2001- 2006: The Collapse Of Miami Hurricanes Football

(Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

In 2001, the Miami Hurricanes completed their resurgence with a crushing defeat of Nebraska in the Rose Bowl to take the national championship under first year coach Larry Coker. 

The next few years were some the most painful a fan could watch. Many people point to the loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl in 2002 as the beginning of the collapse. What most people don't realize is that Virginia Tech refused to quit in a late season game with the Hurricanes ultimately exposing the flaws that Ohio State would exploit to win the national title.

Also, 2002 saw a recruiting misfire for the Hurricanes as only two bonafide NFL players came from the class, Sinorice Moss and Brandon Meriweather. Coupled with early entries into the NFL from several players, like Andre Johnson, Kellen Winslow, and Willis McGahee this left a talent void that was never filled under Coker.

After two disappointing years, dubbed rebuilding in the national media, the Hurricanes stepped into the more powerful ACC conference accelerating the downturn of the program. It was 2005 when a resurgent team was 9-3 on the season but was crushed in the Sugar Bowl by LSU.

At this point, the talent level sustained during the periods of greatness deteriorated. Coupled with the deterioration was the loss of discipline as evidenced by the brawl with FIU in 2006 and the murder of Bryan Pata during the same year.

The lack of talent coupled with the lack of discipline forced down the program which ultimately lead to Coker's dismissal in 2006.

Today, Florida stands in a similar situation. Florida has not really been one for disclipline under Urban Meyer and the hirings of Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, Dan Mullen at Mississippi State, Bobby Petrino at Arkansas, and Nick Saban at Alabama raise the level of talent in the SEC. Also, Florida has not been as highly rated in recruiting during recent years and is experiencing early entry losses to the NFL.

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