The University of Miami Hurricanes are seeking their sixth national championship when they face Indiana at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19. Here’s a look at their previous title-winning teams:
1983
–HERALD FILE–Howard Schnellenberger, coach of 83′ national champion built foundation for 80’s success. Orange Bowl, University of Miami vs. Nebraska, 1/1/1984. National Champs.
Record: 11-1 (only loss was 28-3 in season-opener at Florida).
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Championship decider: Miami 31, Nebraska 30 in Orange Bowl.
Briefly: Long before he launched FAU’s football program, Howard Schnellenberger started a dynasty in Miami. The Hurricanes weren’t supposed to win this championship — not against a Cornhuskers team ranked first and compared to some of the best teams in college history. The victory was secured when Kenny Calhoun broke up a two-point conversion pass with 48 seconds left after coach Tom Osborne opted not to kick the extra point to tie. Sports Illustrated’s John Underwood wrote that Miami “may well be the next great name in the game.”
Key players: QB Bernie Kosar, WR Eddie Brown, DT Kevin Fagan, LB Jay Brophy.
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1987
Record: 12-0.
Championship decider: Miami 20, Oklahoma 14 in Orange Bowl.
Briefly: There’s no way to talk about the 1987 title-winning team without a mention of the chip on the Hurricanes’ shoulder dating back to the previous season. That’s when the Canes famously (or infamously) stormed out of the steak fry with Penn State, then were humbled by the Nittany Lions in the Fiesta Bowl despite having a lineup of future NFL talent. This time, the Canes again were underdogs on their own field against a top-ranked team, but it didn’t matter. Steve Walsh threw TD passes to Melvin Bratton and Michael Irvin. After the Sooners cut the deficit to 20-14 in the fourth quarter, UM’s defense stiffened, finishing with only 255 yards allowed behind fill-in linebacker Bernard Clark, who had 14 tackles.
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Key players: Walsh, Irvin, RB Melvin Bratton, DE Daniel Stubbs, DB Bennie Blades, LB Randy Shannon, DB Bubba McDowell.
1989
President George Bush accepts an autographed football from Miami placekicker Carlos Huerta and coach Dennis Erickson as the Hurricanes’ 1991 national championship team was honored at the White House on March 20, 1992.
Record: 11-1 (only loss was midseason to FSU 24-10).
Championship decider: Miami 33, Alabama 25 in Sugar Bowl.
Briefly: Dennis Erickson’s team gave UM its third national title on the strength of its defense, which led the nation with an average of 9.3 points allowed. Six opponents were held without a touchdown. UM ended the 23-game winning streak of Notre Dame before the victory over the Crimson Tide. The everlasting tale from this season occurred in Tallahassee before the loss to the Seminoles. UM’s mascot, Sebastian the Ibis, concocted a scheme to extinguish the flaming spear FSU uses to fire up the crowd before kickoff. It led to a skirmish with police pouncing on the stunned bird and detaining him. UM athletic director Sam Jankovich later sent a letter to FSU’s president asking what the university would do about officers “assaulting our mascot.” Short reply: nothing.
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Key players: QB Craig Erickson, DE Greg Mark, DT Cortez Kennedy, DE Willis Peguese, LB Bernard Clark.
1991
Record: 12-0.
Championship decider: Miami 22, Nebraska 0 in Orange Bowl.
Briefly: Dennis Erickson won his second national title with the Canes. UM led the nation defensively, allowing 9.1 points per game. A key win came when UM beat FSU 17-16. UM overcame a 16-7 deficit in the fourth quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Carlos Huerta and a 1-yard TD run by Larry Jones. The Seminoles drove for a potential winning field goal but Gerry Thomas’ 34-yard try was wide right, forever cementing this game as “Wide Right I.”
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Key players: QB Gino Torretta, OT Leon Searcy, WR Lamar Thomas, RB Stephen McGuire, RB Larry Jones, LB Jessie Armstead, LB Micheal Barrow, LB Darrin Smith, S Darryl Williams, KR Kevin Williams, K Carlos Huerta.
Nov 26, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes senior football advisor Ed Reed stands on the sideline during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
2001
Record: 12-0.
Championship decider: Miami 37, Nebraska 14 in Rose Bowl.
Briefly: This time with coach Larry Coker leading the Canes, they set a school record in average margin of victory at 33.2 points. UM was dominant on both sides of the ball, finishing third in points (43.2) and first in points against (9.4). That’s possible when a college team has 17 players who became first-round draft picks. Included was Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, who had nine interceptions in 2001.
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Key players: Reed, OT Bryant McKinnie, QB Ken Dorsey, RB Clinton Portis, RB Frank Gore, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Andre Johnson, LB William Joseph.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Hurricanes won 5 national championships between 1983 and 2001
