Offseason Question: The 84' Canes

[filmcane]

I just re-watched the Canes vs Auburn 84' game and for those who are more well-versed on that team, I have some questions and observations:

• After watching the Canes beat the then #1 team in the country ON THE ROAD, I'd love to hear thoughts on why we lost so many games that year. All 3 phases seemed to be dialed in and top 10 level.
• I know JJ's coaches weren't on the same page as him, but still, the talent and Bernie should have prevented quite so many losses.
• Bernie Kosar truly was one of our best QB's ever. I always knew he had a cool head and good decision making, but he had better feet and a stronger arm than I remember. If Bernie QB's our 94' team, for instance, they win the natty that year, no question.
• The D seemed fast and well-coached - was the secondary the area we got exposed?
• If Bernie stays one more year and QB's our 85' team, there is NO DOUBT that is our 2nd natty.
• Alonzo was a mack truck!
• Our skill players on O, especially Eddie B., were on par with many of our best teams - way underrated.
• So, in spite of the palace unrest with JJ's coaches, why so many losses with such a talented team?

 

[Pentagon Cane]

I just re-watched the Canes vs Auburn 84' game and for those who are more well-versed on that team, I have some questions and observations:

• After watching the Canes beat the then #1 team in the country ON THE ROAD, I'd love to hear thoughts on why we lost so many games that year. All 3 phases seemed to be dialed in and top 10 level.
• I know JJ's coaches weren't on the same page as him, but still, the talent and Bernie should have prevented quite so many losses.
• Bernie Kosar truly was one of our best QB's ever. I always knew he had a cool head and good decision making, but he had better feet and a stronger arm than I remember. If Bernie QB's our 94' team, for instance, they win the natty that year, no question.
• The D seemed fast and well-coached - was the secondary the area we got exposed?
• If Bernie stays one more year and QB's our 85' team, there is NO DOUBT that is our 2nd natty.
• Alonzo was a mack truck!
• Our skill players on O, especially Eddie B., were on par with many of our best teams - way underrated.
• So, in spite of the palace unrest with JJ's coaches, why so many losses with such a talented team?

Bernie was awful against Michigan and Miami got ***** slapped against FSU in every phase. The last 3 losses in a row the defense could not stop anybody with the collapse against Maryland as epic and then the Flutie Hail Mary.

 

[dhouze]

Despite the outcome on the field. it was probably the finest year to be in the student section. We crowd surfed Sebastian incessantly (" We want the Bird"), Yamma Yamma evolved and performed classic cheers during every game. And, Miami after game affairs in those days were ridiculous. It was the era of "Sun Tan U".

 

[filmcane]

Bernie was awful against Michigan and Miami got ***** slapped against FSU in every phase. The last 3 losses in a row the defense could not stop anybody with the collapse against Maryland as epic and then the Flutie Hail Mary.

The D looked so good against Auburn. What a shame.

 

[filmcane]

Also, #58 LB Fleming, was a beast that game. I don't even remember him, but he was on it in that game.

 

[caneULM]

I just re-watched the Canes vs Auburn 84' game and for those who are more well-versed on that team, I have some questions and observations:

• After watching the Canes beat the then #1 team in the country ON THE ROAD, I'd love to hear thoughts on why we lost so many games that year. All 3 phases seemed to be dialed in and top 10 level.
• I know JJ's coaches weren't on the same page as him, but still, the talent and Bernie should have prevented quite so many losses.
• Bernie Kosar truly was one of our best QB's ever. I always knew he had a cool head and good decision making, but he had better feet and a stronger arm than I remember. If Bernie QB's our 94' team, for instance, they win the natty that year, no question.
• The D seemed fast and well-coached - was the secondary the area we got exposed?
• If Bernie stays one more year and QB's our 85' team, there is NO DOUBT that is our 2nd natty.
• Alonzo was a mack truck!
• Our skill players on O, especially Eddie B., were on par with many of our best teams - way underrated.
• So, in spite of the palace unrest with JJ's coaches, why so many losses with such a talented team?

I dont care how talented you are, when you a situation like this you are bound for a bad/mediocre season. I was wondering at the time how this team could go from Natl Champs to that but it was revealed later that was the issue

 

[Go Canes!!]

I was in the west end zone for the shellacking we took from FSU. Other than the UF game where we murdered Kerwin Bell, I’ve never seen a game with more fights in the stands.

 

[Trav]

Secondary, linebackers, and ends were pretty young. Also Jimmy was constantly butting heads with the leftovers from schnelly's staff. Honestly that team kind of reminded me a lot of last year's team. Explosive offense at times, and truly awful defense for a lot of the season. Auburn was wildly overrated because of Bo that year it should be said. They were just okay. They actually lost to a pretty meh Texas team the very next week.

 

[DTP]

Didn't Jimmy inherit a lot of Schnellenberger's leftovers that year? I know he fired the DC and switched from a 5-2 defensive front to the now famous 4-3 over defense that made Miami a defensive powerhouse for the next 20 years.

 

[genxcane]

I just remember that Florida game was insane. Went back and forth at the end. I was a freshman and standing outside the Rathskeller watching through the window.

Those losses to Maryland and BC were soul crushing though.

 

[UMFarArcher]

A transition year.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

I just re-watched the Canes vs Auburn 84' game and for those who are more well-versed on that team, I have some questions and observations:

• After watching the Canes beat the then #1 team in the country ON THE ROAD, I'd love to hear thoughts on why we lost so many games that year. All 3 phases seemed to be dialed in and top 10 level.
• I know JJ's coaches weren't on the same page as him, but still, the talent and Bernie should have prevented quite so many losses.
• Bernie Kosar truly was one of our best QB's ever. I always knew he had a cool head and good decision making, but he had better feet and a stronger arm than I remember. If Bernie QB's our 94' team, for instance, they win the natty that year, no question.
• The D seemed fast and well-coached - was the secondary the area we got exposed?
• If Bernie stays one more year and QB's our 85' team, there is NO DOUBT that is our 2nd natty.
• Alonzo was a mack truck!
• Our skill players on O, especially Eddie B., were on par with many of our best teams - way underrated.
• So, in spite of the palace unrest with JJ's coaches, why so many losses with such a talented team?

The coaching staff imploded. That's it. That's the whole story.

Schnellenberger left late. JJ was hired late. There is the famous story of Jimmy's intro meeting with Howard's assistants, when Tom Olivadotti kept picking up his keys and then dropping them on the table. At least Olivadotti quit soon afterward.

They all fought. It got ugly at the end of the year. Who stuck around? Gary Stevens? He's about it.

 

[filmcane]

The coaching staff imploded. That's it. That's the whole story.

Schnellenberger left late. JJ was hired late. There is the famous story of Jimmy's intro meeting with Howard's assistants, when Tom Olivadotti kept picking up his keys and then dropping them on the table. At least Olivadotti quit soon afterward.

They all fought. It got ugly at the end of the year. Who stuck around? Gary Stevens? He's about it.

I've never heard that Coach O kept dropping his keys. That's wild! He's lucky JJ didn't drop him right then.

 

[Notsince1985]

The schedule was insane too.

Started with #1 Auburn. Then played a Florida team that finished the season #3. Then played #14 Michigan. Then on the road against 7-5 Purdue (with Jim Everertt), then #15 FSU. Rice was horrible, but then at #16 Notre Dame. Cincy, Pitt and Louisville were bad, but people forget the 3 game implosion was all against good teams. Maryland finished #11. Boston College finished #4 and UCLA finished #9.

Miami was 8-5, but ranked 18th in the final poll

 

[Swampcity]

I just re-watched the Canes vs Auburn 84' game and for those who are more well-versed on that team, I have some questions and observations:

• After watching the Canes beat the then #1 team in the country ON THE ROAD, I'd love to hear thoughts on why we lost so many games that year. All 3 phases seemed to be dialed in and top 10 level.
• I know JJ's coaches weren't on the same page as him, but still, the talent and Bernie should have prevented quite so many losses.
• Bernie Kosar truly was one of our best QB's ever. I always knew he had a cool head and good decision making, but he had better feet and a stronger arm than I remember. If Bernie QB's our 94' team, for instance, they win the natty that year, no question.
• The D seemed fast and well-coached - was the secondary the area we got exposed?
• If Bernie stays one more year and QB's our 85' team, there is NO DOUBT that is our 2nd natty.
• Alonzo was a mack truck!

• Our skill players on O, especially Eddie B., were on par with many of our best teams - way underrated.
• So, in spite of the palace unrest with JJ's coaches, why so many losses with such a talented team?

Talent is key! Eddie Brown's skill set was unparalleled. However, you underestimate the disaster coach infighting brings about.

Great harmonious coaching raises the level of play amongst an average team! A top 10 team can not overcome coach infighting

 

[Travis Bickle]

The coaching staff imploded. That's it. That's the whole story.

Schnellenberger left late. JJ was hired late. There is the famous story of Jimmy's intro meeting with Howard's assistants, when Tom Olivadotti kept picking up his keys and then dropping them on the table. At least Olivadotti quit soon afterward.

They all fought. It got ugly at the end of the year. Who stuck around? Gary Stevens? He's about it.

Sure he was a Canes coach, but I can't stand Olivadotti. And this story just confirms it for me. I may have been young, but I feel like the Dolphins D (I had an illogical aversion to the 3-4 defense thanks to him), especially during his tenure, was partly responsible for Marino not getting another shot at the SB.

 

[Applecane]

Auburn wasn’t really a road game. It was at a neutral stadium — the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

I was there. it was one of the most satisfying wins I’ve seen. Just a top notch performance against a very good team.

I was at the Michigan game, too. A friend and I flew there on the People’s Express (Remember that?). Great stadium. Very hot day. We were ok in the beginning. Kosar-Brown TD.

Then Bernie lost his mind, almost as Vinnie did vs PSU. He threw interception after interception (I believe 5 altogether) and we got beat up pretty badly. It was as if he couldn’t believe what was happening but wanted to keep doing things his way. A writer called it a perfect example of the arrogance of youth.

It was the first sign the wheels were coming off. I’ll never forget: When we got up to leave, a Mich. fan behind us said “You guys need a new team.”

 

[TemplarCane]

Auburn wasn’t really a road game. It was at a neutral stadium — the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

I was there. it was one of the most satisfying wins I’ve seen. Just a top notch performance against a very good team.

I was at the Michigan game, too. A friend and I flew there on the People’s Express (Remember that?). Great stadium. Very hot day. We were ok in the beginning. Kosar-Brown TD.

Then Bernie lost his mind, almost as Vinnie did vs PSU. He threw interception after interception (I believe 5 altogether) and we got beat up pretty badly. It was as if he couldn’t believe what was happening but wanted to keep doing things his way. A writer called it a perfect example of the arrogance of youth.

It was the first sign the wheels were coming off. I’ll never forget: When we got up to leave, a Mich. fan behind us said “You guys need a new team.”

6 interceptions…

 

[SWFLHurricane]

Didn't Jimmy inherit a lot of Schnellenberger's leftovers that year? I know he fired the DC and switched from a 5-2 defensive front to the now famous 4-3 over defense that made Miami a defensive powerhouse for the next 20 years.

That 5-2 package was called "Monster".....

 

[HurricaneinLA]

The coaching staff imploded. That's it. That's the whole story.

Schnellenberger left late. JJ was hired late. There is the famous story of Jimmy's intro meeting with Howard's assistants, when Tom Olivadotti kept picking up his keys and then dropping them on the table. At least Olivadotti quit soon afterward.

They all fought. It got ugly at the end of the year. Who stuck around? Gary Stevens? He's about it.

Sounds like a nightmare for a new head coach. Was Tom Olivadotti the DC during the Boston College game? Jimmy Johnson said the DC at the time left before the game was over after cleaning out his desk the day before.