sun_sentinel
For the first time in over two decades, the Miami Hurricanes sit atop the AP poll, and they will celebrate that return to prominence by paying homage to the team that set the standard. On Thursday, the university revealed that the Hurricanes will don jerseys modeled after the 2001 national championship squad when they face Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The 2001 Miami team, often cited as the best in the history of college football, dominated its regular season and held the No. 1 ranking for most of the year. Along the way, the Hurricanes defeated Penn State, Florida State, Washington, and Virginia Tech before advancing to the BCS National Championship Game, where they defeated Nebraska in the Rose Bowl to secure the program's fifth national title.
That roster was stacked with future professional talent, producing 38 eventual NFL draft picks, including Ken Dorsey, Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Andre Johnson, Bryant McKinnie, Ed Reed, D.J. Williams, Jonathan Vilma, and Phillip Buchanon, among others. Miami has not claimed a national championship since that season, though the program returned to the title game last year.
Current head coach Mario Cristobal, who served as a graduate assistant at UM from 1998 to 2000, worked closely with many players from that 2001 team. Reflecting on their legacy, Cristobal emphasized the foundation they laid. "What they brought back is, at the end of the day, what makes everything cool, and that's winning," he said. "(They) won, won with class."
Cristobal recalled his time holding scouting cards for standouts like Santana Moss, Vince Wilfork, Jerome McDougle, and Jon Vilma, noting that those players quickly moved up from the scout team. "But it represents a time where guys that had seen Miami be really good took a chance to come to Miami when Miami had to dig itself out of a hole," he explained. "And they were young men of action. They were builders. They were willing to go through the painful steps necessary to rebuild the University of Miami. And they did it to the highest level. So, certainly, I know a lot of people are excited to see them, and they'll bring a lot of energy to the stadium."
Key Analysis
The jersey tribute serves as more than a nod to history; it symbolizes Miami's resurgence under Cristobal. By connecting the current No. 1 ranking with the 2001 championship legacy, the program reinforces its identity and motivates both players and fans. The move also highlights the enduring impact of that legendary team, whose members remain deeply woven into the fabric of Miami football.
Originally reported by sun_sentinel.