10 Miami football players rivals hated the most

Vinny Testaverde was third in line when the Miami football program became known as Quarterback U. Jim Kelly helped lead the Miami resurgence under Schnellenberger. Bernie Kosar succeeded Kelly and led Miami to its first national championship during the 1983 season with an Orange Bowl upset of Nebraska.

Testaverde finished his Miami career first in program history with 6,058 passing yards. The 1985 Heisman Trophy winner is currently sixth in Miami history in career passing yards. During his Heisman Trophy-winning season, Testaverde threw for 3,238 yards which is currently seventh in Miami history.

Testaverde was quoted before the 1987 Fiesta Bowl saying “This game is going to be a war and we’re going to be ready for it.” That was part of the hype and swagger of the polarization of the Miami football program in the 1980s. Unfortunately, Testaverde and his teammates were not able to back up the hype.

Equating the Fiesta Bowl versus Penn State to war was another example of the Miami attitude being different than the old-school ways of college football. Miami went in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl as the villain. It seemed like the entire country was behind the Penn State fan base hating Miami.

Miami dominated the Fiesta Bowl outgaining Penn State 485 to 162. Testaverde threw five interceptions and Miami lost two fumbles in a 14-10 loss. It was the second year in a row Testaverde had a subpar bowl performance that cost Miami a potential national championship. That created doubt about Miami.