1989 Miami Hurricanes football team

1989 Miami Hurricanes football
Consensus national champion Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 33–25 vs. Alabama
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	11–1
Head coach	Dennis Erickson (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Bob Bratkowski (1st season)
Offensive scheme	One-back spread
Defensive coordinator	Sonny Lubick (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
MVP	Cortez Kennedy
Home stadium	Miami Orange Bowl
Seasons ←  1988 1990  →

1989 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Miami (FL)			–					11	–	1	–	0
No. 2 Notre Dame			–					12	–	1	–	0
No. 3 Florida State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					9	–	2	–	0
No. 15 Penn State			–					8	–	3	–	1
No. 17 Pittsburgh			–					8	–	3	–	1
No. 21 West Virginia			–					8	–	3	–	1
Syracuse			–					8	–	4	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana			–					7	–	4	–	0
Akron			–					6	–	4	–	1
South Carolina			–					6	–	4	–	1
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	4	–	1
Louisiana Tech			–					5	–	4	–	1
Army			–					6	–	5	–	0
Louisville			–					6	–	5	–	0
East Carolina			–					5	–	5	–	1
Tulsa			–					6	–	6	–	0
Southern Miss			–					5	–	6	–	0
Tulane			–					4	–	8	–	0
Navy			–					3	–	8	–	0
Rutgers			–					2	–	7	–	2
Boston College			–					2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State			–					2	–	9	–	0
Cincinnati			–					1	–	9	–	1
Temple			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Hurricanes' 64th season of football. The Hurricanes were led by first-year head coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at the Orange Bowl. They finished the season 11–1 overall. They were invited to the Sugar Bowl where they defeated Alabama, 33–25, to win the program's third national championship.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	at Wisconsin	No. 3	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	ABC	W 51–3	38,646	[1]
September 16	California	No. 3	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL	ESPN	W 31–3	56,931	[2]
September 23	at Missouri	No. 2	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	Prime	W 38–7	43,293	[3]
September 30	at Michigan State	No. 2	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ABC	W 26–20	76,217	[4]
October 7	Cincinnati	No. 2	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL		W 56–0	48,597	[5]
October 14	San Jose State	No. 2	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL		W 48–16	45,122	[6]
October 28	at No. 9 Florida State	No. 2	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 10–24	62,602	[7]
November 4	East Carolina	No. 7	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL		W 40–10	35,159	[8]
November 11	at No. 14 Pittsburgh	No. 7	Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA	CBS	W 24–3	52,528	[9]
November 18	San Diego State	No. 7	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL		W 42–6	42,362	[10]
November 25	No. 1 Notre Dame	No. 7	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (rivalry)	CBS	W 27–10	81,634	[11]
January 1	vs. No. 7 Alabama	No. 2	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 33–25	77,452	[12]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Rankings

Further information: 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	4 (4)	3 (4)	3 (5)	2 (3)	2 (3)	2 (3)	2 (4)	2 (3)	2 (3)	7	7	7	7	4 (3)	2 (4)	2 (4)	1 (38)
Coaches	5 (1)	5 (1)	2 (2)	2 (3)	2 (4)	2 (2)	2 (5)	2 (5)	2 (3)	6	7	7	7	3 (3)	2 (4)		1 (36)

Game summaries

At Wisconsin

#3 Miami (FL) at Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Hurricanes	13	21	10	7	51
Badgers	3	0	0	0	3

• Date: September 9
• Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
• Game attendance: 38,646
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, Mike Adamle

Scoring summary

1		WIS	Thompson 38-yard field goal	WIS 3–0
1		MIA	Huerta 28-yard field goal	Tied 3–3
1		MIA	Huerta 43-yard field goal	MIA 6–3
1		MIA	Conley 1-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 13–3
2		MIA	Carroll 15-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 20–3
2		MIA	Carroll 10-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 27–3
2		MIA	Hill 3-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 34–3
3		MIA	Huerta 24-yard field goal	MIA 37–3
3		MIA	Aaron 3-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 44–3
4	7:57	MIA	Kevin Gibbs 6-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 51–3

See also: 1989 Wisconsin Badgers football team

^[13]

California

California at #3 Miami (FL)

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	3	0	0	0	3
•Hurricanes	0	17	7	7	31

• Date: September 16
• Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
• Game attendance: 56,931
• Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C), Partly cloudy, Wind S 15 mph (24 km/h)
• TV announcers (ESPN): Tim Brando, Gene Washington

Scoring summary

1	7:45	CAL	Robbie Keen 45-yard field goal	CAL 3–0
2		MIA	Huerta 29-yard field goal	Tied 3–3
2	4:48	MIA	Conley 6-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 10–3
2	2:10	MIA	Crowell 2-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 17–3
3	0:11	MIA	Dawkins 18-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 24–3
4	12:46	MIA	Hill 33-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 31–3

See also: 1989 California Golden Bears football team

At Missouri

#2 Miami (FL) at Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Hurricanes	7	17	0	14	38
Tigers	7	0	0	0	7

• Date: September 23
• Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
• Game attendance: 43,293
• Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), Sunny, Wind N 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
• TV announcers (Prime): Dave Armstrong, Dave Logan

Scoring summary

1	3:24	MIA	Maurice Crum 30-yard interception return (Huerta kick)	MIA 7–0
1	1:16	MIZ	Collins 67-yard pass from Keifer (Baker kick)	Tied 7–7
2	12:28	MIA	Crowell 1-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 14–7
2	1:36	MIA	Huerta 42-yard field goal	MIA 17–7
2	0:07	MIA	Erickson 6-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 24–7
4	9:28	MIA	Conley 2-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 31–7
4	8:34	MIA	Chudzinski 30-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick)	MIA 38–7

See also: 1989 Missouri Tigers football team

^[14]

At Michigan State

#2 Miami (FL) at Michigan State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Hurricanes	3	7	10	6	26
Spartans	3	7	3	7	20

• Date: September 30
• Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
• Game attendance: 76,217
• Referee: Jim Kemerling
• TV announcers (ABC): Gary Bender, Dick Vermeil, Cheryl Miller

Scoring summary

1	7:56	MIA	Huerta 32-yard field goal	MIA 3–0
1	3:59	MSU	Langeloh 46-yard field goal	Tied 3–3
2	5:32	MSU	Enos 19-yard run (Langeloh kick)	MSU 10–3
2	2:14	MIA	Carroll 5-yard pass from Torretta (Huerta kick)	Tied 10–10
3	11:52	MIA	Johnson 38-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 17–10
3	6:42	MIA	Huerta 27-yard field goal	MIA 20–10
3	2:48	MSU	Langeloh 27-yard field goal	MIA 20–13
4		MSU	Harlon Barnett 35-yard interception return	Tied 20–20
4	5:04	MIA	Huerta 27-yard field goal	MIA 23–20
4	0:54	MIA	Huerta 52-yard field goal	MIA 26–20

See also: 1989 Michigan State Spartans football team

^[15]

Cincinnati

Cincinnati at #3 Miami (FL)

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearcats	0	0	0	0	0
•Hurricanes	7	35	7	7	56

• Date: October 7
• Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
• Game attendance: 48,597

See also: Cincinnati Bearcats football

^[16]

San Jose State

San Jose State at #3 Miami (FL)

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	8	0	8	16
•Hurricanes	10	7	17	14	48

• Date: October 14
• Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

See also: 1989 San Jose State Spartans football team

Backup Gino Torretta, making his second consecutive start for the injured Craig Erickson, threw for a school-record 468 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Hurricanes picked up their 48th win in 49 games. ^[17]

At Florida State

See also: 1989 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry

#2 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at #9 Florida State Seminoles

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (FL)	10	0	0	0	10
Florida St	14	0	7	3	24

at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

• Date: October 28, 1989
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 62,602
• TV announcers (ESPN): Ron Franklin and Kevin Kiley
• Recap/Box Score

Game information

First quarter FSU – Dexter Carter 37-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 14:37. Florida St 7–0. Drive: MIA – Randal Hill 8-yard pass from Gino Torretta (Carlos Huerta kick), 9:57. Tie 7–7. Drive: 80 yards. FSU – Edgar Bennett 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 5:11. Florida St 14–7. Drive: 82 yards. MIA – Carlos Huerta 44-yard field goal, 1:09. Florida St 14–10. Drive: Third quarter FSU – Amp Lee 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 2:20. Florida St 21–10. Drive: Fourth quarter FSU – Richie Andrews 41-yard field goal, 14:18. 'Florida St 24–10. Drive: Top passers MIA – Gino Torretta – TD, 4 INT FSU – Peter Tom Willis – 7/20, 129 yards, INT Top rushers MIA – FSU – Dexter Carter – 21 rushes, 142 yards, TD Top receivers MIA – FSU – Ronald Lewis – 3 receptions, 77 yards

^[18]

Prior to the Miami-Florida State game, University of Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibis was tackled by a group of police officers for attempting to put out Chief Osceola's flaming spear. Sebastian was wearing a fireman's helmet and yellow raincoat and holding a fire extinguisher. When a police officer attempted to grab the fire extinguisher, the officer was sprayed in the chest. Sebastian was handcuffed by four officers but ultimately released. Miami quarterback Gino Torretta, who started the game in place of injured Craig Erickson, told ESPN, "Even if we weren't bad boys, it added to the mystique that, 'Man, look, even their mascot's getting arrested.'" ^[19]

East Carolina

See also: 1989 East Carolina Pirates football team

At Pittsburgh

#7 Miami (FL) at #14 Pittsburgh

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Hurricanes	10	3	9	2	24
Panthers	0	0	0	3	3

• Date: November 11
• Location: Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Game attendance: 52,528
• Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C), Light rain, Wind SSW 14 mph (23 km/h)
• TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Pat Haden, John Dockery

Scoring summary

1	10:38	MIA	Huerta 20-yard field goal	MIA 3–0
1		MIA	McGuire 8-yard run (Huerta kick)	MIA 10–0
2		MIA	Huerta 27-yard field goal	MIA 13–0
3		MIA	Huerta 27-yard field goal	MIA 16–0
3		MIA	Dawkins 9-yard pass from Erickson (pass failed)	MIA 22–0
4	12:06	PITT	Frazier 29-yard field goal	MIA 22–3
4	10:19	MIA	Safety, Van Pelt tackled in end zone	MIA 24–3

See also: 1989 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

^[20]

San Diego State

See also: 1989 San Diego State Aztecs football team

^[21]

Notre Dame

#1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11–0) at #7 Miami (FL) Hurricanes (9–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Notre Dame	0	10	0	0	10
Miami (FL)	10	7	7	3	27

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

• Date: November 25, 1989
• Game weather: Overcast, 77 °F (25 °C)
• Game attendance: 81,634
• Referee: Jimmy Harper
• TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Pat Haden, and John Dockery
• Recap/Box

Game information

'First quarter UM – Carlos Huerta 35-yard field goal, 9:41. Miami (FL) 3–0. UM – Dale Dawkins 55-yard pass from Craig Erickson (Carlos Huerta kick), 0:04. Miami (FL) 10–0. Drive: 4 plays. Second quarter ND – Billy Hackett 22-yard field goal, 8:23. Miami (FL) 10–3. ND – Ned Bolcar 49-yard interception return (Billy Hackett kick), 2:08. Tie 10–10. UM – Stephen McGuire 5-yard run (Carlos Huerta kick), 0:24. Miami (FL) 17–10. Drive: 3 plays. Third quarter UM – Dale Dawkins 5-yard pass from Craig Erickson (Carlos Huerta kick), 4:13. Miami (FL) 24–10. Drive: 22 plays, 80 yards, 10:47. Fourth quarter UM – Carlos Huerta 32-yard field goal, 1:44. Miami (FL) 27–10. Top passers ND – Tony Rice – 7/15, 106 yards, 2 INT UM – Craig Erickson – 16/26, 210 yards, 2 TD Top rushers ND – Tony Rice – 20 rushes, 50 yards UM – Stephen McGuire – 21 rushes, 83 yards, TD Top receivers ND – Derek Brown – 2 receptions, 19 yards UM – Dale Dawkins – 4 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD

The Hurricanes avenged a close loss from the previous year in South Bend. This game marked the seventh time in seven attempts that Miami defeated a #1 ranked team during the 1980s. ^{[22] [23] [24]}

External videos
Full game
Game highlights
3rd and 43
Hurricane Flashback

Vs. Alabama (Sugar Bowl)

#2 Miami (FL) at #7 Alabama

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•Hurricanes	7	13	6	7	33
Crimson Tide	0	17	0	8	25

• Date: January 1
• Location: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
• Game attendance: 77,452
• Game weather: Indoors
• Referee: John Nealon (Big Ten)
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf

Main article: 1990 Sugar Bowl

See also: 1989 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Personnel

Roster

1989 Miami Hurricanes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 14 Gino Torretta Fr WR 37 Doyle Aaron So TE 93 Randy Bethel Jr WR 81 Wesley Carroll Jr TE 84 Rob Chudzinski Jr RB 28 Leonard Conley Jr OL 72 Mario Cristobal Fr FB 20 Shannon Crowell Jr WR 11 Dale Dawkins Sr QB 7 Craig Erickson Jr QB 9 Bryan Fortay Fr C 50 Bobby Garcia Sr RB 25 Kevin Gibbs  Fr G 66 Robert Amatucci Fr WR 3 Randal Hill Jr C 64 Rod Holder Sr RB 21 Alex Johnson Jr WR 88 Dennis Kelleher  Fr RB 30 Stephen McGuire Fr G 68 Barry Panfil So OL 73 Leon Searcy So WR 18 Pee Wee Smith Sr WR 35 Darryl Spencer So G 79 Mike Sullivan Jr WR 36 Lamar Thomas Fr RB 33 Russell Sapp So	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 1 Jessie Armstead Fr CB 23 Robert Bailey Jr LB 56 Micheal Barrow Fr CB 6 Kenny Berry Sr DB 8 Hurlie Brown So LB 57 Bernard Clark Sr LB 49 Maurice Crum Jr DL 44 Shane Curry Jr DB 39 Bobby Harden Sr DL 63 Jimmie Jones Sr DT 96 Cortez Kennedy Sr DT 94 Greg Mark Sr DT 67 Russell Maryland Jr CB 47 Ryan McNeil Fr LB 38 Richard Newbill Sr DE 58 Willis Peguese Sr DB 2 Charles Pharms So LB 45 Darrin Smith  Fr DB 16 Roland Smith Jr DB 31 Darryl Williams Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 1 Edgar Benes Sr K 27 Carlos Huerta So P 19 Tim Kalal Sr	Head coach Dennis Erickson Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons	Alma mater
Dennis Erickson	Head coach	1st	Montana State (1969)
Bob Bratkowski	Offensive coordinator/wide receivers	1st	Washington State (1978)
Sonny Lubick	Defensive Coordinator/defensive backs	1st	Western Montana (1960)
Gregg Smith	Offensive line	1st	Idaho (1969)
Dave Arnold	Special teams/tight ends	1st
Bob Karmelowicz	Defensive line	1st	Bridgeport (1972)
Art Kehoe	Assistant offensive line	5th	Miami (1982)
Ed Orgeron	Defensive line	1st	Northwestern State (1984)
Tommy Tuberville	Linebackers	1st	Southern Arkansas (1976)
Alex Wood	Running backs	1st	Iowa (1978)

Support staff

Name	Position	Seasons	Alma mater
Brad Roll	Strength & Conditioning	1st	Stephen F. Austin (1980)
Carmen Grosso	Graduate Assistant
Ronnie Lee	Graduate Assistant
Scott Runyan	Graduate Assistant
Pete Savage	Graduate Assistant
Dan Werner	Volunteer Assistant	3rd	Western Michigan (1983)

1990 NFL draft

Main article: 1990 NFL draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Team
Cortez Kennedy	Defensive tackle	1	3	Seattle Seahawks
Jimmie Jones	Defensive tackle	3	64	Dallas Cowboys
Bernard Clark	Linebacker	3	65	Cincinnati Bengals
Willis Peguese	Defensive end	3	72	Houston Oilers
Greg Mark	Defensive end	3	79	New York Giants
Richard Newbill	Linebacker	5	126	Houston Oilers
Dale Dawkins	Wide receiver	9	223	New York Jets
Kenny Berry	Defensive back	10	256	San Diego Chargers
Bobby Harden	Defensive back	12	315	Miami Dolphins

^[25]

References

1. "Miami goes to the air in 51–3 rout over UW". The Reporter. September 10, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Miami pulls away from California, 31–3". The Tennessean. September 17, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. "No. 2 Miami blows past Missouri". The Charlotte Observer. September 24, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Hurricanes, backup QB tip Spartans". Wisconsin State Journal. October 1, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Torretta shreds Bearcats' defense". Florida Today. October 8, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Torretta spurs Canes to romp over San Jose". News-Press. October 15, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Semonoles blow away Hurricanes". The South Bend Tribune. October 29, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Miami shakes doldrums, routs E. Carolina 40–10". St. Petersburg Times. November 5, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Hurricanes sweep through No. 14 Pitt". St. Petersburg Times. November 12, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. "UM overcomes six turnovers in 42–6 victory". The Palm Beach Post. November 19, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Hurricanes blow past Irish mystique". Palladium-Item. November 26, 1989. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Hurricanes stake claim to 3rd title". South Florida Sun Sentinel. January 2, 1990. Retrieved June 5, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Miami Overwhelms Wisconsin by 51–3". The New York Times . September 10, 1989. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
14. "Miami 38, Missouri 7". United Press International . September 23, 1989. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
15. "Hurricanes Survive Scare : Miami Loses Erickson, Beats Michigan State". Los Angeles Times . October 1, 1986. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
16. "'CANES MAKE IT A CINCH EARLY VS. CINCINNATI IN 56–0 BLOWOUT". Orlando Sentinel . October 8, 1989. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
17. "Miami 48, San Jose State 16". United Press International. October 14, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
18. "Six Turnovers by No. 2 Miami Give Game to No. 9 Florida St". Los Angeles Times . October 29, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
19. "The true story of Sebastian the Ibis, a fire extinguisher and a near arrest". October 30, 2019.
20. "COLLEGE FOOTBALL". Chicago Tribune . November 12, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
21. "Loses Grow for SDSU After Miami Defeat". Los Angeles Times . November 22, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
22. "Miami Exacts Its Revenge, 27–10". Los Angeles Times . November 26, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
23. "Miami Snaps Streak By Irish". The New York Times . November 26, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
24. "Miami Shuts Down No. 1 Notre Dame". The Washington Post . November 26, 1989. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
25. "1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.