Enter Dennis Erickson, the new Miami Hurricanes football leader - starting 1989 and coming to a halt before the 1995 season. In that span, Erickson won the 1989 and 1991 National Championship at The U. His Canes fell short in the 1993 Sugar Bowl against #2 Alabama and were embarassed to the tune of 34-13. Erickson's Canes never regained their composure on his watch. His 1993 Miami Hurricanes football squad limped to a 9-3 season and were skunked by Arizona in the 1994 Fiesta Bowl, 29-0. Insult to injury came in arch rivals Florida State earning their first ever title in school history, beating Nebraska 19-16 in the 1994 Orange Bowl.

The Canes got their revenge on the Noles (for the embarassing 28-10 loss in Tallahassee, 1993) - October 1994 in an Orange Bowl night game. 34-20 was the final, with the defending champs win streak halted. Though Miami lost to Washington early in the season - snapping an unprecedented 58-game home win streak - the Canes found themselves ranked #3 at season's end, pitting against #1 Nebraska. This time, it was the Cornhuskers' turn to take home the crown in a 24-17 beating where Erickson's Canes were again lifeless, uninspired, lethargic and less conditioned than their bowl opponent for the third straight season (and third straight post season loss.)

Under Erickson's watch, the Canes found themselves in hot water for Pell Grant fraud and a few other sanctions. The NCAA came down hard on Miami Hurricanes football (worst verdict since SMU's 'death penalty' decades ago.) Scholarships were lost and Miami Hurricanes football felt the effects of that for the rest of the decade. Butch Davis led the Canes from 1995-2000 and is credited with rejuvinating a Miami Hurricanes football program which was on life support.

8-3, 9-3, 5-6, 9-3, 9-4 and 11-1 is where Davis took the depleted, probation-laden Canes over six seasons. 22-9 and one bowl win his first three years versus 29-8 and three bowl wins his final three seasons; including a dominating 37-20 victory of SEC Champions, the Florida Gators. Though Miami knocked off #1 Florida State 27-24 during the regular season - and even though both teams finished with one loss (Miami fell 34-29 at Washington in the road opener) - the Noles remained #2 in the BCS and got a shot at #1 Oklahoma, while Miami Hurricanes football was stuck at #3 in the BCS -- yet #2 in the AP and ESPN polls. The snub forced the BCS to change its criteria - putting a larger point value on head-to-head victories. Canes get screwed, pay price and now future teams will benefit.

Miami Hurricanes football got its revenge on the haters in 2001 - as first-time head coach (and five year Miami Offensive Coordinator) Larry Coker led the Canes to a 12-0 season, capped off with a convincing 34-14 beating of #2 Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl. Along the way Miami smacked up Florida State in Tallhassee (ending their ten year home unbeaten streak) while getting revenge on Washington to the tune of 65-7 for the 2000 loss in Seattle.

A season later, Miami was again undefeated in the regular 2002 season - running their win streak to 34 straight. The regular season saw a thrilling 28-27 victory against arch rival Florida State - as well as thrilling wins at Florida (41-16), Tennessee (26-3) as well as Virginia Tech (56-45) and a Thursday night ESPN thriller over Pittsburgh (28-21.)

Miami Hurricanes football run came to a halt on a controversial flag on what should've been the final play of OT in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl against #2 Ohio State. The Canes fought back from a 17-7 deficit late in the game to tie it 17-17, forcing overtime. Early in the fourth quarter Miami lost star running back Willis McGahee when Ohio State's Will Allen aimed low and took out his knees. The multiple ACL and MCL tear ended McGahee's evening - and his Miami Hurricanes football career.

The Canes took a 24-17 lead in the first overtime and on 4th down, Miami's Glenn Sharpe broke up a pass intended for WR Chris Gamble. Five seconds later, back judge Terry Porter threw the controversial flag - breathing new life into the Buckeyes - who eventually won 31-24 in 2OT.

Miami went 11-2 in the 2003 season -- with wins over arch rivals Florida (a thrilling 38-33 comeback) and Florida State (22-14 in a game dubbed the Rain Bowl.) The Canes made it to their fourth straight BCS game, beating Florida State for the second time in the same season, 16-14. The 2004 Orange Bowl was preceded by the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, 2002 Rose Bowl and 2001 Sugar Bowl.

The Canes wound up in the Peach Bowl for back to back season - on the heels of four straight BCS games. A definite letdown for Miami Hurricanes football. Sadly, the 2005 outing was the polar opposite of the 27-10 beating of the Florida Gators in 2004. Miami was throttled by a hungrier, faster and more aggressive LSU team - losing 40-3 and sending the program into a mild tailspin. Several coaches were ousted after the embarassing loss and the new staff was put in place before spring ball kicked off in April 2006.

In 2006, Miami again opens with Florida State - this time at the Orange Bowl. Two weeks later it heads to Louisville for a rather exciting out of conference match up. Outside of those two contests, it should be smooth sailing for the Canes until late in the season when the face the top ACC brass. Still, early games against FAMU, Florida International, Houston and Duke will allow this new coaching staff to fine tune and tweak an offense which has lacked an identity since 2002.

Though the past two seasons were shaky, there could be a lot of good in store for Miami Hurricanes football in 2006 as the right personnel changes could be just what this team needs to turn 9-3 back into 11-1 or 12-0 again.

There is nothing better than Miami Hurricanes Football. The NFL can’t compare. The NBA is a joke. MLB is too boring and too long. You want excitement, tune in every week and watch some Miami Hurricanes Football. Center stage rivalry games against the likes of a Florida or Florida State? It doesn’t get any better.

Now that the University of Miami has joined the Atlantic Coast Conference, Miami Hurricanes Football has upgraded to a better brand of football. More exciting rivalries against the likes of NC State Wolfpack, Maryland Terrapins, North Carolina Tar Heels, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and of course those hated Florida State Seminoles – in what now is a HUGE conference game.

Miami Hurricanes Football got busy in 1925 and endured several decades of mediocre play. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and the Howard Schnellenberger era when Miami Hurricanes Football was finally on the NCAA map. A few seasons later, Miami Hurricanes Football took home the 1983 National Championship and there was no looking back.

Jimmy Johnson took over the Miami Hurricanes Football program in 1984, lost the 1986 National Championship to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, 14-10 – but won a title of his own in 1987 when the Miami Hurricanes Football team beat the Oklahoma Sooners 20-14 in the Orange Bowl Classic.

After Jimmy Johnson left, Dennis Erickson was tabbed to take over the Miami Hurricanes Football team. He won a title in his inaugural season of 1989 with a Sugar Bow win over Alabama, 33-25.

Dennis Erickson let things get out of control and the Miami Hurricanes Football program was put on probation. He left after the 1994 season and former Miami Hurricanes assistant and Dallas Cowboys assistant Butch Davis took over. He led Miami Hurricanes Football out of a bad era and rebuilt the program.

Miami Hurricanes Football reached prominence again in 2000 and has never looked back. A fifth National Championship was captured in 2001 and hopefully another will be captured again soon by Miami Hurricanes Football squad.