Jerome Brown and Warren Sapp lead the list of the top 10 Miami's anti-tradition icons

Any time you're making a top-10 list of Miami Hurricanes players, it's bound to be the cause of a lot of arguments. The program has had so many All-Americans and Hall of Famers that there will always be omissions. 

All the players on this list were great Hurricanes, many were All-Americans and some were Hall of Famers. But they all embodied what Miami football has stood for over the past five decades. They were the guys that spat in the face of tradition and college football norms (listed in alphabetic order):

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The 10 Miami Hurricanes that fought college football tradition

Jessie Armstead, LB (1989-1992): Before there was Ray Lewis, there was Armstead, and he already had a lot of "The U" swag in him as part of those great Carter High teams out of Dallas, Texas. He was a key to two Hurricane champion teams and remains a fan favorite from that era.

Bennie Blades, DB (1984-87): Blades was the original. He was the guy that brought the swag and helped turn Miami into college football's "villains." Blades was also a GREAT player — two-time unanimous All-American and the No. 3 overall pick in the 1988 draft.  

Jerome Brown, DT (1983-1986): Brown joined Blades as the undisputed bosses of the Hurricanes defense. The two-time All-American broke Troy Aikman's leg in 1985, cursed out Oklahoma during the coin-toss in 1986 and organized the team to wear fatigues before the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. Brown was the man and his untimely death in 1992 was a cruel ending to what might have been a Hall of Fame career. 

Randal "Thrill" Hill, WR (1987-1991): The local product from Killian High School apologized for nothing and celebrated everything. His six-shooter tunnel celebration against Texas in the Cotton Bowl horrified traditionalists but made Miami fans cheer even louder. And then there's 3rd-and-43 against Notre Dame.

Michael Irvin, WR (1984-87): Does anything need to be said about "The Playmaker? When you think of "The U" and the anti-traditionalist stance, Irvin, a three-time All-American and Hall of Famer after a legendary career with the Dallas Cowboys, is one of the first names that comes to mind.

Ray Lewis, LB (1993-95): In many ways, Lewis was the last of the group of players that built the identity of "The U". He was a presence from the minute he stepped on the field in pre-game warm-ups and that energy carried him to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. 

Warren Sapp, DT (1991-94): Sapp idolized Jerome Brown and brought that same unabashed energy and production on the field at the Orange Bowl. The two-time All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer is one of the best defensive linemen the game has ever seen. 

Jeremy Shockey, TE (2000-01): No player from the new era embraced the original identity of "The U' more than Shockey. He talked loudly and the former All-American backed it up on the field.

Lamar Thomas, WR (1989-1992): Thomas is "U" through and through. The 1992 All-American was known for his displays on the field, and it carried over into his time as a broadcaster, where his outburst during the Miami-FIU brawl of 2008 became as noteworthy as the fight itself. 

Steve Walsh, QB (1985-88): The All-American QB was a low-key savage, and you knew he was a little crazy because of the way his teammates respected him in the huddle. Walsh's confidence in himself and his ability to get under the opponent's skin was evident for those that paid attention. 

There are too many players that just missed the cut, but Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Rusty Medearis, Kellen Winslow II, Melvin Bratton, Tolbert Bain and the entire 7th-floor crew (Greg Olsen, Jon Beason, etc.) are among those that deserve mention. 

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