Led by quarterback Ken Dorsey, free safety Ed Reed, running back Clinton Portis, wide receiver Andre Johnson, tight end Jeremy Shockey, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Miami won the 2001 national championship.
At Penn State
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Miami (FL) at Penn State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Hurricanes |
13 |
17 | 0 | 3 |
33 |
| Nittany Lions |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | 9:30 | MIA | Sievers 35 yard field goal | MIA 3–0 |
| | 1 | 7:23 | MIA | Sands 27 yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 10–0 |
| | 1 | 3:01 | MIA | Sievers 42 yard field goal | MIA 13–0 |
| | 2 | 13:39 | MIA | Sievers 31 yard field goal | MIA 16–0 |
| | 2 | 11:11 | MIA | Davenport 28 yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 23–0 |
| | 2 | 1:48 | MIA | Shockey 10 yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 30–0 |
| | 4 | 12:22 | MIA | Sievers 23 yard field goal | MIA 33–0 |
| | 4 | 9:51 | MIA | B. Johnson 44 yard pass from Mills (Kimball kick) | MIA 33–7 |
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[4]
The Hurricanes began the season with a nationally televised primetime win over Penn State in Beaver Stadium. With a 30-0 halftime Miami lead, Coker pulled his starters and Miami cruised in the second half to a 33–7 victory. The 26-point margin tied for Penn State's worst home loss under Joe Paterno.
At Florida State
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Miami (FL) at Florida State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Hurricanes |
14 |
7 | 28 | 0 |
49 |
| No. 13 Seminoles |
0 |
13 | 7 | 7 |
27 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | 8:48 | MIA | Fitzgerald 5-yard blocked punt return (Sievers kick) | MIA 7–0 |
| | 1 | 7:16 | MIA | Andre Johnson 27-yard pass from Ken Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 14–0 |
| | 2 | 11:03 | MIA | Jeremy Shockey 1-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 21–0 |
| | 2 | 6:50 | FSU | Jones 6-yard run (kick failed) | MIA 21–6 |
| | 2 | 0:05 | FSU | McCray 1-yard run (Beitia kick) | MIA 21–13 |
| | 3 | 13:23 | MIA | A. Johnson 18-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 28–13 |
| | 3 | 12:18 | MIA | Jonathan Vilma 36-yard fumble return (Sievers kick) | MIA 35–13 |
| | 3 | 9:56 | FSU | Gardner 57-yard pass from Chris Rix (Beitia kick) | MIA 35–20 |
| | 3 | 4:48 | MIA | Capshaw 7-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 42–20 |
| | 3 | 3:54 | MIA | Willis McGahee 8-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 49–20 |
| | 4 | 6:53 | FSU | Michael Boulware 73-yard fumble return (Beitia kick) | MIA 49–27 |
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After building up a 4–0 record, Miami won over Florida State in Doak Campbell Stadium, 49–27,[8] ending the Seminoles' 47-game home unbeaten streak.
At Boston College
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Miami (FL) at Boston College
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Hurricanes |
0 |
9 | 0 | 9 |
18 |
| Eagles |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
- Date: November 10
- Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
- Game start: 12:15 pm EST
- Elapsed time: 3:10
- Game attendance: 44,500
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), Mostly Cloudy, Wind SW 15–25 mph (24–40 km/h)
- Referee: Tom DeJoseph
- Television network: ABC
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 2 | 14:56 | MIA | Todd Sievers 38-yard field goal | MIA 3–0 |
| | 2 | 8:45 | MIA | Sievers 24-yard field goal | MIA 6–0 |
| | 2 | 0:54 | MIA | Sievers 43-yard field goal | MIA 9–0 |
| | 3 | 5:50 | BC | Sean Ryan 9-yard pass from Brian St. Pierre (Kevin McMyler kick) | MIA 9–7 |
| | 4 | 14:50 | MIA | Sievers 47-yard field goal | MIA 12–7 |
| | 4 | 0:13 | MIA | Ed Reed 80-yard interception return (kick failed) | MIA 18–7 |
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Close
Miami started with a 9–0 lead over the Boston College Eagles, but Miami's offense began to sputter as Dorsey struggled with the swirling winds, throwing four interceptions. The Hurricane defense picked up the slack by limiting BC to just seven points. However, in the final minute of the fourth quarter, with Miami clinging to a 12–7 lead, BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre led the Eagles from their own 30-yard line all the way down to the Hurricanes' 9-yard line. With BC on the verge of a momentous upset, St. Pierre attempted to pass to receiver Ryan Read at the Miami 2-yard line. However, the ball ricocheted off the leg of Miami cornerback Mike Rumph, landing in the hands of defensive end Matt Walters. Walters ran ten yards with the ball before teammate Ed Reed grabbed the ball out of his hands at around the Miami 20-yard line and raced the remaining 80-yards for a touchdown. Miami won 18–7.[11]
Syracuse
After the close win over Boston College, Miami went on to win over #14 Syracuse, 59–0,[12] and #12 Washington, 65–7,[13] in consecutive weeks in the Orange Bowl. The combined 124–7 score is an NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked opponents.
Washington
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Washington at Miami (FL)
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Huskies |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
| • No. 2 Hurricanes |
7 |
30 | 14 | 14 |
65 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | 13:53 | MIA | Clinton Portis 4-yard run (Todd Sievers kick) | MIA 7–0 |
| | 2 | 14:53 | MIA | Portis 30-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 14–0 |
| | 2 | 10:23 | MIA | Portis 5-yard pass from Ken Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 21–0 |
| | 2 | 8:18 | MIA | Winslow safety | MIA 23–0 |
| | 2 | 7:57 | MIA | Andre Johnson 25-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 30–0 |
| | 2 | 7:28 | MIA | McDougle 18-yard interception return (Sievers kick) | MIA 37–0 |
| | 3 | 10:28 | MIA | Najeh Davenport 1-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 44–0 |
| | 3 | 9:55 | WASH | Alexis 5-yard run (Anderson kick) | MIA 44–7 |
| | 3 | 3:23 | MIA | A. Johnson 3-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 51–7 |
| | 4 | 13:29 | MIA | Frank Gore 2-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 58–7 |
| | 4 | 5:00 | MIA | Geathers 13-yard pass from Crudup (Sievers kick) | MIA 65–7 |
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At Virginia Tech
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Hurricanes |
0 |
20 | 3 | 3 |
26 |
| No. 14 Hokies |
3 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
24 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | 3:08 | VT | Warley 27-yard field goal | VT 3–0 |
| | 2 | 13:05 | MIA | Jeremy Shockey 14-yard pass from Ken Dorsey (Todd Sievers kick) | MIA 7–3 |
| | 2 | 6:11 | MIA | Clinton Portis 7-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 14–3 |
| | 2 | 3:59 | MIA | Sievers 34-yard field goal | MIA 17–3 |
| | 2 | 0:16 | MIA | Sievers 43-yard field goal | MIA 20–3 |
| | 3 | 10:30 | VT | Ferguson 1-yard run (Warley kick) | MIA 20–10 |
| | 3 | 4:41 | MIA | Sievers 42-yard field goal | MIA 23–10 |
| | 4 | 11:32 | MIA | Sievers 39-yard field goal | MIA 26–10 |
| | 4 | 8:33 | VT | Ferguson 1-yard run (Parham pass) | MIA 26–18 |
| | 4 | 6:03 | VT | Manning 22-yard blocked punt return (pass failed) | MIA 26–24 |
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Close
The final hurdle to the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship Game was at Virginia Tech. Miami jumped on Virginia Tech early, leading 20–3 at halftime, and 26–10 in the fourth quarter. But despite being outgained by the Hurricanes by 134 yards and being dominated in time-of-possession, the Hokies never quit. After a Virginia Tech touchdown and two-point conversion cut Miami's lead to 26–18, the Hokies blocked a Miami punt and returned it for another score, cutting Miami's lead to just two points. But with a chance to tie the game with another two-point conversion, Virginia Tech sophomore Ernest Wilford dropped a pass in the endzone. Still, the resilient Hokies had one more chance to win the game late, taking possession of the ball at midfield and needing only a field goal to take the lead. But a diving, game-saving interception by Ed Reed sealed the Miami victory, 26–24.[14] Defeating Virginia Tech earned the top-ranked Hurricanes an invitation to the Rose Bowl to take on BCS #2 Nebraska for the national championship.
Rose Bowl
More information Total, Scoring summary ...
Miami (FL) vs. Nebraska
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Hurricanes |
7 |
27 | 0 | 3 |
37 |
| No. 4 Cornhuskers |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
14 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | 1 | 6:51 | MIA | Andre Johnson 50-yard pass from Ken Dorsey (Todd Sievers kick) | MIA 7–0 |
| | 2 | 14:33 | MIA | Clinton Portis 39-yard run (Sievers kick) | MIA 14–0 |
| | 2 | 12:52 | MIA | James Lewis 47-yard interception return (Sievers kick) | MIA 21–0 |
| | 2 | 10:40 | MIA | Jeremy Shockey 21-yard pass from Dorsey (Kick failed) | MIA 27–0 |
| | 2 | 3:35 | MIA | Andre Johnson 8-yard pass from Dorsey (Sievers kick) | MIA 34–0 |
| | 3 | 2:39 | NEB | Judd Davies 16-yard run (Josh Brown kick) | MIA 34–7 |
| | 4 | 14:28 | NEB | DeJuan Groce 71-yard punt return (Brown kick) | MIA 34–14 |
| | 4 | 10:04 | MIA | Sievers 37-yard field goal | MIA 37–14 |
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Nebraska proved to be no competition for Miami, which opened up a 34–0 halftime lead en route to a 37–14 final score.[15] Miami won its fifth national championship in the last 18 years, and put the finishing touches on a perfect 12–0 season. Dorsey passed for 362 yards and 3 touchdowns, while wide receiver Andre Johnson caught 7 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the stifling Miami defense shut down Heisman-winner Eric Crouch and the Huskers vaunted option offense, holding Nebraska 200 yards below its season average. Dorsey and Johnson were named Rose Bowl co-Most Valuable Players.
[16]
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes are considered by some experts and historians to be one of the greatest teams in college football history.[1] The Hurricanes scored 512 (42.6 points per game) points while yielding only 117 (9.75 points allowed per game). Miami beat opponents by an average of 32.9 points per game, the largest margin in the school's history, and set the NCAA record for largest margin of victory over consecutive ranked teams (124–7), though they struggled to defeat #14 Virginia Tech, and an unranked Boston College. [17] The offense set the school scoring record, while the defense led the nation in scoring defense (fewest points allowed), pass defense, and turnover margin.[17] Additionally, the Hurricane defense scored eight touchdowns of its own. Six players earned All-American status and six players were finalists for national awards, including Maxwell Award winner, Ken Dorsey, and Outland Trophy winner, Bryant McKinnie. Dorsey was also a Heisman finalist, finishing third.
Among the numerous stars on the 2001 Miami squad were: quarterback Ken Dorsey; running backs Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport, and Frank Gore; tight end Jeremy Shockey; wide receiver Andre Johnson; offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie; defensive linemen Jerome McDougle, William Joseph, and Vince Wilfork; linebackers Jonathan Vilma and D.J. Williams; and defensive backs Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanon. Additional contributors included future stars Kellen Winslow II, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, Vernon Carey, and Rocky McIntosh. In all, an extraordinary 17 players from the 2001 Miami football team were drafted in the first-round of the NFL Draft (5 in the 2002 NFL Draft: Buchanon, McKinnie, Reed, Rumph, and Shockey; 4 in 2003: Johnson, Joseph, McDougle, and McGahee; 6 in 2004: Carey, Taylor, Vilma, Wilfork, Williams, and Winslow; 1 in 2005: Rolle; and 1 in 2006: Kelly Jennings).
Overall, 38 members of the team would be selected in the NFL Draft. As of 2013, they had earned a combined total of 43 trips to the Pro Bowl: Ed Reed (9), Andre Johnson (7), Frank Gore (5), Vince Wilfork (5), Jeremy Shockey (4), Jonathan Vilma (3), Willis McGahee (2), Chris Myers (2), Clinton Portis (2), Antrel Rolle (2), Sean Taylor (2), Bryant McKinnie (1), and Kellen Winslow II (1). In addition, Vilma, Shockey, Wilfork, Joseph, Rolle, McKinnie, and Reed have won the Super Bowl. It has been estimated that the 2001 Hurricanes would cost nearly $120 million as an NFL team as early as 2009.
Prior to the 2006 Rose Bowl, ESPN's SportsCenter ran a special in which the 2005 USC Trojans, led by stars Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and LenDale White, were compared with the greatest college teams of the past 50 years, as picked by sports fans voting on ESPN.com, to determine their place in history. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes were the only team picked by fans to defeat the '05 Trojan squad, reflecting the esteem with which the 2001 Hurricanes are held by fans. However ESPN analyst Mark May placed the 2005 Trojans only behind 1995 Nebraska. Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated later observed that, although the 05 team "may have had the greatest set of skill players in history," "ESPN spent the better part of Christmas season comparing that Trojans squad to some of the most acclaimed teams of all time only to find out that they weren’t even the best team that season [18]
The team's first-, second- and third-string running backs all later became running backs with a start in the NFL, a feat only done five other times. It has only been achieved by the 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football teams. They remain the only team to have its first-, second-, third- and fourth-string running backs all later become running backs to start in the NFL.
