || 9 || 54-32-3 || .624
|- align="center"
| 1943-1944 || [[Eddie Dunn]] || 2 || 6-8-1 || .433
|- align="center"
| 1948-1963 || [[Andy Gustafson]] || 16 || 93-65-3 || .587
|- align="center"
| 1964-1970 || [[Charlie Tate]] || 7 || 34-27-3 || .555
|- align="center"
| 1970 || [[Walt Kichefski]] || 1 || 2-7-0 || .222
|- align="center"
| 1971-1972|| [[Fran Curci]] || 2 || 9-13-0 || .409
|- align="center"
| 1973-1974 || [[Pete Elliot]] || 2 || 11-11-0 || .500
|- align="center"
| 1975-1976 || [[Carl Selmer]] || 2 || 5-16-0 || .238
|- align="center"
| 1977-1978 || [[Lou Saban]] || 2 || 9-13-0 || .409
|- align="center"
| 1979-1983 || [[Howard Schnellenberger]] || 5 || 41-16-0 || .719
|- align="center"
| 1984-1988 || [[Jimmy Johnson]] || 5 || 52-9-0 || .852
|- align="center"
| 1989-1994 || [[Dennis Erickson]] || 6 || 63-9-0 || .875
|- align="center"
| 1995-2000 || [[Butch Davis]] || 6 || 51-20-0 || .718
|- align="center"
| 2001-2006 || [[Larry Coker]] || 6 || 60-15-0 || .800
|-align=center
| 2007-Current || [[Randy Shannon]] || 1 || 5-7-0 || .417
|-align=center
!bgcolor="#FF7F00"| 1926-2007
!bgcolor="#FF7F00"| 20 coaches
!bgcolor="#FF7F00"| 82
!bgcolor="#FF7F00"| 545-302-19
!bgcolor="#FF7F00"| .643
|}
|}
==Championships==
===National Championships===
{| border="0" width="75%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="75%"
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Year
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Coach
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Selector
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Record
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Bowl
|- align="center"
| [[1983 Miami Hurricanes football team|1983]] || [[Howard Schnellenberger]] || AP, Coaches || 11-1 || Won [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]]
|- align="center"
| [[1987 Miami Hurricanes football team|1987]] || [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]] || AP, Coaches || 12-0 || Won [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]]
|- align="center"
| [[1989 Miami Hurricanes football team|1989]] || [[Dennis Erickson]] || AP, Coaches || 11-1 || Won [[Sugar Bowl|Sugar]]
|- align="center"
| [[1991 Miami Hurricanes football team|1991]] || [[Dennis Erickson]] || AP || 12-0 || Won [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange]]
|- align="center"
| [[2001 Miami Hurricanes football team|2001]] || [[Larry Coker]] || AP, Coaches || 12-0 || Won [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose]]
|- align="center"
| colspan=3 bgcolor="#FF7F00"| '''Total national championships'''
| colspan=2 bgcolor="#FF7F00"| '''5'''
|}
|}
===Conference Championships===
'''Conference Affiliations'''
*1927-1928: [[NCAA Division I-A independent schools|Independent]]
*1929-1941: [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association]]
*1942-1990: [[NCAA Division I-A independent schools|Independent]]
*1991-2003: [[Big East Conference]]
*2004-present: [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
{| border="0" width="80%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="70%"
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Year
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Conference
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Overall Record
!bgcolor="#223732"| <font color=white>Conference Record
|- align="center"
| 1991 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 12-0 || 2-0
|- align="center"
| 1992 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 11-1 || 4-0
|- align="center"
| 1994 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 10-2 || 7-0
|- align="center"
| 1995† || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 8-3 || 6-1
|- align="center"
| 1996† || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 9-3 || 6-1
|- align="center"
| 2000 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 11-1 || 7-0
|- align="center"
| 2001 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 12-0 || 7-0
|- align="center"
| 2002 || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 12-1 || 7-0
|- align="center"
| 2003† || [[Big East Conference|Big East]] || 11-2 || 6-1
|- align="center"
| colspan=2 bgcolor="#FF7F00"| '''Total conference championships'''
| colspan=2 bgcolor="#FF7F00"| '''9'''
|-
| colspan=4 | <small>† Denotes co-champions</small>
|}
|}
==History==
===The Beginning (1926-1936)===
Before competition even took place on a freshman level, plans for a 50,000-seat on-campus stadium were proposed in 1926 by the school's first president, [[Bowman Foster Ashe]]. Work began on a temporary, 8,000-seat structure on campus, but one day later, on [[September 17]], [[1926]], a hurricane leveled much of South Florida, killing more than 130 people, damaging over 10,000 homes and shelving plans for the stadium. From 1926 to 1937 the University of Miami played in a stadium near Tamiami Park and also at Moore Park until Burdine Stadium (later named the Miami Orange Bowl) was built.
Due to the storm, classes started late and it wasn't until [[October 23]] that Miami played its first game, a 7-0 win over [[Rollins College|Rollins]] in front of 304 spectators. The season included two wins over the [[University of Havana]], with a Thanksgiving Day game in Miami and a Christmas Day meeting in Cuba.
The undefeated then know as (Miami Warriors) helped to spur the development of a renewed campaign for a football stadium in Coral Gables 1927. This campaign, "Its Our University," promoted season ticket subscriptions to support the building fund for a 60,000 seat stadium on the Coral Gables Campus.<ref>[http://scholar.library.miami.edu/umhistory/DisplaySubjects.php?subject_id=Athletics Athletics > Buy Our Stadium]</ref>
The first varsity competition came in 1927 when coach Howard Buck guided the Miami Warriors to a 3-6-1 record with a 39-3 win over [[Rollins College|Rollins]] in the first game. But a 4-4-1 record the next year and lopsided losses prompted a group of local businessmen to offer financial backing to bring in a well-known coach.
J. Burton Rix, who had coached at [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]] and [[Southern Methodist University|SMU]], arrived in time for the 1929 season and Miami's first varsity road games. The team traveled via the city's private car, The Spirit of Miami on the Eastern Seaboard Railroad. But the stock market crash doomed the off-campus financing and extended the financial woes of the area caused by the hurricane. Rix quit after one season and was replaced by Ernest Brett, who inherited an ambitious schedule in 1930.
Included in the season was a hectic road trip with three games in eight days, beginning with an indoor contest against [[Temple Owls|Temple]] in [[Atlantic City]], [[New Jersey]]. It was Miami's first intersectional game and UM players presented their opponents with coconuts prior to the contest; in return [[Temple Owls|Temple]] handed Miami a 34-0 defeat. The following Tuesday, UM lost to [[Samford University|Howard]] in [[Dothan]], [[Alabama]], then salvaged a 6-0 win over [[University of Louisiana-Lafayette|Southwestern Louisiana]] in [[Lafayette, LA|Lafayette]] on Saturday.
Also that season, the Warriors played one of the nation's first night games. The [[October 31]] game vs. Bowden College in Miami took place under high watt, unprotected bulbs that could be heard exploding when it rained, causing the field to grow darker as the game progressed.
Several seasons later UM entered the bowl business, upsetting [[Manhattan College|Manhattan]] in the Palm Festival on [[January 1]], [[1933]], at Moore Park in Miami. The next year UM went 5-0-2 but lost in the Palm Festival to a [[Duquesne University|Duquesne]] team coached by [[Frank Layden]] (one of the four Horsemen of Notre Dame).
UM played [[Bucknell University|Bucknell]] on New Year's Day following the 1934 season in the Wooden Bowl, which seated 4,000. The stadium was built by the American Legion in conjunction with the post-depression WPA and was purchased by Earnest Seiler recreation director for the city of Miami.
The following two years under [[Irl Tubbs]] (1935-36), UM posted winning records but bowed out as hosts of the New Year's Day games in Miami.
===The Jack Harding Era (1937-1942, 1945-1947)===
When Tubbs resigned to take the job at [[Iowa Hawkeyes|Iowa]], [[Jack Harding]] came in to serve as both head coach and athletic director.
In nine seasons as head coach (with a two-year break for service in [[World War II]]), Harding moved the Hurricanes from the ranks of the small time into major college status. In 1937 they moved into the Roddy Burdine Municipal Stadium (later known as the Orange Bowl). In 1938, they won the first meeting against [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] and that same year captured the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship for the first time.
Eddie Dunn, a fabulous running back out of [[Pittsburgh, PA|Pittsburgh]], starred for the Hurricanes in the late 1930s and took over as head coach for two years (1943-1944) during the war. When Harding returned just prior to the 1945 season, it appeared that UM would suffer through another miserable season after going 1-7-1 in 1944.
But enrollment began to swell as hundreds returned from the service, and although Harding didn't even know the names of all of his players prior to the first game, by mid-season many were household names in South Florida. The Hurricanes forged a 9-1-1 record that included one of the most memorable [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] games in history.
On [[January 1]], [[1946]], UM and [[Holy Cross]] had battled to a 6-6 tie with just a few seconds remaining. Crusader quarterback Gene DeFilippo threw a desperation pass that went in and out of the arms of an open receiver and wound up in the hands of the Hurricanes' Al Hudson. A former Miami Edison High track star, Hudson juggled the ball and sprinted 89 yards for the winning score as time ran out.
Harding resigned as coach in 1948 and brought in his running mate from [[Pittsburgh, PA|Pittsburgh]], [[Andy Gustafson]], who led the Hurricanes into the first glory years of UM football.
===The Andy Gustafson Era (1948-1963)===
In 16 seasons, Gustafson's teams went to four bowls and appeared on national television nine times. He developed the "Miami Drive Series," a form of the belly option generally considered the forerunner of the wishbone, and coached Al Carapella as Miami's first major college All-American (1950). His 1950 squad went 9-1-1, defeated [[Purdue Boilermakers|Purdue]] one week after the Boilermakers had broken Notre Dame's unbeaten streak at 39 games, and earned an [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] bid against [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]]. Also in 1950, Miami broke a Southern tradition by playing against African-American players in a 14-6 defeat of [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] in the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. In the late 1950s, Miami won a battle with the City of Miami to open seating to African-Americans in the entire [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]], and on [[January 31]], [[1961]], Miami trustees voted unanimously to open the door to all students.
While [[NCAA]] probation kept Miami out of possible bowls for three years (1954-56), it did not diminish interest in the program. A No. 9 ranking by both UP and INS in 1954 marked Miami's first Top 10 ranking at the end of the season. In 1956, on the strength of an 8-1-1 mark, the Hurricanes finished sixth in all three wire service polls. Standouts like All-American fullback [[Don Bosseler]], and future Hurricanes Head Coach and All-American quarterback Fran Curci, helped usher Miami out of the 1950s and into the new decade. But the major concerns facing the University and the community heading into the 1960s were the expected arrival of a professional football team and the integration of college football in the South.
The early 1960s at Miami became known as the so-called "Age of MIRAcles" as [[Key West]] native [[George Mira]] led Miami to a pair of bowl games, the 1961 [[Liberty Bowl]] vs. [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]], and the now-defunct [[Gotham Bowl]] in 1962 against the [[University of Nebraska|Nebraska]], while twice earning All-America status. Along with Mira, the Hurricanes of this era included two-time All-American offensive end Bill Miller, versatile running backs Jim Vollenweider, Nick Ryder and Nick Spinelli, as well as Ben Rizzo, a "tough as a truck" terror at defensive end and former "walk-on" voted team Captain in 1962, and All-American tackle and future [[Oakland Raiders]] star [[Dan Conners]].
Mira, nicknamed "The Matador", set nearly every passing record in the school's history, finished fifth in the [[Heisman Trophy]] voting as a junior, and tenth as a senior while tying a national completion record (368) despite Miami's 3-7 record during a disappointing senior season, Gustafson's last as the Hurricanes' head coach.
===The Charlie Tate Era (1964-1970)===
The death of [[Jack Harding]] in March of 1963 prompted Gustafson to step down as football coach and take over athletic director duties after the 1963 season. After a national search, Miami appointed [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets|Georgia Tech]] assistant and former Miami prep coach [[Charlie Tate]] as head man in early 1964. While Tate had outstanding players such as future [[Oakland Raider]] Pete Banszak, and All-Americans Ed Weisacosky and Tom Beier, the first two years of the Tate era rendered only a .500 record. However, under Tate, another star emerged to lead UM to back-to-back bowl games. The most pivitol recruit during the Charlie Tate area was [[Ted Hendricks]], nicknamed "The Mad Stork," who was signed by the Hurricanes and quickly became one of the most feared pass rushers in college football. As the school's first and only three-time All-American (1966-1968), the late George Gallet, Miami's sports publicist for more than four decades, rated Hendricks the greatest player in University of Miami history.
While many ground-breaking strides were made by the University of Miami in the '50's and early 60's with respect to desegregation, it wasn't until December of 1966 that Miami signed an African-American athlete, Ray Bellamy, a 6-5, 210-pound wide receiver from [[Palmetto, Florida]], who chose Miami over [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]], [[Florida A&M]] and a number of major colleges in the Midwest. Miami became the first major college in the Deep South with an African-American football player on scholarship, and Bellamy became a standout both on and off the football field. Tom Sullivan, a tailback from [[Jacksonville, FL|Jacksonville]], became the second African-American signee in 1968 and was followed one year later by future pro stars [[Burgess Owens]] and [[Chuck Foreman]].
Following a [[Liberty Bowl]] berth in 1966 and a 1967 trip to the [[Bluebonnet Bowl]], Tate's program fell on hard times. Lackluster seasons in 1968 and 1969 prompted his resignation as coach and athletic director two games into the 1970 season. Tate cited the pressures of winning, harassment of his family and the creeping tide of pro football as major problems. That year the [[American Football League|AFL]] and NFL merged, [[Don Shula]] arrived as head coach of the [[Miami Dolphins]], and Dolphins hysteria gripped South Florida.
[[Walt Kichefski]], a long-time Hurricane football legend as an assistant coach, took over on an interim basis. Miami struggled through a 3-8 season. The bad times were eased some when Miami pulled a stunning 14-13 upset of [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] in [[Gainesville, FL|Gainesville]].
===The 1970s===
Miami spent the next two seasons under "The Little General," former Hurricane All-America quarterback [[Fran Curci]]. His teams suffered through a pair of losing campaigns, the second of which was topped off by one of the school's most infamous gridiron incidents. After three games in 1972, the Hurricanes were winless and playing at home against [[Tulane Green Wave|Tulane]] when a fifth down play gave Miami a 24-21 win.
After that season, Curci left the University and, less than 24 hours later, he was replaced by [[Pete Elliott]], a man who had led both [[California Golden Bears|California]] and [[Illinois Fighting Illini|Illinois]] to the [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]].
But Elliott continued Miami's merry-go-round of coaches, staying two years and compiling a combined mark of 11-11. Both seasons started off with big wins over ranked foes, but each time disaster struck in the form of losses to lesser opponents. Besides declining attendance, another factor haunting the program was the loss of area blue-chip players to recruiters around the country.
When Ernie McCoy retired as athletic director in 1975, Elliott resigned as head coach to replace McCoy. Offensive coordinator Carl Selmer immediately signed a five-year contract, becoming Miami's fifth head coach in six years.
Selmer lasted two seasons, compiling dismal 2-8 and 3-8 records against some of the nation's stiffest competition. Attendance continued to drop despite a 1975 home schedule that featured [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]], [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]], [[Houston Cougars|Houston]], [[U.S. Naval Academy|Navy]], [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Notre Dame]] and [[Florida Gators|Florida]].
Near the end of the 1976 season, Dr. John L. Green, Miami's executive vice president who oversaw athletics, decided to make a coaching change. When the news leaked out to the local media, Green decided to contact Selmer in [[Houston]] where Miami was preparing for the season finale. Selmer was located at The Summit, where the team was watching a pro hockey game and was told he had been terminated. It marked the only time a Miami football coach has been fired.
===The Lou Saban Era (1977-1978)===
On [[December 27]], [[1976]], journeyman [[Lou Saban]] began his two-year tenure as head coach, and in that span laid the foundation for the program's rise to national prominence in the 1980s.
Despite several major setbacks before he even coached his first game (including coronary by-pass surgery), Saban was in Miami for the final week of pre-season practice. His team performed well in the opener, a 10-0 loss at [[Ohio State Buckeyes|Ohio State]]. But Miami lost the last six games of the year for a 3-8 record.
Searching for quality players, Saban and his coaching staff went on a recruiting blitz of the East Coast, Midwest and the state of [[Florida]] in the winter of 1977-78. Miami signed the maximum 30 players that year, including 19 from Florida, in what was perhaps the school's first great recruiting class. A total of six first-team Class AAAA all-state Floridians were in that group, and 11 players went on to professional football.
In 1978, Miami closed out Saban's Miami career with a win over rival [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] and fashioned a 6-5 record, only the second winning season in over a decade.
Out of the turmoil of the mid-1970s emerged the most prolific running back in the school's history, [[Ottis Anderson]]. The [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] native led Miami in rushing three years (1976-1978). He still stands as the career rushing leader and was the first back at Miami to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aaa.html | title=Miami Hurricanes football history | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref>
===The Howard Schnellenberger Era (1979-1983)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Schnellenberger1.jpg|thumb|175px|left|[[Howard Schnellenberger]] led Miami to its first National Championship in 1983]] -->
In 1979, soon after Lou Saban left for [[Army Black Knights football|Army]], Miami hired [[Howard Schnellenberger]] as their new head coach. Schnellenberger had been the head coach of the [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] and had also served as an assistant coach under both [[Bear Bryant]] and Don Shula.
After taking the job, Schnellenberger spoke in front of countless alumni groups and community organizations to extol his vision of Miami winning a National Championship within the next five years, a claim that no one took very seriously at the time.
The integral step in Schnellenberger's rebuilding project was the implementation of a pro-style passing offense that would give the Hurricanes an edge over schools that were unaccustomed to defending it. The new offense received a boost a year before Schnellenberger's arrival when Saban recruited blue chip quarterback [[Jim Kelly]] out of [[Pennsylvania]]. Miami offered Kelly the chance to be a quarterback, while other schools like [[Penn State]] wanted him to play linebacker.
The highlight of Schnellenberger's first season was a 26-10 upset win over #19 [[Penn State]] in [[State College, PA|State College]]. One low point was a 16-13 loss to Division 1-AA Florida A&M in Tallahassee. The Hurricanes made great progress in the next three years. In 1980, Miami finished the regular season 8-3 while earning its first bowl appearance since 1966. 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.
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 Stadium|Orange Bowl]]. But due to probation the team was forbidden from participating in a bowl game after the 1981 regular season.
Despite a setback in 1982, and an injury to [[Heisman Trophy]] candidate [[Jim Kelly]], the groundwork had been laid for a national championship run.
====1983 National Championship====
*{{main|1983 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:SchnellyKosar1.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Howard Schnellenberger]], [[Bernie Kosar]] and [[Marc Trestman]] discuss strategy during the [[1984 Orange Bowl]]]] -->
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 quarterback Kelly to the [[USFL]], coach Schnellenberger had to choose between three young signal callers, each of whom had limited collegiate-level experience.
After summer workouts and two-a-day's in the fall, coach Schnellenberger chose 20-year-old redshirt freshman [[Bernie Kosar]] as Miami's starting quarterback. The Hurricanes began the season in [[Gainesville, FL|Gainesville]] against archrival [[Florida Gators football|Florida]]. The Gators took advantage of the Hurricane's inexperience enroute to a 28-3 win. Despite the loss, Kosar set a school record for a completions in a game with 25.
Miami followed the loss in [[Gainesville, FL|Gainesville]], with wins in its next 10 games, including victories over [[Notre Dame Football|Notre Dame]] and [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]. The win over the Seminoles in [[Tallahassee, FL|Tallahassee]] in the regular season finale propelled the Hurricanes into the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]. Trailing 16-14 late in the 4th quarter, Kosar led the Hurricanes 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 [[Associated Press]] poll.
Due to existing bowl commitments at the time, Miami was able to match up with #1 [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] in the [[1984 Orange Bowl]]. The Cornhuskers were regarded by many as the greatest college team to suit up in over two decades. The Hurricanes were a double digit underdog leading up to the game.
Early on [[January 2]], [[1984]], #2 [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]] was upset by [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]], 10-9, #4 [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois]] was blown out by [[UCLA football|UCLA]], 45-9 and #3 [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] barely beat [[Michigan Wolverines football|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 Cornhuskers football|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 the Hurricanes down the field on two scoring drives to build a 31-17 lead.
[[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] responded in the 4th quarter with reserve running back 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 Cornhuskers football|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 defensive back Ken Calhoun deflected the attempted pass, giving Miami its first national championship.
"It's unlikely that any team in the history of college football ever got higher for a game than Miami did for Nebraska," wrote John Underwood of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. "And if you missed Monday night's game, you missed an emergence ... Down went Nebraska's 22-game winning streak, and up went the burgee of a team that may well be the next great name in the game."<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aab.html | title=The Miracle in Miami | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref> Underwood's statement proved prophetic, with Miami's 1983 national championship being the first of five such championships over the coming quarter century to make Miami the most successful collegiate football program of this period.
===The Jimmy Johnson Era (1984-1988)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Jimmy Johnson1.jpg|thumb|225px|left|[[Jimmy Johnson (football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]] celebrates Miami's championship win over [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] from [[January 2]], [[1988]] edition of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'']] -->
In the aftermath of Miami's national championship, Schnellenberger elected to take a head coaching job with a proposed Miami [[USFL]] franchise that never materialized. 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 Cowboys football|Oklahoma State]] head coach [[Jimmy Johnson (American football 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.
In Johnson's first game at the helm, the Hurricanes faced off against preseason #1 [[Auburn Tigers football|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 Tigers football|Auburn]] felt that they deserved at least a share of the 1983 national championship. The Hurricanes, ranked #10, defeated the Tigers, 20-18.
Following its big win over [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]], Miami defeated [[Florida Gators football|Florida]], 32-20, in heartstopping fashion in [[Tampa, FL|Tampa]]. The Hurricanes jumped to #1 in both polls following the win over the Gators.
After dropping a game at [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]], Miami regrouped to win 6 of their next 7 games before playing in two of the most improbable games in college football history in consecutive contests. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead in their [[November 10]] game against [[Maryland Terrapins football|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 November 23, the night after [[Thanksgiving]], Miami was a victim again as [[Doug Flutie|Doug Flutie's]] hail mary pass to [[Gerard Phelan]] helped [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]] beat the Hurricanes, 47-45.
The Hurricanes finished the season 8-5 after losing their third straight game, 39-37, to [[UCLA football|UCLA]] in the [[Fiesta Bowl]].
The next year, [[Bernie Kosar]] made himself eligible for the [[NFL]] Supplemental Draft and 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 Gators football|Florida]] in the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]].
From there, Miami would win ten straight games, including a road win over #2 [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] and a convincing 58-7 win over [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]].
[[Image:Testaverde Bratton1.jpg|thumb|225px|right|[[Vinny Testaverde]] led the Hurricanes to an undefeated regular season en route to the 1986 [[Heisman Trophy]]]]
On the strength of a 10-1 season and a #2 national ranking, Miami received an invitation to play [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] in the [[Sugar Bowl]]. Although [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] upset #1 [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] in the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]], the Hurricanes couldn't lay claim to the national championship after being thumped by [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]], 35-7.
In 1986, Miami capped an undefeated regular season with a victory over top ranked [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] in a rare regular-season clash between #1 and #2. Quarterback [[Vinny Testaverde|Vinny Testaverde's]] performance against the Sooners set the stage for his [[Heisman Trophy]] winning season.
After finishing the regular season #1, the Hurricanes were invited to the [[Fiesta Bowl]] to play #2 [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]. Many pundits predicted a blowout for the heavily-favored Hurricanes. Some of the players, 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.
====1987 National Championship====
*{{main|1987 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
In the wake of the devastating loss to [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|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.
[[Image:teamof80's1.jpg|thumb|175px|left|''Team of the 80's'' from [[January 7]], [[1990]] edition of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'']]
The highlight of the regular season came in October against archrival [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] in [[Tallahassee]]. The Hurricanes rallied from a 19-3 deficit to defeat the Seminoles, 26-25. Quarterback [[Steve Walsh (NFL)|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 conversion 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 (game)|Orange Bowl]] matchup with #1 [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] on New Years Day. The Hurricanes bottled up OU's wishbone attack, holding the Sooners to just 179 yards on the ground (OU came in averaging 428.8). Elation for Miami was frustration for OU - the Sooners only three losses over the last three seasons had come to the Hurricanes.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aac.html | title=Dominance from Start to Finish | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref>
Miami attempted to defend their national championship in 1988 but a loss to [[Notre Dame football|Notre Dame]] in October, a game which came to be known as the [[Catholics vs. Convicts]], derailed the effort. The Hurricanes then ran the table, winning their last seven games and topping [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] 23-3 in the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] to finish the season 11-1 and #2 in the final polls.
Not long after the 1988 season, the [[Dallas Cowboys]] were bought by [[Arkansas]] oil prospector [[Jerry Jones]]. Jones' first order of business was removing [[Tom Landry]] as head coach and hiring [[Jimmy Johnson]], his former teammate at [[Arkansas Razorbacks football|Arkansas]].
===The Dennis Erickson Era (1989-1994)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Erickson1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Dennis Erickson]] celebrates Miami's 3rd national championship from [[January 2]], [[1990]] edition of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'']] -->
[[Sam Jankovich]] was once again tasked with finding a new head coach. 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. The choice was [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]] head coach [[Dennis Erickson]].
Erickson had garnered the reputation as an offensive guru in his stints as head coach at [[University of Idaho|Idaho]], [[University of Wyoming|Wyoming]] and [[Washington State University|Washington State]]. His one-back offensive set was heavily criticized in his first several months in [[Coral Gables, FL|Coral Gables]].
====1989 National Championship====
*{{main|1989 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
[[Steve Walsh (NFL)|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.
The Hurricanes rolled through their first 4 games but suffered a setback when [[Craig Erickson]] broke a finger on his throwing hand in a late September victory over [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State]]. Freshman [[Gino Torretta]] was forced into action in the absence of the injured Erickson. Torretta performed well but his inexperience was evident in a late October loss to bitter rival [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]].
Despite the midseason loss to the Seminoles, Miami would stay in the national championship picture with a dominating 27-10 victory over [[Notre Dame football|Notre Dame]] in front of a then-record crowd at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. However, it was [[Notre Dame football|Notre Dame]] who was chosen to play in the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] against #1 [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]], while #2 Miami had to settle for [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] in the [[Sugar Bowl]].
Ironically, Notre Dame's win over [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]] helped pave the way for Miami to win its third National Championship following its victory over [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], 33-25. After the game, [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] coach [[Bill Curry]] said "We never had control of the game. Miami's got to be No. 1." The 3rd National Championship win since 1983 would go on to solidify Miami as "The Team of the Decade" in the eyes of critics. <ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aad.html | title=Two Erickson's And A Tenacious 'D' | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref>
====1991 National Championship====
*{{main|1991 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
The 1990 Hurricanes had high expectations heaped upon them by fans and the national media. Miami was ranked #1 in the preseason and was a clear favorite to repeat as champions. But a season opening loss to [[BYU Cougars football|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 Longhorns football|Texas]] in the [[Cotton Bowl (game)|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 against #1 [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] in [[Tallahassee]]. The Seminoles jumped out to a 16-7 lead, but Miami scored 10 points in the 4th quarter to take the lead, 17-16. [[Florida State Seminoles football|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 and earned a berth in the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] to face [[Big 8 Conference|Big 8]] champion [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]. The Hurricanes dominated the Cornhuskers en route to a 22-0 victory that clinched at least a share of the national championship. Late in the game, [[NBC]] experienced technical difficulties due to a fire in the control room caused by short circuiting as a result of the rain falling during the game. The video feed was not off for long, but the audio feed had to be switched to that of the [[Japan]]ese broadcast. Studio hosts Paul Maguire and Gayle Gardner attempted to call the game from the studio.<ref>[http://youtube.com/watch?v=5yeX42fKIpU YouTube - NBC Technical Difficulties at the Orange Bowl January 1992<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The AP poll had the Hurricanes at #1 since their win over [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]. But the coaches poll had a tie between the Hurricanes and [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]]. The Huskies beat [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] convincingly in the [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]], 34-14, setting the stage for 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aae.html | title=Gino, The Ruthless Posse And Wide Right I | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:sebastianrings1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Sebastian the Ibis]] shows off Miami's championship rings from [[January 5]], [[1992]] edition of the ''[[Miami Herald]]'']] -->
===1992-1994===
The 1992 season was a year of ups and downs. The aftermath of [[Hurricane Andrew]] was a year-long distraction for the Hurricanes, with [[Dennis Erickson]] even taking several players into his home because their own homes had been destroyed. Then, after nearly losing to unheralded [[University of Arizona|Arizona]], Miami barely defeated [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] when a game-tying field goal attempt went wide to the right yet again. Miami's luck ran out against the hard-nosed defense of [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|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 [[Jessie 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 Wildcats football|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 (American football)|Ray Lewis]]. The one regular season loss was 38-20 to [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]] at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|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 Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] in the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]].
Miami started strong, but the powerful [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] offensive line eventually wore down the Hurricanes defense. The Huskers were able to score 15 points in the 4th quarter (via two up-the-middle runs by Huskers FB [[Cory Schlesinger]] and a two-point conversion pass) to win the National championship, 24-17.
===The Butch Davis Era (1995-2000)===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Butch Davis1.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Butch Davis, 1995]] -->
Shortly after the 1994 season, [[Dennis Erickson]] resigned in order to accept the job as head coach of the [[Seattle Seahawks]]. Several early candidates to replace Erickson, including [[Sonny Lubick]], withdrew from consideration. Eventually Miami settled on former Hurricanes Assistant and [[Dallas Cowboys]] Defensive Coordinator [[Butch Davis]].
The Hurricanes finished Davis' first season bowl-eligible with a record of 8-3. However, on [[December 20]], [[1995]] the [[NCAA]] announced that Miami would be subject to severe sanctions for numerous infractions within the athletic department. Among the sanctions was a one-year ban from postseason participation and a scholarship reduction of 31 over a three year period beginning in 1996.
The imposition of scholarship reductions led to a long and sometimes painful rebuilding period for the Hurricanes.
The low point for Miami came in 1997 when they posted a 5-6 record, the first losing season since Howard Schnellenberger's first year in 1979. The 1997 season saw the Hurricanes suffer one of the program's most humiliating losses, a 47-0 beating at the hands of in-state rival [[Florida State Seminoles|Florida State]].
The Hurricanes began to reassert themselves in 1998. In late September, Miami was forced to postpone their game with [[UCLA Bruins Football|UCLA]] due to [[Hurricane Georges]]. The game was rescheduled for [[December 5]] and for the #2-ranked Bruins, a trip to the National Championship game was at stake. The Hurricanes put up over 600 yards of total offense and the result was a stunning 49-45 victory for the Hurricanes.
The following season carried high hopes and expectations for the Hurricanes. They opened the year with a 23-12 win over [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] in [[East Rutherford, NJ|East Rutherford]]. Early success, however, was tempered by tough losses to [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] and [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] during a three game losing streak. The Hurricanes rebounded to win their last 4 games including a 28-13 win over [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]] in the [[Gator Bowl]].
In 2000, Miami was shut out of the [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] National Championship Game. Despite beating [[Florida State University|Florida State]] head-to-head and being ranked higher in both human polls, it was the Seminoles that were chosen to challenge the [[University of Oklahoma|Oklahoma Sooners]] for the national championship. The Seminoles were also chosen over [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]], who also had one loss and who had handed Miami's only loss early in the season. Washington had been ranked third or fourth in the human polls, behind Miami. The Hurricanes were left with a bitter sense of disappointment, believing they had been deprived of a national championship.
===The Larry Coker Era (2001-2006)===
On [[January 29]], [[2001]], [[Butch Davis]] abrupty left Miami to take a head coaching job with the [[Cleveland Browns]]. Rumors circulated that [[Barry Alvarez]], the head coach at [[Wisconsin Badgers football|Wisconsin]], was the leading candidate because of his ties to newly-appointed University of Miami president [[Donna Shalala]]. After a few days, however, Alvarez turned down the job. In the meantime, several Miami players lobbied athletic director Paul Dee on behalf of offensive coordinator [[Larry Coker]]. After unsuccessfully trying to lure Miami Dolphins head coach [[Dave Wannstedt]], Dee promoted Coker to the position of head coach.
====2001 National Championship====
*{{main|2001 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
The Hurricanes began the season with a 33-7, primetime win over [[Penn State]] in [[Beaver Stadium]]. Miami followed up the victory with blowout wins over [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights|Rutgers]], [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh]], and [[Troy State University|Troy State]]. After building up a 4-0 record, the Hurricanes defeated [[Florida State Seminoles football|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 University|West Virginia]], 45-3, and [[Temple University|Temple]], 38-0, before heading to [[Chestnut Hill, MA|Chestnut Hill]] to take on [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]].
In the final minute of the fourth quarter, with Miami clinging to a 12-7 lead, Boston College 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 deflected 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 Eagles football|Boston College]], Miami demolished #14 [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]], 59-0, and #12 [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]], 65-7, in consecutive weeks. The combined 124-7 score was a record for the largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked opponents.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Portis trophy1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Clinton Portis]] hoists Miami's 5th national championship trophy from [[January 5]], [[2002]] edition of the ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'']] -->
The final hurdle to the [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] [[Bowl Championship Series|BCS]] National Championship Game was at [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]]. Miami jumped on the Hokies, leading 20-3 at halftime. [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|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 dropped a pass from quarterback Grant Noel in the endzone for the second conversion. Reed's late interception in the 4th quarter sealed the win for the Hurricanes. Miami's 26-24 victory earned the top-ranked Hurricanes an invitation to the [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]] to take on BCS #2 [[University of Nebraska|Nebraska]] for the national championship.
In the [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]], 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. The Miami defense shut down [[Heisman Trophy|Heisman]] winner [[Eric Crouch]] and the Huskers offense, holding [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] 200 yards below its season average. [[Ken Dorsey]] and [[Andre Johnson]] were named [[Rose Bowl (game)|Rose Bowl]] co-MVPs.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/043002aaf.html | title=Character, Class And Poise = Championship | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=Hurricanesports.com}}</ref>
Six Hurricane 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 Trophy]] finalist, finishing third.
The [[2001 Miami Hurricanes football team|2001 Miami Hurricanes]] are considered by some in the media as one of the greatest teams in college football history.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-07-24 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?page=uschistory01miami | title=USC's Place In History: 2001 Miami | author= | date=2007-07-24 | publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref>
====2003 Fiesta Bowl====
*{{main|2003 Fiesta Bowl}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:FiestaDorsey2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Front page of the [[January 4]], [[2003]] edition of the ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'']] -->
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 quarterback [[Ken Dorsey]] and new starting running back [[Willis McGahee]] coupled with a stout defense the Hurricanes completed their regular season schedule undefeated. The season was highlighted by a 41-16 win over rival [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] at [[Ben Hill Griffin Stadium]], the first regular season meeting between the rivals since 1987.
The Hurricanes' toughest test was an October clash against rival [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. Miami overcame a 13-point second half deficit to defeat the Seminoles, 28-27. The game was clinched when [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] kicker [[Xavier Beitia]] missed a 43-yard field goal, wide left, as time expired.
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 Hokies football|Virginia Tech]]. Both [[Ken Dorsey]] and [[Willis McGahee]] were named as finalists for the [[Heisman Trophy]].
Miami, in the midst of a 34-game winning streak, was installed as a 13-point favorite in the [[Fiesta Bowl]] match up against #2 [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]. A Willis McGahee touchdown run brought the Hurricanes within 3 points by the beginning of the fourth quarter and 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 first 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 set off.
However, the game was not over, as Big 12 official Terry Porter called a penalty for pass interference on Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe. The call gave [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] a first down 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 Buckeyes football|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 was unable to pick up the blitz and Dorsey's desperation pass into the end zone toward [[Andre Johnson]] fell incomplete. The loss was Coker's first in 25 games as Miami's head coach.
====2004 to 2006 Miami Hurricanes football====
Miami suffered through some offensive struggles in 2003 behind new quarterback [[Brock Berlin]]. A blowout loss at [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] in early November ended Miami's 39-game regular season winning streak and a loss the following week to [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] ended Miami's national championship aspirations. The Hurricanes rebounded to win the Big East Conference championship and finish the season 11-2 with an [[Orange Bowl (game)]] victory over [[Florida State Seminoles|Florida State]].
Miami joined the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] in 2004 and despite 3 conference losses, the Hurricanes ended the season with a [[Chick-fil-A Bowl|Peach Bowl]] victory over rival [[Florida Gators football|Florida]].
The [[2005 Miami Hurricanes football team|2005]] season ushered in the long-awaited debut of Kyle Wright as Miami's starting quarterback, although the much-ballyhooed Wright would struggle with consistency during the season with much of Miami's success that year fueled by their defense. After suffering a heartbreaking loss to archrival Florida State after placekick holder Bryan Monroe bobbled the snap for what would have been a game-tying field goal attempt, Miami would rattle off eight straight wins, including a road win over 3rd-ranked Virginia Tech, only to stumble two weeks later against underdog Georgia Tech. The 2nd conference loss of the season bounced Miami out of a place in the inaugural ACC Championship game and left them with another invite to the [[Chick-fil-A Bowl|Peach Bowl]], where they faced LSU and suffered the worst bowl loss in school history, 40-3.
The 2006 season was one of the most disappointing in Miami's history. It was punctuated by an ugly [[Miami-FIU brawl|on-field brawl]] against [[Florida International University|Florida International]], the shooting death of Miami defensive tackle [[Bryan Pata]], and a four game late-season losing streak. Only a [[Thanksgiving]] night victory over [[Boston College Eagles|Boston College]], in Miami's last game of the regular season, saved the Hurricanes from a losing regular season record.
Immediately following the Boston College victory, which was broadcast nationally on [[ESPN]], Coker was asked if he expected to return as Miami's coach. Coker stated emphatically that he did. The following day, however, reflecting the poor communication between Coker and university president Donna Shalala, Shalala terminated Coker. Coker coached through the postseason, where he won his final game, a 21-20 victory over [[University of Nevada, Reno|Nevada]] on [[December 31]], [[2006]], in the [[MPC Computers Bowl]].
===Randy Shannon Era (2007-current)===
[[Randy Shannon]] was officially introduced as the head coach of Miami on December 8, 2006. Shannon reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth over $4 million. He is the sixth black head coach in Division I-A NCAA football, the others being [[Karl Dorrell]], ([[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]]), [[Sylvester Croom]] ([[Mississippi State University|Mississippi State]]), [[Tyrone Willingham]] ([[Washington Huskies football|Washington]]), [[Ron Prince]] ([[Kansas State Wildcats|KSU]]), and [[Turner Gill]] ([[University at Buffalo, The State University of New York|Buffalo]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489
|title=Defensive coordinator Shannon new Miami Coach
|author=The Associated Press, Mark Schlabach & Joe Schad
|publisher=[[ESPN.com]]
|date=2006-12-07
|accessdate=2006-12-07
}}</ref> Shannon's first year as UM head coach was one of the worst in the Hurricanes' modern history, with the team registering a losing record (5-7) including losses to unranked teams. Under Shannon, the team failed to reach a bowl game for the first time in a decade.
====Move to Dolphin Stadium====
In the summer of 2007, Miami announced that, beginning with its 2008 season, its team will play its home games at [[Dolphin Stadium]]. 2007 marked UM's final season of football at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. The move to Dolphin Stadium was approved by the university's Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of UM President [[Donna Shalala]], on August 21, 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=2007-08-21 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2984425 | title=Miami leaving Orange Bowl, will play in Dolphin Stadium | author=AP | date=2007-08-21 | publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref>
Due to the condition of the Orange Bowl there had been much speculation in recent years over the venue's continued viability as Miami football's home stadium. With an on-campus stadium not practical due to substantial opposition from neighboring home owners in Coral Gables, the university was left with two options: move 25 miles north to [[Dolphin Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens]], which serves as home to the [[NFL]]'s [[Miami Dolphins]], or renovate the Orange Bowl, adding more restrooms and a video replay screen and making assorted repairs to the stadium infrastructure.
==Records==
===Winning streaks===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:58 winning streak1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The scoreboard at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]] celebrates Miami's 58 game home winning streak]] -->
Miami owns the record for the longest home winning streak in [[NCAA]] history, winning 58 straight games at the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]. The record streak began with a 38-0 shutout victory over [[Cincinnati Bearcats|Cincinnati]] on [[October 12]], [[1985]] and ended with a 38-20 loss to [[Washington Huskies football|Washington]] on [[September 24]], [[1994]].
Miami also owns 2 of the [[Longest NCAA Division I football winning streaks|longest winning streaks in NCAA Division I history]].
From 2000 to 2003, Miami ran off 34 consecutive wins, tying for sixth all-time. The streak started on [[September 23]], [[2000]] with a 47-10 victory at [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]] and ended on [[January 3]], [[2003]] with a 31-24 double overtime loss to [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] in the 2003 [[Fiesta Bowl]].
Miami also won 29 straight games from [[October 27]], [[1990]] to [[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 Crimson Tide|Alabama]], 34-13 in the 1993 [[Sugar Bowl]].
In addition to its own lengthy winning streaks, Miami has snapped opponents' winning streaks, halting four streaks of 20 games or more in its history. The only other school to snap four winning streaks of 20 or more games is [[Princeton University|Princeton]].<ref>{{cite web | title=2006 University of Miami Football Media Guide: The History of Hurricanes Football | accessdate=2006-11-11 | url=http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/mifl/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/06-mg-history | format=PDF | publisher=Hurricanesports.com | language=English }}</ref>
The Hurricanes ended top-ranked [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]'s 23-game winning streak with a 27-10 win on [[November 25]], [[1989]]. In the [[1984 Orange Bowl]], Miami ended top-ranked [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]'s 22-game winning streak and won its first national championship with a 31-30 victory. The Canes halted top-ranked [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]'s 20-game streak and won their second national championship when they defeated the Sooners, 20-14, in the 1988 [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]. [[UCLA Bruins|UCLA]] became the fourth victim when Miami defeated the third-ranked Bruins 49-45 on [[December 5]], [[1998]], snapping their 20-game winning streak.
===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 shut out:''' 188, 1979-94
*'''Consecutive Shutouts of Opponent:''' 4, 1926, 1936, 1941
*'''NFL Draft Record, Most players drafted in the first round in a single year:''' 6, 2004
===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 (game)|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 Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]. The schools have met six times in bowl play, with the Hurricanes winning four of the meetings.
{| class="wikitable"
|-style="background: #223732" align=center
| <font color=white>'''Date''' || <font color=white>'''Bowl''' || <font color=white>'''W/L''' || <font color=white>'''Opponent''' || <font color=white>'''PF''' || <font color=white>'''PA'''
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1935]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Bucknell University|Bucknell]] || 0 || 26
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1946]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[College of the Holy Cross|Holy Cross]] || 13 || 6
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1951]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] || 14 || 15
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1952]] || [[Gator Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Clemson Tigers football|Clemson]] || 14 || 0
|-align=center
| [[December 16]], [[1961]] || [[Liberty Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse]] || 14 || 15
|-align=center
| [[December 15]], [[1962]] || [[Gotham Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] || 34 || 36
|-align=center
| [[December 10]], [[1966]] || [[Liberty Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] || 14 || 7
|-align=center
| [[December 23]], [[1967]] || [[Bluebonnet Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]] || 21 || 31
|-align=center
| [[January 2]], [[1981]] || [[Peach Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] || 20 || 10
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1984]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]<br> || '''W''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] || 31 || 30
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1985]]|| [[Fiesta Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[UCLA Bruins Football|UCLA]] || 37 || 39
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1986]] || [[Sugar Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]] || 7 || 35
|-align=center
| [[January 2]], [[1987]] || [[Fiesta Bowl]]<br> || '''L''' || [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] || 10 || 14
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1988]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]<br> || '''W''' || [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]] || 20 || 14
|-align=center
| [[January 2]], [[1989]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] || 23 || 3
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1990]] || [[Sugar Bowl]]<br> || '''W''' || [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] || 33 || 25
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1991]] || [[Cotton Bowl (game)|Cotton Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]] || 46 || 3
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1992]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]<br> || '''W''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] || 22 || 0
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1993]] || [[Sugar Bowl]]<br> || '''L''' || [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] || 13 || 34
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1994]] || [[Fiesta Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]] || 0 || 29
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[1995]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]]<br> || '''L''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] || 17 || 24
|-align=center
| [[December 27]], [[1996]] || [[Carquest Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]] || 31 || 21
|-align=center
| [[December 29]], [[1998]] || [[Micron PC Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[NC State Wolfpack|NC State]] || 46 || 23
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[2000]] || [[Gator Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]] || 28 || 13
|-align=center
| [[January 2]], [[2001]] || [[Sugar Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] || 37 || 20
|-align=center
| [[January 3]], [[2002]] || [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]]<br>[[BCS National Championship Game|BCS National Championship]] || '''W''' || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]|| 37 || 14
|-align=center
| [[January 3]], [[2003]] || [[Fiesta Bowl]]<br>[[BCS National Championship Game|BCS National Championship]] || '''L'''<br>(2 OT) || [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]] || 24 || 31
|-align=center
| [[January 1]], [[2004]] || [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] || 16 || 14
|-align=center
| [[December 31]], [[2004]] || [[Peach Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] || 27 || 10
|-align=center
| [[December 30]], [[2005]] || [[Peach Bowl]] || '''L''' || [[LSU Tigers football|Louisiana State]] || 3 || 40
|-align=center
| [[December 31]], [[2006]] || [[MPC Computers Bowl]] || '''W''' || [[University of Nevada, Reno|Nevada]] || 21 || 20
|-style="background: #FF7F00" align=center
| '''Total''' || '''31 bowl games''' || '''18-13''' || || '''673''' || '''602'''
|}
==Rivalries==
Miami's traditional rivals are [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] and [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]. 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.
===Florida===
*{{main|War Canoe Trophy}}
Miami's rivalry with [[Florida Gators football|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 was given to the winner of the annual meeting. 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 Gators football|Florida]]. The two schools met every year from 1944 until 1987, but have not played regularly since then. [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] canceled the annual rivalry after the SEC announced the addition of an extra conference game. Nevertheless, the rivalry remains incredibly intense, with many Hurricane fans still considering [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] a more "hated" rival than [[Florida State Seminoles football|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]]. The next matchup is scheduled for the 2008 season, where the two teams will meet in [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]] on September 6, 2008.
===Florida State===
{{see also|Wide Right (Florida State)}}
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, 30-22.
During the 1980s and 90s, the series emerged as one of the premier rivalries 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. 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 talent typically present on the field when the two teams meet. The 1988 meeting starred an unbelievable 57 future [[NFL]] pros on the combined rosters.
The rivalry is a [[Nielsen ratings|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=2006-11-29 | url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090706aag.html | title=FSU-Miami Game Grabs ESPN's Largest Audience | author=Associated Press | date=2006-09-06 | publisher=TheACC.com}}</ref>
==Individual Award Winners==
===Players===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*'''[[Heisman Trophy]]'''
:[[Vinny Testaverde]] - [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
:[[Gino Torretta]] - [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]
*'''[[Maxwell Award]]'''
:[[Vinny Testaverde]] - [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
:[[Gino Torretta]] - [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]
:[[Ken Dorsey]] - [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
*'''[[Walter Camp Award]]'''
:[[Vinny Testaverde]] - [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
:[[Gino Torretta]] - [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]
*'''[[Bednarik Award]]'''
:[[Warren Sapp]] - [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]]
:[[Dan Morgan]] - [[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]]
*'''[[Bronko Nagurski Trophy]]'''
:[[Warren Sapp]] - [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]]
:[[Dan Morgan]] - [[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]]
*'''[[Dave Rimington Trophy]]'''
:[[Brett Romberg]] - [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
{{col-2}}
*'''[[Davey O'Brien Award]]'''
:[[Vinny Testaverde]] - [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]]
:[[Gino Torretta]] - [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]
*'''[[Dick Butkus Award]]'''
:[[Dan Morgan]] - [[2000 NCAA Division I-A football season|2000]]
*'''[[Jim Thorpe Award]]'''
:[[Bennie Blades]] - [[1987 NCAA Division I-A football season|1987]]
*'''[[John Mackey Award]]'''
:[[Kellen Winslow II]] - [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
*'''[[Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award]]'''
:[[Craig Erickson]] - [[1990 NCAA Division I-A football season|1990]]
:[[Gino Torretta]] - [[1992 NCAA Division I-A football season|1992]]
*'''[[Lombardi Award]]'''
:[[Warren Sapp]] - [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]]
*'''[[Outland Trophy]]'''
:[[Russell Maryland]] - [[1990 NCAA Division I-A football season|1990]]
:[[Bryant McKinnie]] - [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
{{col-end}}
===Coaches===
*'''[[Paul "Bear" Bryant Award]]'''
:[[Howard Schnellenberger]] - [[1983 NCAA Division I-A football season|1983]]
:[[Larry Coker]] - [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
*'''[[Broyles Award]]'''
:[[Randy Shannon]] - [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
----
=== Miami All-Time Roster ===
As chosen by Athlon Sports publications in 2001.[http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/4153/miami-all-time-team]
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Offense'''
'''E''' [[Bill Miller]] 1959-61
'''WR''' [[Eddie Brown]] 1983-84
'''WR''' [[Santana Moss]] 1997-2000
'''TE''' [[Willie Smith]] 1984-85
'''OL''' [[Nick Chickillo]] 1951-52
'''OL''' [[Jim Otto]] 1957-59
'''OL''' [[Dan Conners]] 1961-63
'''OL''' [[Dennis Harrah]] 1972-74
'''OL''' [[Leon Searcy]] 1988-91
'''OL''' [[Bryant McKinnie]] 2000-01
'''QB''' [[Jim Kelly]] 1979-82
'''QB''' [[Ken Dorsey]] 1999-2001
'''RB''' [[Don Bosseler]] 1953-56
'''RB''' [[Ottis Anderson]] 1975-78
'''RB''' [[Edgerrin James]] 1996-98
'''K''' [[Carlos Huerta]] 1988-91
{{col-2}}
'''Defense'''
'''DL''' [[Ted Hendricks]] 1966-68
'''DL''' [[Jerome Brown]] 1983-86
'''DL''' [[Daniel Stubbs]] 1984, 86-87
'''DL''' [[Russell Maryland]] 1986-90
'''DL''' [[Warren Sapp]] 1992-94
'''LB''' [[George Mira Jr.]] 1984-87
'''LB''' [[Michael Barrow]] 1989-92
'''LB''' [[Ray Lewis (American football)|Ray Lewis]] 1993-95
'''LB''' [[Dan Morgan]] 1997-2000
'''DB''' [[Jim Dooley]] 1949-51
'''DB''' [[Tom Beier]] 1965-66
'''DB''' [[Fred Marion]] 1978-81
'''DB''' [[Bennie Blades]] 1985-87
'''DB''' [[Ed Reed]] 1998-2001
'''DB''' [[Sean Taylor]] 2001-2003
'''P''' [[Harry Ghaul]] 1945-48
{{col-end}}
==Traditions==
===Touchdown Tommy===
Touchdown Tommy is the cannon that is fired off after every point that the hurricanes score. The cannon is kept by the Sigma Chi fraternity and fired off during the games by the brothers of Sigma Chi. Touchdown Tommy is the third oldest tradition at the University of Miami.
===The Smoke===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Sebastian the Ibis-photo.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Sebastian the Ibis]] leads the Hurricanes onto the field through the famous smoke cloud.]] -->
One of the Hurricanes' most recognizable traditions is its dramatic entrance scene. The team enters the field through a large cloud of white smoke billowing from its entrance tunnel, amid a tape of a hurricane blasting over the sound system. The smoke comes from a series of pipes welded together by school transportation director Bob Nalette in the 1950s and comprised simply of fire extinguisher exhaust.
Following Miami's rise to prominence in the 1980s, many college and [[NFL]] teams copied this practice.
===Ring of Honor===
In 1997, the university established the 'Ring of Honor' as a way to honor outstanding players who have passed through the Hurricane football program. The inaugural class of included Jim Dooley, [[Ted Hendricks]], [[George Mira]], and [[Vinny Testaverde]]. These four players are the only ones in the history of the program to have their numbers retired by the university.
In 1999, a second group of players were inducted: [[Ottis Anderson]], [[Don Bosseler]], [[Bernie Kosar]], and Burgess Owens.
===Four Fingers===
Prior to the start of the fourth quarter of every home game, Miami players, coaches, and fans hold up four fingers in recognition of their belief that a game is won or lost in the fourth quarter. Since 1985, the 'Canes have gone 196-6 (97%) in regular-season games in which they held a lead entering the fourth quarter. The six losses in this span occurred against North Carolina State (2007), Florida State and Georgia Tech (2006), Clemson (2004), East Carolina (1999) and West Virginia (1997), with no such losses from 1985-1996.<ref>{{cite web | title=Miami Hurricanes vs. Maryland Terrapins Game Notes (11/11/06) | accessdate=2006-11-11 | url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/mifl/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf | format=PDF | publisher=Hurricanesports.com | language=English }}</ref>
===NFL U===
{{main|Miami Hurricanes in the NFL}}
Miami has had great success in producing players who go on to play in the [[National Football League]]. The Hurricanes hold the record for most players selected in the first round in a single draft (6, 2004); most first-round draft picks in a two-year period (11, 2003-2004); most first-round draft picks in a three-year period (15, 2002-2004); and most first-round picks in a four-year period (19, 2001-2004).<ref>{{cite web | title=Miami's NFL Draft History (07/24/07) | accessdate=2006-11-11 | url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/schools/miami | format=PDF | publisher=Hurricanesports.com | language=English }}</ref> For the past 14 years, Miami has had at least one player selected in the first round of the [[NFL]] draft. The Hurricanes also hold a record streak of 82 consecutive regular season weeks where a Miami Hurricane has scored a touchdown in an [[NFL]] game.
The role of Miami alumni in the NFL has been the subject of numerous national sports media articles. ''[[FHM]]'' magazine, in its September 2006 issue, carried a five-page article, titled: "University of Miami Hit Squad: The Hurricanes are taking over the NFL. Deal with It." The article prominently featured up-and-coming Miami alumni in the NFL, including [[Vernon Carey]], [[Bryant McKinnie]], [[Antrel Rolle]], [[Jonathan Vilma]], [[D.J. Williams]], and others.
The school has earned the designation of 'Quarterback U' as a result of the football program turning out a number of high-profile quarterback prospects in succession, including [[Jim Kelly]], [[Bernie Kosar]], [[Vinny Testaverde]], [[Steve Walsh (NFL)|Steve Walsh]], [[Craig Erickson]], [[Gino Torretta]], and [[Ken Dorsey]].
Miami head coaches have also had great success in obtaining head coaching positions in the professional ranks. Out of Miami's last five head coaches, four ([[Howard Schnellenberger]], [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]], [[Dennis Erickson]], [[Butch Davis]]) have gone directly on to coach at the professional level.
As of the 2006 season, the University of Miami has more of its alumni on active [[NFL]] rosters than any other college or university in the nation.
==Controversies and Scandals==
The [[University of Miami]] has also experienced some degree of controversies, scandals and incidents which at times have led to [[NCAA]] sanctions, suspensions, and negative publicity for the university.
===1980s: Luther Campbell's "pay for play"===
A long-time booster of Hurricanes Football, [[2 Live Crew]] member and local philanthropist [[Luther Campbell]] was said to have been behind what was referred to as a "pay-for-play" system, which involved cash rewards for things such as touchdowns and big hits.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E0D91038F932A15756C0A962958260 Cash Bounties Reported at Miami]</ref> His ties to the program were at one point so close that former Hurricanes coach [[Dennis Erickson]] used to occasionally call upon Campbell as an intermediary when he was having a problem with his players.{{fact|date=October 2007}}
===1989-1995: Pell Grant scandal and Self-Imposed/NCAA sanctions===
In 1994, Tony Russell, a former UM academic advisor, pleaded guilty to helping more than 80 student athletes, 57 of whom were football players, falsify [[Pell Grant]] applications in exchange for kickbacks from the players themselves. The scandal dated all the way back to 1989 and secured more than $220,000 in federal grant money. Federal officials later said that Russell had engineered "perhaps the largest centralized fraud ... ever committed" in the history of the Pell Grant program. <ref name="Wolff">{{cite web | title=Why the University of Miami should drop football | accessdate=2006-11-11 | url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006688/index.htm | format=HTML | publisher=CNNSI.com | language=English }}</ref>
In late 1995, the NCAA concluded that, in addition to the fraudulent Pell Grants facilitated by Russell, the university had also provided or allowed over $400,000 worth of other, improper payments to Miami football players. The [[NCAA]] also found that the university had failed to wholly implement its drug testing program, and permitted three football student-athletes to compete without being subject to the required disciplinary measures specified in the policy. Finally, the [[NCAA]] concluded, the university had lost institutional control over the football program.<ref>{{cite web | title=1995 Public Infraction Report | accessdate=2006-11-11 | url=https://goomer.ncaa.org/wdbctx/LSDBi/LSDBi.MajorInfPackage.ProcessMultipleBylaws?p_Multiple=0&p_PK=63&p_Button=View+Public+Report&p_TextTerms=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_TextTerms2=ThisIsADummyPhraseThatWillNotBeDuplicated&p_Division=1 | format=HTML | publisher=NCAA.org | language=English }}</ref> Miami docked itself seven scholarships as part of a self-imposed sanction in 1995, and the [[NCAA]] took away another 24 over the next two years. As a result of the scandal, [[Sports Illustrated]]'s [[Alexander Wolff]] wrote a controversial cover story that Miami should at least temporarily shut down its football program.<ref name="Wolff"/>
===2005: 7th Floor Crew===
{{main|7th Floor Crew}}
In 2004, an informal [[hip hop music]] group called the [[7th Floor Crew]], allegedly comprised of several University of Miami students, including a few football players, and named for the 7th floor of Miami's Mahoney Residential College[http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,29532-1;29628-2;29623-2;29618-2;29611-3,00.html], recorded a rap song. The song ultimately fell into the hands of national media in 2005, including [[ESPN]] and ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Sung to the beat of [[Aaliyah]]'s "[[If Your Girl Only Knew]]", the song's lyrics are filled with what were considered lewd sexual references. Following ESPN's coverage of the song and the role of several UM football players in creating it, the university issued a statement condemning its lyrical content.
===2006: FIU Brawl===
{{main|Miami-FIU brawl}}
On [[October 14]], [[2006]], in the first meeting of cross-town programs, Miami and the [[Florida International Golden Panthers football|Florida International Golden Panthers]] brawled after a [[Extra point|PAT]].
FIU cornerback Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perelli to the ground after the kick and appeared to punch him in the chin. Another FIU cornerback, Marshall McDuffie, Jr., kicked Perelli in the head.<ref>[http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=1250765 Miami, FIU extend brawl punishments]</ref> Miami players, including Calais Campbell, came to Perelli's defense, separating Miami and FIU players. FIU's Lionel Singleton punched Campbell in the back of the helmet, which was quickly followed by retaliation from both teams, escalating the fight to a bench-clearing brawl. Miami's Anthony Reddick swung his helmet at FIU players and Miami's [[Brandon Meriweather]] kicked an FIU player. FIU's A'Mod Ned, who was injured, came onto the field and swung at Miami players with his crutches. The fight lasted just over one minute [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR4l0vMSrlc] before the coaches of both teams were able to separate the players. The [[Miami-Dade County]] police arrived on the field shortly afterward and remained a visual presence on the field and in the stands to prevent further fighting. The game was delayed approximately 15 to 20 minutes as the officials attempted to sort out which players were ejected and what, if any, penalty yards needed to be enforced.
The next day, 31 players from both schools — 18 from FIU, 13 from Miami — were handed one-game suspensions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220962,00.html|title=31 Players were suspended for their involvement|accessdate=2007-05-21}}</ref>
==Tragedies==
Despite Miami's extraordinary on-field success, the University of Miami has been plagued in recent years by equally extraordinary tragedy that some have labeled the "Miami Curse."
Since 1992, four current or former University of Miami football players have been murdered, four died in airplane or vehicle accidents, one was shot non-fatally and another was paralyzed in an on-field injury:
===1990s Hurricanes tragedies===
*[[Philadelphia Eagles]] All-Pro and former Hurricane [[Jerome Brown]] died on [[June 25]], [[1992]], at the age of 27, following an automobile accident in [[Florida]], in which both he and his nephew were killed when Brown lost control of his vehicle at high speed.
*[[Indianapolis Colts]] player and former Hurricane [[Shane Curry]], picked 40th in the 1991 [[NFL]] draft, was shot and killed by a 15-year-old on [[May 4]], [[1992]] outside a bar in his hometown of [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]].
*On [[May 11]], [[1996]], former Hurricane outside linebacker Robert Woodus was aboard [[ValuJet Flight 592]] when it crashed into the Florida Everglades.
*On [[April 13]], [[1996]], former Hurricane linebacker Marlin Barnes and a female companion were bludgeoned to death in Barnes's on-campus Coral Gables apartment by the woman's jealous ex-lover. The assailant is currently on Florida's [[death row]] on two counts of [[first-degree murder]].
===2000s Hurricanes tragedies===
*In 2002, a car accident claimed the life of former Hurricane linebacker Chris Campbell.
*In 2003, former Hurricane safety Al Blades was killed in a car accident.
*On [[July 28]], [[2005]], former Hurricane defensive end [[Jerome McDougle]] of the Philadelphia Eagles was shot in the abdomen while in his car in Miami. Initially expected to recover quickly, McDougle ended up missing the entire 2005-2006 NFL season.
*On [[November 7]], [[2006]], Hurricane defensive lineman [[Bryan Pata]] was murdered in the parking lot of his apartment complex several hours after practice had ended. At present, the case remains unsolved.<ref>{{cite web | title=Canes lineman Pata shot, killed | accessdate=2006-11-08 | url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/15954555.htm | format=HTML | publisher=MiamiHerald.com | language=English }}</ref>
*In [[September 9]], [[2007]], former Hurricane tight end [[Kevin Everett]] of the [[Buffalo Bills]] incurred a [[cervical spine]] injury and paralysis during the Bills' 2007 opening game against the [[Denver Broncos]]. The injury was so severe that Everett's physicians originally described it as a nearly fatal injury, though Everett has since made drastic improvement. It was thought he would never walk again, but in just three months he is walking on his own.
*On [[November 27]], [[2007]], former Hurricane safety [[Sean Taylor]], then playing with the [[Washington Redskins]], was shot and killed in his Miami home, where he was recuperating from a football injury. Four defendants in their late teens and early 20s were arrested and charged with Taylor's murder. Taylor's murder generated an outpouring of sympathy from University of Miami students and alumni.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mifl-m-footbl-body.html University of Miami's Official Football Site].
*[http://www.music.miami.edu/band/bothtraditions.html University of Miami "Band of the Hour" Official Web Site].
==See also==
{{University of Miami}}
{{MiamiFootballSeasons}}
{{MiamiHurricanesCoach}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference}}
{{Divison1floridacolleges}}
{{BCSChamps}}
[[Category:Atlantic Coast Conference]]
[[Category:Miami Hurricanes football|*]]
[[es:Miami Hurricanes]]
[[fr:Miami Hurricanes]]