The eccentric Portis is said to have played mind games with his backups in order to hold them down and keep the football in his hands. It really set the stage -- to not only win but be a dominant team like we were. The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the. They had confidence. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. But I remember a few days before the game we did a two-minute drill, our No. I helped cover that team, too. Ed Reed, a free safety, is in the Hall of Fame (elected in 2019), and his backup was Sean Taylor, arguably the greatest safety who ever played the game. It was the perfect storm for us. Strength coach Andreu Swasey Wayne and Moss were Seniors on that . We're intense, pulling up on the buses. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. I'm talking about the energy, the heat. That openness allowed us to truly get to know the players and coaches, and develop a rapport with them, so we could tell their stories in a deeper way -- and share a fair narrative as the season unfolded. The same standings that kept Miami out of the 2000 national championship game. All I could think as I looked on from the press box was, "I can't believe they're about to blow this," knowing full well a trip to the national championship and the Rose Bowl was on the line. I would have got drafted higher and everything. They pushed each other to the limit, and the one thing that separates that group, they were super, super competitive. I remember the doctor saying he couldn't really throw the ball. But with a chance to tie the game with another two-point conversion, Virginia Tech sophomore Ernest Wilford dropped a pass in the endzone. We're dead. As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the . While the 2001 squad only won a single national championship; they had NFL legends, All-Americans and Pro Bowlers in their film sessions. Sterling, sadly, had. There's going to be some tremendous 3- or 4-yard runs. I had to challenge them, because if not, they're looking at you like, "What is this?" As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the Rose Bowl locker room 20 years ago, not one person screamed, 'GOAT!' You're sweating, you're bleeding, you're laying everything on the line for the guy next to you, and there was no envy." [1] The Hurricanes scored 512 (42.6 points per game) points while yielding only 117 (9.75 points allowed per game). That atmosphere was crazy. Do you have a sports website? So I continue to stick with Miami as the greatest team of all time. Purchase Tickets. In 2002, Miami again played for a national title, losing in overtime to Ohio State. You know I'm hurt, yet we let them score two touchdowns. But despite being outgained by the Hurricanes by 134 yards and being dominated in time-of-possession, the Hokies never quit. Miami also holds a number of NFL Draft records, including most first-round selections in a single draft and most consecutive drafts with at least one first-round selection. "We felt like we couldn't miss on anyone in recruiting," said Andreu Swasey, who was the strength and conditioning coach at Miami in 2001. Williams Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Their roster was loaded with future first-round picks -- from Andre Johnson to Jeremy Shockey to Vince Wilfork and at least one NFL Hall of Famer in Ed Reed. 1 Miami Flattens No. [14] Defeating Virginia Tech earned the top-ranked Hurricanes an invitation to the Rose Bowl to take on BCS #2 Nebraska for the national championship. Because we had that extra whatever. That's always what Miami had been about, and what set it apart in my mind. / Before we even went to the game, we made "Ballin Boys." Ed was somebody that would really talk to players. I will never forget standing on the goal line at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, when Deshaun Watson threw the winning 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow to beat Alabama 35-31 and finish 15-0. / Imagine that, a team with 38 future NFL picks feeling disrespected. It was the Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. "It wasn't about elite, starters, pecking orders, all that other great stuff," center Brett Romberg said. Its game at Florida State on Oct. 13 took on even greater meaning after what happened in 2000. It has been estimated that the 2001 Hurricanes would cost nearly $120 million as an NFL team as early as 2009. Renew Now , University of Miami 2023. As did what happened in October, when Miami -- ranked No. I got you over the top." Then in 2002, with Frank Gore out, exploded on the scene with 1,753 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 6.2 yard per carry. Miami beat Florida State 49-27 to remain undefeated, but a bigger test awaited Nov. 10 on a cold day at Boston College. ", Rumph Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Football. Two Hurricanes have won the Heisman Trophy and nine have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. We knew a kid could run and be athletic and we had the blueprint for that. I just remember on that play that the offensive lineman tried to cut my knees, and I remember finally getting it right. It was so scary. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. I never expected it to be a blowout. Do you have a blog? There are currently 44 players in the NFL who were brought up at the "U." One NFL team has quite a collection of Miami alumni. At fullback the Canes used two starters in Najeh Davenport and Kyle Cobia. It has been achieved by the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football teams and the 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team. February 26, 2023 11:32 AM. He was that father figure we were all afraid to disappoint. Davenport went on to a seven year NFL career with the Packers, Steelers, and Colts, while averaging 4.6 yards per rush and scoring 13 touchdowns as a pro. We knew that was going to be a tough game. To go and win the game was quite an experience. But the defense came through, as Mike Rumph, Matt Walters and Reed combined to save the day with one of the most iconic plays in Miami history -- a Walters interception, deflected off Rumph's knee, that ended up in Reed's hands for the defensive score. What players and coaches insist set this team apart was their camaraderie, accountability and willingness to do whatever it took to win a championship -- especially those afternoon workouts. Happy to be here, want to high-five everybody, and from the moment I walked into the locker room, it was you're gonna work. Dorsey passed for 362 yards and 3 touchdowns, while wide receiver Andre Johnson caught 7 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. That was it for Miami. To solidify going to a national championship without having to worry about if somebody else was going to lose -- that was special. Sometimes the practices in the bowl games get a little stale or tired. This past January, I sat in the press box at Hard Rock Stadium in the most bizarre setting for a national championship game, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Washington coach Rick Neuheisel Mark Richt - 171-64- (72.8%); Georgia (2001-15), Miami [FL] (2016-18) New Hurricanes transfers The Canes have secured pledges from two talented transfers in the past two days: Purdue defensive . I tried to display that my senior year, 'cause I could have left my junior year. I knew we'd have a good team, but there were a lot of questions because of the coaching changes. Can the Lions fix their defense? There's a 78% chance your favorite NFL team has employed a first-round pick from 2001 Miami since an incredible 25 teams have rostered one of them at some point or another. Despite Miami beating Florida State head-to-head that season and being higher ranked in both human polls, it was Florida State, and not Miami, that BCS computers selected to challenge the Oklahoma Sooners for the national championship (Oklahoma would win, 132). That's how it goes in those games. Sponsorship Opportunities Odds & lines subject to change. The first series, we line up, they run their option, and for as fast as it went for us in practice, it was like they were in sand. But the number of great players, first-round draft choices and players who got drafted, it's amazing really. He basically announced to everybody, "This is our guy.". Reed is seen shouting at his teammates, "I'm hurt dog! Being from California, playing in the Rose Bowl was special for me. Coker The 2001 Miami Hurricanes have been called "the single most talented college roster" ever. But there was never any pressure on anybody because they always thought they were going to get it done. It was unreal, just to see the trophy come out. And we went into the Hall of Fame together this past year. My knee went between my hands, and hit the tip of the ball and it flipped to Matt Walters. The Canes became arguably the greatest team in CFB history 20 years ago, finishing 12-0, winning the national title and producing 38 NFL draft picks. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Johnson was a member of the Hurricanes' most recent national championship team in 2001. The consensus among college football analysts is that the 2001 Hurricanes had the most talented roster in history. In the NFL he ran for 8,474 yards and 65 touchdowns over his career. Miami clinched a spot in the national title game against Nebraska at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., and felt confident this game would be its crowning achievement. I'm gonna run out of bounds." Every team has to go through that, because that's how you get calloused to know that no matter what happens, you're going to find a way to win. Barry Jackson. As did what happened in October, when Miami -- ranked No. We liked what we had already, and we really wanted to just keep what we had. Miami beat opponents by an average of 32.9 points per game, the largest margin in the school's history, and set the NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked teams (1247). [15] Miami won its fifth national championship in the last 18 years, and put the finishing touches on a perfect 120 season. Williams Mission Statement Dorsey It is through the support of Hurricane fans and alumni that we are able to make a difference. Players lobbied then-athletic director Paul Dee to elevate offensive coordinator Larry Coker to become head coach. As I went to the NFL, we'd always find those Miami guys on the other team and you knew they were going to be the most competitive guys. Back then, we had availabilities three times a week with players, an open locker room after games and access to practice, too. Instead, they played their backups and won 37-14, a score that does not reflect the sheer dominance of that game. I wanted to win the national championship -- we wanted to win the national championship. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Larry Coker knew that once that baton got handed off, he wasn't changing anything. I said to our athletic director Barbara Hodges, "Let's reschedule that game for another year," and she was like, "No, We have to go." Vilma got into a debate several years ago with former USC running back Reggie Bush when the two played for the New Orleans Saints. The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the century-plus existence of our version of the sport. It's Ed!". You can make the argument it's the most talented team to ever play. The offense was terrible. To win a national championship, you have to win some you're not supposed to win. Rumph "But it was crucial to never show how much pain we were in. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. We gave up the bowl in 1995. 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