Miami Hurricanes Five most memorable defensive performances with Manny Diaz as coordinator

Georgia Tech’s 28-22 victory over Virginia Tech earlier in the day clinched Miami’s first ACC Coastal Division title ahead of the Hurricanes big non-conference home game against Notre Dame. The celebrating would continue into the night. The Fighting Irish were playing Miami on their homefield for the first time since 1989.

Manny Diaz’s Miami defense was, even more stifling against Notre Dame that it was the week before against Virginia Tech. The Fighting Irish only managed 261 total yards the entire night in a dominant Hurricanes performance in all aspects of the game. Notre Dame had 134 total yards in the first half.

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Eighty-nine of the Fighting Irish’s 134 yards in the first half came on the first and penultimate of their drives. In their second through sixth drives in the first half Notre Dame had 33 yards on 20 plays. Four of those drives were three and out and a fifth was Trajan Bandy’s iconic 65-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The Miami defense was even more dominant in the second half. Notre Dame scored its only touchdown less than five minutes into the fourth quarter. The Fighting Irish could only manage 102 yards after halftime. Eighty of those yards came on their touchdown drive. The Hurricanes offense controlled the ball in the second half.

Notre Dame had only four possessions after halftime. Miami had the ball for 19:53 of the second half. Three of the Fighting Irish’s turnovers came in the first half. By then the Hurricanes had put the game away. Miami carried a 27-0 lead into halftime. Bandy’s pick-six came 22 seconds before halftime to extend the lead to 27 points.