Miami Hurricanes 1986 team set the tone for swagger

Locally, some fans say that swag precedes that 1987 Fiesta Bowl appearance. Nationally the perception is it occurred when Miami walked off the plane on to the tarmac in Phoenix. If it indeed began that night it was a case of the Hurricanes losing the battle but winning the war.

Miami Hurricanes swagger spurred them to three more national championships. The Hurricanes used the devastating 14-7 loss to Penn State in the 1987 Orange Bowl to a 1987 National Championship under Jimmy Johnson in the 1988 Orange Bowl against Nebraska and two more under Dennis Erickson in 1989 and ’91.

Swagger and the hatred it brought about against the Miami football program created an us against the world mentality that the Hurricanes used to win three national championships in five seasons.

If not for the collapse against Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl and a questionable fumble call at Notre Dame in 1988, Miami might have won two more national championships. Their four national titles in nine seasons from 1983-91 was a dynasty.

Six national titles in nine seasons would have the best stretch in modern college football history. Alabama won five between 2008-17.

Summing up the hatred towards the 1986 Miami Hurricanes, Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly said at the time“Miami may be the only squad in America that has its team picture taken from the front and from the side.”  Crawford stated that he felt that the hatred of the 1986 Miami team began the season before.