NorthEast-
In the 80s and 90s UM's main recruiting rival in Dade/Broward was FSU. They were both playing the speed game with undersized players. It wasn't until the success of those programs that entire conferences began to set up $hop in SFL. Back then OU and Neb were still running the triple option. The Big10 was 3 yards and a cloud of dust, the SEC was a ground and pound league as well. JJ didn't have those disadvantages because UM ran college football then. JJ was 52-9 in 5 years and played in 3 title games (44-4) his last 4 years at UM. Even Erickson led UM to 2 chips after JJ left for the Cowboys. I agree with you about Davis because he had to deal with the NCAA and the bagmen. He did an incredible job at UM under difficult circumstances. Finally, Howard was the one who really ushered in UM's reliance on speed. JJ put that reliance on steroids.