DAILY DEBATE: Which Decade was best?

[SWFLHurricane]

1984 Orange Bowl - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I’m not really sure how you could argue that our first NC wasn’t our biggest win.

It will go down as our "Biggest" Win and rightfully so....but the 81 Win vs #1 Penn St was as huge in the fact it completely showed America that this small private school in S. Fla was the real deal. Sure we beat them in 79 in Happy Valley....but the 81 Penn St team was alot better than the 79 squad.

 

[L A M P]

In each case (86, 88, 00, 02) we just didn't get it done. We didn't play up to our potential and flatly lost games we could/should have won.

Was Miami better than Penn State, Notre Dame, Washington, Ohio State in those respective seasons? Probably.

It would be nice if more Miami fans acknowledged the times where things fell in our favor and how lucky we are to have 5 titles:

83: Osborn electing to go for 2
87: no luck needed
89: ND defeating Colorado in the 1990 Sugar Bowl
91: Gerry Thomas missing a 34-yard FG
01: Dropped Wilford 2-pt conversion in 2000 at VT, miracle play at BC

Great post. Only thing I take issue with is the bold. I think if Miami played those same 10 games over in a best of 5 series they'd have more than the 5 titles. Been lucky and unlucky. That's football.

Also got robbed in 2000. Can't explain that one.

 

[423Hurricane]

Great post. Only thing I take issue with is the bold. I think if Miami played those same 10 games over in a best of 5 series they'd have more than the 5 titles. Been lucky and unlucky. That's football.

Also got robbed in 2000. Can't explain that one.

Takes a few things going your way to win a NC. Not many, if any, teams have been so dominate all their games were a cake walk.

And, it takes a few not going your way to miss out on not playing for a NC. We know that all too well.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

I agree with you, but is that argument as strong as the ‘00 and ‘02 one? WVU in 88 was at least undefeated, whereas in 2000 we had beaten FSU. I do understand we got robbed on the fumble call, but it wasn’t the last play of the game like 2002.

IT WASN'T A FUMBLE!

I'm not mad at you, but I will once again point out that it was the split-squad of referees (an arrangement that was outlawed after 1988) who mistakenly thought that it was fourth and GOAL from the 11, instead of fourth and SEVEN from the 11. Somewhere on my old laptop I have the downloaded article from the Sun-Sentinel where one of the refs acknowledged the mistake.

It was never ruled a fumble on the field, which is why JJ was making the FIRST DOWN motion with his arm, and not the "ball was down on contact" signal of touching the field.

Only Lou Holtz and Notre Dame continued to spread the false "fumble" story.

And, yes, it was super-significant. First of all, the game would have been TIED when Miami scored the earlier touchdown, allowing Miami's later score to WIN the game. Second, if Miami and Notre Dame had TIED, the national championship would have simply been a rematch, as @SWFLHurricane has pointed out.

But here's something that is important to note.

Prior to the bowl games, here were the top 4 teams:

1. Notre Dame - INDEPENDENT - 11-0
2. Miami - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (fake loss to Notre Dame)
3. West Virginia - INDEPENDENT - 11-0 (played a terrible schedule highlighted by #16 Pitt and #14 Syracuse)
4. F$U - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (loss to Miami in the season opener, 31-0)

Ah, yes, the good old days...

 

[TheOriginalCane]

I understand the good and bad breaks argument when discussing national titles before the playoff era. It does go both ways. However, I believe 2000 and 2002 present extraordinary cases outside of what is considered normal good/bad luck. We got screwed both years.

Yes, but 2000 was a "voter's decision", it was not a bad break ON THE FIELD.

I can understand the argument on 2002 (the 2003 Fiasco Bowl against Taint), but 2000 was a product of what many other years were, the AP/UPI/ESPN voters being weird and/or the BCS formula being bogus.

We got screwed by the refs in 1988 and 2002 (2003). We got screwed by the voters/computers in 2000.

 

[Rellyrell]

The best decade was the 1980’s.

1. 1980’s brought us the moniker “The U”.
2. 1980’s brought us 3 of our 5 Nat’l Titles (‘83, ‘87, ‘89)
3. 1980’s gave us our highest win %:
-1980’s: 99-20 (.832 win%)
-1990’s: 91-27 (.771 win%)
-2000’s: 91-33 (.734 win%)
-2010’s: 75-53 (.586 win%)
-2020’s (Thus Far): 27-21 (.562 win%)

 

[NJshoreCane]

I understand the good and bad breaks argument when discussing national titles before the playoff era. It does go both ways. However, I believe 2000 and 2002 present extraordinary cases outside of what is considered normal good/bad luck. We got screwed both years.

Believe me, I'm with you on that.

Just like I said...we're right about where we supposed to be...
6 or 7 titles

 

[Brains]

1991 was the height of both our program and the human experience. So that's the answer!

 

[NJshoreCane]

Final Ranking- 80's:
3- #1's
5- Top 5 finishes.
7- Top 10 finishes.
9- Top 20 finishes.

Final Ranking- 00's:
1- #1
4- Top 5 finishes.
4- Top 10 finishes.
7- Top 20 finishes.

80's is it.

 

[hesskilla]

IT WASN'T A FUMBLE!

I'm not mad at you, but I will once again point out that it was the split-squad of referees (an arrangement that was outlawed after 1988) who mistakenly thought that it was fourth and GOAL from the 11, instead of fourth and SEVEN from the 11. Somewhere on my old laptop I have the downloaded article from the Sun-Sentinel where one of the refs acknowledged the mistake.

It was never ruled a fumble on the field, which is why JJ was making the FIRST DOWN motion with his arm, and not the "ball was down on contact" signal of touching the field.

Only Lou Holtz and Notre Dame continued to spread the false "fumble" story.

And, yes, it was super-significant. First of all, the game would have been TIED when Miami scored the earlier touchdown, allowing Miami's later score to WIN the game. Second, if Miami and Notre Dame had TIED, the national championship would have simply been a rematch, as @SWFLHurricane has pointed out.

But here's something that is important to note.

Prior to the bowl games, here were the top 4 teams:

1. Notre Dame - INDEPENDENT - 11-0
2. Miami - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (fake loss to Notre Dame)
3. West Virginia - INDEPENDENT - 11-0 (played a terrible schedule highlighted by #16 Pitt and #14 Syracuse)
4. F$U - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (loss to Miami in the season opener, 31-0)

Ah, yes, the good old days...

This list kind of resembles the 2000 list with Miami, Washington, FSU, and VT.

The 1987 national title is the one that got me into being a fan. I was a kid in 88 and don’t remember the thoughts/feelings the same way an adult would remember them.

Also, I’m here for debate. The thread title suggests we debate these things. I have fond memories of the 80’s teams and would pick them of course. I do find it to be fun to debate on the side of 2000’s teams however. It’s not personal at all and is done for enjoyment.

 

[NJshoreCane]

IT WASN'T A FUMBLE!

I'm not mad at you, but I will once again point out that it was the split-squad of referees (an arrangement that was outlawed after 1988) who mistakenly thought that it was fourth and GOAL from the 11, instead of fourth and SEVEN from the 11. Somewhere on my old laptop I have the downloaded article from the Sun-Sentinel where one of the refs acknowledged the mistake.

It was never ruled a fumble on the field, which is why JJ was making the FIRST DOWN motion with his arm, and not the "ball was down on contact" signal of touching the field.

Only Lou Holtz and Notre Dame continued to spread the false "fumble" story.

And, yes, it was super-significant. First of all, the game would have been TIED when Miami scored the earlier touchdown, allowing Miami's later score to WIN the game. Second, if Miami and Notre Dame had TIED, the national championship would have simply been a rematch, as @SWFLHurricane has pointed out.

But here's something that is important to note.

Prior to the bowl games, here were the top 4 teams:

1. Notre Dame - INDEPENDENT - 11-0
2. Miami - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (fake loss to Notre Dame)
3. West Virginia - INDEPENDENT - 11-0 (played a terrible schedule highlighted by #16 Pitt and #14 Syracuse)
4. F$U - INDEPENDENT - 10-1 (loss to Miami in the season opener, 31-0)

Ah, yes, the good old days...

And we would have played them again.
#1 vs. #2. The way it should be.

Not like Boo Hoo Lou, who when was asked why not play Miami again, his answer was that he already beat us and there was nothing to prove.
Not many remember ND and Miami finished the regular season #'s 1 and 2 that year.

 

[NJshoreCane]

I agree with you, but is that argument as strong as the ‘00 and ‘02 one? WVU in 88 was at least undefeated, whereas in 2000 we had beaten FSU. I do understand we got robbed on the fumble call, but it wasn’t the last play of the game like 2002.

The regular season final poll ND finished #1, we were #2.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

This list kind of resembles the 2000 list with Miami, Washington, FSU, and VT.

The 1987 national title is the one that got me into being a fan. I was a kid in 88 and don’t remember the thoughts/feelings the same way an adult would remember them.

Also, I’m here for debate. The thread title suggests we debate these things. I have fond memories of the 80’s teams and would pick them of course. I do find it to be fun to debate on the side of 2000’s teams however. It’s not personal at all and is done for enjoyment.

No problem, it's nothing personal.

I enrolled at UM in 1986. Finished #2 to Pedo State. Then a national championship. Then #2 to Notre Dame. Then another national championship. Then a #3 finish (in a 10-2 season). Then another national championship. Then #3 after the loss to Alabama.

Average finish for those 7 years: 1.86

 

[hesskilla]

The regular season final poll ND finished #1, we were #2.

I did not know that.

 

[hesskilla]

No problem, it's nothing personal.

I enrolled at UM in 1986. Finished #2 to Pedo State. Then a national championship. Then #2 to Notre Dame. Then another national championship. Then a #3 finish (in a 10-2 season). Then another national championship. Then #3 after the loss to Alabama.

Average finish for those 7 years: 1.86

It was a good time to be a fan, eh? That’s right when I got into college football. I had mostly loved baseball up until that point. Steve Walsh was my favorite Hurricane during those times.

 

[rok]

1991 was the height of both our program and the human experience. So that's the answer!

Si senor. By 1991 Miami was a respected power with a huge target on its back. Fresh off the whooping of Texas at the Cotton Bowl and on a mission to avenge a season that slipped away (would cut off my throat for a 10-2 record these days). Best season ever.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

The regular season final poll ND finished #1, we were #2.

Yes. The bowl geniuses decided to pit #1 (and undefeated) Notre Dame against #3 (and undefeated) West Virginia.

But since it was the Fiasco Bowl, they COULD HAVE invited #2 (and 10-1) Miami instead.

Quite literally, ONE POINT separated the Top 3 teams. F$U had no argument at #4, since we waxed them 31-0.

 

[Trav]

The worst loss of the 90s was the 66-13 debacle at Syracuse in '98. (Followed the very next week by one of the best wins, the upset over #1 UCLA at home)

 

[hesskilla]

The worst loss of the 90s was the 66-13 debacle at Syracuse in '98. (Followed the very next week by one of the best wins, the upset over #1 UCLA at home)

IDK man, I remember that Alabama loss in the Sugar Bowl. That one stung. We were the favorites by a TD or so. Alabama hadn’t been relevant in awhile. We had a 29 game winning streak. Our team was “invincible” at the time.

Sure, Syracuse was a bad loss. However, it was a time period where bad losses were common. It could be considered the most embarrassing loss though. I’ll give you that.

 

[Brains]

Why do our fans say ridiculous things like "we sucked" in the 90s? We had ONE BAD SEASON, and we had 47 healthy scholarship players by the end of the year. And, that bad season was 5-6.

We were ******* awesome in the 90s.