Miami needed one more win to clinch an undefeated regular season and a spot in the BCS national championship game: On the road, against Big East rival Virginia Tech. That felt good for all of us. I had a front-row seat as the Miami beat writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that season. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The offense was terrible. As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the . We just knew we were going to win it all. Larry wasn't a sexy hire at the time, and it's rare the players have that kind of influence over who gets hired. They thought that we looked like a high school team. 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. To solidify going to a national championship without having to worry about if somebody else was going to lose -- that was special. 3 back. You had Sean Taylor behind him. It was always tough. Davis If Greg Schiano had not left and gone to Rutgers it would've been a potential for him to get the job, but I was glad for the staff and players that there wouldn't be a blow-up. In my game story, headlined "UM-BELIEVABLE!" ET on Feb. 10. Nevertheless, Miami was left with a bitter sense of disappointment, believing they had been deprived of a shot at a potential national championship. People were literally afraid to let the person next to them down. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered by some experts and historians to be the greatest team in college football history. Maybe Alabama last year. Sure enough, they run a slant, I go in to pick it off, and I spread my fingertips, and had my hands below my knee. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [6] [7] The Hurricanes have had at least one former player make the Pro Bowl every season since 1985, 31 years in a row. Gore then injured his knee, which would become a tragic and common theme for one of the most universally loved Hurricanes in program history. He didn't want it to be close at all. There's something about a night game in the Orange Bowl, there's something about that mystique. It didn't matter who stood in the way, they didn't stand a chance against us. ACC Network FAQs We didn't do anything right. Jump inside of it. Head coach Larry Coker A lot of people talk about the struggles against Florida State, but we had those struggles against Virginia Tech. Not only that, they were honoring one of their past players who got paralyzed, he was able to walk again so they were going to have him run out. / Our freshman year, we redshirted, but we would go on road trips and have our jerseys on with sweatpants on the sideline. McGahee played in the NFL from 2003-2013 including the year of rehab in 2003. They were a good team. Johnson was a member of the Hurricanes' most recent national championship team in 2001. A lot of us were going into our senior year, and we didn't want to have to risk playing a little slower, still trying to learn something. We go to the sideline, and Randy Shannon, after the first series he's like, "Hey, how do they look?" Men's Sports . The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 1. The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame contributes in many ways to the University and its athletic programs. But I feel like if you look at the history, every team that's won a national title has had a game like that, where it comes down to the last minute and if you lose, your season's over. (gofundme.com) Men's Basketball . Three trades in a chaotic top five, The new law changing service academy football, and the coaches pushing back, Realignment chatter: How the Pac-12 holds the key to it all. Portis was an even bigger weapon in the NFL over his nine year career. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes were the only team picked by fans to defeat the '05 Trojan squad, reflecting the esteem with which the 2001 Hurricanes are held in the college football world.[18]. Years later in the NFL, I'm hearing people like, "Man, I listened to that song.". That truly goes to show how much trust we had, for him to hear my voice and give me the ball. We were bad that day. Backing up the entire unit was football legacy Jarrett Payton. To me, it was special, and I knew it was going to be a tough game. I grew up in South Florida, and watched the previous four Miami national champions closely. We're tougher than you think.". They were big boys, all positions, not just the offensive line. The way we were able to play, come out firing on all cylinders, was huge. I have covered more national champions since 2001 Miami that could make their own claim, too. Incognito told me at halftime, their coach basically said, "Guys let's just try to keep this thing close," and he said that right in front of the athletic director. At that point, euphoric adrenaline runs over you. A lot of people doubted if they should have made the championship. Here's a look at 2001 Miami and 2017 . It was the Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. So can 2016 Clemson, a team I covered throughout the season as an ACC reporter. I told Mike they ought to bronze your knee and put it in the Hall of Fame, because if that didn't happen, we wouldn't have played for a national championship. Given all the challenges associated with the 2020 season, the Crimson Tide could easily make their case. He had the respect of those players. Rankings from AP poll. It was a challenge to figure out how to get through the rest of that game. It has been achieved by the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football teams and the 2012 Wisconsin Badgers football team. It's nothing new to us. Buy Now. "Those guys were not just NFL players. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. After an interception, Ed Reed strips the ball from his teammate and takes it for a touchdown to seal Miami's win vs. Boston College during the 2001 season. They dominated nearly everyone on their schedule, culminating in a resounding 37-14 win over Nebraska in the BCS National Championship Game in the Rose Bowl. Privacy Policy Shockey had been there and done that, but we had new guys stepping in who weren't first-round draft picks yet. Williams DT Matt Walters QB Ken Dorsey / Miami started with a 90 lead over the Boston College Eagles, but Miami's offense began to sputter as Dorsey struggled with the swirling winds, throwing four interceptions. Terms of Service Williams; and defensive backs Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon. / Larry coming in, two new coordinators, there were a lot of questions. I'll never forget, he said he really liked our team. I had to challenge them, because if not, they're looking at you like, "What is this?" They had confidence. Former Heisman Trophy Award winner Eric Crouch led the Nebraska Cornhuskers into the Rose Bowl to face the Miami Hurricanes in the 2001 national championship game.. I wanted to play more. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. But nobody wanted to waste the opportunity in front of them, either: A shot at the school's first national championship in 10 years. Open Menu. Walters Matt! Hell, nah. I'd feel good about our team against anybody. 1 Miami Flattens No. But that goes to the larger point: The focus was not on their talent, but on gaining the respect those players felt had been denied to them going back to high school. Williams, Antrel Rolle, Vince Wilfork, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Chris Myers, Andre Johnson No other team is even in the conversation. / One of the greatest safeties in college football history, Reed twice earned first-team All-America honors while guiding the Hurricanes to a national championship in 2001Led the Hurricanes to four consecutive bowl victories, ending career with perfect 12-0 record and 2001 national championship win over Nebraska2001 BIG EAST Defensive Co-Player 1.". That was it for Miami. 2001 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 12-0 (1st of 117) ( Schedule & Results ) Rank: 1st in the Final AP poll Conference: Big East Conference Record: 7-0 Coach: Larry Coker (12-0) Points For: 512 Points/G: 42.7 (3rd of 117) Points Against: 117 More Team Info Miami (FL) School History 2001 Miami (FL) Statistics Anybody who could block kicks like that, he was a fan of. It's almost like that life doesn't exist. 1 in both polls -- was sitting at No. A stacked running back room, which featured Frank Gore as the No. Hurricanes Can Finish With Best Regular Season in Program History. CB Markese Fitzgerald Davis RB Najeh Davenport . That's to win the national championship. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. They kept telling us don't listen to our coaches, because we're getting our butts kicked. 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. In the 2002 Rose Bowl against Nebraska, Portis ran for 104 yards and a touchdown with another long touchdown run called back for a phantom holding. That roster included 38 players who went on to . I'd smile every time when I'd see them before the game and say, "Yeah, we're going to go at it. We knew that was going to be a tough game. Find out more. And I'll never forget seeing the wave of red of Nebraska fans pulling up that seemed like it went for miles. Barry Jackson. Rumph Ed Reed, Kenny Dorsey -- they took ownership of everything: Lifting, the workouts in the summer, coming in to watch film. Though Miami dominated nearly every team it played, it had to survive a close one at Boston College in November. Roster includes most starters and key reserves. They pushed each other to the limit, and the one thing that separates that group, they were super, super competitive. 1 defense. I don't know how General Custer felt, but I felt like General Custer. And I am a firm believer in that team, too. Overall, 38 members of the team would be selected in the NFL Draft. That 2001 season, it was like the season was already written. Less Than 24 Hours to Renew Your Tickets. 2 behind Florida -- the team they dismantled in the Sugar Bowl to close out the 2000 season. As much as the 2001 team has been glorified in the years since it won the national title, the Hurricanes opened the year ranked No. It was cold. 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 weren't trying to sit here and showcase how fast and athletic we were. We [were] truly a team. And he comes to me when we're in Pasadena, he's like, "Look, don't worry, it's gonna be easier in the game. The final hurdle to the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship Game was at Virginia Tech. Please consider making a secure donation today by clicking the link below. All rights reserved Mario Cristobal has not only flipped the roster following his first season in Coral Gables he's been busy tinkering with his coaching staff, too. Nobody was too "big time" for anything. If you didn't put in the work, there was somebody behind you ready to take over. In my mind, I didn't know if I'd get the job. That's what you love about great leaders is they respect their teammates, they love their teammates, but they're going to hold their teammates accountable. With Coker in place as head coach and key players like Reed and McKinnie returning for their senior seasons, the Hurricanes knew what was in front of them. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. I said, "Coach, they're slow as hell.". When Miami offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski wanted a more versatile player he went with Davenport. 14, proved to be a formidable opponent. Gonzalez Ask Reed about that 2001 team, and he starts not with the championship but with the leadership that drive created. It gives us extra incentive to go out and perform well every week.". Coker In addition, Vilma, Shockey, Wilfork, Joseph, Rolle, McKinnie, and Reed have won the Super Bowl. 1 Hurricanes Stomp West Virginia, 45-3", "No. As I remember, the fans are standing right over the bench and they were yelling at our coaches, and they were throwing Skittles at us. Can the Lions fix their defense? You look back on it, and man, that was a great play by Mike, by me, by Ed. But I did have the feeling that we were going to win the national championship and we were going to do whatever it took to make it happen. If you don't drive them, you're going to be in trouble. He didn't want it to be close. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? They're wearing hoodies and sweatshirts and jackets all up underneath their shoulder pads and the coaches were like, "How are you going to function and play football?" '", Added former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni: "That team was so talented, so explosive, so good on defense. I'd been at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for years and we'd never beaten [Nebraska]. Reed As a coach and players, you don't want to talk about it too much, but it's hard not to. When he dropped the two-point conversion, I was like, I need some prayer right now. Chudzinski How good is that? Ed was somebody that would really talk to players. Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2009. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but we were five steps faster than them, 10 pounds hungrier, much more violent, which is a different style of football. They finished the season 120 overall and 70 in the Big East to finish as conference champion. Coker . As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the Rose Bowl locker room 20 years ago, not one person screamed, 'GOAT!' I was hurt before this game. Miami followed up the victory with wins over Rutgers,[5] Pitt,[6] and Troy State.[7]. Sponsorship Opportunities I wanted to win the national championship -- we wanted to win the national championship. Miami hasn't won a title since 2001, although the Hurricanes have cause for debate about the next season's Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. Miami won 187.[11]. S Ed Reed Adversity hit shortly after the calendar turned to 2001, when coach Butch Davis left to become head coach with the Cleveland Browns. 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. We saw a guy in the 55th row laying down with a camera, and we started pointing him out, and he gets up and runs to one of the exits. Cleveland scored . That's how comical it became. [citation needed] NFL individual records [when?] On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 1 offense against the No. People always say the great teams have to overcome a scare along the way. Washington coach Rick Neuheisel Both teams were ranked in the top 15 at the time they played. Soon, that entire mentality took hold across the entire team. That goes for everybody. I remember Ed coming up next to me. Larry Coker knew that once that baton got handed off, he wasn't changing anything. How deep was the 2001 Miami Hurricane roster? And when he spoke, the coaches listened. While the 2001 squad only won a single national championship; they had NFL legends, All-Americans and Pro Bowlers in their film sessions. The individual's put on the back burner for your brothers. Going into the locker room after the win at Virginia Tech, it was special. Dorsey If you dominate your responsibility and enough guys do that, then we'll be OK. A lot of people don't understand the context. And so much more. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. [17] The offense set the school scoring record, while the defense led the nation in scoring defense (fewest points allowed), pass defense, and turnover margin. / / If we needed to win it on defense, let's go win it on defense. They've never seen an atmosphere like that. We knew when I was there, but in 2001, it became reality. Williams If I slacked off at all, I wasn't going to play as much because Vince Wilfork is my backup. When I caught it, I wasn't thinking about running it back for a touchdown. We didn't want to have to change and have to learn a new offense, defense, or anything. Six players were drafted in the. The team's first-, second- and third-string running backs all later became running backs with a start in the NFL, a feat only done at least five other times. 2001 Miami Hurricanes footballconsensus national champions, 2001 Big East Conference football standings, 2001 Penn State Nittany Lions football team, 2001 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team, 2001 Florida State Seminoles football team, 2001 West Virginia Mountaineers football team, would cost nearly $120 million as an NFL team, "CFB 150: Top 10 teams in college football history - Sporting News", "The 150 greatest teams in college football's 150-year history - ESPN", "The 2001 Miami Hurricanes Would Beat Any Team, Any Time - FanBuzz", "Hurricanes Roll Past Penn State, 33-7:: Ken Dorsey throws three touchdown passes to lead Miami", University of Miami (FL) Athletic Department, "No. Not a lot needed to be said. 13. All rights reserved. OC Rob Chudzinski I'll never forget the year before, we beat Florida State and guys were celebrating, and Ed Reed told Dorsey to stand up and told everyone to start cheering for Ken Dorsey. "We had that mentality of, 'You may get a run, but I promise you for the next 60 minutes, we're gonna kick your ass. Chudzinski At the very end of January, [my family and I] ended up making the decision to leave. Chudzinski Its game at Florida State on Oct. 13 took on even greater meaning after what happened in 2000. The ladies win their home finale, prep for their conference tournament matchup on Thursday. Read more about our data coverage. . It was one of those games where the score just got run up. And obviously you can point out all the talented guys on the team, but at the time, they weren't the biggest recruits and the five-star guys. Coach had taught me for four years to get my hands down, get on his helmet and push his head down on the ground so that he doesn't get to your legs. Nebraska proved to be no competition for Miami, which opened up a 340 halftime lead en route to a 3714 final score. You could feel the crowd; you could feel the anger that we had, and how bad we wanted to beat them. And that kind of stuck with me. We'd signed a great class. We want somebody from in-house who knows us, and that's Coach Coker." They should have gone back to high school where they do the running clock. "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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. With a 30-0 halftime Miami lead, Coker pulled his starters and Miami cruised in the second half to a 337 victory. 2001 Football Rosters. You're gonna to fight. / And they had a great defense. Coker AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Internships I turned around, and the next thing you know, the ball is floating to me in slow motion. They were all self-directed. It was the perfect storm for us. There's going to be some tremendous 3- or 4-yard runs. That gave us a chance. Quarterbacks No team past that's been here [at Miami]. Being from California, playing in the Rose Bowl was special for me. The events of 9/11 caused a pause in college football, with games that weekend either being canceled or postponed, and Miami's game against Washington would be rescheduled for later that season. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer We'd just beaten Florida in the Sugar Bowl and gone 11-1. However, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Miami cornerback Mike Rumph, landing in the hands of defensive end Matt Walters. It was so scary. 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. It started as a joke first, but it just went to like, no matter what you put us through, we can't be hurt. MIAMI, Fla. - Matthew Cleveland scored a last second three-pointer of the game to lead the Seminoles to an 85-84 victory over the top ranked Miami Hurricanes at the Watsco Center. Shockey was diving for balls, Ed Reed was coming up full-speed, full-tackle. And then on the practice field, he had that voice. Brown, who played for the Hurricanes' baseball team from 1998-2001, is the No . The players coming to my backing was a big asset in me getting the job. I played with Richie Incognito with the Rams, and he told me when they saw us get off the bus at Disney [during the week], they started laughing. Where . Vilma played for the 2001 Hurricanes; Bush played for the 2004 Trojans, widely regarded as two of the most talented teams ever assembled. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. I remember just sitting there like, "Damn.". Led by twelfth-year head coach Jim Larraaga, they play their home games at the Watsco Center on the university's campus in Coral Gables, Florida as members of the Atlantic . Former coach Butch Davis The season began on the road against Penn State, a matchup Miami viewed as a "statement game.". It's not the individual talent. (0:44). Najeh Davenport was in the three headed monster backfield of the 1998 season with Edgerrin James and James Jackson before injuring his knee. Walters A lot of people don't realize the rivalry between Miami and Virginia Tech. It was a bunch of these things that made us feel disrespected. To win a national championship, you have to win some you're not supposed to win. Greatest position rooms in Canes history: 2001 Running Backs. We look at each other, like how the hell did we do this? The intelligence he had. Mission Statement Miami didn't have that edge. Let's go, man! I'm talking about the energy, the heat. Purchase Tickets. We made a song like the Super Bowl Shuffle, letting them know, "We're going to whoop y'all." I would have got drafted higher and everything. They hated to lose. Chudzinski Vilma It was the Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. In interviews with more than two dozen players, coaches and opposing coaches, here is the story of the 2001 season, told in their own words.
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