This document provides a history of the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami and its significance to the University of Miami football program over 71 years. It describes how the stadium was built in 1937 for $360,000 and grew from 22,324 seats to over 72,000 seats. It hosted not only UM football but also the Orange Bowl classic, Miami Dolphins games, and Super Bowls. The stadium witnessed many historic UM football moments and played a key role in the team's rise to prominence from the 1950s onward. It served as the Hurricanes' home field until their final game there in 2007 after which they moved to a new on-campus stadium.
Remembering the Orange Bowl 2007 Football Program insert
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October 1, 1937 - November 10, 2007
The Orange Bowl in 1950
by Jim Martz
Today, $360,000 will buy you a decent house in the far to a football program that was barely a blip on the
Miami suburbs. In 1937, it got you the Orange Bowl. national map until 1950, that was nearly dropped in
And that, in turn, got the University of Miami the 1970s and was resurrected into the premier pro-
its home for football for 71 years. gram in the nation over the last 25 years.
“A stadium of which any city can feel proud,” Home to three of the five national champi-
said a story in the game program when the field onship games the Hurricanes have won. Site of the
was dedicated. “It is believed that no stadium in longest home winning streak in NCAA history.
the country is better lighted.” Home to seven victories over a No. 1 team.
And perhaps no stadium in the country has Home to Wide Right III and Wide Left. To third-
seen more electrifying moments in football. and-44 against Notre Dame. To Al Hudson’s 89-yard
As the stadium grew from 22,324 seats to 72,319, interception return as time expired in the 1946 Orange
it also served as home to the Orange Bowl Classic, the Bowl Classic.
Miami Dolphins and five Super Bowls. And home today for the final time. The Hurricanes will be
But most of all it has been home of the Hurricanes. Home gone. The memories will live on.
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When the University of Miami began playing football in games. An estimated 100,000 people greeted the team upon
1926, plans were unveiled for a 50,000-seat stadium on cam- its return to Miami the next day, including an estimated
pus suitable for football, soccer, baseball and track. It looked 30,000 who surged through police barricades at the airport
something like the Rose Bowl, but the plans fizzled, as did when the charter plane arrived. The plane had to circle the
many other on-campus stadium proposals over the years. airport several times while police begged the crowd to clear
Even hopes for a temporary, 8,000-seat stadium on campus the runway.
went awry. Work started on Sept. 15, 1926, and one day later Coach Andy Gustafson’s squads continued to make national
a hurricane leveled much of South Florida, killing more than headlines and attendance grew as the Hurricanes earned a Top
130 people and damaging more than 10,000 homes. A 10 ranking at the end of the 1954 season for the first time ever,
makeshift grandstand was built; it was grassless field consist- and they were ninth at the close of the 1956 season.
ing of coral rock overlaid with mulch. Attendance at the Orange Bowl averaged 9,323 in 1937, doubled
The great bowl the Hurricanes would play in would be the to 20,000 by 1942 and dou-
Orange Bowl in Miami, and it wouldn’t be built for a decade. bled again by the end of the Do You Remember?
THE FIRST HERO
Home games moved to the new Moore Park stadium at 7th decade. Eddie Dunn, a running back who served as
captain of the 1938 team, is generally consid-
Avenue and 36th Street in Miami in 1930. At the end of the Heading into the 1960s, ered the Hurricanes’ first football hero. He set
several game, single-season and career records
1932 and 1933 seasons, UM played there in the Palm Festival, major concerns facing UM for rushing, scoring and punt returns. He
became interim head coach and athletic direc-
forerunner to the Orange Bowl Classic. and the community included tor when Jack Harding was called to serve in
World War II in 1943 and 1944.
In 1934, the American Legion met in Miami and built a the expected arrival of pro
4,000-seat grandstand at the site of the present Orange Bowl. football and the integration
Earnest Seiler, recreation director for the City of Miami, of college football in the South. In 1950, UM broke a Southern
bought the grandstand for $1,000. Aided by the Works Progress tradition by playing against Africa-American players in a game
Administration, additional against Iowa in the Orange Bowl. In the late 1950s, the school
Do You Remember? seats were set up and the won a battle with the city to open seating to African-
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
stadium was known as the Americans in the entire Orange Bowl.
It was a tradition for many seasons from the
1950s to the early 1970s to play most home
Wooden Bowl but also was The early 1960s became known as The Age of MIRAcles, as
games on Friday nights. The reasons: It was
too hot for fans in the afternoon, there was no
called Miami Stadium. The George Mira led the Hurricanes to two bowl games while twice
television coverage and UM received prime
recognition on the radio, often nationally. And
Hurricanes played their first earning All-American honors. Nicknamed “The Matador,” he
there was good press covereage because it
was the only college playing, resulting in
game there Jan. 1, 1935, broke most of the school’s passing records and finished fifth in
newspapers coast to coast the next day.
Moreover, most high school games in Miami
against Bucknell before Heisman Trophy voting in 1963 despite the Hurricanes’ 3-7
were played on Thursday nights. As the popu-
lation grew and more high schools played on
8,000 fans. record. He was the first of several great UM quarterbacks.
Friday nights, UM switched to Saturdays and,
with the advent of ESPN, some Thursday
Following the 1936 season Later in the decade, defensive end Ted “The Mad Stork”
nights beginning in the 1986.
and the Jan. 1, 1937, Orange Hendricks became the most feared pass rusher in the nation.
Bowl Classic, construction began on a massive steel and con- He is still UM’s only three-time All-American.
crete stadium that seated 22,324. It was called the Burdine After trips to the Liberty Bowl in 1966 and the Bluebonnet
Orange Bowl in honor of the Burdine’s department store head Bowl in 1967, the program fell on difficult times. Following
and area sports leader Roddey Burdine. UM played its first
game at the new structure on Oct. 1, 1937, and defeated Jarrin’ Jim Dooley was Miami’s 60-minute halfback from 1949-51; he
started both ways as a junior and senior and was an All-American
Georgia Southern 40-0.
The seating capacity was increased to 37,000 in 1946 and to
60,000 in 1948 when upper decking was added. The perma-
nent capacity went to 75,000 in 1955, but on several occasions
bleachers were added in the east end zone, allowing as many
as 81,927 fans to squeeze in.
The Hurricanes were barely on the national college football
radar screen until Oct. 14, 1950. That’s the day they upended
Purdue 20-14 at West Lafayette, Ind., one week after the
Boilermakers had ended Notre Dame’s unbeaten streak at 39
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George “The Matador” Mira
Tackle Al Carapella was UM’s was an All-American
first All-American (1950) quarterback in 1960s
In 1949 line coach Hart
Morris, Sam David, Joe
Ray Bellamy was UM’s first
Marcian and head cheer-
African-American football
Cheerleaders have been the
leader Bill Horton
player
catalyst for school spirit
celebrate another UM win
Burdine Stadium
Carl Selmer, the coach in 1975-76, noted there were 126
lackluster seasons in 1968 and 1969, Charlie Tate was replaced
major-college football teams “and we may be better than at
as coach two games into the 1970 season. That was also the
least 100 of them. But unfortunately we usually have to play
year the AFL and NFL merged, Don Shula arrived as Dolphins
the other 26.”
coach and Dolphins mania engulfed South Florida.
UM President Henry King Stanford added, “We’re a bunch of
In the 1970s, the Hurricanes failed to produce a winning
Daniels venturing into the dens of unmuted lions.”
season. They were underfunded, outmanned and oversched-
In addition to the revolving door of coaches (seven in the
uled. In both 1973 and 1975 they played four teams that fin-
1970s), attendance slumped to an average of 17,236 in 1976.
ished ranked among the top nine in the nation. And in 1975
UM began playing fewer home games, including four each in
they played No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 13
Colorado on consecutive weekends.
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The Orange Bowl was the
1949 UM vs. Purdue: Whitey Defensive end Ted
place to be on Friday nights
Campbell, Hart Morris and on
1960 Constuction began Hendricks hounded Florida
in the 1950s and 1960s
Andy Gustafson
the elevators quarterback Steve Spurrier.
Ottis Anderson (1975-78)
holds the career rushing
record of 3,331 yards The Band of the Hour in 1962 “Lil’ Joe” in 1962
1959 Orange Bowl
1978 and 1979. In fact, the 1979 home game against Notre Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl at the end of the 1980 season.
Dame was moved to Tokyo, Japan, because it would generate After a 20-10 victory, UM football administrative assistant Billy
more revenue. Proulx went to work on a new bumper sticker: “YOU AIN’T
The foundation of success SEEN NOTHING YET.”
Do You Remember?
THE SCOOTER in the 1980s was laid
Harry Mallios, a running back on the 1950
through 1952 teams who was nicknamed “The
through the recruiting of Lou
Scooter,” served as UM director of athletics
from 1979-83 and was an academic advisor for
Saban in 1978 and Howard
athletes for several years.
Schnellenberger in 1979.
Signs of progress included
better attendance at the Orange Bowl, upsets of Penn State in
1979 and Florida State in 1980, and the Hurricanes’ first
appearance in a bowl game in 13 years when they played
About the Author: Jim Martz is editor of Canesport magazine and publisher-editor of Florida Tennis magazine. He covered the Hurricanes for the Miami Herald in the 1970s and 1980s. Martz has written four
books on UM football: Hurricane Watch, Hurricane Warning, Hurricane Handbook and Tales from the Miami Hurricane Sidelines, as well as one book on UM baseball: Hurricane Strikes!
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The Band of the Hour was
The “U” logo was developed named after the march “The The Sunsations have enter-
in 1973 Man of the Hour.” tained fans for 21 years
The “Smoke” on Thursday night September 20, 2007 when UM defeated Texas A&M 34-17
A University of Miami football game in the Orange Bowl is Some reports say the players on the 1927 team held a
more than football. It’s the “smoke” during the entrance of meeting and selected Hurricanes, hoping they would sweep
the players. It’s Sebastian our mascot. It’s the Band of the away opponents just as the devastating storm did on Sept. 16,
Hour. The cheerleaders. The Sunsations. Four Fingers. 1926. Another story says Porter Norris, a player, was the first
Touchdown Tommy. The “U.” And, of course, its fans cheering to use the nickname Hurricanes and it caught on quickly. Some
for the Hurricanes. local dignitaries and school officials wanted to name the team
for a local flora or fauna. (Imagine the Miami Ferns?). But
The Nickname Norris said players wouldn’t stand for that.
Before they were the Hurricanes, they had no name. The The name Hurricanes was offensive to several people in the
school played its first game in 1926 without a nickname, and area who felt all reference to the storms should be eliminated
once the name Hurricanes was adopted, a storm erupted.
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“in word and thought.” In the 1930s, a journalist campaigned
to get rid of the nickname because he felt it was bad public
relations in the area’s efforts to lure tourists and new develop-
ment. In 1960, one developer tried to stir up another effort to
change the nickname. One UM official replied: “Does anyone
think that Chicago is full of bears just because the town has a
football team by that name?”
The Ibis has been UM’s mas-
cot since 1926
The Colors
The school’s colors of orange, green and white were select-
ed by a UM committee in 1926. They chose the colors from a
Florida orange tree: orange symbolizing the fruit of the tree,
green representing the leaves and white for the blossom.
The U
The “U” logo was developed in 1973 when UM’s Athletic
Federation, the fund-raising arm of the athletic department at
the time, commissioned a local public relations expert to
come up with a distinctive logo.
The school had gone for several years with a variety of hel-
met and uniform changes. Some years the helmets had a large
block “M”, some years they had red and black hurricane warn-
ing flags, and other years the helmet read “UM”. The
Federation noted that several colleges have the initials UM.
Bill Bodenhamer, a Miami designer, suggested the “U” idea,
which lent itself to distinctive logos for each sport (for
instance, a tennis player or swimmer was depicted inside the
“U”) as well as slogans like “U gotta believe” and “U is great.”
In recent years, many players, students and fans have
referred to the school as “The U”, and there has been a mar-
keting theme called “It’s All About the U”.
The Ibis
According to folklore, the ibis is a symbol of knowledge
found in the Everglades and Egypt. It is the last sign of wildlife
to take shelter before a hurricane and the first to return after
the storm. The ibis is a large wading bird with long legs and a
long, slender, curved bill. The bird was considered UM’s first
unofficial mascot when the school yearbook adopted the name
“Ibis” in 1926.
It’s popularity grew among the students in the 1950s. In
1957, a dormitory on campus called San Sebastian Hall spon-
sored an ibis entry in the homecoming celebration. According
to historical reports, the mascot Sebastian the Ibis was named
after the residential hall. And in 1958, student John Stormont
performed at games in an ibis costume that was glued, sewn
and pinned together and was the forerunner of today’s bird.
Over the years Sebastian the Ibis has become one of the most
recognizable college mascots in the nation.
The “Smoke”
The traditional “smoke” entrance by the Hurricanes in the
Orange Bowl was the brainchild of UM transportation director
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Bob Nalette. In an attempt to increase fan interest in the
1950s, he developed the idea of using fire extinguishers to
produce the now famous “smoke” the players run through as
they enter the field for the opening kickoff. In his spare time,
Nalette welded a pipe together that billowed smoke from the
top of the entrance tunnel.
Originally there also were flashing lights, two large hurri-
cane flags and a tape recording of a hurricane blaring over the
The Ibis costume has The name Sebastian was
evolved over the years picked in a 1957 contest
loud speaker system.
The Cheerleaders
UM’s cheerleaders are the catalyst for school spirit. There
are two squads: the Co-Ed and All Girl Squads, and both are
consistently rated among the nation’s top squads. The UM
Sunsations dance team is in its 21st year of entertaining fans.
Marching Band
UM’s marching band has existed in one form or another
since 1928. The band’s name, “The Band of the Hour,” was
given in 1948 as it played Henry Filmore’s march “The Man of
the Hour” during a halftime show in the Orange Bowl. The
public address announcer said, “Here’s ’The Man of the Hour’
played by the ‘Band of the Hour,’” and the name caught on.
The “Band of the Hour” is considered the largest and most
spirited student organization on campus and draws its mem-
bership from the entire student body.
Fourth Quarter
It’s a tradition at every home game for Hurricane players
and fans to hold up four fingers at the beginning of the fourth
quarter. The sign indicates a belief that a game is won in that
crucial final period. True Hurricane fans and players use the
sign as a symbol they own the last quarter.
Over the last 22 seasons, the Hurricanes have won 198 of
204 regular-season games in which they led going into the
fourth quarter.
Touchdown Tommy
A cannon, called Touchdown Tommy, is fired by the Sigma
Chi fraternity after each Hurricane score in the Orange Bowl.
The cannon’s forerunner was called “Lil’ Joe.”
War Canoe Trophy
In 1955, the city of Hollywood, Florida, donated an authen-
tic Seminole war canoe as a trophy for the annual Miami-
Florida game. The six-foot long canoe was hand carved and
painted by Seminole Indians from a 200-year-old Everglades
cypress tree felled by lightning. A Seminole would stand guard
during the game, and the winning team would carry the canoe
around the field. Today the canoe is on display at UM’s Sports
Hall of Fame on campus.
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Miami’s Hurricanes have been giant killers over the years, Seminoles 31-22 behind the running of Stephen McGuire (176
especially at the Orange Bowl. Nine times they have defeated yards) and Leonard Conley (144)
the top-ranked team in the nation, with seven of those games Oklahoma owned a 10-game winning streak and the top
at home. And 10 times they have ended opponent winning ranking when the Hurricanes prevailed 28-17 at the Orange
streaks of 10 or more games, seven times the streaks ended in Bowl in 1986. That was the day Vinny Testaverde solidified his
the Orange Bowl. And all of those victories have come since Heisman Trophy hopes as he threw four touchdown passes.
1983. Miami’s first victory over a top-ranked team came in 1981
Each time the Hurricanes ended a winning streak, it has against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Curt Warner entered
come against a team ranked among the top three, and eight the game as the NCAA rushing leader, but the Hurricanes held
have come against the No. 1 team. During the last two the entire Nittany Lions’
decades, Miami has snapped ground attack to 69 yards. Do You Remember?
MIRACLE IN MIAMI
Do You Remember? four winning streaks of 20 or Jim Kelly threw an 80-yard For the fifth-ranked Hurricanes to win their
SYLVESTER STALLONE NIGHT first national championship, they needed help
more games. That’s the most touchdown pass to Larry
UM held “Sylvester ‘Rocky’ Stallone Night” at before they played top-ranked Nebraska in the
the Sept. 29, 1979, game in the Orange Bowl January 1, 1984, Orange Bowl Classic. That
of any school in the nation. Brodsky and Danny Miller
against Louisiana Tech in honor of the former afternoon, in domino fashion, No. 2 Texas lost
student who wrote and starred in “Rocky”, to Georgia 10-9 in the Cotton Bowl; No. 3
And Miami is one of only two kicked three field goals in
which won an Oscar for Best Picture. Auburn was not impressive in edging Michigan
9-7 in the Sugar Bowl; and No. 4 Illinois lost to
schools in college football the 17-14 triumph. Southern California 45-9 in the Rose Bowl.
That evening in the Orange Bowl, UM opened
history (Princeton is the other) to end winning streaks of 20 The most lopsided victory leads of 17-0 and 31-17, but Nebraska cut the
lead to 31-30 with 24 seconds left. Nebraska
games or more on four occasions. against the No. 1 team came coach Tom Osborne called for a two-point con-
version pass. Quarterback Turner Gill rolled
Notre Dame’s 23-game winning streak was the longest the in the 1988 opener at the right and under pressure lofted a pass toward
tailback Jeff Smith in the end zone. UM strong
Hurricanes toppled. The Irish were the defending national Orange Bowl. Florida State safety Ken Calhoun stepped in front to tip the
pass away with three fingers on his left hand
champions and ranked No. 1 when they came to the Orange sought revenge for its 26-25 to seal the Hurricanes’ victory.
Bowl on Nov. 25, 1989. On a raucous Saturday night, coach Lou loss at Tallahassee in 1987,
Holtz’s Fighting Irish lost 27-10 before the second-largest regu- the lone setback of the season, but the Hurricanes dominated
lar-season crowd in the Orange Bowl, 81,634. from start to finish in winning 31-0. They intercepted five
The Hurricanes ended top-ranked Nebraska’s 22-game passes, Steve Walsh threw for two touchdowns and Craig
streak in the Orange Bowl Classic 31-30 to win the 1983 Erickson threw for another.
national championship. They also halted the 20-game streak of Only twice did top-ranked teams leave the Orange Bowl
another No. 1 team, Oklahoma by a score of 20-14, in the with a victory over the Hurricanes. Oklahoma prevailed 20-17
Orange Bowl Classic to win the 1987 national championship. in 1975 and went on to win its second straight national cham-
Another 20-game winning streak fell in a high-scoring pionship. And Nebraska won the 1994 national title with a 24-
shootout when the Hurricanes knocked off third-ranked UCLA 17 victory in the Orange Bowl Classic.
49-45 at the Orange Bowl to
ruin the Bruins’ national title
Do You Remember?
DEJA VU MVP’S hopes in 1998. The Canes
In UM’s first two national championship games
at the Orange Bowl Classic, a linebacker came
amassed a school-record 689
off the bench and earned Most Valuable Player
honors. They were Jack Fernandez, who
yards of total offense as
filled in for injured Ken Sisk in the 1984 victo-
ry over Nebraska, and Bernard Clark, the
Edgerrin James ripped off a Vinny Testaverde was the quarterback when Miami’s 58-game home winning streak
replacement for George Mira Jr. in the 1988
began in 1985
victory over Oklahoma.
team-record 299 rushing
yards.
The 2000 Miami team snapped two long streaks in the
Orange Bowl. Florida State brought in the No. 1 ranking and a
17-game string on Oct. 7 and left after a 27-24 loss, and sec-
ond-ranked Virginia Tech had won 19 in a row but lost 41-21
on Nov. 4. In a drive for the ages, Ken Dorsey completed six of
seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown to Jeremy Shockey
in the final minute and a half to defeat the Seminoles. And
Dorsey threw for three touchdowns and 283 yards in the victo-
ry over Virginia Tech.
A 14-game FSU winning streak came to a halt in the Orange
Bowl in 1990 when Miami knocked off the second-ranked
Al Hudson returned an interception 89 yards Bernie Kosar led the upset over Nebraska on
for touchdown on last play to beat Holy Cross Jan. 1, 1984 as UM won its first national title
13-6 in 1946 Orange Bowl Classic
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Jeremy Shockey scores on a 44-yard pass from Ken Dorsey in a 41-21 victory over second-ranked Virginia Tech in 2000.
Santana Moss caught seven passes for 115
Willis McGahee was an All-American running
Kevin Patrick makes a tackle against Oklahoma Melvin Bratton rushes for the Hurricanes to
yards in 27-24 upset of top-ranked FSU in 2000
back who contributed to many big wins in 2002
State en route to the 1991 national title beat top-ranked Notre Dame 27-10 in 1989
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When long-time Miami Hurricane fans reminisce about the ing and a 23-game winning streak. Before the second-largest
great rivalries over the years, three things that often come up regular-season crowd in Orange Bowl history (81,634), the sev-
in conversation are: enth-ranked Hurricanes prevailed 27-10 and went on to win
• Wide Right II and Wide Left against Florida State their third national title. The defining moments of the game
• Third and 44 against Notre Dame and season came in a 22-play drive that lasted 10 minutes and
• The Gator Flop 47 seconds at the beginning of
The team the Hurricanes have played the most in the the third quarter. The drive Do You Remember?
Orange Bowl is Florida State, with 31 games between the two officially covered 80 yards, FIFTH DOWN
One of the strangest situations in Orange
schools. Though Miami boasts a 30-22 lead in the overall but it actually was 97 yards. A Bowl history occurred early in the 1972 sea-
son when officials inadvertently gave a fifth
series, it holds a slim 16-15 lead in games at home. The 15-yard penalty, a sack of down to the Hurricanes that resulted in the
winning score in a 24-21 victory over
Seminoles won eight in a row at the Orange Bowl from 1963 Craig Erickson and a fumble Tulane. On fourth down, Ed Carney threw
incomplete and Miami players headed for
through 1974, but the Hurricanes have won nine of the last 14 that center Bobby Garcia the sideline with 54 seconds remaining.
Officials called them back and said it was
since 1980. recovered at the Miami three fourth down, though play by plays in the
press box indicated there had been five
The schools have met annually since 1969, and nine of put the Hurricanes into a third downs. Carney then threw 32-yard touch-
down pass to Witt Beckman for the winning
those games (including four from 2003-06) were decided by down and 44 situation. touchdown.
three points or less or in Erickson then threw deep to
overtime. In one of the Randal Hill for 44 yards and a first down. The drive ended with
Do You Remember?
DOUBLE FUMBLEROOSKIS
games that signaled the a five-yard pass to Dale Dawkins.
The opponent in UM’s first two national cham-
pionship games at the Orange Bowl Classic
emergence of the Hurricanes The team Miami has played the most is Florida, 53 times,
successfully pulled off a “fumblerooski” trick
play. In 1984, Nebraska quarterback Turner
as a power, middle guard Jim with the Hurricanes owning a 28-25 lead in the series. They
Gill purposely fumbled and guard Dean
Steinkuhler picked up the ball and rumbled
Burt batted down a two- were 12-14 against the Gators in the Orange Bowl but won the
19 yards for its first touchdown in the
Hurricanes’ 31-30 victory. In 1988, Oklahoma
point conversion pass to pre- last two meetings.
quarterback Charles Thompson deliberately
fumbled and guard Mark Huston rambled 29
serve a 10-9 victory over the One of the most memorable: The last meeting in Miami, in
yards for a touchdown. But it wasn’t enough
as Miami won 20-14.
ninth-ranked Seminoles in 2003, as the Hurricanes overcame a 33-10 third-quarter deficit
1980. behind the passing of Brock Berlin to win 38-33. One of the
Several times both teams were ranked in the top 10 when least memorable: 1971 when
they squared off in the Orange Bowl, including 1992 when No. the Gators literally flopped Do You Remember?
MILLER TIME
2 Miami beat No. 3 FSU 19-16. The Seminoles’ Dan Mowry onto the turf to allow Miami In the opening game of the 1981 season
at the Orange Bowl, Danny Miller kicked
missed a 39-yard field goal with eight seconds left in that to score and give John Reaves a 55-yard field goal as time expired to
defeat the Florida Gators 21-20. That
clash, a play known as Wide Right II. The previous year the a last-minute shot at the capped a fourth-quarter comeback led
by quarterback Mark Richt, who came
Hurricanes won at Tallahassee 17-16 in Wide Right I. Wide Left NCAA passing record, which he off the bench to replace injured Jim
Kelly.
occurred in 2002 at the Orange Bowl when FSU’s Xavier Beitia got in a 45-16 victory.
missed a 43-yarder as time expired and the top-ranked Other long-standing rival-
Hurricanes escaped with a 28-27 victory over No. 9 FSU. ries were with Pittsburgh (Miami leads 21-9-1, including 12-4-1
The Hurricanes began playing Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish in at the Orange Bowl); Boston College (23-3, 16-1; Virginia Tech
1955, and the teams met annually (except 1986) from 1971 (16-8, 9-4); and West Virginia (16-3, 9-2).
through 1990. The Hurricanes were 1-6-1 in the Orange Bowl
against the Irish until they swept all five meetings at home in
the 1980s by a combined score of 186-32.
Notre Dame came to the Orange Bowl on Nov. 25, 1989, as
Jim Burt was an All-American middle guard in 1980
the defending national champion and boasting the No. 1 rank-
Eddie Brown slips away from a Pittsburgh UM was 16-1 in the Orange Bowl against Boston Ninth-ranked FSU tries to stop Jim Kelly as the
defender College, the lone loss being “Hail Flutie” in 1984 Hurricanes recorded a 10-9 upset in 1980.
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FSU kicker Xavier Beitia was wide left on a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired in UM’s 28-27 victory in 2002
West Virginia’s Mountaineers won only twice in
The Hurricanes went 9-4 at home against the
Dale Dawkins was the leading receiver on the Brock Berlin helped the Hurricanes overcome a
11 games at the Orange Bowl
Virginia Tech Hokies
1989 national champions 23-point deficit to beat Florida 38-33 in 2003
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Three of the Hurricanes’ five national championships
1983, 1987 and 1991 were won in the Orange Bowl Classic.
And all three games were against teams from the Big Eight
(now the Big 12) Conference.
Only a few years after there had been open talk of drop-
ping the football program, the Hurricanes jolted the college
football world by defeating the top-ranked Nebraska
Cornhuskers, 31-30, in the 50th Orange Bowl Classic on Jan. 1,
1984.
1983 National Champions
It was a monumental moment. Several veteran observers
11-1 Record
had hailed the Cornhuskers as the greatest college team ever,
but the game actually heralded the emergence of a new (L-R) Row 1: TBD, David Kintigh, Rodney Bellinger, TBD, Brian Blades, Albert Bentley, Todd Stanish, Jeff
Davis, Mark Seelig, Darryl Oliver, Tony Griffin, Mike Griffin, Keith Griffin, Anthony Scheller, Fitzgerald
dynasty. The Hurricanes, who built leads of 17-0 and 31-17, Davis, Mark Fisher, TBD. Row 2: Jimmy Austin, Lawrence Thompson, Selwyn Brown, Ed Brown, Stanley
Shakespeare, John Smatana, Jacinto Fernandez, Tony Fitzpatrick, Ken Sisk, Reggie Sutton, Alonzo
clinched the victory when safety Ken Calhoun tipped away Highsmith, Eddie Williams, Warren Williams, Keith Walker, Richard Tuten, Willie Smith, Daniel Perinovic,
Billy Watson, Greg Jones. Row 3: Melvin Bratton, Dallas Cameron, Kenny Oliver, Tolbert Bain, Ken
two-point conversion pass in the end zone in the finals sec- Calhoun, Steve Minie, Bruce Fleming, Julio Cortes, Owen Stephens, Willie Martinez, Chris Hembrough,
Kyle Vanderwende, Darin McMurray, Shon Flaharty, George Mira, Jr., Matt Patchan, TBD, Matt
onds. McCloskey. Row 4: William Schaefer, Ron Harris, Michael Moore, Paul O’Connor, Fred Foster, Winston
Moss, Jerome Brown, Tom Deming, Darrell Fullington, Juan Comendeiro, Lenny Moore, David Ditthardt,
Many called it the most exciting game in college football Doug McFadden, Alvin Ward, Stuart Schnellenberger, Rob Canei, Robert Neal, Danny Brown, David
Alekna, Kevin Kelly. Row 5: Jay Brophy, Willie Lee Broughton, Paul Bertucelli, Ed Davis, Andrew
history. The victory, combined with losses by second-ranked Dickerson, Kevin Fagan, Joe Kohlbrand, Vinny Testaverde, Glenn Dennison, Lucious Delegal, Chris Ley,
Charles Henry, Maurice Maddox, Daniel Stubbs, Fred Robinson, Ian Sinclair, David Heffernan, Bernie
Texas in the Cotton Bowl and fourth-ranked Illinois in the Rose Kosar, Gregg Rakoczy, Alfredo Roberts, John McVeigh, Victor Morris.
Bowl, vaulted a Miami team that had started the season
unranked to its first national championship.
Quarterback Bernie Kosar, who passed for an Orange Bowl wide receiver Michael Irvin. “We had just lost shots at two
Classic record of 300 yards, was named the Most Valuable national titles. We could have lost our intensity. But we had
Player of the game. And the character to keep fighting till we won one.”
Hurricane linebacker Jack Miami culminated another undefeated season by whipping
Do You Remember?
Fernandez was named the
QUARTERBACK U Nebraska, 22-0, in the Orange Bowl Classic on Jan. 1, 1992, to
Quarterbacks on the 1982 team were: Jim
Defensive MVP.
Kelly, Mark Richt, Kyle Vanderwende, Bernie
capture the school’s fourth national title in nine years.
Kosar and Vinny Testaverde. Their coach: Earl
“It’s unlikely that any
Morrall, who shared quarterback duties on the
The Hurricanes’ offense was led by freshman Larry Jones,
undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.
team in the history of col- who ran for a 144 yards and earned MVP honors. The
lege football ever got higher Cornhuskers were shut out for the first time since 1973 and
for a game than Miami did for Nebraska,” wrote John were held to just 82 yards rushing. The Canes’ defense record-
Underwood of Sports Illustrated. “And if you missed Monday ed two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five sacks,
night’s game, you missed an emergence ... Down went four by end Rusty Medearis.
Nebraska’s 22-game winning streak, and up went the burgee of Earlier that day the Washington Huskies, coached by former
a team that may well be the next great name in the game.” Hurricane quarterback Don James, soundly defeated Michigan
Prophetic words. The Hurricanes came close to winning the in the Rose Bowl. The next day the AP poll picked the
national title in 1985 and 1986, then in what was supposed to Hurricanes as the national champions and the coaches’ poll
be a rebuilding year (1987), they went undefeated. selected Washington.
Once again in the Orange Bowl Classic, played on Jan. 1,
1988, the Hurricanes faced the top-ranked team Oklahoma
Sooners. But this time they didn’t need last-minute heroics as Quarterback Steve Walsh was 23-1 as a starter and led UM to the
1987 national championship
they won, 20-14.
Against a defense that allowed the fewest points in the
nation, quarterback Steve Walsh completed 18 of 30 passes for
209 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Melvin Bratton caught
nine passes for 102 yards and ran eight times for 18 yards, and
Greg Cox kick field goals of 56 and 48 yards.
The Sooner offense had averaged 428.8 yards per game, but
the second-ranked Hurricanes limited them to 255 yards.
Middle linebacker Bernard Clark earned MVP honors as he
made 14 tackles, 12 unassisted.
“People didn’t think we could do anything in 1987,” said Ken Calhoun deflected a two-point conversion
to give Miami the 1983 national championship
13. OrangeBowlInsert07.qxp 11/19/2007 11:23 AM Page 13
1987 University of Miami Football 1991 National Champions
12-0 Record 12-0 Record
(L-R) Row 1: Chris Bell, Mike Pigza, Eric Miller, Derwin Jones, Willis Peguese, Mark Evans, Bill Schaefer, (L-R-) Row 1: George Michaels, Joe Moore, Matt Britton, Eric Miller, Marty Golloher, Bobby Byrd, Carlos
Bill Hawkins, Jimmie Jones, Greg Cox, Andre Brown, Scott Provin, Mike Sullivan, Kevin Harris, Tolbert Huerta, Derrick Golden, Anthony Hamlet, Hurlie Brown, Todd Seiple, Carl Petetti, Claude Jones, Leon
Bain, Dan Stubbs. Row 2: Carmen Grosso, Al Bellamy, Kevin O’Neill, Mike Short, Bobby Revilla, Dan Searcy, Kelvin Harris, Nestor Lubowicz, Sean VanBeber, Charles Pharms, Herbert James. Row 2: Al
Werner, Tony Wise, Steve Hoffman, Bill Johnson, Tom Tuberville, Joe Brodsky, Butch Davis, Jimmy Shuford, Shawn Jones, Rohan Marley, Jonathan Harris, Jessie Armstead, Kevin Williams, Jean Stiverne,
Johnson, Dave Wannstedt, Don Soldinger, Gary Ghormley, Art Kehoe, Ron Meeks, Dave Campo, Bill Paul White, Dexter Seigler, Darryl Spencer, Harry Anderson, Larry Luttrell, Chris Zannini, Ed Breslin,
Foran, Mick Smith, David Scott, Gary Stevens, Hubbard Alexander. Row 3: Melvin Bratton, Leon Searcy, Michael Schwartz, Darren Saunders, David Geoerg, Thomas Patterson, Lamar Thomas, Horace Copeland,
Claude Jones, Darren Bruce, Luis Cristobal, Bobby Garcia, Dennis Kelleher, Greg Mark, Michael Johnson, Chris Jones. Row 3: Carmen Grosso, Joel Beam, Mike Short, Randy Shannon, Scott Auker, Jim
Gary Mahon, Kirk Sandifer, Darrell Fullington, Kenny Berry, Craig Erickson, Joe Moore, Alfredo Roberts, Michalczik, Ed Orgeron, Tommy Tuberville, Brad Roll, Bob Karmelowicz, Dennis Erickson, Gregg Smith,
Charles Henry. Row 4: Leonard Conley, Mike Green, Alex Johnson, Roland Smith, Robert Bailey, Tahir Al- Sonny Lubick, Bob Bartkowski, Dave Arnold, Eddie Gran, Alex Woods, Gary Ghormley, Art Kehoe, David
Shayeb, Carlos Huerta, Lance Prince, Sung Kim. Row 5: Earnest Parish, Randal Hill, Gerard Orr, Mike Scott, Pete Garcia, Andy Clary. Row 4: Robert Woodus, Candido Cerda, Christopher Watkins, Corwin
Irvin, Doyle Aaron, Mike Azer, Selwyn Brown, Bennie Blades, Brian Blades, Brett Perriman, Kelvin Harris, Francis, Derrick Harris, Willie Phillips, Dane Prewitt, C.J. Richardson, Donnell Bennett, Jason Marucci,
Shannon Crowell, Maurice Crum, Hilton Mobley, Herbert James, Bud Nemeth, Ken Gary, Eric Ham. Row Scott Barnwell, Paul Snyder, John Shaw, Terris Harris, Ryan Collins, David Dziczkowski, Larry Jones,
6: Alan Karras, Brad Vespe, Bukasa Kalombo, Steve Rosinski, Rod Carter, Warren Williams, Cleveland Malcolm Pearson, Stephen McGuire. Row 5: Darren Krein, Tyrone Philpart, Chris O’Connell, Sean
Gary, Edgar Benes, Darren Handy, Rod Holder, Russell Maryland, Barry Panfil, Matt Britton, Tracy Thompson, Darrin Smith, Micheal Barrow, Robert Bass, Bruce Eberst, Dietrich Clausell, Kevin
Waiters, Shon Williams, Trevor Weeks, Rob Chudzinski, Milton Biggins, Darius Frazier. Row 7: Freddy Brinkworth, Ryan McNeil, Marcus Carey, Darryl Williams, Warren Sapp, Jessie Mitchell, Alan Symonette.
Highsmith, Sandy Jack, Steve Walsh, Bobby Harden, George Mira, Jr., Dale Dawkins, Derrick Golden, Row 6: Damon Bethel, James Stewart, Travis Cooper, Shayon Tresvant, Kenny Lopez, Tirrell Greene,
Randy Bethel, Marty Golloher, Jason Hicks, Anthony Hamlet, Bernard Clark, Bubba McDowell, Randy Baraka Short, David Holliman, Mark Caesar, Dwayne Johnson, Corries Hardy, Robert Cobuzio, A.C.
Shannon, Don Ellis, Jeff Feagles. Tellison, Coleman Bell, Carlos Etheredge, Rudy Barber, Syii Tucker. Row 7: Zev Lumelski, Diego London,
Jason Owens, Kipp Vickers, Rusty Medearis, Gino Torretta, Kevin Patrick, Kevin Kirkeide, Alan Hall,
Mario Cristobal, Brad Shirey, Jason Budroni, Frank Costa, Anthony Lewis, Kyle Stranahan, Patrick Riley.
Gino Torretta,winner of the 1992 Heisman
Bernie Kosar quarterbacked the 1983 national Rusty Medearis pulls down a Nebraska player in
Trophy, led UM to the 1991 national
Craig Erickson was the quarterback for the
champions the 1991 national championship game
championship
1989 national championship team
Coaches Tom Osborne of Nebraska and Howard Lamar Thomas skies high to catch a pass in a Randy Shannon was a graduate assistant coach
Schnellenberger of UM meet before the 1984 1991 game at the Orange Bowl before moving up the ranks to head coach
Orange Bowl Classic
14. OrangeBowlInsert07.qxp 11/19/2007 11:24 AM Page 14
For nearly a decade, not one opponent celebrated on the The most common opponent during the streak was Florida
Orange Bowl field. That’s because the Hurricanes won an State, which lost four times. Notre Dame and Cincinnati each
NCAA-record 58 games in a row at home. lost three times, with Notre Dame being outscored 109-17 and
This streak for the ages lasted through three U.S. Cincinnati being outscored 151-3.
Presidents, two head Miami was the top-
football coaches ranked team 25 times
(Jimmy Johnson and during the streak.
Dennis Erickson) and Network television
even Hurricane Andrew. carried 26 of the
It began on Oct. 12, 58 games.
1985, with a 38-0 rout
The streak
of Cincinnati, and did-
leaders:
n’t end until
Passing: Gino
Washington won 38-20
on Sept. 24, 1994. Torretta: 4,638 yards,
The Hurricanes 33 touchdowns
Rushing: Leonard
broke the record of 57
in a row set by Conley, 1,245 yards
Receiving: Michael
Alabama at Bryant-
Denny Stadium in Irvin, 78 catches,
Tuscaloosa from 1963- 1,316 yards
Touchdowns
82. And Miami’s streak
Rushing: Stephen
was clearly more formi-
dable. McGuire: 20
Touchdown
The Crimson Tide
Receptions: Lamar
never played a top-
ranked team, didn’t Thomas: 15
Interceptions:
face arch-rivals Auburn
or Tennessee, and met Bennie Blades: 12
LSU only once during Fans watch the Hurricanes win their record-setting 58th consecutive home game 56-0 over Georgia Southern in 1994
the streak because Players and coach-
their major games were played in Birmingham. The Hurricanes es said the atmosphere and the fans made the Orange Bowl
defeated 17 ranked teams, including 12 in the top 10 and six special. “It’s about as tough and intense an atmosphere as I’ve
in the top five. ever had to take a team,” said Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz.
Four times they toppled the No. 1 team – Oklahoma 28-16 Hurricane runing back Melvin Bratton said, “As a player, you
in 1986; Oklahoma 20-14 in the 1988 Orange Bowl Classic; are so pumped up you could run through a brick wall.”
Florida State 31-0 in 1988; and Notre Dame 27-10 in 1989.
Leonard Conley was the rushing leader during Michael Irvin was the top receiver, catching 78 Stephen McGuire scored the most touchdowns Bennie Blades recorded the most interceptions,
the streak with 1,245 yards passes for 1,316 yards rushing, with 20 pulling down 12 opponent passes
15. OrangeBowlInsert07.qxp 11/19/2007 11:25 AM Page 15
Trivia question: Of the 15 Hurricanes head coaches who led roles of coach and athletic director for nine years. He had two
teams onto the Orange Bowl field, do you know which one had coaching stints, 1937-1942 and 1944-1947, sandwiched around
the best record at home prior to this season? two years in the Navy (1943-1944). Eddie Dunn, a star running
Hint: He had the same last name as one of his star quarterbacks. back for the Hurricanes in the late 1930s, was head coach dur-
Answer: Dennis Erickson. His six teams (1989-1994) amassed ing Harding’s absence.
a 36-2 record, capturing their first 32 as part of the NCAA- Andy Gustafson, Miami’s other coach in the College Football
record 58-game winning streak en route to winning national Hall of Fame, had the longest tenure of any Hurricane coach,
championships in 1989 and 1991. 16 years (1948-63). He led Miami to four bowl berths and the
The next best mark was 25-2 by Howard Schnellenberger school’s first Top 10 ranking at the end of the season (1954).
(1979-83), who led the Hurricanes to their first national title Charlie Tate (1964-70) followed Gustafson and took two
in 1983. Jimmy Johnson (1984-88) went 28-4, losing four of his teams to bowl games before resigning as coach and athletic
first six at home before reeling off the next 26 to start the director two games into the 1970 season. Walt Kichefski, a
record streak that extended into the Erickson era. His 1987 long-time Hurricane football legend and assistant coach, took
team won the national title. over on an interim basis in 1970.
Larry Coker’s six teams (2001-2006) compiled the fourth- Then, as the program struggled through the 1970s, there
best home record, winning their first 16 home games as he was a succession of four coaches who lasted two years each:
compiled a 32-6 record in the Orange Bowl and won the Fran Curci (1971-72), Pete Elliott (1973-74), Carl Selmer (1975-
national championship in 2001. Butch Davis (1995-2000) had 76) and Lou Saban (1977-78). Saban laid the foundation for the
the fifth-best home mark, 27-9. program’s rise to national prominence in the 1980s.
Jack Harding, one of two Miami coaches inducted into the Four of the coaches played for the Hurricanes – Dunn,
College Football Hall of Fame, coached the first Hurricane Kichefski, Curci and Randy Shannon, who became the school’s
team to play in the Orange Bowl (1937) and held the dual 20th head coach last December 8.
Jack Harding Eddie Dunn Andy Gustafson Charlie Tate Walt Kichefski Fran Curci Pete Elliott Carl Selmer
Years: 1937-42, 1944-47 Years: 1943-44 Years: 1948-63 Years:1964-70 Year: 1970 Years: 1971-72 Years: 1973-74 Years: 1975-76
Lou Saban Howard Schnellenberger Jimmy Johnson Dennis Erickson Butch Davis Larry Coker Randy Shannon
Years: 1977-78 Years: 1979-83 Years: 1984-88 Years: 1989-94 Years: 1995-2000 Years: 2001-2006 Year: 2007
Jimmy Johnson’s undefeated 1987 team won
Howard Schnellenberger led UM to its first Dennis Erickson won two national titles in 1989
UM’s second national title
national title in 1983 and 1991
16. OrangeBowlInsert07.qxp 11/19/2007 11:26 AM Page 16
ORANGE BOWL FACTS
• First game: 40-0 victory over Georgia Southern on Oct. 1, • Most yards passing in a game: 485 yards by Gino Terretta
1937 vs. San Diego State in 1991
• Games played in the Orange Bowl: 467 • Most receiving yards in a game: 220 yards by Eddie Brown
• Record: 318-142-7 vs. Boston College in
• Winning percentage 1984
at home: .688 • Most receptions
• Records in the in a game: 12 by
1930s: 15-8 Willie Smith, 12
• Records in the vs. Maryland in
1940s: 44-35-2 1984
• Records in the • Most TD passes
1950s: 49-23-3 thrown in a
• Records in the game: 5 by
1960s: 39-24-2 Bernie Kosar vs.
• Records in the Cincinnati in
1970s: 27-28 1984, Steve
• Records in the Walsh vs.
1980s: 52-6 Cincinnati in
• Records in the 1988, and Ken
1990s: 50-10 Dorsey vs. Boston
• Records in the College in 2000
2000s: 42-8 • Most field goals:
• Largest crowd: 5 by Jon Peattie
81,927 vs. Florida vs. West Virginia
State in 2002 in 2003
• Largest average • Longest pass
attendance for a play: 88 yards,
season: 69,539 in Gino Torretta to
2002 Wesley Carroll in
• Won-loss record on 1989
Homecoming: 45-24
• Record in Orange Bowl Classic: 6-3 • Longest rushing play: 90 yards, Jack Losch vs. Bucknell in
• Most points scored in a game by the Hurricanes: 75 vs. 1955
• Longest field goal: 55 yards by Danny Miller vs. Florida in
Fordham in 1954
• Most points scored in a game by an opponent: 70 by 1981 and Jon Peattie vs. Virginia Tech in 2006
• Longest punt: 77 yards by Harry Ghaul vs. Florida in 1947
Texas A&M in 1944
• Most points scored in a game by both teams: 94 (Miami • Longest punt return: 92 yards by Devin Hester vs.
49, UCLA 45 in 1998 Louisiana Tech in 2004
• Lowest scoring game: 0-0 vs. Notre Dame in 1965, vs. • Longest kickoff return: 100 yards by Tim Morgan vs.
North Carolina State in 1957, vs. South Carolina in 1944 Houston in 1975 and Ottis Anderson vs. Utah State in 1978
• Most touchdowns scored: 6 by Willis McGahee vs. Virginia • Longest interception return: 98 yards by Paul Hefti vs.
Tech in 2002 Fordham in 1954
• Most yards rushing in a game: 299 yards by Edgerrin
James vs. UCLA in 1998