We had it in us, and we knew we had it in us. But in the moment, as I wrote my recap of that game in January 2002, I was very much like the players. 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. 1 offense against the No. As cliche as it sounds, Miami wanted revenge. Our communication wasn't good. 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. 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. They beat us 59-0 and we finished that season with 10 wins. That roster included 38 players who went on to . ACC Network FAQs We're intense, pulling up on the buses. Dorsey A jersey worn by late Hurricanes great Sean Taylor. We're tougher than you think.". In doing so, Portis ran for 1,200 and 10 touchdowns with a 5.5 yards per carry average for the Canes. So I think that describes how good they were.". And so much more. Washington had beaten Miami the year before, but in 2001, it looked as if the Huskies wanted to be anywhere but playing in prime time in the Orange Bowl as the Hurricanes gleefully kept their foot on the gas to prove a point. We hadn't been there. The 2022-23 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team represents the University of Miami during the 2022-23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. 1 in both polls -- was sitting at No. Open Menu. In the NFL he ran for 8,474 yards and 65 touchdowns over his career. Najeh Davenport was in the three headed monster backfield of the 1998 season with Edgerrin James and James Jackson before injuring his knee. Backing up the entire unit was football legacy Jarrett Payton. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. But when you play a team like that, you can't turn the ball over, and I think we ended up throwing four interceptions. Rumph What set those guys apart was what was inside of them -- in their heads and in their hearts, how they competed and how they prepared and how they loved and how they were passionate about playing the game. Privacy Policy You grow up with the Rose Bowl and watching the parade and those games. Men's Basketball . 3 back. Gonzalez 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. They thought that we looked like a high school team. He made things happen. That was it for Miami. To win a national championship, you have to win some you're not supposed to win. In my game story, headlined "UM-BELIEVABLE!" We'd just beaten Florida in the Sugar Bowl and gone 11-1. That's how comical it became. Employment 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. They kept telling us don't listen to our coaches, because we're getting our butts kicked. 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. As did what happened in October, when Miami -- ranked No. 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 That game solidified our quest to dominate. Additional contributors included future stars Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Vernon Carey, and Rocky McIntosh. Years later in the NFL, I'm hearing people like, "Man, I listened to that song.". The nearly hundred-year-old Hurricanes pennant once waved by a member of Miami's original freshman class. I didn't know at the time that this would be talked about as one of the best teams in college football. But I remember a few days before the game we did a two-minute drill, our No. Randy Shannon is giving us every way to run this option, and I was frankly frustrated because it was hard to process it all. Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2009. Miami jumped on Virginia Tech early, leading 203 at halftime, and 2610 in the fourth quarter. Sports. We were just too big, strong and fast, and way too physical. It was one of those games. The thing that was most impressive about that team is that, at any point in time, a younger player could take your position. or thought they had just unlocked legendary status. LB D.J. There will be unsung heroes picking up blitzes. If you don't drive them, you're going to be in trouble. It got a lot of attention. We knew we were good, and when we got out there and played on Saturdays, the people we went against were not as good as the guys we had on our scout team. A stacked running back room, which featured Frank Gore as the No. / All rights reserved. It was always tough. Miami had zero touchdowns. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He was the guy that really knew how to push our buttons, that knew how to challenge us. I still have visions of Tommie Frazier leaving Gator defenders in his wake. Women's Basketball. I had to challenge them, because if not, they're looking at you like, "What is this?" We didn't want to have to change and have to learn a new offense, defense, or anything. 2001 Miami Hurricanes 1 of 20 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images One of the greatest college teams of all time also had one of the greatest draft pools of all time. OT Joaquin Gonzalez After a blocked punt returned for a touchdown cut Miami's lead to 26-24, Virginia Tech lined up for a 2-point conversion to tie the game. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. Oh, absolutely I was scared. Odds & lines subject to change. At that point, euphoric adrenaline runs over you. Schumann returning to Georgia, 'It's the most talented team to ever play': An oral history of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, Miami's turnover chain set a celebratory standard across the college football landscape. Fitzgerald / Beamer I never experienced that, just to sit there and say, "I'm the best, and that was a product of all our work." 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings. 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. RBs coach Don Soldinger I said, "Coach, they're slow as hell.". The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. . But there were a few things in the contract we were having a difficult time agreeing on. Everyone knew [Clinton] Portis, but you had Willis McGahee and Frank Gore. I think they might have called us Michelin men because some of the guys when they first put clothes on, they literally look like the Michelin tire guy because they were loading up like they were going into a frickin' blizzard. Miami beat Florida State 49-27 to remain undefeated, but a bigger test awaited Nov. 10 on a cold day at Boston College. Soon, that entire mentality took hold across the entire team. If you look at the film, at the last second as he's falling to the ground, he looks up to see if it's Ed, and he lets the ball go. Download Our App, Achong, Harden & Hedley Earn ACC Postgraduate Scholarships, Newport News, Virginia/Hampton Roads Academy, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada/Vanier Academy, Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Belle River District. Gore has added another 77 rushing touchdowns on his way into the NFL record books. It wasn't something given. That truly goes to show how much trust we had, for him to hear my voice and give me the ball. We were really dialed in on character, on personality traits, do they love football? Baseball. Some felt that Miami got snubbed in a chance to compete for the BCS Championship game. It wasn't like we were living at the top of the AP poll. I think the next year, we had the mindset that, no matter what happens, we have to take care of business. 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. Fitzgerald "I'm willing to line our 2001 team up against any collegiate institution, anytime, anywhere," center Brett Romberg said. This was because Miami had lost to No. Mission Statement We were exhausted. "They were the hardest workouts we ever did," cornerback Mike Rumph said. The one newspaper that I still love to this day is the New York Times because they picked us as national champions at the end of the season. 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. You can make the argument it's the most talented team to ever play. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Hurricanes basketball coach Jim Larraaga highlights a 10-member University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame class. When I look back at our workouts, and the pressure that we put on each other of not letting each other down, there was so much pressure that I would think twice about skipping a workout, I would think twice about skipping a rep, I would think twice about letting my brother down because there was so much invested into it. However, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Miami cornerback Mike Rumph, landing in the hands of defensive end Matt Walters. Because that whole season, our mind was set on one goal, and you really don't understand how exhausting something can be when you're in pursuit of it. Maybe Alabama last year. You're sweating, you're bleeding, you're laying everything on the line for the guy next to you, and there was no envy." It was intense. When it came time for the 2001 Miami Hurricanes to do their summer workouts, they had one plan in mind: Make it as grueling as possible. #14. Like Portis, McGahee was a two-time Pro Bowl player and a national champion in 2001. A lot of us came back just for this game. 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. It's something we're used to playing with is that lack of respect. And whenever you do stuff like that, you believe you're going to win. Shockey was diving for balls, Ed Reed was coming up full-speed, full-tackle. Dorsey When he dropped the two-point conversion, I was like, I need some prayer right now. S Ed Reed The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Soldinger Rumph We were pissed. Adelson: 2001 Canes make case for college football's GOATs, Breaking down the latest in 2024 football recruiting, from top commits to March visits, The Turnover Luck Index: Rating every 2022 team, from USC to Rutgers, ACC boss: Rule changes backed by FBS leaders, Top draft prospect Carter charged in fatal crash, Stoops: QB Leary (pec) 'close to full go' for UK, Hall of Fame coach Ault named to CFP committee, New NCAA president readies for NIL, legal issues, Ex-Vols staffers agree to show-cause penalties, UNC hires ex-Browns HC Kitchens as assistant, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? After building up a 40 record, Miami won over Florida State in Doak Campbell Stadium, 4927,[8] ending the Seminoles' 47-game home unbeaten streak. Both teams were ranked in the top 15 at the time they played. Larry wasn't a sexy hire at the time, and it's rare the players have that kind of influence over who gets hired. Yea I've been hurt. Dorsey 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. Truly perfected that.". I knew we'd have a good team, but there were a lot of questions because of the coaching changes. They had confidence. With a 30-0 halftime Miami lead, Coker pulled his starters and Miami cruised in the second half to a 337 victory. And I did that, and I was like, "Oh, man, that felt good." We didn't do anything right. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. A lot of people don't know how close that was, but he was a huge leader for us, and he wasn't coming out of that game. Roster includes most starters and key reserves. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. But with a chance to tie the game with another two-point conversion, Virginia Tech sophomore Ernest Wilford dropped a pass in the endzone. The offense was terrible. I don't know if this ever got released to the media, but Kenny [Dorsey] got hit and took a hard shot to the ribs. We lost the year before, and it kept us out of the national championship game. I was chasing Ed, and Ed did some little backyard football by running zig zags in order not to get caught, and then he spikes the ball to put the emphasis on that play. With BC on the verge of a momentous upset, St. Pierre attempted to pass to receiver Ryan Read at the Miami 2-yard line. Davis left Miami after coaching the Hurricanes to an 11-1 season in 2000. Joaquin said dominate, and we're not doing it! 2001 Miami Hurricanes Record: 12-0, national champions Players: Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, Phillip Buchanon, Sean Taylor, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Miami won 187.[11]. Portis ran for 9.923 career yards and 75 touchdowns for Washington and the Denver Broncos while making two Pro Bowl rosters. As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Terms of Service .mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}. A stacked defensive backs room, with Sean Taylor and Antrel Rolle as backups. The intelligence he had. That atmosphere was crazy. It was the other intangibles we were looking for.". They just accumulated so many good players that everybody was looking at them as like, 'How have they done this? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Fundraiser : The UM Sports Hall of Fame Needs U! Miami (2001) Michigan (1947) Notre Dame (1947) Oklahoma (1956) How many NFL players came from Miami? I had so many friends from high school who were there to support me, guys I grew up with and loved and had always been there for me. Being from California, playing in the Rose Bowl was special for me. The individual's put on the back burner for your brothers. Gambling problem? Employment We watched that, perfected that. As one of the younger players on the team, that competition only made me better. Williams Coker You're gonna to fight. / It wasn't a surprise. You go into the locker room and everybody is just elated. We were all each other's biggest fans, but we all knew that if you went into the week, and you slacked or you wanted to hang out late on a Tuesday night, and didn't bust your ass in practice, you ain't going to be getting the reps. CB Antrel Rolle 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. 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. And I'll never forget seeing the wave of red of Nebraska fans pulling up that seemed like it went for miles. You can make the argument it 's something we 're not doing it everyone knew [ Clinton Portis! Players on the field trust we had it in us, and Rocky McIntosh for 8,474 yards and 65 over... Average for the Canes into the NFL he ran for 9.923 career yards and 65 touchdowns his... 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