1984 Miami Hurricanes football
Fiesta Bowl, L 37–39 vs. UCLA
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
APNo. 18
Record8–5
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Stevens (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorBill Trout (1st season)
Base defense5–2[1]
Home stadiumMiami Orange Bowl
Seasons
← 1983
1985 →
1984 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Boston College   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
No. 11 South Carolina   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
Army   –   –   8 – 3 – 1
Rutgers   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
No. 17 Florida State   –   –   7 – 3 – 2
Virginia Tech   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
West Virginia   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
No. 18 Miami (FL)   –   –   8 – 5 – 0
Notre Dame   –   –   7 – 5 – 0
Southwestern Louisiana   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Penn State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Syracuse   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Temple   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   5 – 5 – 1
Navy   –   –   4 – 6 – 1
Southern Miss   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   –   3 – 7 – 1
Tulane   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
East Carolina   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Louisville   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Hurricanes' 59th season of football. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Jimmy Johnson and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. They finished the season 8–5 overall. They were invited to the Fiesta Bowl where they lost to UCLA, 39–37.

The Hurricanes were the defending national champions from the 1983 college football season. Having defeated number one ranked Auburn, and then Florida, they rose to be ranked number one before their game at Michigan. They remained in the top ten after that loss. They lost again to Florida State. They beat a ranked Notre Dame team in South Bend to return to the top 10. The Hurricanes earned three more wins, but then suffered two of the most notable losses in college football history.

On November 10, at the Miami Orange Bowl, Maryland defeated the Hurricanes with the largest comeback in college football history.[2] Down 31–0 at halftime, Frank Reich, who had been injured, came off the bench and led the comeback. At the start of the third quarter, Reich led the Terrapins on multiple scoring drives. Three touchdowns in the third quarter and a fourth at the start of the final quarter turned what was a blowout into a close game. Maryland completed a 42–9 second half, and won 42–40.[3]

Two weeks later at the Orange Bowl stadium, the Hurricanes faced the Boston College Eagles in a nationally televised game that has become known as "Hail Flutie". It has been regarded by FOX Sports writer Kevin Hench as among the most memorable moments in sports.[4] The game is most notable for a last-second Hail Mary pass from quarterback Doug Flutie to wide receiver Gerard Phelan to give Boston College the win.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 279:00 pmvs. No. 1 AuburnNo. 10
KATZW 20–1851,131[5]
September 17:30 pmvs. No. 17 FloridaNo. 10
ESPNW 32–2072,813[6]
September 81:00 pmat No. 14 MichiganNo. 1
KATZL 14–22105,403[7]
September 152:30 pmat PurdueNo. 5
W 28–1756,716
September 223:30 pmNo. 15 Florida StateNo. 4
CBSL 3–3860,210
September 297:00 pmRiceNo. 16
  • Miami Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 38–320,084
October 67:30 pmat No. 16 Notre DameNo. 14
ESPNW 31–1359,075
October 13at CincinnatiNo. 10
KATZW 49–2525,642
October 2012:00 pmPittsburghdaggerNo. 9
  • Miami Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 27–732,872
November 312:30 pmat LouisvilleNo. 6
W 38–2320,113
November 1012:00 pmMarylandNo. 6
  • Miami Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
JPL 40–4231,548[8]
November 232:30 pmNo. 10 Boston CollegeNo. 12
  • Miami Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
CBSL 45–4730,325
January 11:30 pmvs. No. 14 UCLANo. 13
NBCL 37–3960,310

Roster

Player Class Pos Summary
Bernie Kosar* QB 262 Cmp, 416 Att, 3642 Yds, 25 TD
Vinny Testaverde QB 17 Cmp, 34 Att, 184 Yds, 0 TD
Alonzo Highsmith* RB 146 Att, 906 Yds, 6.2 Avg
Darryl Oliver* RB 92 Att, 407 Yds, 4.4 Avg
Melvin Bratton RB 49 Att, 279 Yds, 5.7 Avg
Warren Williams RB 29 Att, 140 Yds, 4.8 Avg
Steve Staffier RB 9 Att, 48 Yds, 5.3 Avg
Todd Stanish RB 9 Att, 28 Yds, 3.1 Avg
Eric Ham RB 8 Att, 11 Yds, 1.4 Avg
Eddie Brown* WR 59 Rec, 1114 Yds, 18.9 Avg
Stanley Shakespeare* WR 38 Rec, 621 Yds, 16.3 Avg
David Kintigh WR 4 Rec, 62 Yds, 15.5 Avg
Brian Blades WR 3 Rec, 50 Yds, 16.7 Avg
Kenny Oliver WR 1 Rec, 17 Yds, 17.0 Avg
Willie Smith* TE 66 Rec, 852 Yds, 12.9 Avg
Alfredo Roberts TE 5 Rec, 50 Yds, 10.0 Avg
Charles Henry TE 1 Rec, 1 Yds, 1.0 Avg
Paul Bertucelli* OL
Juan Comendeiro* OL
Dave Heffernan* OL
Ian Sinclair* OL
Alvin Ward* OL
Mike Moore OL
Willie Lee Broughton* DL
Dallas Cameron* DL
Julio Cortes* DL
Kevin Fagan* DL
Joe Kohlbrand* DL
Paul O'Connor DL
John McVeigh* LB
Winston Moss* LB
Bruce Fleming LB
Ken Calhoun* DB
Darrell Fullington* DB
Greg Jones* DB
Willie Martinez* DB
Lucious Delegal DB
Reggie Sutton DB
Rick Tuten P
Steve Minie P
J.C. Penny KR

[9]

Other: LB #45 George Mira Jr. (FR)

Game summaries

Auburn

#1 Auburn vs. #10 Miami (FL)
1 234Total
Tigers 0 1233 18
• Hurricanes 7 706 20
Scoring summary
Q110:19MIAShakespeare 17 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 7–0
Q2AUBBeauford 31 yard pass from Washington (McGinty kick)Tie 7–7
Q2MIAShakespeare 8 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 14–7
Q2AUBMcGinty 42 yard field goalMIA 14–10
Q20:56AUBSafety, Tuten tackled in end zone by PowellMIA 14–12
Q3AUBMcGinty 36 yard field goalAUB 15–14
Q414:09MIACox 45 yard field goalMIA 17–15
Q410:17AUBMcGinty 45 yard field goalAUB 18–17
Q46:08MIACox 25 yard field goalMIA 20–18

See also: 1984 Auburn Tigers football team and Kickoff Classic

[10] [11][12]

Florida

#10 Miami (FL) vs. #17 Florida
1 234Total
• Hurricanes 3 13313 32
Gators 3 737 20
Scoring summary
Q1MIACox 29 yard field goalMIA 3–0
Q1FLARaymond 44 yard field goalTie 3–3
Q2FLAHampton 64 yard run (Raymond kick)FLA 10–3
Q2MIACox 20 yard field goalFLA 10–6
Q2MIAOliver 21 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 13–10
Q2MIACox 27 yard field goalMIA 16–10
Q3MIACox 25 yard field goalMIA 19–10
Q3FLARaymond 30 yard field goalMIA 19–13
Q4:41FLANeal 5 yard pass from Bell (Raymond kick)FLA 20–19
Q4:07MIABrown 12 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 26–20
Q4:00MIABain 59 yard interception returnMIA 32–20

See also: 1984 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Miami football rivalry

[13]

Michigan

#1 Miami (FL) at #14 Michigan
1 234Total
Hurricanes 0 077 14
• Wolverines 6 0610 22
Scoring summary
Q1MICHPerryman 6 yard run (kick failed)MICH 6–0
Q3MIAE. Brown 32 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 7–6
Q3MICHPerryman 3 yard run (run failed)MICH 12–7
Q4MICHPerryman 1 yard run (Bergeron kick)MICH 19–7
Q4MIAShakespeare 44 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MICH 19–14
Q4MICHBergeron 27 yard field goalMICH 22–14

See also: 1984 Michigan Wolverines football team

[14]

Purdue

#5 Miami (FL) at Purdue
1 234Total
• Hurricanes 7 7140 28
Boilermakers 10 700 17
Scoring summary
Q1MIAHighsmith 47 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 7–0
Q1PURRendina 32 yard field goalMIA 7–3
Q1PURWallace 4 yard run (Rendina kick)PUR 10–3
Q2MIAOliver 2 yard run (Cox kick)Tie 10–10
Q2PURWallace 2 yard run (Rendina kick)PUR 13–10
Q3MIAKosar 1 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 17–13
Q3MIAHighsmith 6 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 24–13

See also: 1984 Purdue Boilermakers football team

[15]

Florida State

See also: 1984 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry

Rice

See also: Rice Owls football

Notre Dame

#14 Miami (FL) at #16 Notre Dame
1 234Total
• Hurricanes 0 71410 31
Fighting Irish 0 1030 13
Scoring summary
Q2MIAHighsmith 3 yard pass from Kosar (Seelig kick)MIA 7–0
Q2NDSafety, Tuten ran out of end zoneMIA 7–2
Q2NDJackson 4 yard pass from Beuerlein (Jefferson run)ND 10–7
Q3NDCarney 39 yard field goalND 13–7
Q3MIAHighsmith 1 yard run (Seelig kick)MIA 14–13
Q3MIAHighsmith 2 yard run (Seelig kick)MIA 21–13
Q4MIASeelig 27 yard field goalMIA 24–13
Q4MIAHighsmith 1 yard pass from Kosar (Seelig kick)MIA 31–13

See also: 1984 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

[16]

At Cincinnati

See also: Cincinnati Bearcats football

Pittsburgh

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2018)

Louisville

#6 Miami (FL) at Louisville
1 234Total
• Hurricanes 0 2477 38
Cardinals 0 3713 23
Scoring summary
Q2MIAHighsmith 8 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 7–0
Q2MIABrown 32 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 14–0
Q2LOUEllis 33 yard field goalMIA 14–3
Q2MIAKosar 1 yard run (Cox kick)MIA 21–3
Q2MIACox 37 yard field goalMIA 24–3
Q3LOUDavenport 4 yard run (Ellis kick)MIA 24–10
Q3MIABrown 10 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 31–10
Q4MIABratton 59 yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 38–10
Q4LOUGray 6 yard pass from Rubbert (Ellis kick)MIA 38–17
Q4LOUKnighton 2 yard run (pass failed)MIA 38–23

See also: Louisville Cardinals football

[17]

Maryland

Maryland at #6 Miami (FL)
1 234Total
• Terrapins 0 02121 42
Hurricanes 7 2436 40
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Orange Bowl
  • Game attendance: 31,548
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), Partly sunny, Wind NE 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • TV announcers (JP): Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, and Chris Clackum
Scoring summary
Q13:51MIABernie Kosar 1-yard run (Cox kick)MIA 7–0
Q2MIAWillie Smith 7-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 14–0
Q2MIAWillie Smith 11-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 21–0
Q21:03MIAGreg Cox 48-yard field goalMIA 24–0
Q20:12MIACharles Henry 1-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Cox kick)MIA 31–0
Q312:35MDGreg Hill 39-yard pass from Frank Reich (Atkinson kick)MIA 31–7
Q36:53MDFrank Reich 1-yard run (Atkinson kick)MIA 31–14
Q35:08MIAGreg Cox 19-yard field goalMIA 34–14
Q3MDAlvin Blount 1-yard pass from Frank Reich (Atkinson kick)MIA 34–21
Q49:20MDTommy Neal 20-yard run (Atkinson kick)MIA 34–28
Q45:29MDGreg Hill 68-yard pass from Frank Reich (Atkinson kick)MD 35–34
Q49:20MDRick Badanjek 4-yard run (Atkinson kick)MD 42–34
Q21:00MIAEddie Brown 5-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (pass failed)MD 42–40

See also: 1984 Maryland Terrapins football team

[18]

Boston College

#10 Boston College at #12 Miami (FL)
1 234Total
• Eagles 14 14316 47
Hurricanes 7 141014 45

Main article: Hail Flutie

See also: 1984 Boston College Eagles football team

[19]

Vs. UCLA (Fiesta Bowl)

#14 UCLA vs. #13 Miami (FL)
1 234Total
• Bruins 7 15710 39
Hurricanes 14 7313 37

Main article: 1985 Fiesta Bowl

See also: 1984 UCLA Bruins football team

[20]

References

  1. ^ Feldman, Bruce (2004). Cane Mutiny: How the Miami Hurricanes Overturned the Football Establishment. New York: New American Library. p. 55. ISBN 0-451-21297-5.
  2. ^ Brown, Matt (September 4, 2017). "Biggest College Football Comebacks". MSN.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017.
  3. ^ This comeback from 31 points down has since been exceeded by the Michigan State Spartans' 41–38 comeback win in 2006 over the Northwestern Wildcats during which Michigan State trailed 38–3 in the third quarter.
  4. ^ Hench, Kevin (May 17, 2007). "Ten Best Damn unforgettable sports moments". FOX Sports. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "Miami upsets No. 1 Auburn". The Home News. August 28, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Kosar colossal in 32–20 UM win over Gators". The Bradenton Herald. September 2, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Tommy George (September 9, 1984). "U-M tips Miami off top". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1H, 9H – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Maryland comeback stuns No. 6 Miami". Star Tribune. November 11, 1984. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1984 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Roster | College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  10. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. "Miami Charge Drops Auburn." 1984 Aug 28. Retrieved 2018-Sep-19.
  11. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1984 Aug 28. Retrieved 2018-Sep-19.
  12. ^ "Miami Beats No. 1 Auburn In Season's Opener, 20-18". The Washington Post. August 28, 1984. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  13. ^ College Football Belt Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-Dec-24.
  14. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Sep 9. Retrieved 2018-Sep-23.
  15. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Sep 16. Retrieved 2018-Sep-29.
  16. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Oct 7.
  17. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Nov 04. Retrieved 2018-Nov-16.
  18. ^ Wilbon, Michael (November 11, 1984). "Down by 31, Md. Stuns Miami, 42-40". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  19. ^ "Flutie's Desperation Pass Beats Miami, 47-45". The Washington Post. November 24, 1984. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  20. ^ Reilly, Rick (January 2, 1985). "When the Dust Settles, UCLA Is on Top : Bruins Win Fiesta Bowl Shoot-Out Against Kosar and Hurricanes, 39-37". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
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