1987 Miami Hurricanes football team

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1987 Miami Hurricanes football
Consensus national champion
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 20–14 vs. Oklahoma
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record12–0
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Stevens (5th season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorDave Wannstedt (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumMiami Orange Bowl
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →

1987 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Miami (FL)   –   –   12 – 0 – 0
No. 4 Syracuse   –   –   11 – 0 – 1
No. 2 Florida State   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 15 South Carolina   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Penn State   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
No. 17 Notre Dame   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Southwestern Louisiana   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   5 – 5 – 1
Northern Illinois   –   –   5 – 5 – 1
West Virginia   –   –   6 – 6 – 0
Tulane   –   –   6 – 6 – 0
Army   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Boston College   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
East Carolina   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Akron   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Louisville   –   –   3 – 7 – 1
Temple   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Tulsa   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Navy   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Rankings from
AP Poll

The 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Hurricanes' 62nd season of football. The Hurricanes were led by fourth-year head coach Jimmy Johnson and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. They finished the season 12–0 overall. They were invited to the Orange Bowl where they defeated Oklahoma, 20–14, to win the school's second national championship.

Preseason

After taking over as head coach in 1984, Jimmy Johnson had a winning record, but some critics questioned whether he could gain a national championship.[citation needed]

In 1985, Miami finished the regular season 10–1, and had a chance to win the national title with Penn State's loss to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Needing a victory over Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl, Miami jumped out to a 7–0 lead. Tennessee then scored 35 unanswered to derail Miami's title hopes.

In 1986, Miami achieved a perfect 11–0 regular season record. Led by Heisman Trophy-winner Vinny Testaverde, a record breaking offense, and the 5th-ranked defense in the country, #1 Miami was a prohibitive favorite heading into its Fiesta Bowl matchup against #2 Penn State. However, Penn State was able to disrupt the Miami passing game and force the Hurricanes into seven turnovers. Penn State won the national championship with a 14–10 victory over Miami that was sealed when a Testaverde pass from the Penn State 6-yard line was intercepted in the endzone by linebacker Pete Giftopoulos with 0:18 left in the game.

Despite losing three key players (Testaverde,

1987 NFL Draft
, 1987 was expected to be somewhat of a reloading year for Miami, which began the season ranked 10th in the nation by the AP poll.

By year's end, the Hurricanes had allowed a mere 125 points. Miami took down six ranked opponents that fall – including No. 20 Florida, No. 4 FSU, No. 10 Notre Dame and No. 1 Oklahoma. The Canes earned victories by an average of 23.9 points, scoring over 40 points on five different games.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 51:00 pmNo. 20 FloridaNo. 10
TBSW 31–477,224[1]
September 264:00 pmat No. 10 ArkansasNo. 5
ESPNW 51–755,310
October 32:30 pmat No. 4 Florida StateNo. 3
CBSW 26–2562,561
October 107:30 pmMarylandNo. 3
  • Miami Orange Bowl
  • Miami, FL
W 46–1643,020[2]
October 248:00 pmat CincinnatiNo. 3
WPLGW 48–1020,011
October 3112:00 pmat
Ficklen Memorial Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
    		• RaycomW 41–331,791[3]
    November 77:30 pmMiami (OH)No. 3
    • Miami Orange Bowl
    • Miami, FL
    		W 54–340,128
    November 147:30 pmVirginia TechdaggerNo. 3
    • Miami Orange Bowl
    • Miami, FL (rivalry)
    		W 27–1340,105[4]
    November 217:30 pmToledoNo. 3
    • Miami Orange Bowl
    • Miami, FL
    		W 24–1437,010
    November 283:30 pmNo. 10 Notre DameNo. 2
    • Miami Orange Bowl
    • Miami, FL (rivalry)
    		CBSW 24–076,640
    December 58:00 pmNo. 8 South CarolinaNo. 2
    • Miami Orange Bowl
    • Miami, FL
    		ESPNW 20–1663,318[5]
    January 18:00 pmvs. No. 1 OklahomaNo. 2
    		NBCW 20–1474,760

    Rankings

    Further information: 1987 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
    ( ) = First-place votes
    Week
    PollPre1234567891011121314Final
    AP
    		107653 (4)3 (6)3 (6)3 (6)3 (7)3 (7)3 (9)3 (8)2 (4)2 (6)2 (9)1 (57)
    Coaches9767 (1)3 (1)3 (4)3 (5)3 (2)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1)2 (2)2 (5)2 (8)1 (47)

    Game summaries

    No. 20 Florida

    See also: 1987 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Miami football rivalry

    Under the direction of

    Steve Walsh and a defense that returned nine starters, Miami opened the regular season with a win over rival Florida
    , 31–4. The game would prove to be the last in a series that had been played annually since 1944. The teams would not meet in the regular season again until the 2002 season.

    [6] [7]

    At No. 10 Arkansas

    1 234Total
    • No. 5 Hurricanes 14 24310 51
    No. 10 Razorbacks 0 007 7
    Scoring summary
    1MiamiWilliams 2-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 7–0
    11:14MiamiWilliams 49-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 14–0
    2MiamiConley 16-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 21–0
    210:10MiamiBratton 1-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 28–0
    2MiamiIrvin 21-yard pass from Walsh (Cox kick)Miami 35–0
    20:22MiamiCox 28-yard field goalMiami 38–0
    3MiamiCox 44-yard field goalMiami 41–0
    412:59MiamiCox 47-yard field goalMiami 44–0
    46:46MiamiA. Brown 4-yard pass from Erickson (Cox kick)Miami 51–0
    43:02ArkansasRouse 7-yard run (Trainor kick)Miami 51–7
    See also: 1987 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

    The victory over Florida was followed by a 51–7 victory over #10 Arkansas Razorbacks in Little Rock, which would catapult Miami to a #3 ranking.[8]

    At No. 4 Florida State

    1 234Total
    • No. 3 Hurricanes 3 0815 26
    No. 4 Seminoles 0 1096 25
    Scoring summary
    12:58MiamiGreg Cox 29-yard field goalMiami 3–0
    2FSUD. Williams 1-yard run (Schmidt kick)FSU 7–3
    22:37FSUDerek Schmidt 36-yard field goalFSU 10–3
    37:50FSUWilliams blocked punt return (kick failed)FSU 16–3
    32:37FSUDerek Schmidt 25-yard field goalFSU 19–3
    3MiamiBratton 49-yard pass from Walsh (Brian Blades pass from Walsh)FSU 19–11
    4MiamiIrvin 26-yard pass from Walsh (Williams pass from Walsh)Tied 19–19
    42:22MiamiIrvin 73-yard pass from Walsh (Cox kick)Miami 26–19
    40:42FSULewis 18-yard pass from McManus (pass failed)Miami 26–25
    See also: 1987 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry

    [9][10][11]

    Miami's rigorous early season schedule continued the next week with a showdown with #4 Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. The October 3 game featured not only high drama, but also an astounding 56 players who would go on to play in the NFL. Miami scored first with a second-quarter field goal, but Florida State, fielding a team many consider to be the best in school history, took control of the game after that. A 67-yard run by Florida State running back Sammie Smith was followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from Dayne Williams, giving FSU a 7–3 lead. A 36-yard field goal from Derek Schmidt pushed the Seminoles' lead to 10–3 at the half.

    After Schmidt missed a third-quarter field goal wide right, Miami took over, but went three-and-out and was forced to punt. The ensuing punt by Jeff Feagles was blocked and returned by Florida State for a touchdown, increasing the Florida State lead to 16–3 (Schmidt missed the extra point). Miami was forced to punt again, and a big return by FSU's Deion Sanders put Florida State in position to add another Schmidt field goal to make the score 19–3.

    With Miami having been unable to mount any offense to that point, the Hurricanes looked to be in dire straits late in the third quarter. Spurred on by an impassioned speech from receiver

    Melvin Bratton for a 49-yard touchdown. Miami went for two, which they converted when Walsh was able to hook up with receiver Brian Blades
    , trimming the FSU lead to 19–11 heading into the fourth quarter.

    The final quarter was filled with back-and-forth drama. Irvin started things off when he was on the receiving end of a 26-yard touchdown pass from Walsh. With the score now at 19–17, Miami again went for two, which Miami, again, converted, this time on a pass from Walsh to Warren Williams. With the game now tied at 19–19 and its 16-point lead evaporated, Florida State staged a drive of its own, taking the ball down to the Miami 17-yard line before quarterback Danny McManus fumbled the snap, which was recovered by Bennie Blades. Miami wasted little time in capitalizing on the miscue, as four plays later Walsh hooked up with Irvin for one of the most famous plays in University of Miami history.[citation needed] Walsh walked to the line, read the FSU defense, and called an audible for Irvin, who was appropriately nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays. Walsh took a quick three-step drop and hung the ball up perfectly for Irvin on a fly route. Irvin was in double coverage, but was able to get behind the coverage, catch the pass, and take it 73-yards for a Miami touchdown. With 2:22 left to play, Miami led 26–19.

    Florida State would not go meekly, though, as the Seminoles valiantly fought back after taking possession on their own 25-yard line. Before long, the Seminoles were in the endzone when McManus hit Ronald Lewis on a perfect corner route for 18-yards. With college football not having overtime at the time, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden was faced with a decision: attempt the extra point and settle for a 26–26 tie, or attempt a two-point conversion and go for the win. Complicating matters was the fact that Schmidt, FSU's kicker, had looked shaky on this day, already missing on a field goal attempt and on an extra point attempt. Nevertheless, Bowden initially had decided to kick the extra point and settle for the tie, as he had stated[citation needed] when asked before the game what he would do if he found himself in this exact predicament. But after the FSU offense protested and urged their coach to go for the win, Bowden changed his mind and decided to go for the two, betting both FSU's and Miami's national championship hopes on the outcome. FSU called a pass play. McManus took the snap, looked for a receiver, and then threw into the right corner of the endzone. The ball was underthrown and broken up by Miami defensive back Bubba McDowell before it could reach its intended target. With Miami up 26–25, Florida State attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Miami recovered the ball with 0:42 left and was able to run out the clock, sealing the Hurricane victory.

    Maryland

    See also: 1987 Maryland Terrapins football team

    Having successfully negotiated its brutal early season schedule, Miami won its next four games with ease, beating

    Miami (Ohio)
    (54–3).

    [12]

    At Cincinnati

    See also: Cincinnati Bearcats football

    [13]

    At East Carolina

    See also: 1987 East Carolina Pirates football team

    [14]

    Miami (OH)

    See also: 1987 Miami Redskins football team

    [15]

    Virginia Tech

    1 234Total
    Hokies 0 1030 13
    • #3 Hurricanes 3 7314 27
    • Date: November 14, 1987
    • Location:
      EST
    • Game attendance: 40,105
    See also: 1987 Virginia Tech Hokies football team and Miami–Virginia Tech football rivalry

    The Hurricanes, a 38-point favorite, broke a 13–13 tie with 4:51 remaining on a 1-yard TD run by Melvin Bratton. Miami put the game out of reach by scoring the final touchdown with 34 seconds left to win 27–13.[16] This was Frank Beamer's first year as head coach at Virginia Tech. [17]

    Toledo

    See also: 1987 Toledo Rockets football team

    [18]

    No. 10 Notre Dame

    1 234Total
    No. 10 Fighting Irish 0 000 0
    • No. 2 Hurricanes 0 1077 24
    Scoring summary
    211:39MiamiBratton 2-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 7–0
    23:09MiamiCox 30-yard field goalMiami 10–0
    33:18MiamiBratton 1-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 17–0
    45:04MiamiConley 6-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 24–0
    See also: 1987 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

    Next up for the now 2nd-ranked Hurricanes was a date with #10 Notre Dame in Miami. Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz brought an upset minded Irish squad to the Orange Bowl, but they proved to be little match for Daniel Stubbs and a relentless Hurricane defense. Miami continued its dominance over Notre Dame, shutting out the Irish, 24–0, and beating them for the fourth straight time. It was also the first time Notre Dame had been shutout since 1983, when they were also shutout at the hands of the Hurricanes.

    [19]

    No. 8 South Carolina

    1 234Total
    No. 8 Gamecocks 6 703 16
    • No. 2 Hurricanes 7 760 20
    • Date: December 5, 1987
    • Location: Miami Orange Bowl,
      Miami
    • Game start: 8:00 PM
    • Game attendance: 76,640
    • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), Clear, Wind S 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
    • Referee: Terry Monk
    • TV announcers (ESPN): Jim Kelly and Kevin Kiley
    Scoring summary
    110:40SCMackie 40-yard field goalSC 3–0
    18:33SCMackie 48-yard field goalSC 6–0
    1MiamiIrvin 46-yard pass from Walsh (Cox kick)Miami 7–6
    29:55SCSterling Sharpe 47-yard pass from Todd Ellis (Mackie kick)SC 13–7
    28:06MiamiBratton 5-yard run (Cox kick)Miami 14–13
    3MiamiBrian Blades 56-yard pass from Walsh (kick failed)Miami 20–13
    413:51SCMackie 28-yard field goalMiami 20–16
    See also: 1987 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

    Miami's final regular season game came at home against #8 South Carolina. South Carolina played a spirited game and gave the Hurricanes all they could handle. Eventually, Miami was able to walk away from the nail biter with a hard-fought 20–16 victory, capping an 11–0 regular season.

    [20]

    Vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (Orange Bowl)

    Miami (FL) vs. Oklahoma
    1 234Total
    • No. 2 Hurricanes 7 0103 20
    No. 1 Sooners 0 707 14
    • Date: January 1, 1988
    • Location:
      EST
    • Elapsed time: 3:29
    • Game attendance: 74,760
    • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Clear, Wind E 9 mph (14 km/h)
    • Referee: Bill McDonald
    • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy, and Tom Hammond
    Scoring summary
    111:32MiamiBratton 30-yard pass from Walsh (Cox kick)Miami 7–0
    20:09OUStafford 1-yard run (Lashar kick)Tied 7–7
    38:52MiamiCox 56-yard FGMiami 10–7
    32:37MiamiIrvin 23-yard pass from Walsh (Cox kick)Miami 17–7
    43:41MiamiCox 48-yard FGMiami 20–7
    42:05OUHutson 29-yard run (Lashar kick)Miami 20–14
    Main article: 1988 Orange Bowl
    See also: 1987 Oklahoma Sooners football team

    [21]

    The 1988 Orange Bowl featured "Game of the Century"-type billing[citation needed] as the undefeated and top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners faced off against undefeated and second-ranked Miami for the national championship.[22] Adding to the hype was the recent on-field history between the teams. Oklahoma was a dominant force in college football, winning the national championship in 1985 and losing just one game in each of the preceding two years. Miami, though, had proven to be the thorn in Oklahoma's side, as the Sooners' losses in '85 and '86 had both come at the hands of Miami. Now, with the national championship on the line, Miami sought to make it three-losses-in-three-years for Oklahoma, and also their first postseason bowl win under Jimmy Johnson after three straight bowl losses, two in which they struggled and lost their chances to win the national championships. Further fuel for the fire was provided by the growing personal animosity between former Arkansas player Johnson and Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer, who was also a former Arkansas player.

    Miami's vaunted defense set the tone early, forcing the Sooners to

    field goal by kicker Greg Cox and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Walsh to Irvin. Oklahoma would add a fourth-quarter touchdown to trim the score to 20–14, but Miami held on for the win and the national championship. Johnson received a Gatorade bath
    , which messed his trademark impeccably coiffed hair, and was carried off the field, having finally won "the big one" at Miami.

    The Hurricane defense held Oklahoma to just 255 yards of offense, while Walsh's efficient play (18 of 30, 209 yards, 2 touchdowns) paced the Hurricane offense. Middle linebacker Bernard "Tiger" Clark- a backup middle linebacker who was forced to start after starting MLB George Mira Jr. was suspended for failing a drug test- was named the MVP of the Orange Bowl after recording 14 tackles (12 unassisted).

    With the win, Miami completed its first ever undefeated season. In winning their second national championship, the Canes once again had to go through the nation's top-ranked team at the Orange Bowl, just as they had done in 1983.

    Personnel

    The White House after winning the 1987 national championship
    , January 1988

    Roster

    1987 Miami Hurricanes football team roster
    Players Coaches
    Offense
    Pos. # Name Class
    QB 4 Steve Walsh So
    FB 5
    Melvin Bratton
         		 Sr
    QB 7 Craig Erickson  Fr
    QB 8 Greg Jones  Fr
    WR 9 Brian Blades Sr
    WR 11 Dale Dawkins  So
    WR 13 Bret Velde  Fr
    RB 20 Shannon Crowell Fr
    RB 21 Alex Johnson Fr
    RB 24 Warren Williams Sr
    RB 25 Hilton Mobley Fr
    RB 28 Leonard Conley Fr
    FB 30 Darius Frazier  So
    FB 31 Freddy Highsmith  Jr
    WR 33 Brett Perriman Sr
    RB 43 Cleveland Gary Jr
    WR 47 Michael Irvin Jr
    OL 52 Darren Bruce Jr
    C 64 Rod Holder So
    OL 75 John O'Neill Jr
    G 79 Mike Sullivan Fr
    WR 84 Rob Chudzinski Fr
    TE 87 Alfredo Roberts Sr
    		Defense
    Pos. # Name Class
    DB 3 Randal Hill Fr
    DB 6 Kenny Berry  So
    DB 15 Jason Hicks  So
    DB 17 Trevor Weeks Fr
    DB 18 Tolbert Bain  Sr
    DB 19 Darrell Fullington Sr
    LB 22 Randy Shannon  Jr
    CB 23 Robert Bailey Fr
    DB 27 Michael Johnson  Fr
    DB 29 Donald Ellis  Jr
    RB 32 Alex Johnson  Sr
    DB 36 Bennie Blades Sr
    LB 45 George Mira Jr. Sr
    DB 48 Bubba McDowell So
    DE 54 Bill Hawkins Jr
    DT 67 Russell Maryland Fr
    DL 86 Derwin Jones Sr
    LB 91 Rod Carter Jr
    DT 96 Cortez Kennedy So
    DT 94 Greg Mark So
    DL 97 Earnest Parish Jr
    DE 96 Danny Stubbs Sr
    		Special teams
    Pos. # Name Class
    K 1 Edgar Benes So
    K 2 Sung Kim Fr
    K 25 Greg Cox So
    TE 82 Charles Henry Sr
    P
    		 38 Jeff Feagles Sr
    Head coach
    Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    Roster

    Coaching staff

    Name Position Seasons Alma mater
    Jimmy Johnson Head coach 4th Arkansas (1965)
    Gary Stevens Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 8th John Carroll (1965)
    Dave Wannstedt
    Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
    		 2nd Pittsburgh (1974)
    Hubbard Alexander Wide receivers 9th Tennessee State (1962)
    Joe Brodsky Running backs 10th Florida (1956)
    Butch Davis
    Defensive line
    		 4th Arkansas (1973)
    Art Kehoe
    Assistant offensive line
    		 3rd Miami (1982)
    Don Soldinger Tight ends 4th Memphis (1967)
    Tony Wise
    Offensive line
    		 3rd Ithaca (1972)
    Dave Campo Defensive backs 1st Central Connecticut State (1969)

    Support staff

    Name Position Seasons Alma mater
    Bill Foran
    Strength & conditioning
    		 3rd Central Michigan (1977)
    Steve Hoffman Graduate assistant 3rd Dickinson (1981)
    Ron Meeks Graduate assistant 2nd Arkansas State (1977)
    Tommy Tuberville Graduate assistant 2nd Southern Arkansas (1976)

    [citation needed]

    Awards and honors

    Consensus All-Americans

    • Bennie Blades, FS
    • Daniel Stubbs, LE

    Awards finalists

    Bold indicates winners

    Jack Harding University of Miami MVP Award

    • Steve Walsh, QB

    1988 NFL Draft

    See also:
    1988 NFL Draft

    A total of 12 Hurricanes were drafted by 10 different franchises in 1988, including three wide receivers in the first 52 picks.

    Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
    1 3 Bennie Blades S Detroit Lions
    1 11 Michael Irvin WR Dallas Cowboys
    2 33 Danny Stubbs OLB San Francisco 49ers
    2 49 Brian Blades WR Seattle Seahawks
    2 52 Brett Perriman WR New Orleans Saints
    3 56 Dan Sileo DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    3 63 Matt Patchan OT Philadelphia Eagles
    5 124 Darrell Fullington S Minnesota Vikings
    6 155 Warren Williams RB Pittsburgh Steelers
    8 197 Alfredo Roberts TE Kansas City Chiefs
    10 269 Derwin Jones DE Seattle Seahawks
    12 331 George Mira Jr. LB San Francisco 49ers

    References

    1. Newspapers.com
      .
    2. Newspapers.com
      .
    3. Newspapers.com
      .
    4. Newspapers.com
      .
    5. Newspapers.com
      .
    6. ^ "Miami Rings Florida's Bell and Trounces Gators, 31-4". Los Angeles Times. September 6, 1987. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    7. ^ "Miami Grand In Finale, 31-4 'Canes' Rush Weathers Bell As Series Ends". Orlando Sentinel. September 6, 1987. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    8. ^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SOUTHEAST; Miami Trounces Arkansas 51-7". The New York Times. September 27, 1987. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    9. ^ "Greatest Games - Miami-Florida State, 1987". College Football News. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
    10. ABC Sports
      . October 9, 2001. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
    11. ^ "The 1987 Miami-FSU game: A true October Classic". Fox Sports. October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    12. ^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SOUTH; L.S.U. Surges Past Georgia; Miami 46, Maryland 16". The New York Times. October 11, 1987. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    13. ^ "Hurricanes Wipe Out Cincinnati". Orlando Sentinel. October 25, 1987. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    14. ^ "Blades detonates the "Bomb Squad"". The Palm Beach Post. November 1, 1987. p. 52. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    15. ^ "Hurricanes rout other Miami 54-3". The Palm Beach Post. November 8, 1987. p. 53. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    16. ^ "No. 3 Miami wins". The Pantagraph. November 15, 1987. p. 7. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    17. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 15. Retrieved 2019-Jan-06.
    18. ^ "No. 3 Miami Struggles for 24-14 Victory". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1987. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
    19. ^ "Miami Is Too Much for Irish: Hurricanes Put the Big Hit on Brown & Co., 24-0". Los Angeles Times. November 29, 1987. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    20. ^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Miami Survives By 20-16". The New York Times. December 6, 1987. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
    21. ^ "Orange Bowl; Hurricanes Overwhelm the Sooners to Claim No. 1". The New York Times. January 2, 1988. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
    22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 28, 2006. Retrieved October 27, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    23. ^ "Do You Know Which Team Has the Most College Football Championships?". Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
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