"Home For The Holidays"
An undefeated 2004 would keep Miami home for this year's National Championship Game

by Chris Bello - CanesTime Magazine
August 2004 Issue - Football Preview

The time is now and the place is here, Cane fans. The old adage “there’s no place like home” truly applies in 2005. On January 4th of next year, college football’s National Championship game takes place. The destination – Pro Player Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins but for one day a year, the “other “ Orange Bowl. Any way it’s sliced or diced, it is Miami’s home turf and the only place the Canes want to be at the end of the college football season.

It was on home turf New Year’s Day in 1984 that the Miami Hurricanes captured that first, elusive National Championship. The No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers strolled in with the moniker, “greatest college football team of all time” and were a heavy favorite over No. 5 Miami. Six seasons earlier, the Canes limped to a 3-8 record under head coach Lou Saban. Two years after that, Howard Schnellenberger led the Canes to a 5-6 record in his inaugural season. Anyone calling for a National Championship in Schnelly’s fifth year - after starting 1983 with a 28-3 loss to rival Florida – might’ve been considered off their rocker. Still, the Canes won ten straight and earned an Orange Bowl berth against the Huskers and it’d be hard to not count home field advantage at that 12th man in that 31-30 thriller.

A year later Miami lost to No. 13 UCLA in the 1985 Fiesta Bowl, followed by a loss to No. 8 Tennessee in the 1986 Sugar Bowl. A year later a perfect regular season was ruined after a heartbreaking National Championship loss to No. 2 Penn State, 14-10. After three straight post season beatings on the road, it was back home for the 1988 Orange Bowl which pitted the Big Eight Champ, No. 1 Oklahoma against independent No. 2 Miami.

The unranked Canes took it to the No. 3 Sooners during the 1985 season in Norman, 27-14. A year later, they met again in the regular season on UM’s turf and in a No. 1 versus No. 2 match up and underdog Miami prevailed again, to the tune of 28-16 en route to an undefeated regular season. 1987 had both teams undefeated at season’s end and on Miami’s home field for the National Championship. The No. 2 Canes prevailed again and netted a three year hat trick against the No. 1 Sooners – this time 20-14 for Miami’s second National Championship in school history.

After a bogus call in South Bend had No. 1 Miami on the wrong side of a 31-30 loss to No. 4 Notre Dame – the eventual National Champion – the Canes found themselves playing before the home crowd yet again in the 1989 Orange Bowl Classic. Big Eight Champion Nebraska was again the opponent and the No. 2 Canes took it to the No. 6 Huskers, 23-3 and finishing the season No. 2 behind Notre Dame.

Miami spent the next two post seasons away from home yet still captured another National Championship – their first on foreign turf. A 33-25 win over No. 7 Alabama had No. 2 Miami doing their part. A little more Orange Bowl magic was the second ingredient as No. 4 Notre Dame upset No. 1 Colorado, 21-6 in Miami’s home stadium, allowing the Canes to claim that top spot with the Sugar Bowl victory.

A year later No. 4 Miami suffered their first two-loss season in five years, yet still thumped No. 3 Texas in the Cotton Bowl, 46-3. The Horns obviously hadn’t mastered the art of home state advantage like the Canes had. Bitter about not earning a shot at back to back titles, Miami used Texas as a whipping post and let the victory spring them to undefeated 1991 season and fourth Orange Bowl berth in nine seasons. Again it would be No. 11 Nebraska, the Big Eight Champion, against No. 1 Miami. In another dominating outing on its home turf, the Canes prevailed 22-0 and took home the 1991 National Championship – its fourth title in nine seasons.

Since then, Orange Bowl berths have been few and far between. No. 3 Miami lost to No. 1 Nebraska, 24-17 in the 1995 Orange Bowl Classic – propelling the Huskers to their first championship season in 14 years. Even more amazing than Nebraska’s win was the fact it was Miami’s second loss at home in the past 64 home games. UM’s NCAA record 58-home game win streak started October 12th, 1985 against Cincinnati and continued until Washington upset Miami 38-20 on September 24th, 1994.

The electricity, aura, mystique and rowdy crowd that calls Miami’s Orange Bowl home, helped propel the Canes to several dominating outings, a few come from behind thrillers and three National Championships on that sacred turf. In that era, Miami gave new meaning to the phrase “home field advantage” and a decade later, the Canes strung together a 25-home game win streak which started on October 30th, 1999 against West Virginia and came to a halt in an uncharacteristic 10-6 loss to Tennessee on November 8th, 2003.

Probation would slap Miami upside the head in 1995 which sent the Canes to a few lower tier bowls – two of which, the 1996 Carquest Bowl and 1998 Micron PC Bowl were both at Pro Player Stadium, resulted in Miami victories.

After enduring five years of probation, a 10-1 Miami team in 2000 should’ve earned a trip to the 2001 Orange Bowl and National Championship game against No. 1 Oklahoma – but was snubbed by the computers in favor of No. 3 Florida State. Though the No. 2 Hurricanes had beaten the then No. 1 Seminoles 27-24 in October, things did not compute in UM’s favor. A 37-20 Sugar Bowl victory against the No. 7 Florida Gators would have to suffice while rival Florida State would lose to Oklahoma, 13-2 in Miami. A National Championship opportunity lost – as well as what would’ve been the Canes first Orange Bowl berth at Pro Player Stadium and ended a five year drought from playing in the hometown bowl game.

2003 had the Canes sitting pretty at 10-2 and finally earning their first Orange Bowl berth against favored Florida State. The hometown crowd was backed up and beyond ready for a post season bowl game at home. Though most were hoping for a match up against Ohio State, it was Florida State that was shipped south and forced to play a Miami team with a chip on its collective shoulder. Home field advantage prevailed again as the Canes rolled 16-14 and shut down the Seminoles’ offense the entire second half of the game. The win put Miami at 5-1 in Orange Bowl Classics since that first National Championship season of 1983.

Come January 4th, 2005 there is no place college football players, coaches and fans would rather be than Pro Player Stadium knee deep in another Orange Bowl Classic. A National Championship will be on the line and no group of fans would be prouder than Miami Hurricane faithful. A chance to capture that elusive sixth title – fourth on Dade County soil – would be the greatest gift this current team could provide. Friends, family and Miami supporters would be out in full force. The environment would be electric. Home field advantage would be the case yet again and the Canes would experience their third championship game in four seasons.

If Miami is going to make a title run, 2004 provides the perfect scenario with the Orange Bowl Classic is the ideal backdrop for a shot at that sixth ring. Hurricane faithful would turn out in droves to support the hometown team. Since the inception of the Bowl Championship Series in 1998, Nebraska, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma and Southern California have all won an Orange Bowl game in Miami. The Gators took home two wins – 1999 and 2001 – while the Sooners won their first title in fifteen years in the 2000 season finale, a game that should’ve featured Miami instead of Florida State.

In the past six seasons, one National Championship has been decided by an Orange Bowl Classic. Four years since the lone big game, another title will be won in Dade County. Miami was robbed of a shot in 2000, but holds their collective destiny in their hands as the 2004 season approaches. Eleven wins – five on the road and six at home. Less national pressure as the Canes aren’t coming off a title game berth or entering the season as defending champs. Sure, expectations will be as high as ever – especially with the title game being at “home” – but Miami isn’t a perennial favorite to win it all.

Actually, some aren’t even picking the Canes to win their new conference in 2004. Thank you. That’s just the way Miami Football likes it. An underdog role. Another season where the phrase, “they lost too much talent to compete this year” will be uttered every time the Canes are mentioned in the media before that season opener. Same ol’ situation in Coral Gables. Still, that changes nothing. A title game berth will be what Miami Football aims for in 2004. Anything less isn’t acceptable by players, coaches or fans.

To accomplish this feat, Miami needs to dominate in their first season of ACC play. Set the tone against Florida State. Let the other 10 conference onlookers know that the Canes mean business. Bloody the Noles’ collective nose and make a huge statement. Florida State rolls into the Orange Bowl for the most anticipated season opener since 1988 when a then No. 6 Miami thumped the preseason No. 1, 31-0.

After business is taken care of Labor Day Monday, home wins must come against Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. Miami must also endure unfamiliar road trips to Houston, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, North Carolina and Virginia. Two nationally televised Thursday night match ups take place against non-conference opponents – the Cougars and Cardinals.

Doable? Sure. A simple task? No such thing. Every game counts the same. All opponents treat Miami as their National Championship game. That match up is circled on everyone’s calendars a year in advance. Beating Miami is as big as it gets. Everyone brings that collective game face. A season can turn on a dime after beating Miami. It’s national news when someone takes down the team who experienced a 34-game win streak from September 2000 through January 2003. Winning has been a way of life for the Canes, who are 46-4 this decade.

Should Miami remain focused all 11 games this season, the ultimate prize is theirs for the taking. A highly coveted Orange Bowl berth. A title game on their turf. It doesn’t get anymore special than that. A page out of yesteryear when the ‘Team of the 80s’ put their stamp on the college football world with three Orange Bowl wins and three National Championships. A decade later, another championship and another Orange Bowl win. Could 2004 provide another storybook ending?

Every year the goal in Coral Gables is a National Championship. The road to the title game starts with the recruiting battle in February, the Spring Game in April, off season workouts, CanesFest, fall practice and a grueling schedule from September through December. A title game berth is always within reach – but for Miami, a shot at a championship on their home turf comes only once every four seasons. What better place than here? What better time than now? The place – the FedEx Orange Bowl – the time, January 4th, 2005. The goal - a National Championship. What sweeter satisfaction than winning a number six at home.

Get it done Canes. Home for the holidays in 2004. There’s no other option.

Born and raised in Miami, FL and a CanesTime.com columnist since 1996, Chris Bello now resides in San Diego, CA and is the Director of Online Sales for AllCanes.com. Feel free to send your comments or to contact him at chris@allcanes.com