91 Days to Miami football: Trailblazer DE Darren Krein
Darren Krein was a trailblazer on the Miami football team from 1990-93 as a defensive end and linebacker. After redshirting as a freshman Krein was a key part of the Hurricanes defense.
Darren Krein had an inauspicious beginning to his Miami football career with a lawsuit attempting to get out of his National Letter of Intent. Krein signed with Miami while Jimmy Johnson was still the head coach. When Dennis Erickson succeeded Johnson, Krein stated his signed to play for Johnson, not Erickson.
When the lawsuit stalled during the summer before his freshman year, Krein decided to report to eventually report to Miami. Once Krein settled in Coral Gables he was labeled an outcast for the lawsuit. Eventually, after sitting out as a freshman in 1989, Krein became a key part of the Hurricanes defense from 1990-93.
Krein finished his four seasons with the Hurricanes with 190 career tackles and 17.5 sacks. Krein was named first-team all-Big East as a redshirt senior in 1993. In the four seasons Krein played for Miami, the Hurricanes went 42-5. Miami finished in the top 10 in scoring defense in all four of Krein’s seasons.
The 1991 Hurricanes shared the national championship largely behind a defense that led the nation allowing 8.3 points per game. In 1992, Krein had a key interception return for a touchdown in Miami’s 17-14 victory over Penn State on their way to an undefeated regular season and berth in the Sugar Bowl.
The lawsuit Krein filed before he ever enrolled at Miami was not the last time he was outspoken against NCAA regulations. In 1993 as a redshirt senior,
about players who lived off-campus had the amount of money they received each week reduced because the food costs were reduced on campus.
The Miami football program has had the unique history of five National Championships under four different coaches. Erickson led the Hurricanes to titles in 1989 and ’91 as the only coach with two titles. The players have made the program. Miami football alums often return to Coral Gables in the summer to work out.
"“But the thing I didn’t realize then is that the coach doesn’t make this program. The players do. That’s what it’s all about here.”"
Next. 92 Days to Miami football: DT Damione Lewis. dark
Krein relayed the importance of the players and alums regulating the Miami football program to Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel at the outset of the 1993 season. Following his Hurricanes career, Krein was the 150th pick overall in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.