83 Days to Miami football: SB Winning NT Jim Burt

Jim Burt played for the Miami football team middle guard on a defense using a five-man line from 1977-80. Burt was one of the early stars during the Howard Schnellenberger era.

Jim Burt was recruited to the Miami football program by head coach Lou Saban. Saban spent two stints as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills. The second came in the 1970s. Burt grew up in Orchard Park, NY, a suburb of Buffalo and the site of the Bills home stadium. Burt helped Schnelleberger rebuild the Hurricanes.

Burt holds the Miami record for career tackles by a middle guard with 186 and fumble recoveries in a game with four against Vanderbilt in 1980. After an outstanding 1980 season, Burt was named an All-American. Following Miami’s 20-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl, Burt was named the Defensive MVP.

The middle guard finished the game with eight tackles and one tackle for loss. It was the Hurricanes first bowl game in 14 seasons and their first bowl win in 15 years. Burt went undrafted but played 11 seasons in the NFL. Burt won Superbowls with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.

In 11 seasons, Burt finished his NFL Career with 20 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries playing nose tackle primarily in a 3-4 defense. Burt was indicated into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. The legacy Burt established on the Miami football team carried over to his son Jim Jr.

Jim Burt Jr. played first base for the Miami baseball team from 2001-04 and minor league baseball from 2004-06. Burt Jr. is ninth all-time in Miami baseball history with 236 games played, 764 at-bats, 186 runs scored, eighth with 245 hits, fifth with 60 doubles and sixth with 425 total bases.

Burt Jr. joined his father being named as a consensus third-team All-American in 2004. Jim Burt Sr. played high school football with former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Craig Wolfley and Larry Pfohl who would reach greater fame as the wrestler Lex Luger.