Four;2826638 said:
you realize that jimmy was insane and completely burnt himself out doing stuff the way he did?
No he wasn't - look at his record before the NFL - it's not like he just showed up in Valley Ranch off the street. He was not BURNED OUT!
He left due to Jones and him not getting along.
CORAL GABLES, Fla.-- Since 1981 the University of Miami has won five National Championships, gone to ten National Championship games, been to 23 bowl games with a 15-8 record in those games including playing in 16 major bowl games (Orange, Fiesta, Cotton, Sugar, Rose). Leading those teams have been some of the best and most successful coaches in the history of college football.
While it is not easy to rank coaches because, obviously live everything else, it’s completely subjective and everyone has an opinion, here is our opinion of who the top five coaches in the history of the University of Miami are.
Each day we will countdown from five to one and we will also breakdown what we felt were their strengths and weaknesses as coaches.
By now you know who number one is. If you don’t, you are not really a true Miami Hurricanes fan. Believe me when I say, I debated on this one. I really went back and forth.
The man who brought the first title or the man that brought the true University of Miami swagger, confidence, aura, and the true meaning of what the “U” is. Dominating.
He had the hair that never moved, but the passion that moved massive young men to do things they probably never envisioned.
Our No. 1 coach in the history of the University of Miami is none other than:
Jimmy Johnson (UM Record 52-9)
When Jimmy Johnson took over as head coach of Miami, the ‘Canes were coming off of a National Championship season, so it should have been perfect timing for him.
But there was inner turmoil with him being named head coach so what was expected to be quite a promising season ended with the ‘Canes going 8-5. Although the ‘Canes opened the season ranked 10th and beat top-ranked Auburn and 17th ranked Florida in back-to-back weeks, by the time the ‘Canes traveled to 14th ranked Michigan, they were gassed and lost. They played 4 games in 19 days which is insane in football, but to go 3-1 was pretty impressive in that stretch with three of the teams being ranked.
A whipping at the hands of Florida State followed, but the ‘Canes won their next five before suffering the most embarrassing loss in the history of the program when it blew a 31-0 lead against Maryland and lost 42-40. A week later, Doug Flutie had his prayers answered in a 47-45 Boston College win over Miami.
A year later the ‘Canes were playing for the National Championship against Tennessee, but they laid the proverbial egg getting smacked by the eighth-tanked Vols.
Over the next three years, the ‘Canes would go a ridiculous 34-2 with the losses coming by a combined five points.
The swagger was born.
After an 11-0 season in 1986, the ‘Canes braggadocio caught up with them in the Fiesta Bowl when they were a huge favorite over Penn State only to watch Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde throw five interceptions as the ‘Canes lost 14-10. The worst part of that season is that there are people that still believe that was the best team Miami’s ever had which makes the fact they lost that game even more depressing. They didn’t play a close game until losing in the Fiesta Bowl, so I might be inclined to agree until watching that 2001 team in action.
But even the 2001 team had a couple of close calls.
Another 11-0 regular season was finally culminated with a win over Oklahoma to give Miami its first 12-0 season and second National Championship. That year, the ‘Canes beat five teams ranked tenth or better, and as their season motto was, they “Pressed On”.
The ‘Canes appeared to be heading to another National Championship until a speed bump at Notre Dame ended their 17-game winning streak. A batted away two-point conversion was the difference as Miami lost 31-30 in South Bend in one of the best games in college football history.
The ‘Canes pushed their way back up to No. 2 in the country and beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, but it wouldn’t be enough as they finished the season ranked No. 2 behind Notre Dame.
But beyond that Jimmy’s mark would be felt for quite a long time. The year after he left, Dennis Erickson won a National Championship with Jimmy’s recruits. In 1991, still rolling with Jimmy’s recruits leading the way as seniors, he won another National Championship.
Under Johnson, the swagger was born, the confidence was born, the attitude was born and the “U” was officially born.
Strengths – Recruiting, Passion, Motivation.
Weaknesses – Arrogance.
Bowl Games
1989 Orange Bowl – Miami 23, Nebraska 3
1988 National Championship Game – Orange Bowl – Miami 20, Oklahoma 14 (National Champions)
1987 National Championship Game – Fiesta Bowl – Penn State 14, Miami 10
1986 National Championship Game – Sugar Bowl – Tennessee 35, Miami 7
1985 Fiesta Bowl – UCLA 39, Miami 37
