The University of Miami, located in Coral Cables, Florida, was founded in 1925 and for the majority of its existence had a predominately dormant football program. The modern success of the University of Miami football team that has come about in the last thirty years is largely credited with beginning during the Howard Schnellenberger era. Mr. Schnellenberger left the Miami Dolphins (NFL franchise) coaching staff to become the University of Miami head football coach from 1979-1983. It was during this time that Coach Schnellenberger turned around the football program at what had previously been considered a relatively small private college (9,800 undergraduate students) without much of a chance to win against the established football powerhouses.
With the school nickname the Hurricanes the football program eventually came to fruition over the last thirty years having captured national titles in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001. In addition to five national titles to its credit (fourth on the all-time list behind Oklahoma, Alabama, and Notre Dame) the Hurricanes have twice had players win the prestigious Heisman Trophy award that is awarded on an annual basis to the nation’s top college football player. The two winners to come from the University of Miami are Vinny Testaverde, a quarterback from the class of 1986, and Gino Torretta, the quarterback of the 1992 squad.