ESPN Countdown to Gameday hosts Harry Douglas, Harry Lyles Jr. and Miami alum Christine Williamson discussed who should be on Mount Rushmore for the Hurricanes. ESPN Countdown to Gameday airs before the iconic ESPN College Gameday pregame show.
Lyles Jr. started his Miami Mount Rushmore with Pro Football Hall of Famer and the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns for the Hurricanes, Michael Irvin. Lyles was impressed with Irvin wearing 47 as a WR. Safeties Sean Taylor and Ed Reed and defensive tackle Warren Sapp finished Lyles' Miami Mount Rushmore.
Douglas, who played at Louisville and in the NFL stated he cannot pick (only) four Miami alums to make up his Mount Rushmore. Douglas mentioned quarterback Jim Kelly, Irvin, DT Russell Maryland, Sapp, Reed, Taylor, linebacker Ray Lewis, wide receivers Santana Moss Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne and return specialist Devin Hester.
Douglas said he did not want to disrespect all the guys that represented this University (of Miami). As he continued, Douglas said the Greatest team in college football history came from Miami and that the tradition is so unbelievable and insane.
Williamson mentioned, Quarterbacks Bernie Kosar and Ken Dorsey, Lewis, Santana Banana (in her words) (Moss) and left tackle Bryant McKinney. Douglas jumped in to mention running back Willis McGahee. Most of the players mentioned are in the College Football and/or Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The amount of players named by Douglas, Lyles Jr. and Williamson illustrates the amount of legends who have played for Miami. Miami had a mystique during the era that the players named played in with the Hurricanes. Most of the players named were a part of five Miami national championships.
Lyles stated he would start his Miami Mount Rushmore with Irvin. Miami won one national title before Irvin. Irvin was a part of the Jimmy Johnson era that elevated Miami to a national program and created the culture and swagger the Hurricanes became known for. Johnson led Miami to his only national title in 1987.