Rumph 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. Sometimes the practices in the bowl games get a little stale or tired. 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. I was thinking in my mind, "There's not a lot of time left in this game. The Hurricanes then defeated West Virginia, 453,[9] and Temple, 380,[10] before heading to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College (BC). And when he spoke, the coaches listened. A lot of us came back just for this game. We just knew we were going to win it all. The first quarter, we'd always said, once we got the speed of the option down, we'd get it done. Davenport went on to a seven year NFL career with the Packers, Steelers, and Colts, while averaging 4.6 yards per rush and scoring 13 touchdowns as a pro. You grow up with the Rose Bowl and watching the parade and those games. If you dominate your responsibility and enough guys do that, then we'll be OK. A lot of people don't understand the context. Matt! "Those guys were not just NFL players. The Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be inducted during NFL Honors, which airs on ABC at 9 p.m. But these guys wanted to win that two-minute drill as bad as they wanted to win the Rose Bowl. "We really had leaders on that team, and I don't think that can be matched," Reed said. We were bad that day. 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. Vilma played for the 2001 Hurricanes; Bush played for the 2004 Trojans, widely regarded as two of the most talented teams ever assembled. Former Miami Dolphin and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor and defensive ends coach Rod Wright talk on the field during practice at Greentree . The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. 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. University of Miami; UM Sports Hall of Fame; Tickets. You're sweating, you're bleeding, you're laying everything on the line for the guy next to you, and there was no envy." Two Hurricanes have won the Heisman Trophy and nine have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. No. Williams Schumann returning to Georgia, Adelson: 2001 Canes make case for college football's GOATs, Miami's turnover chain set a celebratory standard across the college football landscape. We blocked a kick and a punt and blocked a field goal that day. Rumph Rankings from AP poll. Miami won 187.[11]. It was unreal, just to see the trophy come out. That felt good for all of us. Shannon Miami (2001) Michigan (1947) Notre Dame (1947) Oklahoma (1956) How many NFL players came from Miami? Chudzinski Coker Media Requests It really set the stage -- to not only win but be a dominant team like we were. So I continue to stick with Miami as the greatest team of all time. It was always tough. In addition, Vilma, Shockey, Wilfork, Joseph, Rolle, McKinnie, and Reed have won the Super Bowl. Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2009. That's how much we've been around each other. Mission Statement ", Flashback Friday pic.twitter.com/qCE9gnzI5E. At halftime, Reed delivered his now famous, "I'm hurt, dog" speech and it was captured by a documentary film crew that was working on an all-access show for ESPN. Johnson was a member of the Hurricanes' most recent national championship team in 2001. As cliche as it sounds, Miami wanted revenge. The players coming to my backing was a big asset in me getting the job. Our physicality wasn't good. Reed 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 Former coach Butch Davis Vilma 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. Vilma got into a debate several years ago with former USC running back Reggie Bush when the two played for the New Orleans Saints. Miami has two games remaining before the postseason begins and winning out has big implications for their place in the programs best all-time regular seasons. I knew we'd have a good team, but there were a lot of questions because of the coaching changes. Then in 2002, with Frank Gore out, exploded on the scene with 1,753 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 6.2 yard per carry. Nobody really wanted to work out at 1 p.m. in the scorching heat and high humidity in South Florida. A stacked defensive line room, with Vince Wilfork as a backup, too. It was the perfect storm for us. Dorsey / 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. As I went to the NFL, we'd always find those Miami guys on the other team and you knew they were going to be the most competitive guys. Coker I wanted to play more. The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the. Some of our most beloved Canes shared a meeting room in 2001. "Because you're trying to recruit the foundation of what's to come for the next four years. "Dominate" had started the year before, breaking down the team before going into the locker room right before we came out for the game. It didn't matter who stood in the way, they didn't stand a chance against us. The University of Miami is known for producing excellent professional football players. And we went into the Hall of Fame together this past year. Renew Now Close Topbar. It really gave the players and the coaching staff somebody to rally behind. Like, literally none. Join our linker program. The dominance on the field and at the next level was unparalleled throughout the century-plus existence of our version of the sport. Randy Shannon told me, "If you come back to school, I'm not going to promise you or guarantee it, but there's a good chance you will never lose another college football game.". Rumph The knee injuries couldnt hold Gore back as hes still running the rock in the NFL today. And I've debated that, and it's like, 'Yeah, whatever, you can talk.' McGahee played in the NFL from 2003-2013 including the year of rehab in 2003. However, in the final minute of the fourth quarter, with Miami clinging to a 127 lead, BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre led the Eagles from their own 30-yard line all the way down to the Hurricanes' 9-yard line. 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. / Internships The guys suffer their worst loss of the season, but can still win the ACC. Walters We let them drive right before the half and Ed Reed wasn't in that drive because he had dinged up his shoulder. . Strength coach Andreu Swasey Vilma played for the 2001 Hurricanes . 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. I was tired. (0:44). 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. There is history in nearly every corner of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame and the Tom Kearns Sports Hall of Fame Building. We have the recipe, we have the tools, we have everything to be successful. If we needed to win it on defense, let's go win it on defense. Dorsey 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. In my game story, headlined "UM-BELIEVABLE!" Kenny was the perfect guy. 14 Syracuse, 59-0", "No. 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? 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. Everyone knew [Clinton] Portis, but you had Willis McGahee and Frank Gore. 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. Greatest position rooms in Canes history: 2001 Running Backs. Davis Behind Portis were Gore, McGahee and Payton with Davenport blocking for. A jersey worn by late Hurricanes great Sean Taylor. Rumph We probably could have scored 80 points. They were cracking jokes at us, and they thought that they were gonna just drag us all over the football field and just pound us. Overall, 38 members of the team would be selected in the NFL Draft. But there were a few things in the contract we were having a difficult time agreeing on. 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. Dorsey was also a Heisman finalist, finishing third. 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. Walters It was a challenge to figure out how to get through the rest of that game. 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. Rumph Less Than 24 Hours to Renew Your Tickets. 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. Washington coach Rick Neuheisel But the defense came through, as Mike Rumph, Matt Walters and Reed combined to save the day with one of the most iconic plays in Miami history -- a Walters interception, deflected off Rumph's knee, that ended up in Reed's hands for the defensive score. It was always like a family. University of Miami 2023. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The ladies win their home finale, prep for their conference tournament matchup on Thursday. They pushed each other to the limit, and the one thing that separates that group, they were super, super competitive. Portis was an even bigger weapon in the NFL over his nine year career. Williams As a matter of policy, Sports Reference only reports the results of games as played on the field. Or write about sports? 15 Washington 3429 on the road, while the Seminoles' lone loss was on the road to the #7 team in the country by 3. We had it in us, and we knew we had it in us. 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. They had confidence. / The environment was pretty spectacular. Miami had zero touchdowns. It's something we're used to playing with is that lack of respect. Walters ran ten yards with the ball before teammate Ed Reed grabbed the ball out of his hands at around the Miami 20-yard line and raced the remaining 80-yards for a touchdown. Adversity hit shortly after the calendar turned to 2001, when coach Butch Davis left to become head coach with the Cleveland Browns. Years later in the NFL, I'm hearing people like, "Man, I listened to that song.". The final hurdle to the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship Game was at Virginia Tech. In the years since Miami's 2001 championship, the team's reputation has only grown. Miami beat Florida State 49-27 to remain undefeated, but a bigger test awaited Nov. 10 on a cold day at Boston College. Walters The way we were able to play, come out firing on all cylinders, was huge. All rights reserved As one of the younger players on the team, that competition only made me better. 1 defense. 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?" 1. Media Requests RB Najeh Davenport 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 . I couldn't get off the ground fast enough to go give him a hug. Don't ask me if I'm alright. Every team has to go through that, because that's how you get calloused to know that no matter what happens, you're going to find a way to win. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. They beat us 47-0, and I remember walking off the field and everyone was celebrating and he said, "As long as I have something to do with it, I will never be embarrassed by Florida State again." Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? "It wasn't about elite, starters, pecking orders, all that other great stuff," center Brett Romberg said. 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 look at each other, like how the hell did we do this? We weren't trying to sit here and showcase how fast and athletic we were. You can make the argument it's the most talented team to ever play. Terms of Service Being from California, playing in the Rose Bowl was special for me. I was hurt before this game. He didn't care about scolding players if they didn't do their jobs. Guys rallied behind him. We'd just beaten Florida in the Sugar Bowl and gone 11-1. But the number of great players, first-round draft choices and players who got drafted, it's amazing really. There were a lot of expectations, and Larry took the pressure off of them. Not a lot needed to be said. 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. They listened to us. [6] [7] The Hurricanes have had at least one former player make the Pro Bowl every season since 1985, 31 years in a row. It was a somewhat natural transition because I knew the players. And as a coach, you almost never want that -- guys on the ground, just a couple days before the game. Nebraska proved to be no competition for Miami, which opened up a 340 halftime lead en route to a 3714 final score. He didn't want it to be close at all. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. That goes for everybody. You could feel the crowd; you could feel the anger that we had, and how bad we wanted to beat them. "I said, 'Our difference is, we were gonna try to outhit you.' That served as motivation. A lot of what we did, Butch should get credit for. "I'm willing to line our 2001 team up against any collegiate institution, anytime, anywhere," center Brett Romberg said. Vince Wilfork, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow, Sean Taylor -- they were all NFL first-rounders and they were all back-ups on that team. "I mean, football, no question, I don't think anybody in college football could play with us. On the field in front of me, Alabama beat down Ohio State to close a 13-0 season with three Heisman Trophy finalists on offense -- including winner DeVonta Smith. 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. The older guys took us under their wings and helped us. I wanted to be there. The intelligence he had. 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. Of course, Miami players are going to take up for their own team and scream from the rooftops that 2001 Miami is the GOAT. Ohio State beat Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl (2002 BCS Championship Game). I had to make it tough tough. What I remember most, though, is the sheer dominance. From there, this iconic team started its journey toward greatness. Ask Reed about that 2001 team, and he starts not with the championship but with the leadership that drive created. .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}. From the 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team alone, 42 players went on to be drafted into the NFL from (2002-2006), including 17 1st round picks. 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. I remember just sitting there like, "Damn.". That's always what Miami had been about, and what set it apart in my mind. We're dead. And I felt like I was a chess piece to that. Gore then injured his knee, which would become a tragic and common theme for one of the most universally loved Hurricanes in program history. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings. Walters RBs coach Don Soldinger When he dropped the two-point conversion, I was like, I need some prayer right now. Dorsey He was leading stuff, telling guys what to do, up and down the court with the ball in his hands, and you could just see this guy had that magical feel for how to play team games. They should have gone back to high school where they do the running clock. 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. Its game at Florida State on Oct. 13 took on even greater meaning after what happened in 2000. We wanted to beat them for two reasons, right? Fitzgerald $400,000 was initially raised to endow the scholarship, the only undergraduate award presented by the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. / Clinton Portis was the main ball carrier during the 2001 national championship run of the Miami Hurricanes. Ed was definitely yelling my name, "Matt! They embraced it, and that's when I learned the great ones want to be driven. Najeh Davenport was in the three headed monster backfield of the 1998 season with Edgerrin James and James Jackson before injuring his knee. We made a song like the Super Bowl Shuffle, letting them know, "We're going to whoop y'all." A total of 38 . As a true freshman coming in, I'm all smiles. Fitzgerald They knew he was the straw that stirred the drink. In the classes that followed, they signed other players who constantly felt the need to prove they belonged, including Vilma. As the 2001 Miami Hurricanes celebrated a fifth national championship in the Rose Bowl locker room 20 years ago, not one person screamed, 'GOAT!' It happened twice in the Coliseum. After that, there are issues like roster. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. We've got one goal in mind. There's going to be some tremendous 3- or 4-yard runs. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. / At fullback the Canes used two starters in Najeh Davenport and Kyle Cobia. It is through the support of Hurricane fans and alumni that we are able to make a difference. Twenty years later, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes are widely regarded as one of the greatest college football teams of all time. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Larry Coker and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. Chudzinski, Shannon and defensive backs coach Mark Stoops all went on to head-coaching jobs. The leaders on that team were their best representatives -- doing all interviews asked of them. Payton didnt enjoy the NFL success as the other running backs but did play for the Tennessee Titans in 2005. 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. You may win one, but we're gonna win 20 of them, and it's not gonna stop.'". -- doing all interviews asked of them and defensive backs coach Mark Stoops went! But the number of great players, first-round Draft choices and players who constantly felt the to. A cold day at Boston College at all Coker and played their home games at the level. What set it apart in my game story, headlined `` UM-BELIEVABLE! argument... Figure out how to get through the rest of that game next four years still running rock... 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