The 'Canes' national title was the first of eight produced by the state's big three - Florida, Florida State and Miami. Miami also won championships in 1987, '89, '91 and 2001. FSU won titles in 1993 and 1999. And Florida was first in 1996.
Which team was king of the era?
We'll never know, of course, but we've decided to use an eight-team playoff to spark the debate. In selecting the participants of our make-believe bracket, we simply picked the era's eight national champions.
Next, we seeded them.
Miami's 2001 squad got the nod at No. 1 because of how dominating it was and because of the squad's high number of draft picks. Miami's 1987 team, which beat six ranked opponents, claimed the second seed. The third and fourth seeds went to the 1996 Gators and 1993 Seminoles, both one-loss squads led by Heisman Trophy quarterbacks. Florida got the higher seed because it beat the No. 1 team (FSU by the way) in the Sugar Bowl.
Here's how things might have played out ...
THE SEEDS
1. 2001 Miami (12-0)
2. 1987 Miami (12-0)
3. 1996 Florida (12-1)
4. 1993 FSU (12-1)
5. 1989 Miami (11-1)
6. 1999 FSU (12-0)
7. 1983 Miami (11-1)
8. 1991 Miami (12-0)
Quarterfinal 1 - 1991 Miami at 2001 Miami:
2001 Miami wins 30-14 as Ken Dorsey throws for 276 yards and two TD passes, while Clinton Portis rushes for another score. Gino Torretta throws three costly picks for the '91 'Canes.
Quarterfinal 2 - 1983 Miami at 1987 Miami:
1987 Miami wins 27-10 as Steve Walsh throws two second-half touchdowns to Michael Irvin. Bernie Kosar and the undermanned '83 Hurricanes are blanked in the second half.
Quarterfinal 3 - 1999 FSU at 1996 Florida:
1996 Florida wins 33-27 behind Danny Wuerffel's 321 passing yards and four touchdowns. Seminoles QB Chris Weinke has three TD passes, two to Peter Warrick, but is intercepted twice.
Quarterfinal 4 - 1989 Miami at 1993 FSU:
1993 FSU wins 30-17 as Charlie Ward directs FSU on three second-half touchdown drives. Warrick Dunn rushes for two scores and the 'Noles defense does the rest, harassing Miami quarterback Craig Erickson throughout.
Semifinal 1 - 1993 FSU at 2001 Miami:
Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey throws interceptions on each of the Hurricanes' first two series, but FSU can't capitalize. Miami's defensive line forces Seminoles QB Charlie Ward into an early interception that safety Ed Reed returns 31 yards to the FSU 14. Miami goes up 7-0 on a 6-yard Clinton Portis run 1:07 into the second quarter. The 'Canes move ahead 14-0 when Dorsey hits tight end Jeremy Shockey for a 21-yard score.
With 2:37 left in the half, FSU begins to rally as Ward leads the 'Noles on a seven-play, 81-yard drive that ends with Warrick Dunn's 3-yard TD run to make it 14-7. Ward floats a pass to Dunn, who goes 29 yards for the tying score in the third, and later Scott Bentley hits a 49-yard field goal for a 17-14 FSU lead.
With Miami facing 4-and-1 late in the fourth from the FSU 26, Dorsey finds Shockey over the middle for the score. But Shockey is flagged for excessive celebration after calling FSU linebacker Derrick Brooks a "hobo," and FSU's Derrick Alexander blocks the kick.
FSU begins at the 'Noles 22 with 2:56 left, and two Dunn runs get FSU to the 37. Ward then hits Kez McCorvey for 23 yards and later runs for 13 yards to the Miami 27. FSU coach Bobby Bowden calls timeout and Bentley trots in for a 44-yard attempt. As Bentley readies, shades of Wide Rights flash through his head. Intent on not missing to the right, he aims a tad to the left and badly duck hooks one into the stands. Miami wins 20-17.
Semifinal 2 - 1996 Florida at 1987 Miami:
Gators QB Danny Wuerffel is harassed throughout the first half and throws two interceptions, one of which Bennie Blades returns 39 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Miami lead. Miami goes ahead 10-0 after Wuerffel's second interception.
On the sideline, a livid Steve Spurrier considers benching Wuerffel until he realizes his only option is freshman Doug Johnson. Wuerffel stays in and goes to the shotgun to keep Miami ends Greg Mark and Daniel Stubbs at bay. Wuerffel hits Ike Hilliard for a 47-yard pass, and two plays later Fred Taylor scores on a 27-yard counter.
Miami quarterback Steve Walsh answers by finding Michael Irvin, who outfights two Florida defenders for the score for a 17-7 Miami lead. In anger, Spurrier tosses his visor into the air, but the Orange Bowl wind carries it to the other sideline, where Irvin proceeds to stomp on the hat with his best rendition of the electric slide. After the Florida defense holds Miami, the punt snap of Willis Peguese sails through the goal post for a safety to make it 17-9 at the half.
When 'Canes coach Jimmy Johnson emerges for the third quarter, his hair is three shades darker than when the game began. Wuerffel throws three consecutive fades to Reidel Anthony, the last for a TD. A two-point pass fails, but Florida gets the ball back after Walsh, hurried by linebacker Jevon Kearse, fumbles at the 'Canes 22.
Spurrier uses the Emory & Henry formation with Jacquez Green at QB, who passes to Hilliard for the score. Miami drives to the Gators' 41, but the game ends with Walsh throwing incomplete into the end zone. Florida wins 22-17.
Championship - 1996 Florida vs. 2001 Miami at Raymond James Stadium:
A game featuring two of the most complete teams in college football history lives up to its billing. In a back-and-forth battle, the offenses steal the show. Florida's Danny Wuerffel passes for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Miami's Ken Dorsey throws for 221 yards and two TDs, and Clinton Portis adds two rushing scores.
After three quarters it's 21-all. When the fourth begins, Wuerffel directs the Gators on a five-play drive to the Miami 23. But on first down, 'Canes cornerback Phillip Buchanon steps in front of a Wuerffel hitch and goes 81 yards for the score.
Wuerffel is undeterred. On the next series, Florida quickly goes the length of the field. From the Miami 26, Wuerffel finds Ike Hilliard on a picture-perfect fade to the corner of the end zone to make it 28-all.
Later, a Dorsey pass tipped at the line is intercepted by Fred Weary and returned to the Miami 7. Steve Spurrier gets greedy and has Wuerffel attempt three consecutive passes, but all fall incomplete. Bart Edmiston's 24-yard field goal is good, though, for a 31-28 lead with 3:57 left.
A composed Dorsey picks apart Florida's defense and a pass to Andre Johnson gets Miami to the Gators 16. On fourth-and-2 from the Florida 8 and the Gators blitzing, Dorsey keeps the ball out of the shotgun and scrambles into the end zone for a 35-31 victory.
The 350 Miami fans in attendance wildly celebrate. Spurrier blames Bobby Bowden, the officials, the vast right wing conspiracy and Lee Harvey Oswald for the loss.
