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'Best Team In State History'

The Associated Press

Miami's Clinton Portis celebrates the Hurricanes' 37-14 defeat of Nebraska in the 88th Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 28, 2008

The roll call includes Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Bryant McKinnie, Andre Johnson, Ed Reed, D.J. Williams, Jonathan Vilma, Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork and Jerome McDougle.

Pro Bowl lineup?

Actually, it was a college team.

The 2001 Miami Hurricanes.

"It was the most talented, most complete team I've ever covered," said Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com. "That team had no weaknesses."

And few peers.

In a Tampa Tribune poll of 20 college football journalists, who ranked the nine state of Florida teams to win a Division I-A national championship, the 2001 Hurricanes were a solid choice for No. 1 all-time.

The Hurricanes (12-0) went to the late-season whip, destroying No. 14-ranked Syracuse and No. 12 Washington by a combined 124-7 margin in back-to-back weeks, then defeating No. 4 Nebraska 37-14 at the Rose Bowl (after leading 34-0 at halftime).

Want more scary numbers?

•The Hurricanes won by an average of 34 points.

•In home games, the average margin was Miami 51, Opponents 3.

•Miami's defense led the nation with 45 takeaways.

•Junior quarterback Ken Dorsey, the Maxwell Award winner and third in voting for the Heisman Trophy, was sacked just five times all season.

•The Hurricanes scored 11 non-offensive touchdowns - while the UM defense allowed only 13.

"This team had both talent and attitude," said Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. "It's not only the best team in state history, but it might have an argument for best team in college football history."

In the short term, that has 2001 Miami competing against the likes of 1995 Nebraska and 2004 USC.

"It's the best team of the BCS era and it's in the conversation for the best of all-time," said Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star. "It was dominant, complete and could have beaten Nebraska by 50 if UM coach Larry Coker didn't have a heart. I wish the Canes would have played more elite opponents that season, but they rolled everybody and came up with big plays at Boston College and Virginia Tech in narrow victories."

By the 2002 season, with many players returning from the national championship team, the Hurricanes extended the program's winning streak to 34 games, but were denied the repeat title in a 31-24 double-overtime loss against Ohio State at the Fiesta Bowl.

It was the third time UM climbed to the brink of a national title, but failed in the final game (along with 1986 and 1992).

"If I could, I would've voted Miami's 2002 team at No. 2 all-time in the Tribune poll," said Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com.

"I've always thought Miami's 1986 team was the best in the modern era of college football, but the 2001 Canes were darn close," said Matt Hayes of The Sporting News. "I remember looking at those Miami guys walking off the field at the Rose Bowl and thinking, 'These are grown men who won this game.' They made big, bad Nebraska look like a bunch of boys."

No. 1: 2001 MIAMI (12-0)

Coach: Larry Coker

First-Team All-Americans: OT Joaquin Gonzalez (Draddy winner), OT Bryant McKinnie (Outland winner), SS Ed Reed

Other Prominent Players: QB Ken Dorsey (Maxwell winner), WR Andre Johnson, DE Jerome McDougle, RB Clinton Portis, C Brett Romberg, CB Mike Rumph, PK Todd Sievers, TE Jeremy Shockey, LB Jonathan Vilma, LB D.J. Williams.

Preseason Ranking: 2nd

Season Synopsis: Miami scored a program-record 512 points, allowed just 117 and set an all-time record for most points in two consecutive games against ranked teams (124-7 against Syracuse, Washington).

Game By Game

W...at Penn State, 33-7

W...Rutgers, 61-0

W...at Pittsburgh, 43-21

W...Troy State, 38-7

W...at No. 14 Florida State, 49-27

W...West Virginia, 45-3

W...Temple, 38-0

W...at Boston College, 18-7

W...No. 14 Syracuse, 59-0

W...No. 12 Washington, 65-7

W...at No. 14 Virginia Tech, 26-24