The TidesofWar Top 25 College Football Programs (1 Viewer)

[TidesofWar]

When talking "All Time" as the thread title says, why wouldn't we look at the history of the programs in their entirety? I've never understood this.

Well, my primary reason is that they didn't have the forward pass, or you know...black players back then. But I suppose everyone's mileage may vary.

Yeah, it shouldn't count until there is some shoplifting at Dillards.

At least the players were talented.I would consider the more modern era to be in the mid-60s or maybe a little earlier. I'm sure bluebloods at older schools with no success lately would certainly disagree.

50 years from now, people will be saying the modern era started after 1920 - should that take away from the Miami run, or the Gator Titles of the last 15 years??Time moves on, but that does not make what was accomplished in years past irrelevant.

 

[TidesofWar]

Nice job so far and I'm glad to see someone putting the 3 Florida schools in proper perspective. When talking all-time, you have to consider that they've really only been that relevant (minus Spurrier's Heisman and Burt Reynolds) for 30 years or so.

But in that 30 years, they've combined to win 10 national titles and play for many more.FSU and UF are too low, but it really doesn't matter. I believe ESPN did a similar thing recently and had them 10/11, or something like that.

You are actually trying to use somthing ESPN did to SUBSTANTIATE your argument???

 

[Joe Paterno]

Nice job so far and I'm glad to see someone putting the 3 Florida schools in proper perspective. When talking all-time, you have to consider that they've really only been that relevant (minus Spurrier's Heisman and Burt Reynolds) for 30 years or so.

But in that 30 years, they've combined to win 10 national titles and play for many more.FSU and UF are too low, but it really doesn't matter. I believe ESPN did a similar thing recently and had them 10/11, or something like that.

You are actually trying to use somthing ESPN did to SUBSTANTIATE your argument???

This, right here, is why you're considered the JMon of college football.

 

[bentley]

I don't understand why the level of athlete or style of play has anything to do with a title in the 90s being more impressive than one in the 50s.Now if you want to talk about how it was easier for the big programs to start and finish at the top of the rankings back then than it is today, i'll buy that. It would have been tougher for a Texas Tech-type team to climb the rankings in 1950 than now.

Really? Recent years seem to show otherwise. If one starts at the top in the preseason rankings, we know they don't have to win all their games to be in the "championship" game. We know that a team could have as many as two losses and still be in the hunt depending on what other teams do. However, you start in the bottom 10 and lose twice, you're done....doesn't matter what happens. It's always been easier for those at the top to stay at the top and is one of the many reasons "championships" is a joke category IMO.

God love you.

Guy's like the Jim11 of college football. Always on message.

 

[Capella]

Nice job so far and I'm glad to see someone putting the 3 Florida schools in proper perspective. When talking all-time, you have to consider that they've really only been that relevant (minus Spurrier's Heisman and Burt Reynolds) for 30 years or so.

But in that 30 years, they've combined to win 10 national titles and play for many more.FSU and UF are too low, but it really doesn't matter. I believe ESPN did a similar thing recently and had them 10/11, or something like that.

You are actually trying to use somthing ESPN did to SUBSTANTIATE your argument???

I would take them over you, yes. ESPN does college football very well (sans Holtz).

 

[TidesofWar]

As we reach the midpoint of this climb to the summit of College Football's greatest traditions, we have encountered many iconic traditions of the game. Howard's Rock, the Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech, the 12 man in Aggie Land, the Husky Navy at Washington, the Eagle flying pre-game in Auburn.

Next we add yet another, as we venture into "The 700 Club", somewhere "Between The Hedges", where there is a large "Cocktail Party", Larry Munson will Broadcast, in that great ole raspy voice..............................



At #13 - THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS!!

Georgia began playing Football in the seemingly popular year of 1891, and are the first member in this countdown to surpass 700 wins, at 724-384-54. The Dawgs are 13th in the nation as well with a .646 winning percentage.

UGA boasts 14 Conference Championships, two SIAC Titles in 1896 and 1920, and 12 SEC titles between 1942 and 2005. The Dawgs have also won the SEC East three times since 1992, all in the Mark Richt tenure.

The Dawgs would likely be higher in this ranking, had they garnered another National Title or two. UGA has one National Championship, with Head Coach Vince Dooley and, in my opinon, the greatest collegiate player of all time, Herschel Walker, leading the way. Georgia went a perfect 12-0 and beat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl, to win the consensus 1980 National Title.

UGA also was selected in 1927, 1942, and 1946, in votes where some regional bias affected the decision of other polls.

The 1927 UGA team went 9-1, and was selected #1 by Boand and Poling, but 7-1 Yale and 7-0-1 Illinois received the nod from all other selectors.

In 1942 UGA went 11-1 under Dawg legend Wally Butts and was named National Champ by Williamson and Litkenhous, but a 9-1 Ohio State garnered all other selections.

In 1946, Butts and UGA went 11-0, but only received the Championship from Williamson, all other selectors took an 8-0-1 Notre Dame team.

It would seem that UGA came out on the short end of the stick when battling in the polls against Northern and Midwestern powers - something that was a trend of sorts in earlier days, where Southern Programs were concerened.

In addition to being the first member of the 700 win club here, UGA is also the first Program listed to appear in mor ethan 40 Bowl Games, with an impressive 25-16-3 record in that time.

Some of the greatest names of all time have worn the Silver Britches.................................

Bob McWhorter, David Paddock, Catfish Smith, Bill Hartman, Frank Sinkwich, Charley Trippi, John Rauch, Zeke Bratkowski, Bill Hartman, and Harry Babcock are all old-school All Americans.

More modern times have seen the likes of Pat Dye, Fran Tarkenton, Bill Stanfill, Jake Scott, Joel Parrish, MoonPie Wilson, Bill Krug, Terry Hoage, Freddie Gilbert, Kevin Butler, Tim Worley, Garrison Hearst, Richard Seymour, Champ Bailey, Jon Stinchcomb, and David Pollack garner All-American honors.

The players above in bold type are all members of the College Football Hall of Fame, with Pat Dye going in as a Coach.

And then there is Herschel, maybe the best ever. The Greatest Dawg of all played three years, and was a consensus and unanimous All-American each season - 1980, 81, and 82. Walker received the Heisman Trophy in 1982, and maybe could and should have won it either or both of his previous years - George Rogers of South Carolina and Marcus Allen were the winners in 1980 and 1981.

UGA Coaching notables include ...........................

Harry Mehre 1928-1937 59-34-6 .626

Wallace "Wally" Butts 1939-1960 140-86-9 .615

Vince Dooley 1964-1988 201-77-10 .715

Mark Richt Current 82-22-0 .788

As you can see, UGA has enjoyed a good amount of stability at the Head Coaching position, and enjoyed success during those times.

Some "Jawga" traditions, history, and pagentry from collegefootballhistory.com............................................

Georgia's Nickname

Many old timers say that it came from Yale, with whom UGA had strong ties to in its early years. Our first president, Abraham Baldwin was a Yale man. On November 3, 1920 Morgan Blake of the Atlanta Journal wrote about the school nickname and said, "The Georgia Bulldog would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity." On November 6, 1920 after a UGA football game, Cliff Wheatley used the name "Bulldogs" five times in his story and the name has been used ever since.

Uga

One of the best known mascots in the country, Uga is from a line owned by Frank W. (Sonny) Sieler of Savannah, GA. since 1956. The current line began with Uga I, a solid white English Bulldog who was the grandson of a former Georgia mascot who made the trip to the 1943 Rose Bowl. Perhaps the most famous Uga was Uga V who made appearances in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". He also graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. Uga IV was the first mascot invited to the downtown athletic club and was escorted through the banquet hall by the president of the Downtown Athletic Club and was photographed with Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. He was also the only mascot to make it to the Final Four basketball tournament.

The Georgia "G" Helmet

The unique Georgia helmet featuring the oval "G" has become a tradition that is known across the country as the logo of the Georgia Bulldogs. The basic design was instituted by Vince Dooley when he became head coach in 1964. He had been impressed with the look of the helmet worn by the Green Bay Packers which featued the oval "G" but in a different color scheme. Dooley settled on the black oval "G" surrounded by a white oval background resting on each side of the bright red helmet. A white stripe was placed over the top. The design has remained basically the same ever since; however, a smaller black stripe was added inside the white stripe over the top in 1996 by new head coach Jim Donnan.

Silver Britches

The pants were the innovation of Coach Wally Butts in 1939. Through the years fans refer to the pants in their chants. In the early fifties, the cheer "Go, you silver britches" came about. Vince Dooley redesigned the uniform in 1964 and made the pants white. He reinstated the silver pants in 1980 which turned out to be the championship season.

The Chapel Bell

The chapel bell is rung after a Georgia victory. The tradition began the 1890's when the football field was located only yards from the chapel. Students rang the bell in celebration after a big Georgia win. The chore used to be reserved for freshman, but now students and alumni rush to the Chapel after a football victory.

Redcoat Band

A 375-member marching band. First directed in 1905 by R.E. Haughey, the band has only had seven directors. It is considered by many to be the "heart" of the Bulldog spirit.

"Glory, Glory"

Among the University's oldest and most lasting traditions is the school fight song, "Glory, Glory" which is sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It was sung at games as early as the 1890s, but arranged in its present form by Georgia musician-composer Hugh Hodgson in 1915. There have been many Bulldog songs through the years and at least two collections dating back to 1909 have been published, but none have enjoyed more acceptance than "Glory, Glory."

"How 'Bout Them Dogs"

Battle cry of Bulldog fans that surfaced in the 1970's. It gained national attention when a major wire service picked it up after Georgia's victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to claim the national championship. Many newspapers all over the country used it as a headline.

The Hedges

This reference to Sanford Stadium dates back to the early 1930s. Famous English privet hedges surround the playing field in Sanford Stadium. They have been in place since the stadium was dedicated in 1929. "Between the hedges" is a popular phrase that was supposedly coined by legendary Atlanta sportswriter Grantland Rice when he said of an upcoming game "that the Bulldogs will have their opponent 'between the hedges".

The Arch

The historic arch which appears on the University of Georgia emblem sits on North Campus and was installed in 1864. Freshman were forbidden to walk under the arch for years. Once rigidly enforced, it is still observed by many who learn of the tradition during orientation

Georgia has also been blessed by having one of the greatest play-by-play guys in history, the incomparable, beloved, and homeristic Larry Munson. Some Munson Calls, and I can hear his voice and remember these moments, provided from Wikki.......................

"Buck back. Third down on the 8. In trouble. Got a block behind him. Going to throw on the run. Complete to the 25, to the 30. Lindsay Scott 35, 40. Lindsay Scott 45, 50, 45, 40. Run Lindsay! Twenty-five, 20, 15, 10, 5. Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! ... Well, I can't believe it. 92 yards and Lindsay really got in a footrace, I broke my chair, I came right through a chair, a metal STEEL chair with about a five inch cushion ... Do you know what is gonna happen here tonight? And up at St. Simons and Jekyll Island and all those places where all those Dawg people have got those condominiums for four days? MAN, is there gonna be some property destroyed tonight! 26 to 21, Dawgs on top! We were gone. I gave up, you did too. We were out of it and gone. Miracle!" - calling wide receiver Lindsay Scott's 92-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Buck Belue against Florida in 1980.

"Hunker down, you guys! If you didn't hear me, you guys, hunker down!...I know I'm asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!" - in a defensive series late in the game against Auburn in 1982, which clinched the SEC title for Georgia.

"We hand it off to Herschel, there's a hole....5....10...12, he's running over people! Oh, you Herschel Walker!...My God Almighty, he ran right through two men! Herschel ran right over two men! They had him dead away inside the 9. Herschel Walker went 16 yards. He drove right over those orange shirts and is just driving and running with those big thighs. My God, a freshman!" - calling Herschel Walker's first touchdown run against the Tennessee Volunteers in 1980.

"Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!" - at the end of the Auburn game in 1982.

"So we'll try to kick one a hundred thousand miles. We're holding it on our own 49-and-a-half ... gonna try to kick it sixty yards plus a foot-and-a-half ... and Butler kicked a long one ... a long one ... Oh my God! Oh my God! ... The stadium is worse than bonkers! I can't believe what he did! This is ungodly!" - calling Kevin Butler's field goal in the final seconds to win over Clemson in 1984.

"Tech is just marching this thing down the field like we were Wake Forest or Maryland or somebody." - calling 2000 Georgia Tech game.

"We just stepped on their face with a hob-nailed boot and broke their nose! We just crushed their face!" - calling Georgia's last-second win over Tennessee in 2001.

"Man, we've had some shots, haven't we? Snap to David Greene, there he goes again in the corner and we jump up....Touchdown! Oh, God, a touchdown! With 85 seconds..." - calling David Greene's touchdown pass to Michael Johnson as Georgia defeated Auburn in 2002, clinching the Bulldogs' first-ever SEC Eastern Division championship.

Link To Larry Munson's website, featuring his greatest calls Uga (pronounced UH-GUH) is the name of a lineage of white Bulldogs, which have served as the mascot of the University of Georgia since 1956. Uga VI, whose reign began in 1999, died from congestive heart failure at his home in Savannah, Georgia on June 27, 2008. Uga VII made his debut on August 30, 2008 in a 45–21 win over the Georgia Southern Eagles. Uga VII's official name is Uga VI's "Loran's Best." Deceased Ugas are interred in a mausoleum near the main entrance to Sanford Stadium.

Glory, Glory is the fight song for the Georgia Bulldogs and was sung at football games as early as the 1890s. The fight song was arranged in its current form in 1915.

Larry Munson, also known as the Voice of the Bulldogs, announced Georgia football games from 1966-2008. Many of his calls are famous among Georgia fans and he is seen as a signature of Georgia football culture. He is widely seen as one of the best announcers in American sports.[22][23]

The ringing of the Chapel Bell after a Georgia victory started in the 1890s when the playing field was located near the Chapel and freshmen were compelled to ring the Chapel's bell until midnight to celebrate the victory.[21] Today, freshmen are no longer required to do the chore, with students, alumni, and fans taking their place.

"How 'Bout Them Dawgs" is a slogan of recent vintage that first surfaced in the late 1970s and has become a battle cry of Bulldog fans.[21] The slogan received national attention and exposure when Georgia won the national championship in 1980 and wire services proclaimed "How 'Bout Them Dogs!"

Georgia has three long standing rivalries..............

1) "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" - UGA vs Auburn, Uga is 51-53-8 in 112 games

2) "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate" - UGA vs Ga Tech, UGA is 59-39-5 in 100 meetings.

3) "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" - uGA vs Florida, UGA is 47-38-2 in 87 meetings.

Some UGA photos...............................

The Best Ever

This Vol 'Aint Gotta A Prayer

Should be "Hershel Sprinter" not Walker - Herschel the track star

Vince Dooley

Dooley Victory Ride

Mark Richt quetions a call

RUN Lindsey RUN!

Wally Butts - looks like Mark Richt's Dad??

Charley Trippi

Frank Sinkwich at the Rose Bowl

A Raging UGA

Two Hairy Dawgs

Few Can Pull Chicks Like UGA

UGA takes a bite out of Auburn Crime

Cheerleaders and UGA

Britney Spears, Dawg Fan

Larry Munson in the booth

Young Larry Munson

Vince Dooleys Favorite Dawg, Otto....................

Otto, 1986

The Substitute record: 3-1

Although Otto was not pure white like his father, he was called upon to fill in for his younger brother, Uga IV, who injured ligaments in his left hind knee when jumping off a hotel bed before the Vanderbilt contest. In four games during the 1986 season, Otto led the team to a 3-1 record and also co-mascotted (along with Uga IV), a victory over instate rival Georgia Tech. After winning his first two games, fans cheered, "2-and-0 with Otto!" Dooley, serving as head coach during Otto's brief tenure, favored the substitute the most. "I have always had a great affection for those who came off the bench and performed, and he did that and had a great time," Dooley said.

Georgia has great tradition, and has contributed hugely to the pagentry of College Football. The Dawgs are now fixtures as SEC and even National Title contenders with Mark Richt leading the Program, and should remain so for the forseeable future.

In the words of Larry Munson .........................

"Hunker Down, you Hairy Dawgs!!! Step on their face with a HOB-NAILED BOOT!!!!! CRUSH THEIR FACE!!!!

 

[TidesofWar]

Nice job so far and I'm glad to see someone putting the 3 Florida schools in proper perspective. When talking all-time, you have to consider that they've really only been that relevant (minus Spurrier's Heisman and Burt Reynolds) for 30 years or so.

But in that 30 years, they've combined to win 10 national titles and play for many more.FSU and UF are too low, but it really doesn't matter. I believe ESPN did a similar thing recently and had them 10/11, or something like that.

You are actually trying to use somthing ESPN did to SUBSTANTIATE your argument???

I would take them over you, yes. ESPN does college football very well (sans Holtz).

Of course you would.By nature, ESPN caters to the modern crowd, and disdains history to a degree.

I would wager a large sum of beer the ESPN Poll began in 1936.

FSU and UF do not come close to being a Top 10 Program, all things considered

 

[Bobcat10]

,

 

[BigJohn]

dot

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Poop flakes

 

[renesauz]

TTT

 

[Sheriff66]

 

[TidesofWar]

We now reach the third and final of the powerful "Florida Three." Exploding onto the National Scene in the early 1980s like they were shot from the cannon "Touchdown Tommy" , this Program has experienced an amazing run in the last three decades.

# 12 - THE MIAMI HURRICANES

Miami began playing college football in 1926, and has compiled a record of 544-310-19. That .634 winning percentage is good for 15th in the all time record books.

A long-time independent , Miami has won or shared 9 Big East Conference Titles since 1991.

Miami has played in 32 bowls, winning 18, for a .563 percentage. In addition, they have amassed the following records..........................

Notable team records

Consecutive Wins: 34, 2000-02

Consecutive Regular Season Wins: 39, 2000-03

Consecutive Home Wins: 58, 1985-94 (NCAA record)

Consecutive Road Wins: 20, 1984-86

Consecutive Games without being shut out: 188, 1979-94

Consecutive Shutouts of Opponent: 4, 1926, 1936, 1941

Consecutive Games without a tie score: 345, 1966-95 (NCAA adopted tiebreaker in 1996)

NFL Draft Record, Most players drafted in the first round in a single year: 6, 2004

However, The Canes have made their recent move up in the rankings based more on their success on the National stage. Miami has 5 National Championships since 1983, and have won more NCs than any other Program in the last 30 years.

In 1983, Howard Shnellenburger and his trademark pipe led a once beaten Miami team into The Orange Bowl for a classic battle against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, already deemed perhaps the best team of all time. A gutty performance from The Canes and QB Bernie Kosar saw UM lead 31-24 late, when Nebraska scored to make it 31-30.

In an effort to win, not tie, Husker Coach Tom Osborne decided to go for two - and when the try failed, The Cane's had their first National Title, and The Hurricane that was Miami Football was about to make landfall on College Football History.

SI Cover after 1983 National Championship

Howard Schnellenberger Celebrates the First Cane Title

Jimmy Johnson Victory Ride

JJ tells you where Maimai should be ranked

Johnson celbrates later :&gt

Coach Jimmy Johnson led the Canes to a 12-0 season in 1987, and a consensus National Title. The Canes finished #2 in 1988, being de-railed by a loss at Notre Dame in the "Catholics vs convicts" game, but new Coach Dennis Erickson followed up in 1989 by going 11-1 and winning the AP and UPI National Titles.

Miami went 12-0 in 1991, capturing their 4th AP title, but the 1992 undefeated team saw its hopes for a repeat dashed when Alabama beat the Canes 34-13 in The Sugar Bowl.

Larry Coker became the fourth Head Cane to win a National Title when Miami beat Nebraska 37-14 in The Rose Bowl, in a dominating fashion. UM finished 12-0, but once again saw an undefeated season and hopes for a repeat fall by the wayside the next year in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

It looked like The Canes had won nC #6, but then a late flag flew........................

From Wikki.........................

"A touchdown run by McGahee brought the Hurricanes within 3 points, but just as the running back started to get on track, he suffered a devastating knee injury early in the fourth quarter. Miami was able to fight back and force overtime on a 40-yard field goal by Todd Sievers on the final play of the fourth quarter. Miami scored a touchdown on its first possession in overtime on a 7-yard pass from Dorsey to Kellen Winslow, and, on Ohio State's ensuing possession, the Hurricanes appeared to have won the game, 24-17, after Buckeyes quarterback Craig Krenzel's fourth-and-3 pass from the Miami 5 fell incomplete in the end zone. Miami players and coaches rushed the field and stadium fireworks were set off to commemorate the program's apparent sixth national championship.

The celebration proved premature, however, as Big 12 official Terry Porter threw a belated flag and made a controversial pass interference call against Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe. The penalty took the air out of Miami's sails and gave Ohio State new life, first-and-goal at the 1. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown to tie it at 24-24 at the end of the first overtime, and Maurice Clarett's 5-yard touchdown run in the second overtime gave Ohio State a 31-24 lead. "

Ohio State prevailed that night, and capture the National Title thought they had won.

PI Photo that changed the Championship

Miami has had an enormous number of great football players in its history, and particularly in the last 30 years of glory. No way I can list them all, my fingers would be typed to the bone - but here is a representation.

Please add your own favorite Canes!

Bernie Kosar, Reggie Wayne, Ed Reed, Edge James, Dan Morgan, Daniel Stubbs, Sean Taylor, Ottis Anderson, Willis McGahee, Bennie Blades, Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, Michael Barrow, Chuck Foreman, Pete Banaszak, Ted Hendricks, Jim Kelly, Alonzo Highsmith, ........................

Can I stop now??

Miami QBs Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta are Heisman winners, in 1986 and 1992, respectively.

Some notable UM Coaches............................

Andy Gustfason 93-65-3 .587

Howard Schnellenburger 41-16-0 .719

Jimmy Johnson 52-9-0 .852

Dennis Erickson 63-9-0 .875

Larry Coker 60-15 .800

Larry Coker and Howard Schnellenburger are both winners of The Bryant Award. It is also worth noting that Head Coach Lou Saban spent two years at UM preceding Howard Schnellenberger, and is credited with laying the groundwork for the impending Cane Run.

Some Cane History, Traditions, and Facts from collegefootballhistory.com................................................

The Orange, Green & White

UM’s school colors were selected in 1926. The colors of the Florida orange tree represent UM. Orange symbolizes the fruit of the tree, green represents the leaves and white, the blossoms.

The "U"

In 1973, UM’s Athletic Federation, the fund raising arm of the athletic department at the time, commissioned a local public relations expert to develop a distinctive logo. The University had gone several years with a variety of helmet and uniform changes and the Federation noted that a number of major colleges have the initials UM. Miami designer Bill Bodenhamer suggested the "U" idea, which lent itself to slogans like "U gotta believe" and "U is great".

Why "Hurricanes"?

It began in controversy. Some reports say the 1927 football team held a team meeting to select Hurricanes, hoping they would sweep away opponents just as the devastating storm did on September 16, 1926. Another version holds that Miami News columnist Jack Bell asked end Porter Norris of the 1926 team what the team should be called. Told that the local dignitaries and University officials wanted to name the team for a local flora or fauna, Norris said the players wouldn't stand for it and suggested "Hurricanes" since the opening game had been postponed by such a storm. From time to time, opposition has arisen to the name that would "reinforce Miami’s negative reputation as a weather-beaten community living constantly under the threat of destruction." But as one UM official rationalized in the 60’s, "Does anyone think Chicago is overrun by bears just because the town has a football team by that name?

Lil' Joe & Touchdown Tommy

"Lil’ Joe" was a forerunner to the present "Touchdown Tommy" cannon fired by the Sigma Chi fraternity after each UM score.

Four Fingers

At the beginning of the fourth quarter at every home football game, Miami players and fans can be seen holding up four fingers. The sign indicates their belief that a game is won in that crucial final period. True Hurricane fans and players use the sign as a symbol that they own that last quarter.

The "Smoke"

Sebastian enshrouded in smoke

Smoke Entrance

Smoky Entrance X2

More Smoke

The traditional Hurricane "smoke" entrance in the Orange Bowl began in the 1950s. In an attempt to increase fan interest, UM transportation director Bob Nalette came up with the idea of using fire extinguishers to produce the now-famous smoke that Hurricanes run through as they enter the field. In his spare time 40 years ago, Nalette welded the pipe together that even today billow smoke from the top of the Hurricanes’ entrance tunnel. The original set up included flashing lights, two large hurricane flags and a tape of a hurricane being blasted over the loud speaker. The flags and lights are now gone but the smoke and sound track still remain.



Sebastian the Ibis

Sebastian Logo

Folklore maintains that the Ibis, a symbol of knowledge found in the Everglades and Egypt, is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm. The local marsh bird was considered UM's first unofficial mascot when the school yearbook adopted the name "Ibis" in 1926. Its popularity grew among the students during the 50’s. In 1957 San Sebastian Hall, a residence hall on campus, sponsored an Ibis entry in the homecoming celebration. The next year, student John Stormont performed at games in an Ibis costume that was glued, sewn and pinned together and was the forerunner of today's bird. Through the years, the Ibis has become one of the most recognizable college mascots in the United States.

Some more Miami Photos............................

UM Cheerleaders, or gang members?

Nice Tan, Nice Abs, yowsir!

Love Her

The All-American, Cane Next Door

For Shiznitt - A Dolphins Cheerleader with friend

Back to regularly scheduled programming

Cane Coeds

WOW!

Cane fortunes have taken a bit of downturn recently, as Larry Coker won, but let the recruiting slide. UM folks hope Cane Alum Randy Shannon is poised for a bounce-back third season, and that Miami will once again be winning Championships in the very near future.

 

[TidesofWar]

We head to the bayou for the next entry - to the home of rabid fans, night games, earthquaking fan noise, beautiful women, freaky fans, and maybe the best tailgating in the nation. Home to a fearsome Bengal Tiger mascot - Tiger officials used to park his cage near the visitors entrance to the field.

When opponents would enter, handlers would poke Mike with a cattle prod, to make him emit the fearful roar - though I must say, Coach Bryant and his "Bear Growl" usually had the last say

#11 THE LSU TIGERS LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

The Tigers have won 13 Conference Titles between the years of 1896 and 2007 - two SIAC Titles in 1896 and 1908, and 11 SEC Crowns between 1932 and 2007.

The 1907 LSU Football Tigers

LSU also claims 4 National Chanmpionships. The 1908 team went 10-0 under Edgar Wingard, and was named #1 by the National Championship Foundation.

The "Chinese Bandits" of 1958 was a perfect 11-0 under Paul Dietzel, and claimed both AP and UPI titles.

More recently, LSU has two Titles in the BCE era - Nick Saban led the Tigers to a 13-1 mark in 2003 and the BCS crown, but the AP named a 12-1 USC team as their champion. Les Miles became the fourth LSU Head Coach to win the big prize, by capturing the BCS Title in 2007.

LSU has played in 40 Bowl Games, with a 21-18-1 record, and have won 4 SEC West Titles since the Conference split into two divisions.

Some former LSU greats include.................................

Tommy Hodson, Charles Alexander, Kevin Faulk, Rydell Malancon, Al Richardson, Bradie James, Josh Reed, Glenn Dorsey, Rudy Niswanger, Bert Jones, and Jerry Stovall.

The great Billy Cannon won The Heisman in 1958, and Cannon, along with Doc Fenton, Abe Mikal, Gus Tinsley, Ken Kavanaugh, and Tommy Cassanova are all inductees in The College Football Hall of Fame.

Bert Jones

Cholly Mac and Tommy Cassanova, All-American Safety

LSU has five former Coaches in the Hall of Fame as well, Iron Mike Donahue, Dana Bible, Biff Jones, Bernie moore, and Charlie Mclendon.

Cholly Mac

Some Bengal Tiger History and Traditions, from collegefootballhistory.com..........................

LSU's The Nickname: "Fighting Tigers"

Way back in the fall of 1896, coach A.W. Jeardeau's LSU football team posted a perfect 6-0-0 record, and it was in that pigskin campaign that LSU first adopted its nickname, Tigers.

'Tigers' seemed a logical choice since most collegiate teams in that year bore the names of ferocious animals, but the underlying reason why LSU chose 'Tigers' dates back to the Civil War.

According to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD. and the "Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865" (LSU Press, 1989), the name Louisiana Tigers evolved from a volunteer company nicknamed the Tiger Rifles, which was organized in New Orleans. This company became a part of a battalion commanded by Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat and was the only company of that battalion to wear the colorful Zouave uniform. In time, Wheat's entire battalion was called the Tigers.

That nickname in time was applied to all of the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The tiger symbol came from the famous Washington Artillery of New Orleans. A militia unit that traces its history back to the 1830s, the Washington Artillery had a logo that featured a snarling tiger's head. These two units first gained fame at the Battle of First Manassas on July 21, 1861. Major David French Boyd, first president of LSU after the war, had fought with the Louisiana troops in Virginia and knew the reputation of both the Tiger Rifles and Washington Artillery.

Thus when LSU football teams entered the gridiron battlefields in their fourth year of intercollegiate competition, they tagged themselves as the 'Tigers'.

It was the 1955 LSU 'fourth-quarter ball club' that helped the moniker 'Tigers' grow into the nickname, 'Fighting Tigers'.

Thanks to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD., a historian at the Pamplin Historical Park, for contributing to the above information.

Colors: Purple and Gold

There is some discrepancy in the origin of Royal Purple and Old Gold as LSU's official colors.

It is believed that those colors were worn for the first time by an LSU team in the spring of 1893 when the LSU baseball squad beat Tulane in the first intercollegiate contest played in any sport by Louisiana State University. Team captain E.B. Young reportedly hand-picked those colors for the LSU squad.

Later that year, the first football game was played. On November 25, 1893, football coach/chemistry professor Dr. Charles Coates and some of his players went into town to purchase ribbon to adorn their gray jerseys as they prepared to play the first LSU gridiron game.

Stores were stocking ribbons in the colors of Mardi Gras -- purple, gold and green. -- for the coming Carnival season. However, none of the green had yet arrived at Reymond's Store at the corner of Third and Main streets. Coates and quarterback Ruffin Pleasant bought up all of the purple and gold stock and made it into rosettes and badges.

"Mike the Tiger"

Mike's Cage on the field

Mike and Young Fan

Mike Cools Off

Mike in Repose

The live Bengal Tiger whose habitat lies across the street from Tiger Stadium has been a part of the LSU tradition since the early days of athletics in Baton Rouge (Nov. 21, 1936). Meanwhile, his two-legged furry costumed counterpart that stalks the sidelines of LSU athletics events has been on campus since the 1950s.

Mike travels throughout the country with many of the Tiger teams, while also making public appearances to promote LSU athletics in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities.

LSU BlondesMore Chicks

A pair of supporters

Cheerleaders

The Fashion Faux Paux Trio

Golden Girls

Golden Girls again

More Golden Girls

Some famous and storied LSU moments..............

1988 - "The Earthquake Game" -- Unranked LSU staged a near literal earth-shattering upset victory over #4 Auburn in Tiger Stadium, winning the game 7-6 with 1:41 remaining on a TD pass from QB Tommy Hodson to TB Eddie Fuller. The reaction of the crowd was so immense that it registered as an earthquake on a seismograph in LSU’s Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex.

Some LSU Trivia

Geaux to Hell Ole Miss — When LSU is playing their rival, Ole Miss, LSU fans shout "Geaux to Hell Ole Miss. Geaux to hell" frequently, and signs with the same saying can be seen throughout the stadium. Ole Miss fans typically respond with "Go to hell, LSU!"

Hot boudin - LSU's famous cheer before games and during about famous food in Louisiana. It goes " Hot boudin, cold cous-cous, come on tigers, push push push."

H style goal posts — LSU's Tiger Stadium uniquely sports "H" style goal posts, as opposed to the more modern "Y" style used by most other schools today. This "H" style allows the team to run through the goal post in the north endzone when entering the field.



Yard lines — Tiger Stadium also is notable for putting all yard line numbers on the field, not just those that are multiples of 10. However, the 10-yard-line numbers are the only numbers that get directional arrows, as the rules make no provision for 5-yard-line numbers.

Tiger Bait - LSU fans will yell "Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait" at visiting fans who wear their team colors.

First Down cheer - When the Tigers earn a first down, the Golden Band from Tigerland plays the "Geaux Tigers" cheer. The band also has a specific cheer for second and third downs.

Home of the "Tigers!" - When the Golden Band From Tigerland plays the National Anthem during the Pre-game show, instead of singing "Brave", at the end of the song LSU fans shout "TIGERS!"..."and the home of the TIGERS!"

Tider Stadium

Tiger Stadium at night

1972 - Jones to Davis;. "The Night The Clock Stopped" -- #6 LSU survived an upset bid from unranked Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium by winning the game on a TD pass from QB Bert Jones to RB Brad Davis. Ole Miss fans say the 1972 contest featured a few seconds of free football. The Tigers trailed the Rebels 16–10 with four seconds to play. After a lengthy incompletion by Jones, the game clock still showed one second remaining. The Tigers used the precious second to win the game on the "last play," 17–16. The home-clock advantage inspired a sign at the Louisiana state line reading, "You are now entering Louisiana. Set your clocks back four seconds."

1966 - Cotton Bowl -- Unranked LSU upset #2 Arkansas, winning the game 14–7 and snapping Arkansas' 22-game winning streak.

1959 - Billy Cannon's Halloween Night Run -- Late in the game between #1 LSU and #3 Ole Miss, LSU was trailing 3–0. Then Billy Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. The Rebels then drove down the field but were stopped on the LSU 1 yard line as the game ended resulting in a 7–3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium.

1959 - Sugar Bowl -- #1 LSU wins the 1958 national championship, beating #12 Clemson 7–0. The only score was a pass from Billy Cannon to freshman Mickey Mangham, one of the smallest players on the team.

Some random photos and honeys...................

Honey Krewe

Did I not tell you "Freaky Fans?"

Eye of The Tiger

Uhhh,,,, There is a big Tiger behind you...........

LSU Cheerleader

Lester Miles Barks Commands

More Freaks

Bengal Tiger Limo Service

Words Fail me...............

Animal Abuse

The Freaks just keep on coming.........

Pity The Pets in the state of Louisiana

I think the woman is dressed worse than the dogs......

Gang Member?

The LSU Burger Kings arrives

As you can see, LSU fans are passionate about their team. The atmosphere around the games are surreal, eccentric, electric, intense - just nothing like it anywhere. Great Food, Gorgeous women, carney types in capes and hats, twirling canes, killer tailgating setups and RVs - Bato Rouge is a must on the "To Do" list of any college football fan.

And with the stockpile of talent at LSU now, and a great in-state recruiting base they control, visitors should be ensured of seeing outstanding football from the home team as well.

GEAUX TIGERS - LAISSEZ BON TEMPS ROULEZ!!!!!

 

[TidesofWar]

As I get into the top 10, it gets tougher. The next two Programs could easily be flip-flopped, and I would love to do so, as I have the utmost respect for one, and despise and loathe the other to the infinite degree.

I went to my final two tie-breakers to make the call between #10 and #9, and the difference between the two is razor thin. So, from the shadow of Mount Nittany, in a valley where they find happiness.........

#10 - THE PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS

Penn State began playing College Football in 1887, and has amassed an 801-349-43 record, for a .689 winning percentage. This makes The Lions the first team in the very select 800 win club, and ranks 11th all time in winning percentage.

An independent until they joined the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State has won or shared the Big Ten Title three times since their arrival.

PSU has played in 41 Bowl Games, winning 26, which is the highest winning percentage in the country.

The Lions claim consensus National Titles in 1982 (11-1) and 1986 (12-0), both Coached by Joe Paterno.

The Lions also went 8-0-1 in 1911, and 8-0 in 1912, and were awarded a share of The Title by the National Football Foundation. Both these teams were Coached by Bill Hollenback.

The Lions have seven undefeated seasons - 1887, 1912, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1994.

The 1969 team was awarded the National Title by Massey, and a great team in 1994 was selected by Massey, Billingsley, DeVold, and The National Championship Foundation - but one of the great Nebraska teams of all time went 13-0 and swept the AP and UPI selections.

Penn State is known as "Linebacker U", but have produced great players at all positions. Some notables..........................

Richie Lucas, Mike Reid, John Cappellletti, Chuck Fusina, Kerry Collins, Larry Johnson, Lavar Arrington, Bruce Clark, Dan Connor, Rip Engle, Jack Ham, Lydell Mitchell, Harry Wilson, Todd Blackledge, Dexter Very, etc etc etc.

Former Lions Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Lenny Moore, Mike Munchak, and Mike Michalske are all inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Some Lion Coaches

Hugo Bezdek 1918-1929 65-30-11 .665

Bob Higgins 1930-1948 91-57-11 .607

Rip Engle 1950-1965 104-48-4 .679

Joe Paterno 1966 - CURRENT 383-127-3 .750

Fire Up Joe

The Joe Paterno Statue

The Young Joe Pa

Rip Engle

Joe Pa the assistant

Penn Stat has enjoyed amazing stability at the Head Coaching position. I find the following to be the most amazing stat I have encountered in this research.......................

Penn State has had TWO Head Coaches since 1950, and only Six since 1910.

WOW!!

Considering Alabama just recently went through three in only 6 months - Dennis Franchionne, Mike Price, and Mike Shula, this just amazes me.

It now appears that JoePa has the leg up in his "Grumpy Old Men" Duel with Bobby Bowden, and will finish as the all time leader in D-1 Head Coaching victories - but that battle still rages into the winter of their years. Good Luck JoePa!

Some Penn State history, facts, and tradition......................................

Nittany Lion Legend

Penn State's athletic symbol, chosen by the student body in 1906, is the mountain lion which once roamed central Pennsylvania. H.D. "Joe" Mason, a member of the Class of 1907, conducted a one-man campaign to choose a school mascot after seeing the Princeton tiger on a trip with the Penn State baseball team to that New Jersey campus. A student publication sponsored the campaign to select a mascot and Penn State is believed to be the first college to adopt the lion as a mascot.

Since Penn State is located in the Nittany Valley at the foot of Mount Nittany, the lion was designated as a Nittany Lion. In regional folklore, Nittany (or Nita-Nee) was a valorous Indian princess in whose honor the Great Spirit caused Mount Nittany to be formed. A later namesake, daughter of chief O-Ko-Cho, who lived near the mouth of Penn's Creek, fell in love with Malachi Boyer, a trader. The tearful maiden and her lost lover became legend and her name was given to the stately mountain.



Nittany Lion Shrine

Penn State's Nittany Lion shrine was dedicated on Oct. 24, 1942, during Homecoming Weekend.

Animal sculptor Heinz Warneke and stonecutter Joseph Garatti molded a 13-ton block of Indiana limestone into the most recognizable symbol of Penn State. The shrine was chosen from six models submitted by Warneke.

The shrine is a gift of the Class of 1940 and rests in a natural setting of trees near Recreation Building. The site was chosen because of its accessibility, the surrounding trees and the fact that the sculpture would not be dwarfed by nearby buildings.

Blue and White

Penn State's student-athletes are instantly identified by their blue and white uniforms - but those weren't the original school colors. A three-member committee representing the sophomore, junior and senior classes was appointed in October of 1887 to develop color options from which the student body would select the school's official colors. Dark pink and black was the unanimous choice of the student body after considering the color combinations presented by the committee.

Soon many students and the baseball team were sporting pink and black striped blazers and caps. However, problems arose when the pink faded to white after several weeks of exposure to the sun. The students then opted for blue, rather than black, and white. The official announcement of the new choice was made on March 18, 1890.

Some lion photos.......................The White Out

Beaver Stadium

Angry JoePa

The ColdPa Statue

Lenny Moore the Lion

Jack Ham The Lion

Mount Nittany

October on Nittany

Nittany in Summer

The Mount in Winter

I know some may think this ranking a bit low, but I feel the independent status and very weak schedules in some of their better years have hurt The Lions.

I love being a visitor at Happy Valley, and have found the Penn State folks to be knowledgeable, passionate, and gracious, in victory and defeat. One of my favorite venues, and Programs. The setting is so beautiful in Autumn, and makes the difficult journey more than worthwhile (Its not an easy to place to get to).

So Cheers, Lions, and hope to see you move up in these rankings soon!! But beware, as Alabama fans painfully know, it can be difficult to replace a long-time legend...............................

GO LIONS!!!! FIGHT ON STATE!!!

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Bah, a couple of spots low. Understand the "Independent" issue to a degree, but would we have been able to play UGA in 82 and Miami in 86, both games against Heisman winners that people thought we would lose, if we were in a conference? Probably not. If we were in the Big Ten back then we would have been playing the Rose Bowl. And then we wouldn't have two national titles because we never would have gotten the votes in those years, as 94 showed. Bah.

Nice job though. Really appreciate the effort.

 

[gump]

Remaining SEC forecast:#13 - UGA#11 - LSU#9 - UT#3 - Alabama

 

[mcintyre1]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

 

[TidesofWar]

Bah, a couple of spots low. Understand the "Independent" issue to a degree, but would we have been able to play UGA in 82 and Miami in 86, both games against Heisman winners that people thought we would lose, if we were in a conference? Probably not. If we were in the Big Ten back then we would have been playing the Rose Bowl. And then we wouldn't have two national titles because we never would have gotten the votes in those years, as 94 showed. Bah.

Nice job though. Really appreciate the effort.

I guess I was not very clear - it was not necessarily the "Independent" thing that I found problematic, (See Notre Dame), but the weakness of the schedules in many of their better years. Also, USC experienced a lot of National success despite a Rose Bowl tie-in.That is a shame, because the stellar Bowl record would tend to indicate PSU would fare well in ANY League.

I agree Penn State could be easily a spot higher, but I think the Top 8 move into a bit of a higher plateau.

Thanks for the input, and good luck this coming year

 

[Christo]

LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

Don't want to be too picky, but there are 12 teams with 700+ wins.

 

[Trey]

PSU should be a little higher I'd say.

 

[TidesofWar]

LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

Don't want to be too picky, but there are 12 teams with 700+ wins.

Correct on the 12 teams with 700 plus wins.My meaning was that LSU was the second program in this countdown to have 700 or more wins, after # 13 Georgia.

 

[TidesofWar]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

 

[AAABatteries]

Can I request you update the OP to have your running list? Makes it a lot easier to reference previous entries.

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

We now reach the third and final of the powerful "Florida Three." Exploding onto the National Scene in the early 1980s like they were shot from the cannon "Touchdown Tommy" , this Program has experienced an amazing run in the last three decades.

# 12 - THE MIAMI HURRICANES

Miami began playing college football in 1926, and has compiled a record of 544-310-19. That .634 winning percentage is good for 15th in the all time record books.

A long-time independent , Miami has won or shared 9 Big East Conference Titles since 1991.

Miami has played in 32 bowls, winning 18, for a .563 percentage. In addition, they have amassed the following records..........................

Notable team records

Consecutive Wins: 34, 2000-02

Consecutive Regular Season Wins: 39, 2000-03

Consecutive Home Wins: 58, 1985-94 (NCAA record)

Consecutive Road Wins: 20, 1984-86

Consecutive Games without being shut out: 188, 1979-94

Consecutive Shutouts of Opponent: 4, 1926, 1936, 1941

Consecutive Games without a tie score: 345, 1966-95 (NCAA adopted tiebreaker in 1996)

NFL Draft Record, Most players drafted in the first round in a single year: 6, 2004

However, The Canes have made their recent move up in the rankings based more on their success on the National stage. Miami has 5 National Championships since 1983, and have won more NCs than any other Program in the last 30 years.

In 1983, Howard Shnellenburger and his trademark pipe led a once beaten Miami team into The Orange Bowl for a classic battle against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, already deemed perhaps the best team of all time. A gutty performance from The Canes and QB Bernie Kosar saw UM lead 31-24 late, when Nebraska scored to make it 31-30.

In an effort to win, not tie, Husker Coach Tom Osborne decided to go for two - and when the try failed, The Cane's had their first National Title, and The Hurricane that was Miami Football was about to make landfall on College Football History.

SI Cover after 1983 National Championship

Howard Schnellenberger Celebrates the First Cane Title

Jimmy Johnson Victory Ride

JJ tells you where Maimai should be ranked

Johnson celbrates later :&gt

Coach Jimmy Johnson led the Canes to a 12-0 season in 1987, and a consensus National Title. The Canes finished #2 in 1988, being de-railed by a loss at Notre Dame in the "Catholics vs convicts" game, but new Coach Dennis Erickson followed up in 1989 by going 11-1 and winning the AP and UPI National Titles.

Miami went 12-0 in 1991, capturing their 4th AP title, but the 1992 undefeated team saw its hopes for a repeat dashed when Alabama beat the Canes 34-13 in The Sugar Bowl.

Larry Coker became the fourth Head Cane to win a National Title when Miami beat Nebraska 37-14 in The Rose Bowl, in a dominating fashion. UM finished 12-0, but once again saw an undefeated season and hopes for a repeat fall by the wayside the next year in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

It looked like The Canes had won nC #6, but then a late flag flew........................

From Wikki.........................

"A touchdown run by McGahee brought the Hurricanes within 3 points, but just as the running back started to get on track, he suffered a devastating knee injury early in the fourth quarter. Miami was able to fight back and force overtime on a 40-yard field goal by Todd Sievers on the final play of the fourth quarter. Miami scored a touchdown on its first possession in overtime on a 7-yard pass from Dorsey to Kellen Winslow, and, on Ohio State's ensuing possession, the Hurricanes appeared to have won the game, 24-17, after Buckeyes quarterback Craig Krenzel's fourth-and-3 pass from the Miami 5 fell incomplete in the end zone. Miami players and coaches rushed the field and stadium fireworks were set off to commemorate the program's apparent sixth national championship.

The celebration proved premature, however, as Big 12 official Terry Porter threw a belated flag and made a controversial pass interference call against Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe. The penalty took the air out of Miami's sails and gave Ohio State new life, first-and-goal at the 1. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown to tie it at 24-24 at the end of the first overtime, and Maurice Clarett's 5-yard touchdown run in the second overtime gave Ohio State a 31-24 lead. "

Ohio State prevailed that night, and capture the National Title thought they had won.

PI Photo that changed the Championship

Miami has had an enormous number of great football players in its history, and particularly in the last 30 years of glory. No way I can list them all, my fingers would be typed to the bone - but here is a representation.

Please add your own favorite Canes!

Bernie Kosar, Reggie Wayne, Ed Reed, Edge James, Dan Morgan, Daniel Stubbs, Sean Taylor, Ottis Anderson, Willis McGahee, Bennie Blades, Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, Michael Barrow, Chuck Foreman, Pete Banaszak, Ted Hendricks, Jim Kelly, Alonzo Highsmith, ........................

Can I stop now??

Miami QBs Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta are Heisman winners, in 1986 and 1992, respectively.

Some notable UM Coaches............................

Andy Gustfason 93-65-3 .587

Howard Schnellenburger 41-16-0 .719

Jimmy Johnson 52-9-0 .852

Dennis Erickson 63-9-0 .875

Larry Coker 60-15 .800

Larry Coker and Howard Schnellenburger are both winners of The Bryant Award. It is also worth noting that Head Coach Lou Saban spent two years at UM preceding Howard Schnellenberger, and is credited with laying the groundwork for the impending Cane Run.

Some Cane History, Traditions, and Facts from collegefootballhistory.com................................................

The Orange, Green & White

UM’s school colors were selected in 1926. The colors of the Florida orange tree represent UM. Orange symbolizes the fruit of the tree, green represents the leaves and white, the blossoms.

The "U"

In 1973, UM’s Athletic Federation, the fund raising arm of the athletic department at the time, commissioned a local public relations expert to develop a distinctive logo. The University had gone several years with a variety of helmet and uniform changes and the Federation noted that a number of major colleges have the initials UM. Miami designer Bill Bodenhamer suggested the "U" idea, which lent itself to slogans like "U gotta believe" and "U is great".

Why "Hurricanes"?

It began in controversy. Some reports say the 1927 football team held a team meeting to select Hurricanes, hoping they would sweep away opponents just as the devastating storm did on September 16, 1926. Another version holds that Miami News columnist Jack Bell asked end Porter Norris of the 1926 team what the team should be called. Told that the local dignitaries and University officials wanted to name the team for a local flora or fauna, Norris said the players wouldn't stand for it and suggested "Hurricanes" since the opening game had been postponed by such a storm. From time to time, opposition has arisen to the name that would "reinforce Miami’s negative reputation as a weather-beaten community living constantly under the threat of destruction." But as one UM official rationalized in the 60’s, "Does anyone think Chicago is overrun by bears just because the town has a football team by that name?

Lil' Joe & Touchdown Tommy

"Lil’ Joe" was a forerunner to the present "Touchdown Tommy" cannon fired by the Sigma Chi fraternity after each UM score.

Four Fingers

At the beginning of the fourth quarter at every home football game, Miami players and fans can be seen holding up four fingers. The sign indicates their belief that a game is won in that crucial final period. True Hurricane fans and players use the sign as a symbol that they own that last quarter.

The "Smoke"

Sebastian enshrouded in smoke

Smoke Entrance

Smoky Entrance X2

More Smoke

The traditional Hurricane "smoke" entrance in the Orange Bowl began in the 1950s. In an attempt to increase fan interest, UM transportation director Bob Nalette came up with the idea of using fire extinguishers to produce the now-famous smoke that Hurricanes run through as they enter the field. In his spare time 40 years ago, Nalette welded the pipe together that even today billow smoke from the top of the Hurricanes’ entrance tunnel. The original set up included flashing lights, two large hurricane flags and a tape of a hurricane being blasted over the loud speaker. The flags and lights are now gone but the smoke and sound track still remain.



Sebastian the Ibis

Sebastian Logo

Folklore maintains that the Ibis, a symbol of knowledge found in the Everglades and Egypt, is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm. The local marsh bird was considered UM's first unofficial mascot when the school yearbook adopted the name "Ibis" in 1926. Its popularity grew among the students during the 50’s. In 1957 San Sebastian Hall, a residence hall on campus, sponsored an Ibis entry in the homecoming celebration. The next year, student John Stormont performed at games in an Ibis costume that was glued, sewn and pinned together and was the forerunner of today's bird. Through the years, the Ibis has become one of the most recognizable college mascots in the United States.

Some more Miami Photos............................

UM Cheerleaders, or gang members?

Nice Tan, Nice Abs, yowsir!

Love Her

The All-American, Cane Next Door

For Shiznitt - A Dolphins Cheerleader with friend finally! and thanks

Back to regularly scheduled programming

Cane Coeds

WOW!

Cane fortunes have taken a bit of downturn recently, as Larry Coker won, but let the recruiting slide. UM folks hope Cane Alum Randy Shannon is poised for a bounce-back third season, and that Miami will once again be winning Championships in the very near future.

 

[Christo]

LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

Don't want to be too picky, but there are 12 teams with 700+ wins.

Correct on the 12 teams with 700 plus wins.My meaning was that LSU was the second program in this countdown to have 700 or more wins, after # 13 Georgia.

Then I withdraw my statement.

 

[Christo]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

I'm for any analysis that penalizes USC.

 

[Clash of the Titans]

i'm looking forward to next year's tussle with penn state as we kickoff our south upper deck expansion putting capacity at over 101,000.....i hope i get the chance to go to happy valley the following year.......i think penn state has one of the classiest allotments of fans in any sport....the oklahoma fans were great in 2003 as well........

 

[The Commish]

LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

Don't want to be too picky, but there are 12 teams with 700+ wins.

Correct on the 12 teams with 700 plus wins.My meaning was that LSU was the second program in this countdown to have 700 or more wins, after # 13 Georgia.

Then I withdraw my statement.

Holy crap...you really were drunk weren't you?

 

[Christo]

LSU began playing football, and is the second member of the "700 Club", having compiled a 701-383-47 record. This is good for a .640 winning percentage, currently 14th best in the nation.

Don't want to be too picky, but there are 12 teams with 700+ wins.

Correct on the 12 teams with 700 plus wins.My meaning was that LSU was the second program in this countdown to have 700 or more wins, after # 13 Georgia.

Then I withdraw my statement.

Holy crap...you really were drunk weren't you?

And boy am I paying for it

 

[The Commish]

And boy am I paying for it

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

Questionable walk-on program? Your fingers must be extremely nimble grasping at those straws. I am a Missouri fan, but one of the things I respect most about Nebraska (outside of Ron Brown and Tom Osborne) is what they established through their walk-on program. How is that questionable? I have never heard that argument so it would be interesting to get your take.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Bah, a couple of spots low. Understand the "Independent" issue to a degree, but would we have been able to play UGA in 82 and Miami in 86, both games against Heisman winners that people thought we would lose, if we were in a conference? Probably not. If we were in the Big Ten back then we would have been playing the Rose Bowl. And then we wouldn't have two national titles because we never would have gotten the votes in those years, as 94 showed. Bah.

Nice job though. Really appreciate the effort.

I guess I was not very clear - it was not necessarily the "Independent" thing that I found problematic, (See Notre Dame), but the weakness of the schedules in many of their better years. Also, USC experienced a lot of National success despite a Rose Bowl tie-in.That is a shame, because the stellar Bowl record would tend to indicate PSU would fare well in ANY League.

I agree Penn State could be easily a spot higher, but I think the Top 8 move into a bit of a higher plateau.

Thanks for the input, and good luck this coming year

You make some good points of course, but I really think we should be ahead of Tennesee, assuming they'renext. It's funny because I was thinking about this thread driving down to the beach last night and I could

only come up with 8 teams that should be ahead of us: ND, USC, Bama, Mich, Neb, Oklahoma, OSU and Texas.

I could not think of who that 9th team could be, lol. But when I realized it was Tennesee.... Yuk. Interested to

read your write up of them.

Personally, I'd put the first 6 teams I listed in a tier and then have OSU, Texas and PSU in the second tier.

Great thread for discussion though.

 

[wadegarrett]

Can I request you update the OP to have your running list? Makes it a lot easier to reference previous entries.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

This is a GREAT thread, thanks to the OP for starting it.

Due to the subjective nature of National Titles, it makes it a lot more difficult to measure the relative greatness of a program. Add that to the fact that there is a vast disparity in the longevity of programs and the waters only get muddier.

I am going to guess at the remainder -

1 Michigan

2 Notre Dame

3 - 5 Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama in some order

6 - 7 Ohio State, USC in some order

8 Nebraska

9 Tennessee

I didn't realize how many more wins Michigan had than Texas. Also, if told there were six programs with 800+ wins, I would not have guessed all of them right. I would have guessed Alabama is in that group (they are not), and I would have guessed Penn State was not in that group (but they are).

Anyway, great thread...kind of getting me pumped up for what could be a tough season for Mizzou.

 

[TidesofWar]

This is a GREAT thread, thanks to the OP for starting it.Due to the subjective nature of National Titles, it makes it a lot more difficult to measure the relative greatness of a program. Add that to the fact that there is a vast disparity in the longevity of programs and the waters only get muddier.I am going to guess at the remainder -1 Michigan2 Notre Dame3 - 5 Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama in some order6 - 7 Ohio State, USC in some order8 Nebraska9 TennesseeI didn't realize how many more wins Michigan had than Texas. Also, if told there were six programs with 800+ wins, I would not have guessed all of them right. I would have guessed Alabama is in that group (they are not), and I would have guessed Penn State was not in that group (but they are).Anyway, great thread...kind of getting me pumped up for what could be a tough season for Mizzou.

Thanks - I wil have my write-up for #9 this weekend

 

[The Commish]

I honestly couldn't justify having UM at #1 giving the disappearing act in bowl games in recent years. I know the B10 has been down, so even consistant winning % doesn't mean that much the last 10 years. Factor in the first actual rebuilding period in my lifetime occuring right now and I just don't see it.

 

[GDogg]

I honestly couldn't justify having UM at #1 giving the disappearing act in bowl games in recent years. I know the B10 has been down, so even consistant winning % doesn't mean that much the last 10 years. Factor in the first actual rebuilding period in my lifetime occuring right now and I just don't see it.

Who would you put above them? Every school has had periods of rebuilding and struggling.Notre Dame's been rebuilding for 20 years and struggled for quite a few years prior to their last period of elite success. SC had 20+ years of less than elite performance. Oklahoma's been great the last 10 years. The 10 years prior to that weren't so hot. Texas has also gone through some down years, and the same is true for Tennessee, Ohio St., Nebraska and Alabama.Nobody's been on top every year over the past 30 years or so.

 

[The Commish]

I honestly couldn't justify having UM at #1 giving the disappearing act in bowl games in recent years. I know the B10 has been down, so even consistant winning % doesn't mean that much the last 10 years. Factor in the first actual rebuilding period in my lifetime occuring right now and I just don't see it.

Who would you put above them? Every school has had periods of rebuilding and struggling.Notre Dame's been rebuilding for 20 years and struggled for quite a few years prior to their last period of elite success. SC had 20+ years of less than elite performance. Oklahoma's been great the last 10 years. The 10 years prior to that weren't so hot. Texas has also gone through some down years, and the same is true for Tennessee, Ohio St., Nebraska and Alabama.Nobody's been on top every year over the past 30 years or so.

Good question and I am not really sure to be honest.

 

[bentley]

Bah, a couple of spots low. Understand the "Independent" issue to a degree, but would we have been able to play UGA in 82 and Miami in 86, both games against Heisman winners that people thought we would lose, if we were in a conference? Probably not. If we were in the Big Ten back then we would have been playing the Rose Bowl. And then we wouldn't have two national titles because we never would have gotten the votes in those years, as 94 showed. Bah.

Nice job though. Really appreciate the effort.

I guess I was not very clear - it was not necessarily the "Independent" thing that I found problematic, (See Notre Dame), but the weakness of the schedules in many of their better years. Also, USC experienced a lot of National success despite a Rose Bowl tie-in.That is a shame, because the stellar Bowl record would tend to indicate PSU would fare well in ANY League.

I agree Penn State could be easily a spot higher, but I think the Top 8 move into a bit of a higher plateau.

Thanks for the input, and good luck this coming year

You make some good points of course, but I really think we should be ahead of Tennesee, assuming they'renext. It's funny because I was thinking about this thread driving down to the beach last night and I could

only come up with 8 teams that should be ahead of us: ND, USC, Bama, Mich, Neb, Oklahoma, OSU and Texas.

I could not think of who that 9th team could be, lol. But when I realized it was Tennesee.... Yuk. Interested to

read your write up of them.

Personally, I'd put the first 6 teams I listed in a tier and then have OSU, Texas and PSU in the second tier.

Great thread for discussion though.

Seriously? Second in all-time wins, third in winning percentage. Most bowl games played of any team. Longest streak of having at least one players drafted (73 years or all but the first two). Not saying they should be #1, but they should be in the first tier.

 

[mcintyre1]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

Questionable walk-on program? Your fingers must be extremely nimble grasping at those straws. I am a Missouri fan, but one of the things I respect most about Nebraska (outside of Ron Brown and Tom Osborne) is what they established through their walk-on program. How is that questionable? I have never heard that argument so it would be interesting to get your take.

Seriously. What is "questionable walk-on program" supposed to mean? It certainly can't be quality based, as a significant number of starters on the 1995 national championship team were walk-ons.Is he implying that there was something inappropriate about the walk-on program? Because I've never heard someone claim that.

 

[Saints-Man]

I actually see Miami as a more dominant program than LSU.

The current period is LSU's glory years. Right before this, they had several losing seasons. Yes, LSU has a high win number total and they have been good for many years. But Miami has been dominant from the 20 years from 1983 until the early 2000's. That is a long time in football years to be that dominant. LSU has a long way to go to match that type of dominance. They have only since the early 2000's been really mentioned in the NC conversation. Miami was in that conversation for over 20 years. That is amazing.

 

[Corporation]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

Questionable walk-on program? Your fingers must be extremely nimble grasping at those straws. I am a Missouri fan, but one of the things I respect most about Nebraska (outside of Ron Brown and Tom Osborne) is what they established through their walk-on program. How is that questionable? I have never heard that argument so it would be interesting to get your take.

Seriously. What is "questionable walk-on program" supposed to mean? It certainly can't be quality based, as a significant number of starters on the 1995 national championship team were walk-ons.Is he implying that there was something inappropriate about the walk-on program? Because I've never heard someone claim that.

The questionable nature of the walk-on program is something many, many people talk about. I didn't google this so it's off memory, but I think there was an allegation of some kind of state law in Nebraska that can award a "county" scholarship to players so Nebraska wouldn't have to count the player against the 85 limit. Nebraska has always denied it and it's probably a good bit of sour grapes from other fans. If I recall, I found strong arguments both sides and couldn't figure out if it was definitively true or false, but I tend to believe that there was not anything overtly inappropriate about the walk-on program. I'm surprised you've never heard the claim though because I've heard national broadcasters bring it up.

 

[whoknew]

I honestly couldn't justify having UM at #1 giving the disappearing act in bowl games in recent years. I know the B10 has been down, so even consistant winning % doesn't mean that much the last 10 years. Factor in the first actual rebuilding period in my lifetime occuring right now and I just don't see it.

Who would you put above them? Every school has had periods of rebuilding and struggling.Notre Dame's been rebuilding for 20 years and struggled for quite a few years prior to their last period of elite success. SC had 20+ years of less than elite performance. Oklahoma's been great the last 10 years. The 10 years prior to that weren't so hot. Texas has also gone through some down years, and the same is true for Tennessee, Ohio St., Nebraska and Alabama.Nobody's been on top every year over the past 30 years or so.

Michigan is the greatest university in the history of the world. And they obviously have the best college football program of all time.And this is from an unbiased observer.

 

[mcintyre1]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor in

To reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

Questionable walk-on program? Your fingers must be extremely nimble grasping at those straws. I am a Missouri fan, but one of the things I respect most about Nebraska (outside of Ron Brown and Tom Osborne) is what they established through their walk-on program. How is that questionable? I have never heard that argument so it would be interesting to get your take.

Seriously. What is "questionable walk-on program" supposed to mean? It certainly can't be quality based, as a significant number of starters on the 1995 national championship team were walk-ons.Is he implying that there was something inappropriate about the walk-on program? Because I've never heard someone claim that.

The questionable nature of the walk-on program is something many, many people talk about. I didn't google this so it's off memory, but I think there was an allegation of some kind of state law in Nebraska that can award a "county" scholarship to players so Nebraska wouldn't have to count the player against the 85 limit. Nebraska has always denied it and it's probably a good bit of sour grapes from other fans. If I recall, I found strong arguments both sides and couldn't figure out if it was definitively true or false, but I tend to believe that there was not anything overtly inappropriate about the walk-on program. I'm surprised you've never heard the claim though because I've heard national broadcasters bring it up.

I had never heard of this before now, but after reading a little bit about it, I can see why the poster believes in this urban legend. I had completely forgotten that Tennessee was on the losing end of Nebraska's last national title.http://nebraska.scout.com/2/47613.html

The above provides a pretty good rebuttal of this claim (though its a bit tough to read).

The most pertinent information is at the bottom, which says, according to NCAA rules, that if a player is recruited by the school, receives a non-athletic scholarship, and is part of the varsity football team, he counts against the 85 scholarship limit. This does not include students receiving federal financial aid and grants, which I would assume makes up the majority of walk-on players.

I find it interesting that, having been a member of a very successful Nebraska high school team, I have never heard of the "county scholarship" before now. If such a thing did exist, a few of my teammates would likely have walked on at Nebraska (I'm not naive enough to claim I was that good).

Also, to my knowledge, Nebraska has never been cited by the NCAA for a violation, despite yearly audits of the program. Such a blatant circumvention of scholarship rules would certainly have been found and punished if it existed.

Seems like sour grapes

 

[The Commish]

I honestly couldn't justify having UM at #1 giving the disappearing act in bowl games in recent years. I know the B10 has been down, so even consistant winning % doesn't mean that much the last 10 years. Factor in the first actual rebuilding period in my lifetime occuring right now and I just don't see it.

Who would you put above them? Every school has had periods of rebuilding and struggling.Notre Dame's been rebuilding for 20 years and struggled for quite a few years prior to their last period of elite success. SC had 20+ years of less than elite performance. Oklahoma's been great the last 10 years. The 10 years prior to that weren't so hot. Texas has also gone through some down years, and the same is true for Tennessee, Ohio St., Nebraska and Alabama.Nobody's been on top every year over the past 30 years or so.

Michigan is the greatest university in the history of the world. And they obviously have the best college football program of all time.And this is from an unbiased observer.

Did I ever tell you I look forward to the college football season because you posts like this? Also, look forward to wade's "jealous" posts. Crack me up every time.

 

[Joe Paterno]

I had never heard of this before now, but after reading a little bit about it, I can see why the poster believes in this urban legend. I had completely forgotten that Tennessee was on the losing end of Nebraska's last national title.

http://nebraska.scout.com/2/47613.html

The above provides a pretty good rebuttal of this claim (though its a bit tough to read).

The most pertinent information is at the bottom, which says, according to NCAA rules, that if a player is recruited by the school, receives a non-athletic scholarship, and is part of the varsity football team, he counts against the 85 scholarship limit. This does not include students receiving federal financial aid and grants, which I would assume makes up the majority of walk-on players.

I find it interesting that, having been a member of a very successful Nebraska high school team, I have never heard of the "county scholarship" before now. If such a thing did exist, a few of my teammates would likely have walked on at Nebraska (I'm not naive enough to claim I was that good).

Also, to my knowledge, Nebraska has never been cited by the NCAA for a violation, despite yearly audits of the program. Such a blatant circumvention of scholarship rules would certainly have been found and punished if it existed.

Seems like sour grapes

As another hardcore Mizzou fan in this thread, I ####### hate Nebraska and all they stand for.

They are not cheaters. They're just that ####### good.

 

[AAABatteries]

Can I request you update the OP to have your running list? Makes it a lot easier to reference previous entries.

 

[whoknew]

I had never heard of this before now, but after reading a little bit about it, I can see why the poster believes in this urban legend. I had completely forgotten that Tennessee was on the losing end of Nebraska's last national title.

http://nebraska.scout.com/2/47613.html

The above provides a pretty good rebuttal of this claim (though its a bit tough to read).

The most pertinent information is at the bottom, which says, according to NCAA rules, that if a player is recruited by the school, receives a non-athletic scholarship, and is part of the varsity football team, he counts against the 85 scholarship limit. This does not include students receiving federal financial aid and grants, which I would assume makes up the majority of walk-on players.

I find it interesting that, having been a member of a very successful Nebraska high school team, I have never heard of the "county scholarship" before now. If such a thing did exist, a few of my teammates would likely have walked on at Nebraska (I'm not naive enough to claim I was that good).

Also, to my knowledge, Nebraska has never been cited by the NCAA for a violation, despite yearly audits of the program. Such a blatant circumvention of scholarship rules would certainly have been found and punished if it existed.

Seems like sour grapes

As another hardcore Mizzou fan in this thread, I ####### hate Nebraska and all they stand for.

They are not cheaters. They're just that ####### good.

How can you be from Mizzou and not think Nebraska cheats?!? They illegally kicked a ball in the air to win a game against your team!

 

[jplvr]

As a homer I of course think Nebraska deserves a shot at #1 (building that kind of winning tradition in a state with such a small population should put it over the top, not to mention being the home of the two greatest teams of all time), but I'm expecting something like ND, as much as I don't want it.

As for Nebraska, any of the top 8 can make a case of sorts for #1However, Home State population will not factor inTo reward Nebraska for that (and their questionable walk-on program), would mean also looking to penalize a USC because of their location and proximity to top recruits

Questionable walk-on program? Your fingers must be extremely nimble grasping at those straws. I am a Missouri fan, but one of the things I respect most about Nebraska (outside of Ron Brown and Tom Osborne) is what they established through their walk-on program. How is that questionable? I have never heard that argument so it would be interesting to get your take.

Seriously. What is "questionable walk-on program" supposed to mean? It certainly can't be quality based, as a significant number of starters on the 1995 national championship team were walk-ons.Is he implying that there was something inappropriate about the walk-on program? Because I've never heard someone claim that.

The questionable nature of the walk-on program is something many, many people talk about. I didn't google this so it's off memory, but I think there was an allegation of some kind of state law in Nebraska that can award a "county" scholarship to players so Nebraska wouldn't have to count the player against the 85 limit. Nebraska has always denied it and it's probably a good bit of sour grapes from other fans. If I recall, I found strong arguments both sides and couldn't figure out if it was definitively true or false, but I tend to believe that there was not anything overtly inappropriate about the walk-on program. I'm surprised you've never heard the claim though because I've heard national broadcasters bring it up.

Seriously. I couldn't have described it half as well as you did, but when he mentioned it, I immediately remembered the stories. I'm not saying something did happen or was wrong, but to act like it's a surprise there were rumors had me surprised.Corp: "Weekly reader"? Quit listening to Auburn fans. There is on b*stard child national title on record Alabama claims and that's 1947. The rest are all justifiable. 11 should be the number claimed, but considering the screw job in '66 and what should have definitely been the 12th title, I really don't give any ground in going further than discounting 1947. We lost the 1966 national title due to the civil rights movement and nothing else... no, again: we got SCREWED out of a 3rd straight title due to civil rights. I'm not saying it wasn't a good thing in many ways, but it is still a fact. 4 titles claimed from the 20's and 30's, 3 of which were undefeated seasons and Rose Bowl victories (the other undefeated with a Rose Bowl tie), 7 AP, and 1 UPI. Any school would count those.