**Quick Note: This is part 1 of the week-long series that covers the forgotten powerhouses of college football. Stay tuned for Tuesday thru Friday as the fallen powerhouses keep on coming. -Ed.**
Being a man from Oklahoma (I'm a Sooner Born, I'm a Sooner Bred...I'll be a Sooner till I'm dead), the title alone could come across as absurd. However, for a stretch in the late 90's to the early 00's, I really did like the Miami Hurricanes aka "Da U".
As with all the great teams that we've grown up with, juggernaut Cornhuskers, the fiery Seminoles, the overwhelming Sooners, the arrogant bastards of USC, and the current top dogs of these Gators, there's something about those Hurricanes that made me appreciate them a bit more than everyone else.
Miami had swagger before the word was ever invented. I mean, its got to take something to make the colors of Orange and Green look that raw right? As Butch Davis, coach of Miami from 1995-2000, soon realized...he had two goals, one to sell any player that stepped on that field that he would do whatever it took to make them great...and two that when you step on that field you have no mercy on your opponent.
Check and check.
Now, I don't need to go through the laundry list of players that are in the league right now from Miami. They are the gold standard of sending elite players to the league. There isn't a program that's done it like Miami. USC is the only program that's come close, but even then, when you start looking at all-pro players no one is close. The simple fact that I could make an entire team of pro Hurricanes in the league right now is scary. Don't believe me? Let me try real quick...
QB - Ken Dorsey, Brock Berlin, Kyle Wright (Ok, were bringing Vinny Testaverde back)
RB - Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James
WR - Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Sinorice Moss, Roscoe Parrish
TE - Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen
OL - Vernon Carey, Bryant McKinnie, Eric Winston, Brett Romberg, Chris Myers
DL - Vince Wilfork, Jerome McDougle, William Joseph, Damione Lewis
LB - Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, Jon Beason, Dan Morgan
DB - Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle, Brandon Merriweather, Kenny Phillips, Kelly Jennings, Sean Taylor (RIP)
KR/PR - Devin Hester
Ok, so Miami needs a QB in the worst way, and I think this is the first thing that current 'Canes coach Randy Shannon has got to address. They haven't had a legitimate QB there since Dorsey, and until they do...da U is in trouble. For the life of me, i wish that more football programs were like Miami in one sense, the players that went there actually give a damn about the program. They REP the program like none other. Not just because of a catchy nickname, or the "U" hand sign that you can make, but have you heard anyone from Miami talk about the program? It will fire you up.
So as much of a rival that Miami is to Oklahoma, I want to see Miami be good again, not just mediocre. Its not right, we miss you Miami, we miss you.
Anyone got any suggestions for Miami? Let it be heard...
-Ed.
http://www.edthesportsfan.com/
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Comments
29 Responses to "I Miss The Miami Hurricanes aka "Da U""Randy Shannon is on the hot seat at "The U". Word on the grapevine is that Tuberville is waiting in the wings...
The NFL version of the Canes is the Raiders. The NFL is a little drab when the Silver and Black are dormant.
Teams like the Hurricanes and Raiders are like that bully on your block who you just want to get payback on. They definitely add some spice to the atmosphere and something seems to be missing when they're not around in the postseason.
JAG
I disagree, JAG. Randy Shannon brought in a certified recruiting class of KILLERS last season, and a quite a few of them got significant playing time, and the ones who didn't just threw on "that shirt that's red," so they'll be ready to go this year, and kept their year of eligibility in their back pocket. On top of that, they had another solid class come in for this season, so they'll be good.
Their starting QB (Jacory Harris) will only get better, and he's a true sophomore, so they're straight at QB, Ed. Miami just needs time. This year is big, but I think they are one year away from really gettin' it goin'.
It's Shannon's third year at Miami, but folks are callin' for his head already??? Good grief, at least let the man's recruiting class show what they can do. The lack of patience is APPALING.
I can't lie, I miss watching good Miami teams, too. I was the biggest Clinton Portis fan in the world until he became a cott damn Bronco. Tell me it wouldn't be a great game watching current former Miami players go against my boys from USC who are in the league right now.
QB: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Matt Cassell, Mark Sanchez, John David Booty
RB: Lindell White, Reggie Bush, Justin Fargas
WR: Dwyane Jarrett, Steve Smith, Keary Colbert
TE: Fred Davis, Billy Miller
OL: Sam Baker, Winston Justice, Ryan Kalil, Norm Katnik, Deuce Lutui, Chilo Rachal, Drew Radovich
DL: Shaun Cody, Sedrick Ellis, Lawrence Jackson, Mike Patterson, LaJuan Ramsey, Kenechi Udeze
LB: Willie McGinest, Lofa Tatupu, Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga, Thomas Williams
DB: Troy Polamalu, Sammy Knight, Brian Kelly, Terrell Thomas
Miami has no quarterback, USC has no recievers (what the hell happened to Mike Williams? lol). I guarantee one thing, there will be some HUGE hits if this ever happened. I give the edge to The U because they have some bruisers at the running back position, and since neither team really has a passing game, running the ball is going to be crucial. Miami's running backs> USC's front seven for the win.
I would include the other Florida team, the Noles.
College football was at its peak when the Sunshine State was battling itself for supremacy. FLA speed vs. FLA speed.
The U had the swagger. The fatigues to the bowl game. The excessive TD celebrations.
I would disagree with JAG. The NFL is lagging when the Cowboys are piss poor.
First off...eff tha U. I'm from Ohio.
Miami is still living off the legacy of two great coaches...Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. That's the list. If you add up all their historical dominance it adds up to what, 20 years maybe...say from 1985 to 04-05.
Just because they were a buncha hooligans don't make em great. Never mind that they affiliated the school with Luke Dancers and the like. That's a slap in the face to teams like my beloved Buckeyes but also to Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame and even yes the Sooners who have DECADES of dominance in their respective conferences.
And just who was the U smashin' during these years? The likes of Rice, Cal-State Long Beach, Temple, Syracuse and East Carolina. Remember, they had many of these years of dominance as an independent school and THEN as a member of the Big East which perinially sucked.
Just some stats I rounded up...
National Championships OSU-7, UM-5
#1 Overall Picks - OSU-3, UM-2
Heisman Trophy Winners - OSU-7, UM-2
Overall First-Round Picks since 99 - OSU-46, UM-49
According to the College Data Football Warehouse, Ohio State is ranked as the #7 All Time Program, the U is ranked #15.
So to say that the U is just historically blowin' everybody's doors off just ain't true. Football in Florida overall just ain't what it used to be. I'm sure their turn in the pecking order will come around again.
Now if it sounds like there's a whooole lotta hate comin' from this way, that's because there is! I'm a finalist for the Player Hater's Ball, "Hater of the Year". Church.
2nd off - Eff Ohio State (sorry JAG, this ain't about you right now, i'm just proving a point)
One - I don't know anyone outside of effing Ohio that likes Ohio State. Score one for Miami.
Two - You totally disrespected the Miami teams from the 40's-60's, although not championship teams, were very good and had multiple top 10 teams.
Three - If you think Miami was the only team to have "hooligans" on their team then you're an idiot. Miami just had the coolest hood dudes out, and the fatigues were the truth. Plus, sit here and tell me a bald face lie and say you wouldn't want to have the 2 Live Crew backup dancers loving up on you because you "scored a TD" LOL. Besides, all the teams you mentioned do not have squeaky clean records.
Four - Yes, they were an independent until 1990. However, WTF does that mean? One of the greatest historical teams of all-time is an independent. (Notre Dame) So save that one.
Five - I'm not gonna combat all of your facts about Ohio State, because Ohio State is damned good. However it was convenient of you to say # of overall 1st round picks since 99! So let me alter some of these facts to sound good for "Da U"
Number of national championships since I've been alive - OSU 1, Miami 5
Number of players in the league - Per pro-football reference.com
Miami, FL 48
Michigan 43
Ohio State 41
Florida St 39
LSU 39
Texas 36
Florida 35
USC 35
Auburn 31
ND 31
Plus like I said before, no one likes Ohio State outside of Ohio. No one really likes Oklahoma either outside of Oklahoma. But folks like Miami. Period. So quit sucking yourself. No one said that the U is historically blowin' everybody's doors off, but they were for about a 20-year run.
JAG, get your boy before I crucify him. He is a bruh, but he's also a neo, so I don't mean any harm, I'm just trying to educate.
-Ed.
JAG is so off base it's scary.
Tommy Tuberville isn't waiting in the wings. That is 1000% false. Furthermore, Shannon isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He was offered an extension this year and turned it down -- believing that the team's efforts this year and step forward will move him into a higher echelon than that of 'third year first time head coach', where he sits today.
Tubbs left Miami SIXTEEN years ago and has spent the majority of his career in the deep south -- Arkansas State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and obviously Auburn. He doesn't *get* the Miami culture anymore.
Tommy is a SEC guy and IF he comes back into coach, he'll do so at a major public university who will throw big time money to lure him in.
Furthermore he did an interview on College Football Live or some preview show months back (during recruiting) where he talked about the culture at Miami, how hard the job is, how hard the fans are to please and what it'll take for Randy to turn it around. Why come to Miami for $2M a year when you can get some SEC power to pay you twice that?
The expectations at Miami are insane... the fan support is weak... the facilities can't compare to big money SEC schools. Simply put, not enough upside for TT to return. Conversely, Randy was the only one to sign up for the rebuilding job at The U, so he has some freedom and time to get it done. This was a 4-5 year rebuilding project and anyone who doesn't *get* that is in denial...
3rd Off...nobody outside of Ohio GOTTA love OSU...we hold ourselves down! Why do we get BCS games over other teams? Because we travel! So it don't matter if the game is in Uzbekistan...Buckeye Nation is gonna ride!
Now on to your foolishness...
One - Just because you don't know them doesn't mean they don't exist. BUCKEYE NATION IS AN ENTIRE NATION!!! Get with it.
Two - You weren't talkin' about no teams from the 40's and 60's...you talkin' about the U. And yeah, they had some good teams, but at this level, we ain't talkin' about good...we're talkin' about Dynastic. Which the U was for like 20 years, but then they got rolled on like Genghis Khan.
Three - I concede on the groupie love...lolol
Four - A team being independent means that they don't have to go through the trials of getting beat up in conference. They can scheduele a bunch of tomato cans and roll off 12 wins a year.
Think about the Big 8 in the 80's...the Big 10 in the 90's...or the SEC right now...do you think for a second if those teams didn't have to play each other they would??? Hell nah they wouldn't. So Miami can score 80 points on Slippery Rock and get slurped up on Sportscenter.
Five - I think this is the most ridiculous one of them all. Since you've been alive?! You only like 19! You only been hyperizin' since like 1994. So you mean to tell me that Good Times and Sanford and Son ain't that deal because they were made because you were born?! N-Word PLEASE!
To take it BACK to the stats:
Most players drafted overall: OSU-390 (#3 all time), "Da U" - 294
Most First Round Picks EVER: OSU 67(#2 all time), "Da U"-58
Matter fact...imma forward this thread to the Black Blog thing and have you disqualified after they read this tomfoolery.
Chuck Lova - You're crackin' me up. Save some of that energy for USC on Sept 12th. That's when we're gonna need it.
Let me be clear. I'm a Randy Shannon fan. I hope he makes it. We hardly have any brothers coaching major college football programs to begin with. I'm just telling you what I heard from folks who follow the program much more closely than I.
I would love to see the Canes back in the national spotlight. The Buckeyes would be happy to grant you a rematch from the 2002 BCS Championship Beatdown. Y'all ain't been the same since. lol
JAG
Wow...i just realized something. When the hell was we EVER IN LIFE talking about Ohio EFFING State????
We weren't sitting here comparing the two damn schools???? Huh? Excuse me? But ok, fine, you wanna take it there, we can take it there.
AND I'M NOT EVEN A MIAMI FAN!
Who's had better pro QB's in history?
Ohio State - Mike Tomczak? (JAG help me)
Miami - Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde
Advantage: Da U
Who's had better pro RB's in history?
Ohio State - Eddie George, Robert Smith, Keith Byars (not adding Archie Griffin, he wasn't good in the league)
Miami - Ottis Anderson, Edgerrin James, Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Chuck Foreman
Advantage: Da U
Wide Receivers?
OSU - Cris Carter, Paul Warfield, Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn, David Boston
Miami - Michael Irvin, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Devin Hester
Advantage: (Slight) Buckeyes
Defensive Players?
OSU - Shawn Springs, Antoine Winfield, Jim Marshall, Jack Tatum, Chris Spielman, Nate Clements, Mike Vrabel, Dan Wilkinson, AJ Hawk
Miami - Warren Sap, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Dan Morgan, Jonathan Vilma, Russell Maryland, Jerome Brown, Jessie Armstead, Bubba McDowell, Bennie Blades, Cortez Kennedy, Vince Wilfork, Jim Burt, Jon Beason
Advantage - Miami
So again, i never was hating on Ohio state...but I would say that Ohio State got a bit of a head start and a sustained program, but Miami is loved nationwide. You know why Ohio State travels so well? Because everyone's DYING to get out of the state.
-Ed.
I don't have exact figures and names like you true sports junkies, but I will agree that from about '82 until '02, college football was dominated by the big three Florida schools. Spurrier, Bowden and Johnson are legendary coaches and personalities.
I love my alma mater and Ohio State had some great teams in the 90's but they did not match the Big Three overall. There's just no doubt about it.
There's some truth to what you say. Cold weather schools with a large alumni base enjoy a trip down south or out west to watch the Buckeyes, Wolverines, Irish, Nittany Lions, Hawkeyes, etc. do battle.
JAG
allcanes.com, your site is GENIUS. I'll be back on a regular basis.
Ed, you're being nice by saying Ohio State has an edge on Miami at receiver. Cris Carter and Michael Irvin cancel each other out. Wayne is much better than The Roid Monster David Boston. Plus, Andre Johnson, on an average day, is better than Joey Galloway ever was, on a great day.
About time someone other myself realize that nothing best come from the "U". I expect Miami in a National Championship next year, yes you heard it here first my Miami Hurricanes will be in the National Championship Game in 2011. I love the list current NFL 'Canes but one is missing, my old high school foe, Nate Webster at linebacker. GREAT POST!!! ITS ALL ABOUT THE U!!!
@ allcanes.com
I'm surprised that you say the fan base is weak. I always figured Miami had one of those bases that was always supportive and loyal to their program, almost to the point of being unreasonable, when their team has to rebuild. Just kinda surprising...
Don't mind me, I'm just reading comment beefs *nosey*
"The Buckeyes would be happy to grant you a rematch from the 2002 BCS Championship Beatdown. Y'all ain't been the same since."
OSU really hasn't been the same since they were trounced by another school in the Sunshine State lmao. Florida got in that ass and they've had the jitters in big games for three years.
And yeah Ed was awfully generous on the receivers corp. Chris Carter is arguably the best to ever play to position and not win a ring, but I'd take Wayne, Johnson, Moss and Irvin any day over Carter, Boston, Glenn and Galloway -- easily.
Hideous is mistaken again. You have to win big games to get to the biggest games and Ohio State has done that. Losing to LSU in the Superdome is nothing to be ashamed of. Where was your school?
JAG
My wife call me "my favorite player" since I'm taking Generic Sildenafil Citrate .
Man I'm sick of these ohio state fans. You guys play a bunch of cupcakes and then wonder why you get blown out in the national championship. The only team that is worth anything on your schedule this year is USC. THATS IT! And before we got robbed in 02', when was the last time ohio state won a championship? you have to go back nearly 30 years! When ohio state stops scheduling teams like the dreaded navy and toledo, and maybe get out of that sorry conference, then maybe they'll be good. But no one outside of Ohio has taken them serious since the 70's
Anthony,
Let's see. The Buckeyes stopped your 34 game winning streak, kept you from making history with back to back National Championships and kicked you out into the wilderness where you've languished ever since.
Yeah, if I were you, I'd be tired of Ohio State too!!
"Advances on our throne,
We don't ever take them lightly.
All this tongue waggin, hatin',
Man, I'm grown; this don't excite me."
JAG
I have a hatred towards them, I went to Rutgers. And they made Rutgers into their wooping post back then, so F'em.
Jag... What "big game" did OSU win since their loss to Florida?
2007: Sure they beat Michigan, Mich St. and Wisconsin, but those were all two and three loss teams before they even played OSU, and ended up losing their biggest game before the championship to Illinois way late in the season, I don't even know how they were allowed to play in the national championship (well, I do, but I don't want to get into that lol).
2008: Played three top five teams -- all losses -- including a 35-3 drubbing in the Colosseum. No offense against Penn St. and not enough grit on that fourth and three late in the fourth against Texas.
You tell me which big games they won. USC has won every big game they've played since 2003 except for that game against Texas and if it weren't for mental collapses (which I am NOT defending at all) they would have replaced OSU in both of those BCS Championship games. Damn UCLA, Stanford and Oregon State.
You just made my point, Mr. Hideous. (I have to admit that at first, I objected to your name and thought it was cruel, but you're starting to make me a believer that your nomenclature rings true). lol
In college football, THEY'RE ALL BIG GAMES. A loss of any kind, especially in November, seriously jeopardizes any shot at appearing in the National Championship game.
Say what you want about the Buckeyes, but they take care of business against teams they're supposed to beat. They give themselves an opportunity to play on the big stage because they don't get upset by unranked teams, like USC does.
True, they don't win every title game (no one does), but they don't play themselves out of a shot by taking opponents lightly or not coming to play every Saturday!!
JAG
Let me say this about Ohio State, because it was not my intent to bash them...
They are a juggernaut amongst the have-nots, its not their fault that Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State, and Purdue all suck. Penn State, Northwestern, and Illinois are the 3 best teams in the conference and for the most part OSU's been mopping up their opponents.
Say what you will about Ohio State losing big games, but at least they take the chance in playing them. Take note that they have played since '02.
Texas Tech, Washington State, Cincinnati (3 times), Washington (twice), NC State (twice), Texas (twice), USC (twice)
Listen you peel thru Florida's schedule, they play no one except for the off year Florida State/Miami.
The Buckeyes do send a ton of players to the league, can't hate on that one. And, like OU, I think they've been snakebitten. They did win a ring against Miami, have gotten to the big games, but just couldn't win. So what? This is a crime?
Most folks get tired of Ohio State not because of Ohio State but because of Ohio State Buckeye fans. Not you, JAG, but some of yall are off the chain. Period.
Should be a great college football season, USC vs. Ohio State's coming up real soon...
JAG, Miami's downfall has nothing to do with their fiesa bowl loss and everything to do with Larry Coker and his recruiting/coaching, or lack there of.
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Samantha
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Remember the 'Canes coming thru the airport in Full CAMOFLAUGE?!?!?
Okay, I just went back and did some research on the last 'Canes national championship team, and MY GOD...they were scary.
Put it like this: Clinton Portis was the starting running back. Frank Gore was on KICKOFF RETURN! Andre Johnson was back there with him! Before there was Devin Hester, Philip Buchanon was returning punts, and he was far from a slouch. Vilma, DJ Williams, Ed Reed.
Hell, I can see how Nebraska got out to the Rose Bowl, and was star-struck. How can you simulate ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT in practice? No disrespect to the Big XII, but there was nothing to resemble what they were about to deal with in that game.
God had mercy on their souls that night; that score shoulda been 70-0.
It brings up a question, then Ed.
What is the greatest national champion in football in the last 20 years? I would have to nominate one of the Nebraska champs, the 01 Canes, and the 04 USC team.
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