10 Miami football players rivals hated the most
Michael Irvin was brash as a player and has continued to be a mouthpiece for the Miami football program. Irvin epitomized the Miami swagger of the 1980s. Irvin often backed up his trash talk on the field. After scoring touchdowns, Irvin would often celebrate with Miami football fans in the Orange Bowl.
Irvin finished his Miami career with a program record of 143 receptions. Irvin currently is sixth all-time in receptions in Miami history. The “Playmaker” was incredibly clutch catching passes from Testaverde and then Steve Walsh. One of the biggest receptions of Irvin’s Miami career was versus Florida State in 1987.
Miami rallied from a 19-3 deficit in the third quarter to earn a 26-25 win at Florida State in 1987. That was the first of a stretch of games versus Florida State that was key in the national championship race. Irvin had two TD receptions in the rally including a 73-yard catch and run with just over two minutes remaining.
Went to school with a guy named Rodney. Good guy. But obnoxious Cowboys fan. He made me and everyone in our school hate the Cowboys. And as an FSU fan, I get to “hate” Jimmy Johnson and Michael Irvin and Emmett Smith twice.
— Tim Bryant (@TimBryantRadio) September 10, 2019
The brashness Irvin portrayed and the development of his nickname as the playmaker made opponents and specifically Florida State fans hate him. Miami won all three games versus Florida State with Irvin at WR. Irvin was one of the original Miami players who was brash and epitomized the Hurricanes’ swagger.
Irvin was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1988. A year later Johnson was hired as the Cowboys’ head coach. As a part of three Cowboys Super Bowl Champions the hate for Irvin was exasperated. Dallas is one of the most polarizing teams in the NFL. Irvin fit that narrative as one of the most polarizing players.