Miami Hurricanes in Top Ten for 1st Time With UF and FSU With Losing Records
The Miami Hurricanes reside in the top ten for the first time with Florida and Florida State having simultaneous losing records. The Gators are on pace for the second losing season since 1980. Florida State is on pace for its first losing season since 1977.
Miami, Florida State and Florida were the pinnacles of college football for decades. The Miami Hurricanes had a 17-year streak of winning seasons between 1980-96.
Florida State became a national power in 1977 with a 10-2 record and Tangerine Bowl berth. By Bowden’s third season the Seminoles earned their first of two straight Orange Bowl Berths.
Miami was a couple of years behind Florida State’s emergence. Bobby Bowden was hired by Florida State for the 1977 season. Miami hired Howard Schnellenberger for the 1979 season.
The Hurricanes went to their first bowl under Schnellenberger in 1980. Miami defeated Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl following that season. The 1980 season was the first one of the modern era that both Miami and Florida State finished ranked in the top 20.
The Hurricanes won their first National Championship in 1983. Florida finished that season ranked sixth in the National polls.
The following season was the first time in the modern era that all three teams finished the season ranked in the top 20. Florida finished the 1984 season third in the National polls. Florida State was 17th and Miami 18th.
This season and particularly this week College Football in the State of Florida seemed to be in an alternate universe. Florida State has lost five of their seven games this season. The Gators fired Head Coach Jim McElwain after a 3-4 start and replaced him with former Miami Head Coach Randy Shannon.
Florida State needs to win out to avoid their first losing season in 41 years. After starting 3-1 the Gators have lost three in a row. They lost this past weekend 42-7 to Georgia. The defeat to their arch-rivals was the end of the McElwain era.
Shannon was named the interim Head Coach. He thus became the first former Miami player to be named as the Head Coach at the University of Florida.
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Florida State’s strange season began in the opening game. The Seminoles were being soundly defeated by Alabama. Quarterback Dondre Francois was lost for the season in the second half of that game.
Under Freshman quarterback James Blackman the Seminoles offense hasn’t been the same. They have since lost running back Jacques Patrick for an unspecified period of time.
While their arch rivals are struggling Miami is off to their best start since 2013. With a favorable schedule in their last four games, Miami appears to be on track for their best season since 2005. Miami went 9-3 that season and appeared in the Peach Bowl.
Hurricanes fans are relishing that their team is having a banner season while the Seminoles and Gators are faltering. This could be the first season since 1978 that both Florida and Florida State miss the postseason. It could also be the first year since 1961 that both have losing seasons.
Next: The Five Scariest Miami Hurricanes
The next two weeks will tell us a lot about the Miami Hurricanes. UM hosts Virginia Tech Saturday and Notre Dame a week later. Win both and Miami will be a major player in the College Football Playoff.