1991 Miami Hurricanes football team
American college football season
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The 1991 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Hurricanes' 66th season of football and first as a member of the Big East Conference. The Hurricanes were led by third-year head coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. They finished the season 12–0 overall and 2–0 in the Big East while playing a partial conference schedule. They were invited to the Orange Bowl where they defeated Nebraska, 22–0. The Hurricanes were named as national champions by the AP poll, the program's fourth national championship. Washington, who also finished 12–0 overall, were named as champions by the Coaches Poll.
| 1991 Miami Hurricanes football | |
|---|---|
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AP poll national champion Orange Bowl champion | |
Orange Bowl, W 22–0 vs. Nebraska | |
| Conference | Big East Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 2 |
| AP | No. 1 |
| Record | 12–0 (2–0 Big East) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Bob Bratkowski (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | One-back spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Sonny Lubick (3rd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| MVP | Carlos Huerta |
| Home stadium | Miami Orange Bowl |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Syracuse | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Miami (FL) | 2 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 1 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 12:00 pm | at Arkansas* | No. 3 | ABC | W 31–3 | 46,308 | [1] | |
| September 12 | 8:00 pm | No. 10 Houston* | No. 2 | ESPN | W 40–10 | 71,842 | [2] | |
| September 28 | 2:00 pm | at Tulsa* | No. 2 | W 34–10 | 35,689 | [3] | ||
| October 5 | 12:00 pm | Oklahoma State* | No. 2 |
| W 40–3 | 42,751 | [4] | |
| October 12 | 12:00 pm | No. 9 Penn State* | No. 2 |
| ABC | W 26–20 | 75,723 | [5] |
| October 19 | 4:00 pm | Long Beach State* | No. 2 |
| W 55–0 | 40,498 | [6] | |
| October 26 | 10:00 pm | at Arizona* | No. 2 | W 36–9 | 53,349 | [7] | ||
| November 9 | 4:00 pm | West Virginia | No. 3 |
| W 27–3 | 60,250 | [8] | |
| November 16 | 12:00 pm | at No. 1 Florida State* | No. 2 | ABC | W 17–16 | 63,442 | [9] | |
| November 23 | 7:30 pm | at Boston College | No. 1 | ESPN | W 19–14 | 32,071 | [10] | |
| November 30 | 7:30 pm | San Diego State* | No. 1 |
| ESPN | W 39–12 | 56,721 | [11] |
| January 1 | 8:00 pm | vs. No. 11 Nebraska* | No. 1 |
| NBC | W 22–0 | 77,747 | [12] |
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Rankings
| Week | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | 3 (2) | 3 (1) | 2 (2) | 2 (8) | 2 (8) | 2 (2) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | 2 (2) | 2 (3) | 2 т (3) | 2 (3) | 1 (46) | 1 (37 1⁄2) | 1 (37) | 1 (32) |
| Coaches | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 (6) | 2 (5) | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | 1 (44) | 1 (32) | 2 (30) | 2 (25 1⁄2) |
Game summaries
Arkansas
#3 Miami (FL) at Arkansas
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Hurricanes | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Razorbacks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: August 31
- Location: War Memorial Stadium
- Game attendance: 46,308
| Q1 | MIA | Copeland 99 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 | |
| Q2 | ARK | Wright 35 yard field goal | MIA 7–3 | |
| Q2 | MIA | McGuire 11 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 14–3 | |
| Q3 | MIA | Patton 42 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 21–3 | |
| Q4 | MIA | McGuire 1 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 28–3 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Huerta 22 yard field goal | MIA 31–3 | |
Houston
Tulsa
#2 Miami (FL) at Tulsa
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Hurricanes | 0 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
| Golden Hurricane | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
- Date: September 28
- Location: Skelly Stadium
- Game attendance: 35,689
| Q2 | MIA | McGuire 8 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Etheredge 1 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 14–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Moore 3 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 21–0 | |
| Q2 | TLSA | Lange 30 yard field goal | MIA 21–3 | |
| Q3 | MIA | McGuire 4 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 28–3 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Huerta 23 yard field goal | MIA 31–3 | |
| Q4 | TLSA | Fair 3 yard pass from Rubley (Lange kick) | MIA 31–10 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Huerta 28 yard field goal | MIA 34–10 | |
- Gino Torretta 20/33, 327 Yds
- Lamar Thomas 5 Rec, 106 Yds
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State at #2 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Hurricanes | 17 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 40 |
- Date: October 5
- Location: Orange Bowl
- Game attendance: 42,751
| Q1 | MIA | McGuire 7 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 | |
| Q1 | MIA | Huerta 27 yard field goal | MIA 10–0 | |
| Q1 | MIA | Thomas 5 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 17–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Patton 4 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 24–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Patton 2 yard run (kick failed) | MIA 30–0 | |
| Q3 | MIA | Huerta 29 yard field goal | MIA 33–0 | |
| Q3 | OKST | Myers 20 yard field goal | MIA 33–3 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Bennett 22 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 40–3 | |
Penn State
#9 Penn State at #2 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nittany Lions | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| • Hurricanes | 3 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 26 |
- Date: October 12
- Location: Orange Bowl
- Game attendance: 75,723
- Television network: ABC
| Q1 | MIA | Huerta 24 yard field goal | MIA 3–0 | |
| Q1 | PSU | Fayak 20 yard field goal | Tie 3–3 | |
| Q2 | PSU | Fayak 46 yard field goal | PSU 6–3 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Huerta 45 yard field goal | Tie 6–6 | |
| Q3 | 6:34 | MIA | Copeland 80 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 13–6 |
| Q3 | MIA | K. Williams 91 yard punt return (Huerta kick) | MIA 20–6 | |
| Q3 | PSU | T. Smith 2 yard pass from Sacca (Fayak kick) | MIA 20–13 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Thomas 42 yard pass from Torretta (kick failed) | MIA 26–13 | |
| Q4 | PSU | T. Smith 9 yard pass from Sacca (Fayak kick) | MIA 26–20 | |
- First meeting between the two schools since 1987 Fiesta Bowl
- Fans watching on television outside of Florida missed two scores when the network switched to United States Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Horace Copeland 5 Rec, 106 Yds
Long Beach State
Long Beach State at #2 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Hurricanes | 7 | 28 | 7 | 13 | 55 |
- Date: October 19
- Location: Orange Bowl
- Game attendance: 40,498
| Q1 | MIA | McGuire 1 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Spencer 8 yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick) | MIA 14–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | McGuire 1 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 21–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | K. Williams 63 yard punt return (Huerta kick) | MIA 28–0 | |
| Q2 | MIA | Torretta 1 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 35–0 | |
| Q3 | MIA | Bennett 2 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 42–0 | |
| Q4 | MIA | L. Jones 30 yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 49–0 | |
| Q4 | MIA | Marucci 5 yard run (kick failed) | MIA 55–0 | |
Arizona
West Virginia
Florida State
#2 Miami (FL) at #1 Florida State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Hurricanes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Seminoles | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
- Date: November 16
- Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
- Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 63,442
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese
| 1 | MIA | Stephen McGuire 2-yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 7-0 | |
| FSU | Gerry Thomas 25-yard field goal | MIA 7-3 | ||
| 2 | FSU | Paul Moore 1-yard run (Thomas kick) | FSU 10-7 | |
| 3 | FSU | Gerry Thomas 31-yard field goal | FSU 13-7 | |
| 4 | FSU | Gerry Thomas 20-yard field goal | FSU 16-7 | |
| 9:48 | MIA | Carlos Huerta 45-yard field goal | FSU 16-10 | |
| 3:01 | MIA | Larry Jones 1-yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 17-16 | |
Boston College
San Diego State
Vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl)
#1 Miami (FL) vs. #11 Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Hurricanes | 13 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 22 |
| Cornhuskers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: January 1
- Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Game attendance: 77,747
- Referee: Ron Winter (Big Ten)
- Television network: NBC
Personnel
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Seasons | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Erickson | Head coach | 3rd | Montana State (1969) |
| Bob Bratkowski | Offensive coordinator/wide receivers | 3rd | Washington State (1978) |
| Sonny Lubick | Defensive coordinator/defensive backs | 3rd | Western Montana (1960) |
| Gregg Smith | Offensive line | 3rd | Idaho (1969) |
| Dave Arnold | Special Teams/tight ends | 3rd | |
| Bob Karmelowicz | Defensive line | 3rd | Bridgeport (1972) |
| Art Kehoe | Assistant offensive line | 7th | Miami (1982) |
| Ed Orgeron | Defensive line | 3rd | Northwestern State (1984) |
| Tommy Tuberville | Linebackers | 3rd | Southern Arkansas (1976) |
| Alex Wood | Running backs | 3rd | Iowa (1978) |
Roster
| 1991 Miami Hurricanes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Depth chart
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Awards and honors
First Team All-Americans
- Leon Searcy, T
- Darrin Smith, LB
- Darryl Williams, FS
- Kevin Williams, KR/PR
- Carlos Huerta, K
Conference awards
- Darrin Smith, LB: Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year
- Gino Torretta, QB: Big East Offensive Player of the Year
- Kevin Williams, KR/PR: Big East Special Teams Player of the Year
• Russell Sapp, RB/KR/PR: Big East Co-Special Teams Player of the Year
Jack Harding University of Miami MVP Award
1992 NFL draft
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Team |
| Leon Searcy | Tackle | 1 | 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Darryl Williams | Defensive Back | 1 | 28 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Craig Erickson | Quarterback | 4 | 86 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Anthony Hamlet | Defensive end | 10 | 263 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Kelvin Harris | Center | 12 | 312 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Carlos Huerta | Kicker | 12 | 315 | San Diego Chargers |
