10 Miami football players rivals hated the most

The Miami football program is one of the most polarizing in the history of college football. The success of the Miami football program throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s turned the Hurricanes into a national brand. That success created a lot of hatred for multiple Miami players throughout the decades.

The hatred for the Miami football program began with the Jimmy Johnson era. Under Howard Schnellenberger, Miami was the underdog that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Prior to winning the 1983 National Championship the highest ranking Miami achieved was fifth in 1967.

Miami was fifth in the 1967 preseason polls. The Hurricanes finished 7-4 losing 31-20 to Colorado in the Bluebonnet Bowl. That was the last winning season Miami had until 1974. Schnellenberger was hired in 1979 and promised a national championship within five years. That promise was delivered.

Miami finished the 1983 season with 11 straight wins after losing the opener to Florida. The 31-30 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl culminated the season and the historic rise of Miami to the top of college football. Johnson replaced Schnelleberger as the head coach and helped Miami become a national brand.

After finishing 8-5 in Johnson’s first season in 1984, Miami went 44-4 in the last four years under Johnson. That included a national championship in 1987 and runner-up finishes in 1986 and 1988. The 1987 Fiesta Bowl was ground zero for Miami hate as the Hurricanes exited the airplane in Phoenix in Army Fatigues.