The common link among champions

View as article
Alabama also had Josh Chapman, but ol boy was hurt. He's better than Williams and Square.
 
Advertisement
but, why didn't the 2002 team win it? that was an arguably more talented team. I think the poor coaching caught up with



The worst call in CFB history.

The call that is the reason why we have instant replay in CFB.

it was the worst call ever, but we had so much more talent all around then OSU it shouldnt have even been close. some real bad calls went our way early in the game as well... so im pretty much tired of and over the whole "call" thing. it was Miami's own fault that there was even an oppertunity to lose that game. after years and years of blaming it on the call, im finally done. we arent getting that one back, we arent 6 time champs, and larry coker still sucks.

I am with you on this one and even though I think that the call was bad, the main offense, IMO, was how long it took the ref to make the call. If you watch the play in real time, I can see how the call could go either way, but the worse thing a ref can do is be indecisive and by waiting so long to make the call, that is what the ref came off as. A play that was even worse in my opinion, was the previous 4th down on that series where an OSU WR pushed off on one of our DBs to make the catch and get a 1st down to continue the series. Even before the PI call, I was screaming at my TV b/c the refs didnt call that one.

And either way, we shouldnt have even put ourselves in the position to have 1 or 2 calls effect the outcome of the game.

**** right the 4th down prior to the infamous call Gamble pushes off (think it was gamble). We got jobbed at the end but 5 TOs along with other careless mistakes/plays cost us that MNC. I definitely agree championships are won in the trenches. This staff gets our OL & DL back to an elite level and we're playing in BCS bowls again
 
Rock solid post. Everything on both sides of the ball starts up front. I'd be willing to bet there's a similar correlation when looking at the OL as well. Gotta have war daddies in the trenches. Fairley singlehandedly wrecked Oregon's offense 2 years ago.

I think Golden is well on the way to restocking the trench talent on both sides of the ball.
 
As Miami gets further and further away from its glory days, a question dawned on me: What is the common thread among national champions? In other words, what is keeping Miami from the top?

One theory is that it's quarterback play. But AJ McCarron just won a title, and Matt Mauck and Greg McElroy have rings. Is it coaching? Coker disproves that theory by himself, and Gene Chizik and Les Miles were punchlines until they won it.

So what is the one thing that all college football champions had? It's defensive line. Let's look at the champions since Miami's last title and the talent they had up front (NFL draft round in parenthesis):

2001- William Joseph (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Vince Wilfork (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Jerome McDougle (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Andrew Williams (3[SUP]rd[/SUP])
2002- Will Smith (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Kenny Peterson (3[SUP]rd[/SUP]), Tim Anderson (3[SUP]rd[/SUP]), Darrion Scott (3[SUP]rd[/SUP])
2003- Keneche Udeze (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Mike Patterson (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Shaun Cody (2[SUP]nd[/SUP]), Frostee Rucker (3[SUP]rd[/SUP])
2003- Marcus Spears, (1[SUP]st[/SUP]) Kyle Williams, (5[SUP]th[/SUP]- All Pro), Marquise Hill (2[SUP]nd[/SUP])
2004 - Mike Patterson (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Shaun Cody (2[SUP]nd[/SUP]), Frostee Rucker (3[SUP]rd[/SUP])
2005- Brian Orapko(1st), Tim Crowder (2[SUP]nd[/SUP]), Brian Robison (4[SUP]th[/SUP])
2006- Derrick Harvey (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Jarvis Moss (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Ray McDonald (3[SUP]rd[/SUP])
2007- Tyson Jackson (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Glenn Dorsey (1[SUP]st[/SUP])
2008- Carlos Dunlap (2[SUP]nd[/SUP]), Jermaine Cunningham (2[SUP]nd[/SUP])
2009- Marcell Dareus (1[SUP]st[/SUP]), Terrance Cody (2[SUP]nd[/SUP])
2010- Nick Fairley (1[SUP]st[/SUP])
2011- Courtney Upshaw (2[SUP]nd[/SUP]), Jesse Williams (2013 prospect), Damion Square (2013 prospect)

If you look at the 2000 Miami team and the 2001 Miami team, they were very, very close in talent. The only real difference is that the 2001 team had far superior defensive ends, due in large part to Jerome McDougle and Andrew Williams coming in from JUCO. The defensive line took the 2001 team to a whole new level.

Anthony Chickillo looks like a keeper. Guys like Tyriq McCord and Jelani Hamilton will make us or break us.

You are forgetting Bama's starting NG Josh Chapman got drafted by Colts in 5th round I believe but I agree w post
 
Who starts opposite Chickillo? Can Porter stay healthy? There is a lot of question marks along the DL.
 
Advertisement
I see a lot of badass DTs and DEs big enough to be DTs on that list. We need a few big bodies to step up.
 
its all about OL and DL plus quality depth. Coker does not really disprove the coaching part since he waltzed into the best situation in CFB history. Butch put the program in place and recruited all the players. so, the answer is that a mediocre game day coach can win a MNC if they are elite in the recruiting, talent evals, program implementation part

It's not just about ol and d-line plus depth. It's about nfl talent at various position across the board.

Coker does prove that various aspects of coaching can be masked by superior talent and players but good d-line play is needed obviously.

Also 1991 Miami and other teams have proven you don't need nfl talent on the d-line per say to win a natty.
 
but, why didn't the 2002 team win it? that was an arguably more talented team. I think the poor coaching caught up with



The worst call in CFB history.

The call that is the reason why we have instant replay in CFB.

Wrong. If the UM D-line had played with passion and effort the game is over. The slow footed OSU QB, burned us on a 4th and 12(or14) with a scramble for a first down. D-Line makes that play, no OT. PLus that penalty call doesn't get called if the D-line sacks the QB on that play.

DMoney is on to something here.

Please. The d-line played well that game. well enough to win. Miami's 5 turnovers, 2 BS calls (taylor strip play, PI call) non push off call on micheal jenkins vs sharp (dumb for shannon to allow that match up in the first place) and the mcgahee injury are what did Miami in. To blame the d-line is just plain dumb. Clareet had what? 25+ carries for 46 yards or something like that? LMAO at blaming the d-line for that game.
 
Advertisement
but, why didn't the 2002 team win it? that was an arguably more talented team. I think the poor coaching caught up with



The worst call in CFB history.

The call that is the reason why we have instant replay in CFB.

We should have rolled that Ohio St team. 5 TO, McGahee's injury, Sharpe's mistake on 4th and 13, the call. Miami wins that game 8 or 9 out of 10 but that's why you play the games. Miami should really have 7 NCs



Yep. 1988 ND is another game with a BS call that cost Miami a title along with that 2002 BS.
 
Also 1991 Miami and other teams have proven you don't need nfl talent on the d-line per say to win a natty.

Rusty Medearis had four sacks in the national title game. Kevin Patrick was an All-American caliber player. The team as a whole had 44 sacks, which is elite.

You need stud defensive linemen to win a national championship. It's the one essential position.
 
Last edited:
Also 1991 Miami and other teams have proven you don't need nfl talent on the d-line per say to win a natty.

Rusty Medearis had four sacks in the national title game. Kevin Patrick was an All-American caliber player. The team as a whole had 44 sacks, which is elite.

You need stud defensive linemen to win a national championship. It's the one essential position.

Medearis was a straight up beast. Would have loved to see him finish his career without the devastating injuries.
 
Advertisement
but, why didn't the 2002 team win it? that was an arguably more talented team. I think the poor coaching caught up with



The worst call in CFB history.

The call that is the reason why we have instant replay in CFB.

We should have rolled that Ohio St team. 5 TO, McGahee's injury, Sharpe's mistake on 4th and 13, the call. Miami wins that game 8 or 9 out of 10 but that's why you play the games. Miami should really have 7 NCs



Yep. 1988 ND is another game with a BS call that cost Miami a title along with that 2002 BS.

I was commenting on the PennSt championship game (another game we win 8/9 times out of 10), 7 TOs. But that ND game is another one.
 
Also 1991 Miami and other teams have proven you don't need nfl talent on the d-line per say to win a natty.

Rusty Medearis had four sacks in the national title game. Kevin Patrick was an All-American caliber player. The team as a whole had 44 sacks, which is elite.

You need stud defensive linemen to win a national championship. It's the one essential position.

Agree but those guys weren't nfl type guys.
 
Advertisement
Bump. It seems like this formula stayed true in 2012, with guys like Jesse Williams on Alabama and Stephen Tuitt/Louis Nix on Notre Dame.
 
Bump. It seems like this formula stayed true in 2012, with guys like Jesse Williams on Alabama and Stephen Tuitt/Louis Nix on Notre Dame.

Look at the USC/Notre Dame game. The only reason ND won is because USC got to the goal line and couldn't move the ball an inch against those guys.

Great thread, D, must have missed it the first time.
 
Bump. It seems like this formula stayed true in 2012, with guys like Jesse Williams on Alabama and Stephen Tuitt/Louis Nix on Notre Dame.

and same with uf with floyd, easley, mccray, bullard, fowler, etc.

uga had some beasts up front too with geathers, jones, and jenkins. actually, i think this should be expanded to include the entire front 7.
 
Advertisement
Back
Top