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. 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. Chudzinski, Shannon and defensive backs coach Mark Stoops all went on to head-coaching jobs. 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." We were bad that day. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Single Game Season Group. I'd been at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for years and we'd never beaten [Nebraska]. We just hope that this train just doesn't go off the track. It was one of those games where the score just got run up. 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). The nearly hundred-year-old Hurricanes pennant once waved by a member of Miami's original freshman class. Though Miami dominated nearly every team it played, it had to survive a close one at Boston College in November. 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 That off-season, the team resolved to take the matter entirely out of the discretion of the computers by going a perfect 120. That atmosphere was crazy. "I mean, football, no question, I don't think anybody in college football could play with us. There are vivid moments that stand out to me that season. Internships The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. Imagine that, a team with 38 future NFL picks feeling disrespected. 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. In the years since Miami's 2001 championship, the team's reputation has only grown. In all, 17 players from the team became first-round draft picks, and 38 players would be drafted, with stars like Vilma, Reed, Shockey, Wilfork and Portis earning multiple Pro Bowl bids. Like, literally none. / That roster included 38 players who went on to . It wasn't something given. Davenport was also an effective weapon as a receiver catching 35 balls for 3 touchdowns in orange and green. And we went into the Hall of Fame together this past year. There's going to be some tremendous 3- or 4-yard runs. It was one of those games. They always had a good running back and good offensive line, and that is a hostile environment. How about 2013 Florida State, a team so loaded with talent all 22 of its offensive and defensive starters that year ended up on an NFL roster? It didn't matter who stood in the way, they didn't stand a chance against us. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The guys before us set an expectation of how hard you had to work and what that standard was, and we knew we had to live up to that. On Sept. 27, Miami returned to play at Pitt with a determination to press forward, resulting in a 43-21 win. That's always what Miami had been about, and what set it apart in my mind. 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 look at each other, like how the hell did we do this? 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. 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). Their closest test came on road against the Boston College Eagles in an 18-7 victory, that included a late Ed Reed-Matt Walters pick-six. He almost had to come out of the game. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Wayne and Moss were Seniors on that . But these guys wanted to win that two-minute drill as bad as they wanted to win the Rose Bowl. No team past that's been here [at Miami]. The Hokies, ranked No. Walters See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. Additional contributors included future stars Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Vernon Carey, and Rocky McIntosh. The first quarter, we'd always said, once we got the speed of the option down, we'd get it done. Vilma got into a debate several years ago with former USC running back Reggie Bush when the two played for the New Orleans Saints. We'd been through so much pain. / McGahee didnt have the most prolific career, but the two years he suited up in his orange and green gear were exciting. The motivation of being upset and disappointed, that played a huge role in going to the Sugar Bowl and what we did against Florida to make a statement that we probably should've been the champs. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The environment was pretty spectacular. 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. Rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top prospects at every position from Kiper, McShay, Miller, Reid, Kiper's new Big Board rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top 25 prospects, Syracuse QB Shrader to miss spring practice, Sources: Asst. We made a song like the Super Bowl Shuffle, letting them know, "We're going to whoop y'all." Men's Sports . There's something about a night game in the Orange Bowl, there's something about that mystique. He was right. Chudzinski I didn't know at the time that this would be talked about as one of the best teams in college football. They made sure their offseason workouts were the most intense of their lives. Williams, Antrel Rolle, Vince Wilfork, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Chris Myers, Andre Johnson No other team is even in the conversation. Williams I remember when I recruited him, his coach told me, "You don't really know what you're getting." 2 behind Florida -- the team they dismantled in the Sugar Bowl to close out the 2000 season. Renew Now , University of Miami 2023. QB Ken Dorsey College Football at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. The 2001 team featured six All-Americans, and Dorsey was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Still, the resilient Hokies had one more chance to win the game late, taking possession of the ball at midfield and needing only a field goal to take the lead. Or write about sports? It's Ed!". (gofundme.com) I think the next year, we had the mindset that, no matter what happens, we have to take care of business. And when he spoke, the coaches listened. Join our linker program. As a coach and players, you don't want to talk about it too much, but it's hard not to. ", Flashback Friday pic.twitter.com/qCE9gnzI5E. Rumph The older guys took us under their wings and helped us. Williams / Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Thursday, March 2, 12:48AM. Gonzalez Men's Basketball . I helped cover that team, too. C Brett Romberg That 2001 season, it was like the season was already written. They kept telling us don't listen to our coaches, because we're getting our butts kicked. We were just too big, strong and fast, and way too physical. Washington coach Rick Neuheisel But there was never any pressure on anybody because they always thought they were going to get it done. The 2001 roster was loaded from top to bottom all over the field with names like Bryant McKinnie, Andre Johnson, and Jeremy Shockey as just the tip of the ice berg. You may win one, but we're gonna win 20 of them, and it's not gonna stop.'". The Houston Texas took him third overall in the 2003 NFL draft. I think it was kind of a weight off everybody's shoulders at the end. Quarterbacks 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? / 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. Can the Lions fix their defense? NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? 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. How many Miami Hurricanes are in the NFL Hall of Fame? BC was certainly a good team, and it looked like we weren't supposed to win it, but somehow we did. The way we were able to play, come out firing on all cylinders, was huge. So can 2016 Clemson, a team I covered throughout the season as an ACC reporter. The leadership. A stacked defensive line room, with Vince Wilfork as a backup, too. It started as a joke first, but it just went to like, no matter what you put us through, we can't be hurt. At that point, euphoric adrenaline runs over you. It gives us extra incentive to go out and perform well every week.". ", Flashback: Ed Reed strips ball from teammate for Hurricanes pick-six (0:44), 'It's the most talented team to ever play': An oral history of the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, 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? He made things happen. The same standings that kept Miami out of the 2000 national championship game. Fitzgerald I don't know a single person that wasn't pissed headed into that game. McGahee ran for 4.7 yards per carry and three touchdowns in reserve duty behind Clinton Portis in 2001. We weren't trying to sit here and showcase how fast and athletic we were. Not a lot needed to be said. "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. It was intense. It was the Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. You were getting into a street fight when you went and played those guys. We knew when I was there, but in 2001, it became reality. The year before, Miami lost at Washington 34-29 -- and that loss ultimately kept the Hurricanes out of the national title game they felt they deserved. We were pissed. [15] Miami won its fifth national championship in the last 18 years, and put the finishing touches on a perfect 120 season. Dorsey passed for 362 yards and 3 touchdowns, while wide receiver Andre Johnson caught 7 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. It really set the stage -- to not only win but be a dominant team like we were. We want somebody from in-house who knows us, and that's Coach Coker." We lost the year before, and it kept us out of the national championship game. It's something we're used to playing with is that lack of respect. For whatever reason, we always played them close in my four years there. It was always tough. Can the Lions fix their defense? Then there was the first half against Nebraska in the BCS national championship game, in which Miami made the Cornhuskers look like a slow backyard team with no business being on the big stage. It's nothing new to us. There were moments in that season that we felt we deserved to win those close games, because we outworked those teams in that offseason. Our freshman year, we redshirted, but we would go on road trips and have our jerseys on with sweatpants on the sideline. Gore has added another 77 rushing touchdowns on his way into the NFL record books. 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. We gave up the bowl in 1995. Shockey had been there and done that, but we had new guys stepping in who weren't first-round draft picks yet. Nobody was too "big time" for anything. Less than 24 hours to renew your football tickets! Gore finished his Miami career with 1,975 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. Sponsorship Opportunities We [were] truly a team. 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