OT Bryant McKinnie Fitzgerald Dorsey and Johnson were named Rose Bowl co-Most Valuable Players. Coker Frank Gore was also on the 2001 national title Hurricanes roster. We could see with our own eyes what made that team go. A lot of what we did, Butch should get credit for. I went to a JUCO in Scranton, Penn. And so much more. Chudzinski NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? 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. Eventually producing a record 38 NFL Draft picks, the 2001 Hurricanes are considered by many to be the best college football team of all time.[1][2][3]. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered to be the greatest collection of players in college football history, at least as measured by the NFL Draft. 1 defense. He made good decisions and he made everyone around him better. Baseball. / / You had to work. Chudzinski After the close win over Boston College, Miami went on to win over #14 Syracuse, 590,[12] and #12 Washington, 657,[13] in consecutive weeks in the Orange Bowl. Ed was somebody that would really talk to players. "It was literally, you're doing the same thing that I'm doing. They listened to us. So can 2016 Clemson, a team I covered throughout the season as an ACC reporter. 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. Two Hurricanes have won the Heisman Trophy and nine have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Sponsorship Opportunities Fundraiser : The UM Sports Hall of Fame Needs U! Soldinger They were so dialed in on winning a national championship, so focused on leadership, accountability and -- as ridiculous as it sounds now -- proving themselves that it became impossible in the moment to assign this team a place in college football lore. It was always like a family. I'd been at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for years and we'd never beaten [Nebraska]. Buy Now. The Hurricanes began the season with a nationally televised primetime win over Penn State in Beaver Stadium. The toughness, the mental toughness. I remember just sitting there like, "Damn.". 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. The Hurricane defense picked up the slack by limiting BC to just seven points. This endowed scholarship was created in 1992, in the memory of beloved Hurricanes' Hall of Fame player and coach Walter Kichefski. Little did I know that one line would take on a far more powerful meaning in the years to come. We'd just beaten Florida in the Sugar Bowl and gone 11-1. 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. Nobody was too "big time" for anything. Kenny was the perfect guy. If you don't drive them, you're going to be in trouble. All rights reserved. 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. Coker We were mentally driven. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Reed has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are vivid moments that stand out to me that season. Record: 12-0 (1st of 117) (Schedule & Results), Bowl Game: Won Rose Bowl 37-14 versus Nebraska. 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. In interviews with players and coaches, here . Jump inside of it. Behind Portis were Gore, McGahee and Payton with Davenport blocking for. The knee injuries couldnt hold Gore back as hes still running the rock in the NFL today. Of course, Miami players are going to take up for their own team and scream from the rooftops that 2001 Miami is the GOAT. Back at Miami, where he was named to the university's Hall of Fame back in 2011, Wayne helped The U to the 2001 national championship as a four-year starter, registering 173 catches for 2,510 . In the classes that followed, they signed other players who constantly felt the need to prove they belonged, including Vilma. I have covered more national champions since 2001 Miami that could make their own claim, too. It happened twice in the Coliseum. From there, this iconic team started its journey toward greatness. We want somebody from in-house who knows us, and that's Coach Coker." But I remember a few days before the game we did a two-minute drill, our No. I couldn't get off the ground fast enough to go give him a hug. In interviews with players and coaches, here . McGahee ran for 4.7 yards per carry and three touchdowns in reserve duty behind Clinton Portis in 2001. Before we even went to the game, we made "Ballin Boys." Johnson was a member of the Hurricanes' most recent national championship team in 2001. It was the perfect storm for us. Davis ", Flashback Friday pic.twitter.com/qCE9gnzI5E. The leaders on that team were their best representatives -- doing all interviews asked of them. For whatever reason, we always played them close in my four years there. 1 in both polls -- was sitting at No. That was the first time I was ever a champion of anything, so I just wanted to stay in the locker room. Ed Reed, a free safety, is in the Hall of Fame (elected in 2019), and his backup was Sean Taylor, arguably the greatest safety who ever played the game. It was the other intangibles we were looking for.". 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. They're just telling us we're No. It really set the stage -- to not only win but be a dominant team like we were. 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. 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 thought we had a great team, but you don't know until the bullets start flying. February 26, 2023 11:32 AM. [17] Additionally, the Hurricane defense scored eight touchdowns of its own. All rights reserved Privacy Policy The 2001 Miami Hurricanes have been called "the single most talented college roster" ever. A stacked defensive line room, with Vince Wilfork as a backup, too. Miami followed up the victory with wins over Rutgers,[5] Pitt,[6] and Troy State.[7]. He made things happen. The 26-point margin tied for Penn State's worst home loss under Joe Paterno. Overall, 38 members of the team would be selected in the NFL Draft. They thought that we looked like a high school team. The eccentric Portis is said to have played mind games with his backups in order to hold them down and keep the football in his hands. Williams; and defensive backs Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon. The first quarter, we'd always said, once we got the speed of the option down, we'd get it done. Walters At that point, euphoric adrenaline runs over you. We're tougher than you think.". But with a chance to tie the game with another two-point conversion, Virginia Tech sophomore Ernest Wilford dropped a pass in the endzone. 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. We sucked on offense. We gave up the bowl in 1995. When you've got guys that are doing workouts, even though it was hell on earth in July in 115 degrees, like you're breathing through a sock, and turn around and just do it again for a teammate because he needs help, that's remarkable. We were pissed. As did what happened in October, when Miami -- ranked No. Guys rallied behind him. ", Reed The offense was terrible. In the years since Miami's 2001 championship, the team's reputation has only grown. If I slacked off at all, I wasn't going to play as much because Vince Wilfork is my backup. The University of Miami is known for producing excellent professional football players. The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the century-plus existence of our version of the sport. Walters Rumph All I could think as I looked on from the press box was, "I can't believe they're about to blow this," knowing full well a trip to the national championship and the Rose Bowl was on the line. And I'll never forget, everybody's fired up, and Larry gets up in front of the bus, and said, "Men, don't worry about that. HURRICANES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: NAME: SCHOOL(S) POS: YEARS: INDUCTED: Bennie Blades: Miami: S: 1984-87 2006: Don Bosseler: Miami FB: 1953-56 1990: Andy . I mean, he was pretty much automatic for them. Larry Coker knew that once that baton got handed off, he wasn't changing anything. Davenport was also an effective weapon as a receiver catching 35 balls for 3 touchdowns in orange and green. I remember the doctor saying he couldn't really throw the ball. As did what happened in October, when Miami -- ranked No. / There will be unsung heroes picking up blitzes. I remember when I recruited him, his coach told me, "You don't really know what you're getting." Clinton Portis was the main ball carrier during the 2001 national championship run of the Miami Hurricanes. Miami beat Florida State 49-27 to remain undefeated, but a bigger test awaited Nov. 10 on a cold day at Boston College. Williams Or write about sports? The debate over the greatest team in college football history will never end, and that is one of things we love so much about sports. Meanwhile, the stifling Miami defense shut down Heisman-winner Eric Crouch and the Huskers vaunted option offense, holding Nebraska 200 yards below its season average. They just accumulated so many good players that everybody was looking at them as like, 'How have they done this? The players coming to my backing was a big asset in me getting the job. Miami had zero touchdowns. At that point, it was like, all right, the last game then we're going to ship. Mission Statement 1 Miami Flattens No. I remember thinking that it was going to be such a difficult game, and we over prepared ourselves so much that the game came easy. / As one of the younger players on the team, that competition only made me better. What players and coaches insist set this team apart was their camaraderie, accountability and willingness to do whatever it took to win a championship -- especially those afternoon workouts. I said, "Coach, they're slow as hell.". We've got one goal in mind. The Canes Collapse Against The Noles, Lose 85-84. They made sure their offseason workouts were the most intense of their lives. Payton didnt enjoy the NFL success as the other running backs but did play for the Tennessee Titans in 2005. You may win one, but we're gonna win 20 of them, and it's not gonna stop.'". 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. Because when Jimmy [Johnson] left after winning two national championships, they really changed the whole program, and I didn't want that to happen to those kids. He almost had to come out of the game. The nearly hundred-year-old Hurricanes pennant once waved by a member of Miami's original freshman class. It was one of those games. 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. 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? We're dead. It was the Hurricanes' 76th season of football and 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. Payton ran for 985 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior and averaged 5 yards per carry over his career. As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the . Less than 24 hours to renew your football tickets! After that, there are issues like roster. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered the greatest college football team in college football history. Were the backups better than the starter? Read more about our data coverage. RBs coach Don Soldinger Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 2 behind Florida -- the team they dismantled in the Sugar Bowl to close out the 2000 season. That off-season, the team resolved to take the matter entirely out of the discretion of the computers by going a perfect 120. 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. RB Najeh Davenport Football. This Week in Miami Hurricanes Basketball: 2/27 Edition. That's how comical it became. That game solidified our quest to dominate. 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. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. There's going to be some tremendous 3- or 4-yard runs. Employment Oh, absolutely I was scared. DC Randy Shannon It was intense. 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? In 2001 by first-year head Coach larry Coker and played their home games at the level. Doing the same thing that i 'm doing ed reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon line would on. Florida in the years to come out of the computers by going a perfect.. A chance to tie the game with another two-point conversion, Virginia sophomore... 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