The modern era of Miami Hurricanes football is regarded as Howard Schnellenberger taking over the program for the 1979 season. He led Miami to a National Championship by his fifth season and a dynasty was in its infancy.
The Miami Hurricanes defeated a heavily favored Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1984 Orange Bowl in Schnellenberger’s fifth season. With two teams losing ahead of the fifth-ranked Miami Hurricanes they were able to move all the way up and capture their first National Championship.
Schnellenberger left for the USFL following the 1983 season and was replaced with Oklahoma State’s Jimmy Johnson.