Miami Hurricanes Usually Blowout ND When they Host

Eighty-thousand fans showed up in the rain to watch the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame. Among the Miami players on that team were current Head Coach Mark Richt who redshirted that season and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

The teams met the next season in South Bend before the Miami Hurricanes dominance at the Orange Bowl began. Notre Dame won 32-14 in 1980. Miami finished that season 9-3. That included a Peach Bowl victory over last week’s opponent Virginia Tech.

The 1981 Hurricanes exceeded that record finishing 9-2. Because of probation they did not participate in a bowl game. They would play Notre Dame in the last game of the season.

With three seasons under his belt, Schnellenberger was quietly building his State of Miami Powerhouse. The Hurricanes closed the 1981 season with a 37-15 victory over Notre Dame.

After a two-point loss in South Bend in 1982, the rivalry returned to the Orange Bowl for the most important season in Miami Hurricanes history in 1983.

Miami opened the 1983 season with a 28-3 loss at Florida. Wins against Houston and Purdue set up the showdown with Notre Dame. It didn’t have nearly the cache that later games against the Fighting Irish would have. It would still prove to be an important milestone victory over ND.