With the Miami Hurricanes making their first National Championship Game appearance in 23 years, it’s safe to say that “The U” is back.
The college football program that spawned some of the greatest NFL talent in recent decades is finally back on the national stage. For the first time in over two decades, Miami can call themselves true championship contenders once again.
While the current team obviously still has to finish the job against a favored powerhouse team in the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers – the ‘Canes are 8.5-point underdogs – it’s hard not to feel the excitement in the air in South Florida.
A number of some of the all-time greatest Hurricanes players congregated at Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood on Saturday night for the “ReUnion.” Hurricanes legends such as Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin, Devin Hester, Ed Reed and Edgerrin James all participated in a back-and-forth discussion regarding the current team, what being an alumni of the ‘Canes is all about and why it’s so important to the South Florida community that “The U” is back.
Others ‘Canes greats such as Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma, Jon Beason and D.J. Williams were also present.
“It means a lot,” said Shockey about the ‘Canes return to prominence. “It definitely means a lot what we carried before we won that championship, before the other championships before us. That means a lot to us, and I know it means a lot to these guys. Knowing how much they care and how they play in a couple of days, it’s an amazing feeling. It’s just a very great feeling to be back in this situation as we were 24 years ago.”
Portis, who was Shockey’s teammate on the last national championship team at Miami in 2001, said he’s not surprised that the ‘Canes were able to advance to the College Football National Championship in their first College Football Playoff appearance.
He said once they got in, the stars “aligned” for the Hurricanes to get this far.
“Once they got into the playoffs, it kind of aligned,” said Portis. “I think they have been playing good ball all year. You had the two games where they slipped up. But other than that, they had been playing good ball. I think it was just a matter of getting everybody healthy, and that kind of happened at the right time. Getting C.J. Daniels back was huge. Mark Fletcher really leaning on him in the playoffs throughout this run, and then with the defense playing how they’ve been playing, the defense has been playing lights out. That’s how you win games in the playoffs and these months is through defense and running the ball.”
Shockey agreed with Portis’ assessment, saying the ‘Canes are playing “hot” right now which is how they’ve been able to make a big run despite barely making it into the College Football Playoff as one of the last selections.
“I agree, I think coming in this tournament, it’s a new tournament they actually just got a couple years ago,” said Shockey. “It’s about who is playing hot right now, just like college basketball, March Madness. I like our team. We’re playing great defense right now. We’re playing great defense and offense, Carson Beck is doing a great job.”
Both Portis and Shockey ended up becoming NFL stars with each of them emerging as All-Pro and Pro Bowl players. While both of them would experience success as high draft picks, their experience at Coral Gables is one of a kind and carries over to this day.
“That’s what I’m doing, hanging out with UM greats,” said Portis. “Sometimes it feels surreal to look around the room. You realize you got four or five Hall of Famers sitting in the room, which is in casual conversation, and those are your friends. It’s dope to have this opportunity to be with the guys. Then you see guys like Shockey. Shockey is one of my all time favorite players. Reggie Wayne. When you look at those guys, the U was loaded. For the U to be so small and have this much production around the NFL is crazy.”
When asked who is going to emerge victorious, both ‘Canes greats unsurprisingly picked the underdogs to win in their home stadium. The Hurricanes are the first team in the College Football Playoff era to play the CFP National Championship Game in their home stadium.
“I think the Hurricanes are going to win, 28-21,” said Shockey. “I think at halftime, Miami is going to be up and Indiana will come back. But we’ll win by a touchdown.”
Hester said the key for the ‘Canes to pull off an upset is by getting pressure on Heisman Trophy quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Shockey can see where Hester is coming from.
“I would say the exact same thing – get pressure,” said Shockey. “The quarterback not making any turnovers. They haven’t done it all year, let’s let Indiana play from behind. If we get up 7-to-10 points, let them play from behind, see how it goes. I like our defense.”
Portis said he just needs the ‘Canes to win by “one point.” He predicts the final score will be 27-24 in favor of Miami.
“I just need ”The U” to win by one point,” said Portis. “They did everything I needed them to do. I don’t know what the score would be because Indiana is capable of scoring. We’re capable of scoring. Both teams got defense. If I just had to make a prediction, I would say 27-24.
When asked if he thinks it’ll come down to the final drive, Portis said “it wouldn’t be shocking.”
“Every game has so it wouldn’t be shocking,” said Portis. “You get to this game, I think every game has come down to it. We just need to be in the lead when it happens.”