#5 1979: 'Canes and Irish Meet in Japan

Memorable game in Tokyo is the last time Miami and Notre Dame met on a neutral field
By: Jimmy Gill
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The 1979 edition of the Miami Hurricanes became known as the "Jet-Lag Kids" for their extensive travels around the country and even the world. The team set an NCAA record with over 28,000 miles traveled throughout the season, highlighted by a trip to Japan for a regular season game against rival Notre Dame.
The matchup in the Mirage Bowl (November 24, 1979) was the last time prior to the 2010 Sun Bowl that Miami and Notre Dame met on a neutral field, as well as the only game in Miami football history that was played outside the United States.
It also marked the ninth straight year that the two teams met and the 13th overall with the Irish owning a 10-1-1 edge in the series at the time.
The 1979 season also marked the beginning of a new era in Miami football with Howard Schnellenberger taking over the reigns as head coach. The team struggled in the first year of his tenure, going 5-6, but better days would be right around the corner for the Hurricanes.
However, even with the mediocre season, the team had the opportunity to play a game in a foreign country against one of its biggest rivals. Notre Dame won the game easily 40-15, but the overall experience goes down as one of the more memorable games in the series because of the special nature of the game in Tokyo.
The Mirage Bowl started in 1977, pitting two American college football teams against each other. Mirage refers to the title sponsor of the Mitsubishi Mirage sports car, manufactured in Japan. The two previous matchups featured Grambling versus Temple in 1977 and Temple against Boston College in 1978. Without question, the 1979 matchup was much more anticipated with two big-name programs full of tradition willing to fly across the Pacific Ocean to compete.
The game came about in 1977 as the Mirage Bowl organizing committee offered to pay the expenses of each team as well as pay at least $200,000 guaranteed for participating. Both teams agreed, due to the finances as well as the unique opportunity. In addition, the game date was at the end of the semester, therefore not disrupting the academic schedule.
".both schools saw this as a chance to make some money," said a Notre Dame athletic spokesperson at the time. "And at the end of the season it won't disrupt the academic schedule."
In addition, they each got the opportunity to experience a different culture and expand the sport of football to Japan.
The Japanese were not very familiar with the sport but they went with it anyway, ".all but a few hundred of the 62,574 fans at Olympic Stadium were Japanese. And most didn't know a punt from a pass, or when to cheer or what to cheer for," wrote Jim Martz of the Miami Herald.
Football was fairly new to Japan, having only been in the public eye for about 10-15 years at the time. However, this game was billed as the country's biggest sporting event of the year. The interest around the Mirage Bowl wasn't a surprise, considering the NFL's Super Bowl was one of the highest-rated broadcasts in Japan at the time, supporting the country's curiosity in the sport.
To help the fans learn the sport, the game program dedicated many pages to the basics of football, including rules and scoring explanations, in Japanese of course. There were also pages describing the equipment the players wear, as well as the hand signals of the officials, all in an effort to educate the fans.
The program also featured letters from many dignitaries, including President Jimmy Carter.
"I am confident both teams will be fine representatives of our nation's long tradition of collegiate athletics," Carter said in the letter. "Please extend my congratulations and best wishes to everyone involved in this effort which will strengthen the friendship between the United States and Japan."
Japan's Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira also offered his best wishes.
"This year's game between the prestigious University of Notre Dame and Florida's pride, the University of Miami, will be an exciting match," Ohira said. "In recent years, the popularity of American football has increased in Japan. I feel certain that the Mirage Bowl will help enhance and promote understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States."
The trip took marked the end of four consecutive games away from the Orange Bowl for the Hurricanes, who had played at Syracuse, No. 19 Penn St., and No. 1 Alabama prior to Tokyo. The Mirage Bowl was just one week following the Alabama game, so Miami had no extra time to prepare for the trip. Notre Dame was in a similar situation, having played a game in South Bend against Clemson the previous week.
The Hurricanes' chartered flight arrived in Tokyo on the Wednesday before the game, with the entire trip taking 24 ½ hours from the time the bus left campus to the team's arrival at the hotel in Japan with a lengthy flight in between.
"I don't think we will have to worry about anybody goofing around tonight," said UM assistant coach Len Fontes.
"I'm going to sleep for three weeks," declared UM offensive tackle Frank Frazier.
Both teams stayed in the same hotel and ate in adjacent dining halls, but there were no issues other than a Miami player posing for a picture with two Notre Dame female cheerleaders to the chagrin of Coach Schnellenberger.
"Don't you know we have a game to play?" Schnellenberger roared. "Get over here!"
Nevertheless, both teams showed respect for each other and took in all the trip had to offer.
The game itself did not end up being very competitive, as Dan Devine and the Irish scored a touchdown on their opening drive and never looked back en route to an easy win. The key to the victory in the rainy weather was the ground attack led by Notre Dame senior halfback Vagas Ferguson, who ran for 177 yards on 35 carries with three touchdowns. Ferguson was awarded the game's MVP and would go on to finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting that season.
The Hurricanes were designated as the home team and wore orange jerseys, while the Irish were clad in their traditional green uniforms.
The fans did not have a specific rooting interest coming into the game, but were distributed pom-pons the color of the team they were supposed to cheer for depending on their section of the stadium.
Miami quarterback Jim Kelly started the game, but left due to injury early on. Halfback Chris Hobbs was deemed the "Most Dedicated Player." He ran for 23 yards and caught two passes for 11 more.
"But that shows you how much they know about football," Hobbs said after the game. "I didn't do anything."
The schools' bands and cheerleaders also made the trip, making several appearances throughout the time they were in Japan, including a joint performance the day before the game at Tokyo's Jingu Stadium. The bands also played throughout the game along with the Japanese Bugle Corp, entertaining the fans who paid just as much attention to them as they did the game.
Coach Devine remarked, "As Howard was telling me, it's too bad more people don't recognize two fine teams are playing. There's just as much interest in the bands."
The traveling parties headed out following the game, but left with plenty of memories even with a lopsided game on the field.
Miami quarterback Mike Rodrigue reflected on the experience after the game, "It was definitely tough to keep your mind on the game this week. But it was just as tough on Notre Dame. But the Japanese treated us nice. As far as playing the game, it was really tough, but everybody wanted to see Japan and buy things."
"It was a great experience for the players," said coach Devine. "And I enjoyed it too. But I wouldn't want to do it right away. We were treated as well as anyone can ever be. It was different having a team together for week under these conditions. Trying at times? Of course, but it was still a great experience."
Coach Schnellenberger echoed those sentiments to the Japanese media.
"Even though we didn't learn much about football today, we learned a lot about your country the last five days. It has been an exhilarating experience for our team and band."
There was no rest for the weary as Miami returned to the Orange Bowl the following week to defeat the Florida Gators in the season finale.
Notre Dame's season ended in Japan, as the Irish finished 7-4.
The Mirage Bowl would continue to be played every year until 1993, to great success.
The 1979 Miami-Notre Dame matchup was played in a much different environment than the teams were used to, but was a great example of sports diplomacy.
The two schools would close the book on the decade and this great rivalry would heat up even more entering the 1980's.

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#6 1960: Miami Gets First Win Over Notre Dame

Hurricanes win behind a ground game that amassed 248 yards against the Irish
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The 1960 meeting between Miami and Notre Dame didn't have the national appeal of most games in the historic rivalry, but it certainly has its place in history.
The game, played five years after the teams first met in 1955, was just the second in the rivalry. The first went the way of Notre Dame, as the fifth-ranked Irish shut-out Miami, 14-0, on a memorable night at the Orange Bowl.
But five years has passed and things had changed. The rosters had completely turned over and while Miami coach Andy Gustafson had been around for the first meeting, Notre Dame's new boss Joe Kuharich was new to the rivalry and struggling through his second season in South Bend.
Neither team was ranked heading into the Nov. 12 contest, a rarity in the rivalry. The Irish came into the game reeling, having lost six straight to Purdue, North Carolina, Michigan State, Northwestern, Navy and Pittsburgh after a season-opening win over Cal. Miami was in much better shape, entering 4-2, including back-to-back wins over Boston College and Florida State the two weeks prior.
The 'Canes were clearly in better shape and were a slight favorite in the game. But despite its struggles, Notre Dame was still one of the strongest programs in the country, while Miami was still a team that had yet to earn national respect.
Gustafson wasn't buying into the 'Canes being the favorite, or at least he wasn't saying it. Whether it was a motivational ploy for his players, or he just plain believed the Irish had run into some bad luck along the way, he was playing down any overconfidence going in.
"The Irish are getting better every week," Gustafson said. "They have played one bad game, against Purdue. With a break or two, they could have won all the others."
In a bold move before the season started, the 'Canes scheduled homecoming for the Notre Dame game, adding some excitement to a match-up that took South Florida by storm five years earlier. The fans didn't seem to mind Notre Dame was 1-6, as 58,062 showed up in hopes of watching their 'Canes beat Notre Dame for the first time.
They weren't disappointed.
A back-and-forth game that featured an exciting offensive display on both sides of the ball, the 'Canes were the last to score in a 28-21 victory.
Led by quarterback Eddie Johns, Miami had its first win over Notre Dame. Johns rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while completing four passes for 82 yards - including a 48-yard connection with star receiver Bill Miller, who was in the midst of an All-America season.
"We went more for the long pass in this game than any other time this season," Johns told The Miami News after the game. "But I didn't have to throw too often because we moved so well on the ground."
Running back Jim Vollenweider joined Johns in the running attack, rushing for 88 yards on 19 carries on a Notre Dame defense that didn't seem prepared for Miami's ground game.
Miami had 324 yards of total offense, including 248 on the ground. The Irish nearly equaled Miami's offensive output with 307 yards of their own, but a late interception by Racy Timmons secured the victory for Miami.
The loss was Notre Dame's seventh straight - the longest in the program's history. But that didn't take away from the Hurricanes' celebration. The 'Canes had their first win over the Irish.
"It was a privilege to play them and an even greater one to beat them," Gustafson said in the locker room after the game. "Regardless of what their record may be, they still are a fine football team. It really isn't a job to get a team ready to play Notre Dame.. for the boys prepare themselves. They know how much it means."

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St. Pete Times

Miami News

Miami News

#7 1965: Moral Victory for Miami

Despite a scoreless tie, the Hurricanes knew they belonged on the field with the Irish
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - There was a point in time when ties were fairly common in college football. Before overtime was introduced in 1996, it wasn't uncommon for two teams to play to a tie. A scoreless tie, however, was pretty rare.
That is exactly what transpired in 1965 when Miami and Notre Dame met in the Orange Bowl for just the third time ever.
At this point in the rivalry, the Irish were a national power, while Miami's program had yet to see the success it would enjoy in the decades ahead.
The match-up on paper easily favored the Irish. The game, played on Nov. 27, marked the regular season finale for both teams. Notre Dame came in 7-2 and ranked sixth in the country, while the Hurricanes were 5-4 and in search of their first winning season in three years. Notre Dame had allowed just one opponent to score more than 13 points all year. So going in, the 'Canes knew if they were to have a chance, their defense would have to at the very least equal the Irish's effort.
And despite the Hurricanes recent struggles on the field, football fans in South Florida wanted another taste of Miami and Notre Dame. It had been over a decade since the last time the Irish visited the Orange Bowl. So, it wasn't entirely surprising when it was announced that a packed house of 68,077 fans showed up to see that third edition of Miami-Notre Dame.
Ara Parseghian's Irish not only came into the game with a stout defense, but one of the most productive ground games with Bill Zloch at quarterback and Bill Wolski and Nick Eddy at running back.
For Miami, linebacker Ed Weisacosky led a defense that was up against its toughest task of the season.
The Irish got off to a slow start, fumbling on their first possession before their second drive stalled after five plays. Miami knew if it kept Notre Dame's ground game in check, the game was up for grabs.
Unfortunately for the 'Canes, they couldn't muster anything on offense against a Notre Dame defense that had allowed just six points per contest over its last seven games. Miami's offense, which featured the pass much more than Notre Dame's did, struggled to put consistent drives together.
The two teams went into the half at 0-0. The Hurricanes' game plan was working.
Notre Dame finally put together a few nice drives in the second half. Twice, the Irish moved deep into Miami's territory only to see the Hurricanes' defense force two goal line stands to preserve the rare 0-0 tie in the end.

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#8 1983: Miami Crushes Notre Dame En Route to National Championship

Hurricanes shut-out Notre Dame in a nationally-televised CBS showcase game
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - By 1983, anytime Miami and Notre Dame met on the gridiron, the country took notice. The Irish had enjoyed most of the success in the series, but Miami was a team on the rise under fifth-year head man Howard Schnellenberger.
While Miami-Notre Dame was usually a match-up that came later in the season, the 1983 game was played in late September when neither team really knew exactly what was ahead.
The unranked 'Canes came in 2-1, with a season-opening loss at Florida before rolling past Houston (29-7) and Purdue (35-0) the next two weeks. The 13th-ranked Irish entered 1-1, with a win over Purdue (52-6) and a loss to Michigan State (28-23).
Both teams were well aware coming in that another loss would essentially end any hopes of a national championship run.
The game, which had been selected for a CBS nationwide broadcast in the offseason, was the focal point of what had become the "Classic College Football Weekend" in South Florida. Schnellenberger, Miami administration, city officials and local businesses wanted to take advantage of the national stage to not only showcase the 'Canes, but the City of Miami.
"Once CBS announced that it would televise the game at prime time on a Saturday night nationally, our community was suddenly provided an unprecedented opportunity to spotlight the good things about South Florida," Schnellenberger said prior to the game. "Rarely do we have this much lead time before a nationally televised game."
Everything was planned out to the most minute detail. A "Miami's Magic" halftime show was to be shown live on CBS, while other events - including a special Alumni Star competition as well as other parties and concerts - were to take place around the game.
"First of all, the greatest statement that can be made by the game is for the TV cameras to open up with a jammed, packed Orange Bowl," Schnellenberger said. "The crowd will not only show America what an exciting place our city is, but it will help our team in one of the nation's top games. The eyes of the football world will be focused on Miami that evening. We want to show them the enthusiasm of Miami, win the football game and help promote South Florida nationwide."
The game would go down as one of the more memorable in Orange Bowl history, as the 'Canes dominated the Irish, 20-0, in front of a national television audience and 52,480 fans at the OB.
Everything had gone according to Schnellenberger's plan. Miami was in full display both on and off the field and came through in a big way.
Miami looked and played like the better team. It was the first time since 1978 that Irish had been shut out, while the 'Canes defense extended its shutout streak to 11 straight quarters. Freshman Bernie Kosar, who was quickly becoming the talk of the town, completed 22-of-33 attempts for 215 yards and a touchdown while defensive back Reggie Sutton may have had the biggest impact on the game in recording 13 tackles and a pair of blocked field goals.
"We started talking to 'em," Sutton said after the game. "We started intimidating them, calling them names. We figured if we could make them talk back to us, they wouldn't have their minds on what they were doing."
Miami held a 14-0 halftime lead behind touchdowns from Speed Neal and Eddie Brown. A pair of second half field goals by Jeff Davis confirmed what had already been assumed.
The game was Miami's. The plan had worked. And just over three months later, the 'Canes were national champions.
The win was the third in what proved to be an 11-game winning streak for Kosar and the 'Canes that ended with a 31-30 win over Nebraska in Orange Bowl Classic.
Miami had won its first national title, while Notre Dame's season spiraled out of control in the end as the Irish dropped three of their last four games to finish 7-5.
The 'Canes were on top of the college football world and on top of one of the sport's best rivalries. It was a place they would become quite comfortable with in the coming years.

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#9 1981: Rivalry Shifts Miami's Way

Miami crushed Notre Dame, 37-15 for its second-ever win over the Irish
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - For the better part of the first two decades of the rivalry, Notre Dame had its way with Miami. The 'Canes had their moments - a 28-12 win in 1960 and a couple close losses along the way - but the Irish owned the series.
Then came 1981.
Winners of 11 straight and 12-of-14 in the rivalry dating back to 1955, the Fighting Irish had always felt comfortable playing the 'Canes, as they did with most on their schedule. But times were changing. The Irish were in the midst of one of their worst seasons under first year head coach Gerry Faust, while the 'Canes were in the early stages of becoming a national power under Howard Schnellenberger.
No. 9 Miami came into its regular season finale on Nov. 28 having won eight of its 10 games in 1981, including wins over Florida, Penn State and Florida State along with way. They were ranked in the Top 10 for the first time in 13 years. Everything all seemed to be coming together in Coral Gables.
The Irish on the other hand entered that game at the Orange Bowl at 5-5, with the possibility of their first losing season in 18 years staring them right in the face.
Then came the game. Years of frustration on Miami's side coupled with Notre Dame's struggles led to a 37-15 blowout in favor of the 'Canes. UM jumped on the Irish early, taking a 30-6 lead into the half. The game was essentially over.
With junior Jim Kelly behind center, Miami rolled up 516 yards of offense compared to just 216 for the Irish. Kelly capped off a record-breaking season, connecting on 17-of-25 attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the rout.
"This is as fine a football team as I've ever been associated with," Schnellenberger said after the game. "I'm very proud of this team. They played the first half as well as they are capable of playing. Then the defensive unit took over in the second half and totally dominated."
The defense had played arguably its best game of the season, picking off three passes and holding the Irish to just 53 yards on the ground. Notre Dame's only two touchdowns on the day came via a kick-off return and an interception return (thrown by back-up Mark Richt).
"They thought they could come in here and shove the ball down our throats," senior linebacker Scott Nicolas told the Palm Beach Post after the game. "Penn State thought the same thing. You're just not gonna do it, unless maybe you're an NFL team."
The win for Miami meant more than just ending its losing streak against the Irish. It was certainly part of the celebration, but bigger things were happening around the program and around college football.
Despite its struggles, the Irish were expected by most to do what they were used to doing to against Miami - win. But that didn't happen, and with the game being the only nationally-televised college football contest that day, people took notice.
Miami finished the year 9-2, its best record since going 8-1-1 in 1956. In just three seasons at the helm, Schnellenberger had quickly turned the 'Canes into a perennial power and national title contender.
Almost as importantly, the rivalry turned.
"These players will go down in history," Schellenberger said at the time. "They've certainly taken a place among my memories. This is the biggest thing that's ever happened to me in football."
The same could have been said for most, if not all in the program. That would all change over the next decade.
The 'Canes had finally arrived.

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#10 1955: Where it All Started

Miami and Notre Dame met for the first time on the gridiron on Oct. 7, 1955 at the Orange Bowl
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The first game in the storied rivalry between Miami and Notre Dame didn't end in the Hurricanes' favor, but the 1955 meeting between the 'Canes and the Irish featured plenty of interesting storylines that helped start one of college football's best rivalries.
For the first time in its lengthy history, Notre Dame was entering the state of Florida to play a college football game with a Friday night match-up against the 'Canes on Oct. 7. The showdown featured two Top 20 teams, with No. 5 Notre Dame, firmly established as one the top teams in the country, visiting No.15 Miami, a growing program under head coach Andy Gustafson.
The Irish came in 2-0 - with shut-out wins over SMU and Indiana - while Miami entered 1-1, dropping its season-opener at No. 10 Georgia Tech, 14-6, before crushing Florida State at home, 34-0.
Notre Dame's visit, coupled with Miami's blowout win over the Seminoles the previous week, had South Florida brimming with anticipation. And while the fans were ready for the game and confident in their 'Canes, Gustafson made his best effort to contain some of the mounting confidence around town and in the locker room.
"Notre Dame always is one of the best in the country," Gustafson told the Miami Daily News the Sunday prior to the game. "They have great players, great morale and great team spirit. It is a real challenge to meet them, and I'm glad we have the opportunity."
"We'll have to do a lot better than we did against FSU to have a chance with Notre Dame," Gustafson added.
Heading into the game, in was unclear whether the 'Canes would go with senior Mario Bonofiglio or sophomore Gene Reeves at quarterback. For the Irish, the decision came much easier as junior Paul Hornung was in the early stages of what would prove to be a Hall of Fame career.
By late in the week, ticket sales were through the roof and officials were anticipating a record crowd at the recently-expanded Orange Bowl.
The fans didn't disappoint. A record 75,685 packed the OB for what would prove to be the second-largest crowd over the next 30 years to witness a Hurricanes' game at their famous venue. The atmosphere and energy had never been quite like it was as this game, for good reason.
Unfortunately for most in attendance, however, the game didn't live up to the hype, at least on Miami's end of things.
Playing in just the second night game in its history, Notre Dame went on to beat Miami, 14-0, behind a pair of fourth-down touchdown passes from Hornung, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy the following year. Bonofiglio earned the start for UM, but it was Reeves who played well under center, orchestrating a 70-yard drive - the Hurricanes' best opportunity for points - that was ultimately killed by a penalty.
Notre Dame and its stifling defense proved its worth in the end, holding its third straight opponent scoreless.
Miami would go on to finish the season 6-3, while Notre Dame went 8-2 with losses to Michigan State and USC.
That game on Oct. 7, 1955 had little impact on either team's season, but the significance of the meeting proved to be immense.
The fans showed up in droves that night and the rest of the country began to take notice. The two teams wouldn't meet again for five more years, but the foundation had been set that historic night at the Orange Bowl.

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Top 10 Miami-Notre Dame

There was a time when Miami-Notre Dame was among the biggest rivalries in sports. The series started in 1955 and over the next 35 years, built up to a national event when the two programs met on the gridiron.
On New Year's Eve, the famous match-up will return when the 'Canes battle the Fighting Irish in the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The game will mark the first of four scheduled meetings between the two storied programs over the next seven years, renewing a rivalry full of some of college football's biggest names and games.
Over the next two weeks, HurricaneSports.com will provide fans with an inside look at the famous rivalry with exclusive content straight from the source.
Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 15, visit Miami's Bowl Central for daily features, video and photos from the rivalry's biggest moments, including a look into the Top 10 games in the series and other stories along the way.
From the 58-7 drubbing the 'Canes put on the Irish in 1987 to the famous meeting in Japan in 1979, HurricaneSports.com will have all the Miami-Notre Dame coverage a fan could ask for as we lead up to the big game.

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The Big Guy Speaks....

Listen to Seantrel Henderson speaks to the media after practice.12/20/10

God Bless Mike James....

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami football program canceled all afternoon activities after learning that the mother of sophomore running back Mike James (Haines City, Fla.) passed away in a fatal car accident Monday morning.


“He is a member of our family,” said interim head coach Jeff Stoutland. “He grieves and we grieve. He hurts and we hurt. We are all here to support Mike and his family in any way possible.”


“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike and his family,” said Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt. “Family is the foundation of our football program, and today the entire Hurricane family is grieving with Mike. “

James’ sister and nephew were also involved in the car accident and are currently hospitalized.

James left the Coral Gables campus Monday afternoon to attend to his family.

Your Hired!!.

Dec. 19, 2010

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - University of Miami head football coach Al Golden has announced that assistant coaches Micheal Barrow, Aubrey Hill and Jeff Stoutland have joined his first Hurricanes' staff.
Barrow will coach linebackers, Hill will serve as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator while Stoutland will coach the offensive line.
The announcement of Barrow, Hill and Stoutland being added Golden's staff does not necessarily rule out the possibility of other current Miami assistants joining his staff at a later date.
On Dec. 16, Golden announced his first three assistant hires in Mark D'Onofrio (defensive coordinator), Jethro Franklin (defensive line) and Paul Williams (defensive backs).
Barrow has served as a defensive coach at Miami since 2007, serving as linebackers coach in 2007, 2008 and 2010 and as a defensive assistant in 2009. Barrow, who also works with Miami's special teams, has played an important role in the development of Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy, both of whom have already reached the 100-tackle mark this season. He has also been instrumental in the development of several linebackers that are currently playing in the NFL - Tavares Gooden of the Ravens, Darryl Sharpton of the Texans and Spencer Adkins of the Falcons. As a player, Barrow earned All-America honors at Miami in 1992, winning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year while finishing seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and second in the Butkus Award voting. From 1989-92, Barrow tallied 423 tackles - the fourth-most in school history. He went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL, recording 1,133 tackles and 43 sacks in 173 career games with five different teams.

Hill has coached Miami's receivers the last three seasons and served as the program's recruiting coordinator for the last year. Since 2008, Hill has guided one of the top receiving corps in the nation at Miami. Headlined by All-America senior Leonard Hankerson, Hill's top three receivers combined for 2,178 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2010. Hankerson recorded arguably the most productive season for a wide receiver in school history in 2010, catching a school-record 12 touchdowns while becoming the first player in school history to record 2,000 receiving yards in a career and 1,000 yards in a single season. Hill has also overseen the development of Travis Benjamin, who recorded 293 yards as a freshman, 501 as a sophomore and 699 so far this year as a junior. Before arriving in Coral Gables, he spent three years on the University of Pittsburgh coaching staff, where he tutored first-team All-Big East performers Greg Lee in 2005 and the tandem of Derek Kinder and freshman All-American Oderick Turner in 2006.
Stoutland has served as Miami's interim head coach since Nov. 28, 2010 and has coached the Hurricanes' offensive line the last four years. As one of the nation's most respected line coaches, his lines at Miami, Michigan State and Syracuse are well known for their outstanding run-blocking. In 2010, his offensive linemen earned All-ACC weekly honors five times, while the 'Canes have rushed for more than 200 yards in five of Miami's last seven games. Stoutland has overseen the development of numerous All-ACC players in his tenure in Coral Gables, including current Detroit Lion Jason Fox, as well as Brandon Washington and Seantrel Henderson, among others. Prior to joining the Miami staff, Stoutland spent seven seasons as the offensive line coach at Michigan State, following three years as an assistant coach at Syracuse and four years at Cornell.
Miami will take on Notre Dame in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. Stoutland will continue to serve as the team's interim head coach up to and during the game.

Written on December 19, 2010 at 11:10 AM by miamimike01

Out With the Old, in With the New? Part 2

Filed under MiamiMike'S Storm Tracker 12 comments

John Lovett, Defensive Coordinator – Lovett is bringing his second season at Miami to a close, and the Sun Bowl will be his final game as a Hurricane. His defenses weren’t bad, but his personnel at DT and MLB weren’t deep enough this season to do what he wanted. UM finished 29^th in total defense in 2009 and 16^th in total defense in 2010. With the performances over the last couple of seasons, Lovett should be working in 2011.
Will he stay or will he go? – We already know the answer to this question. Mark D’Onofrio has been hired to run the defense for the Hurricanes, joining Al Golden in Miami and coming from Temple. Lovett should have no problems securing a spot on another staff.
Rick Petri, Defensive Line – Coach Petri breathed some life into an underperforming Miami defensive line. Defensive tackle Marcus Forston came on late, Micanor Regis had a good season, and ends Olivier Vernon, Allen Bailey, and Adewale Ojomo all improved under his coaching. Petri is a seasoned coach and his presence this season was felt.
Will he stay or will he go? – Unfortunately, Petri’s stay in Coral Gables will be short lived. Coach Golden is bringing Jethro Franklin down from Temple to coach the defensive line. Petri’s resume speaks for itself, and he should have no difficulties in finding work at another program next season.
Micheal Barrow, Linebackers – Coach Golden is embracing the past and Barrow is a big part of it. What better way to embrace it by keeping Barrow on board? He is well liked by the players and is a talented recruiter. His services will help in the transition and should help on the recruiting trail, as Miami has some ground to make up.
Will he stay or will he go? – It’s very likely Barrow will be asked to stay. We think it’s an excellent idea. It’ll be interesting to see how he grows under a new head coach. It’s a good bet that he’ll be coaching at Miami in 2011.
Wesley McGriff, Defensive Backs – McGriff did a nice job in his stint as the leader of the secondary. He put several players into the NFL and CB Brandon Harris is on the verge of being drafted in the first round. Miami ranked 2^nd in total pass defense in 2010, finished with 16 INTs, and finished 2^nd in pass efficiency defense.
Will he stay or will he go? – Coach Golden continues to put his stamp on the program, and McGriff will not be retained for 2011. Golden has already hired Temple DB coach Paul Williams. (We will have an article on the incoming coaches in a few days) Coach McGriff should have little difficulty in finding a similar position in a BCS conference.
Andreu Swasey, Strength and Conditioning – Swasey has been UM’s S&C coach for 10 years, and has developed an outstanding reputation in college and professional coaching ranks. He also supervises all other scholarship sports in their S&C needs. Swasey’s experience as a football player at Baylor makes him an excellent choice for Miami or any other program, for that matter.
Will he stay or will he go? – It’s not going to be easy to let this particular coach go. His outstanding reputation in the S&C community will ensure he won’t be unemployed for very long if Coach Golden decides to go in another direction. There have been whispers that Tony Decker (S&C coach at Temple) will join Golden in Coral Gables. Decker is highly thought of.

What up with Jacory Harris?

What up with Jacory Harris? He seems a little salty about the new coaching staff,.cheer up Jacory. Shannon
being fire is not on your shoulder.Randy made plenty of mistake in the last four years as coach of the Canes.

2010 Sun Bowl Notre Dame vs. Miami Preview & Odds

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Written by Anthony Rome

Wednesday, 15 December 2010 14:21

NCAAF Headline News Troy Bowl History  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:39 Fresno State Bowl History  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:39 Ohio Bowl History  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:39 New Mexico Bowl Winners  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:26 Humanitarian Bowl Winners  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:26 NCAAF Top Stories Newton, Auburn begin title game preparations  Sunday, 19 December 2010 00:33 2010 New Orleans Bowl on ESPN: Ohio vs. Troy Picks & Predictions  Saturday, 18 December 2010 19:00 2010 New Orleans Bowl Odds: Ohio vs. Troy Spread & Total  Saturday, 18 December 2010 18:30 2010 Humanitarian Bowl Free Pick: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State  Saturday, 18 December 2010 15:30 2010 Humanitarian Bowl Odds: Northern Illinois –2 vs. Fresno State  Saturday, 18 December 2010 15:00 Sun Bowl Preview EL PASO, TX (AP) - When Notre Dame and Miami finished a series of high-profile matchups between perennial national title contenders in 1990, neither school could have figured the next meeting would take 20 years to happen - and would ultimately occur on a stage as small as the Sun Bowl. These struggling programs will be unsatisfied to finish the year in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 31, a fact the Hurricanes made especially clear when they fired coach Randy Shannon last month, leaving Jeff Stoutland to fill in on an interim basis against the Fighting Irish. According to latest college football odds, oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Miami 3-point spread favorites for the Sun Bowl against Notre Dame. Current College Football Public Betting Information shows that 55% of more than 2,650 bets for this game have been placed on the Miami -3. "Nobody has their eyes set on the Sun Bowl when you start the season. Nobody does," first-year Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. "But you are playing Miami in a bowl game, it sold out in 24 hours, it's a great matchup that goes back so many years." Kelly's matchup with Stoutland won't quite have the cachet of the showdowns between Jimmy Johnson's Miami teams and Lou Holtz's Irish in the late 1980s. Notre Dame hired Holtz after Johnson and Miami ended coach Gerry Faust's tenure with a 58-7 rout in 1985. The teams split four more meetings between 1987-90, including the Hurricanes' 24-0 win en route to the 1987 national championship. Notre Dame's 31-30 victory the next year snapped Miami's 36-game regular-season winning streak and helped the Irish claim their most recent NCAA title. Their last clash was a 29-20 Irish win Oct. 20, 1990, but Stoutland said that despite the 20-year hiatus - and each team's 7-5 record - the rivalry still carries extra significance. "If I wasn't involved in this game, this game, Miami versus Notre Dame, would be a game I would definitely watch," Stoutland said. Stoutland, who had triple-bypass surgery in May before his fourth season as Miami's offensive line coach, will serve a one-game stint as head coach. Shannon was fired Nov. 27 after a 23-20 overtime loss to South Florida. He went 28-22 in four seasons and was unable to lead the Hurricanes to an ACC title game or a bowl win. Miami announced Dec. 12 that it would hire Al Golden, who engineered an impressive turnaround of Temple's program. "There's no doubt in my mind that he'll be the head coach at the University of Miami long-term," athletic director Kirby Hocutt said. "Al Golden is very loyal and he wants to be at the University of Miami. He wants to build this program back to the pinnacle of college football." Notre Dame, 23-26 since the start of 2007, was trying to do the same when it fired Charlie Weis last year, but the results didn't improve much during Kelly's first season, which included a 1-3 start. Even worse, there was the tragic death of student videographer Declan Sullivan in late October when a tower fell in high winds during practice, then allegations last month that a Notre Dame player sexually assaulted a St. Mary's College student, who later died of a drug overdose. The Irish also lost quarterback Dayne Crist (knee), running back Armando Allen (hip) and tight end Kyle Rudolph(hamstring) to season-ending injuries, but freshman QB Tommy Rees led them to a three-game winning streak to close the regular season - including a 28-3 win over then-No. 15 Utah and a 20-16 victory at rival Southern California. Notre Dame's defense, led by linebacker Manti Te'o, has held opponents to 233.3 yards per game during the winning streak after they averaged 393.1 before that. "Our kids never blinked," Kelly said. "They kept playing hard. They kept competing. That's why we are where we are." Bet Sun Bowl Odds Miami - ranked 13th in the preseason - wasn't nearly as happy to finish with back-to-back home losses, including 31-17 to then-No. 14 Virginia Tech on Nov. 20. It's unclear how the Hurricanes will respond to the firing of Shannon, which surprised some of the players. "I'm very disappointed," junior quarterback Jacory Harris said. "Coach Shannon is like my father figure." Harris returned against South Florida after missing three games due to a concussion, replacing Stephen Morris in the third quarter, but he threw a costly interception late in regulation. He has 13 touchdowns and five INTs while leading Miami to five wins, but one TD and seven picks in four losses. It's unclear whether Harris or Morris will start against Notre Dame, but either will surely be looking for Leonard Hankerson, who broke Michael Irvin's school record with 12 touchdown receptions this season. Miami also has plenty of talent on a defense that ranks second nationally against the pass and eighth with 37 sacks. "We're a better team than our record is," Stoutland said. "I know that. We all know that. We have great kids here." Notre Dame has a 15-7-1 lead in the series, which has three more games scheduled - the next one at Soldier Field in 2012. But Irish nose guard Ian Williams, who expects to return from a knee injury, downplayed the rivalry's significance for the players. "I don't think it will matter at all. We're going to be excited to play whoever, wherever we went," Williams said. "I think the exciting part is ... more for the fans because it's a historic rivalry."