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It's great to be a Miami Hurricane.

The University of Miami has had the most successful major college football program for the past 25 years; winning national championships in 1983, 87, 91, 99 and 2001.

It also holds the record for consecutive victories at home of 58 (in the Orange Bowl) from 1985 to 1994, along with two undefeated streaks of 29 and 34 games during that quarter century. Almost nine years without a loss at their house.

The first NCAA Football Championship in 1983 was a tremendous upset over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and its last championship in 2001 at the Rose Bowl might have been its most talented team ever.

Along with national championships there is a college football game that will live in infamy for Hurricane fans. I'm afraid that as long as college games are shown on TV the "Hail Flutie" pass will be replayed to the embarrassment of Canes fans everywhere.

The UM-FSU series is also one of legendary status as the game has been important in the national standings, decided by last second field goals and the stage for dozens of future professional football players in a national televised rivalry game.

While the Orange Bowl is being razed to make a home for the baseball Marlins it was hallowed ground in college football as coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Denis Erickson, Butch Davis, and Larry Coker won championships or competed for the crown in college football during their tenures.

These coaches recruited and coached great quarterbacks like Jim Kelley, Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson, and Gino Torretta and the school was known as Quarterback U. Michael Irvin leads the receivers produced by the UM and he has been followed by others that have made homes for themselves in the NFL like Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Andre King, Bubba Franks and other too numerous to mention. Quinton Portis, Edgerinn James, Willis McGhee and Frank Gore ran the ball as Hurricanes as the attacks were as balanced as any team of professionals around.

The defense was also able to hold their own with stars like Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jerome Brown and Sean Taylor. In fact in 2006 the University of Miami had more of its former players in the NFL than any other college program.

College football fans have come to realize that the road to the national championship will probably mean beating a team from Florida.

Randy Shannon, a graduate of the UM program, Dallas Cowboy assistant coach, and now the University of Miami's head coach has his hold on a truly legendary football program, it is a "Cane Thing" and it really is a tall order to fill. The challenge will be to make Dolphin Stadium their new home: "Hurricane Country".

Learn more about this author, John Asgeirson.
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