40th Anniversary Miami Hurricanes First Title

     Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of the first national football championship for the University of Miami Hurricanes. Miami took on the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 50th Orange Bowl on January 2, 1984. The Cornhuskers were ranked first in the national polls while the Hurricanes were ranked fourth by United Press International and fifth by the Associated Press going into the Orange Bowl. 

     The Canes were ahead in the contest late in the fourth quarter. Nebraska scored a touchdown with 48 seconds remaining and were down 31-30. Cornhuskers head coach Tom Osbourne decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion. A swing pass to the right side of the end zone was broken up by a Miami defender and the Hurricanes won the game. 

     This contest put the University of Miami on the college football map as they were voted the 1983 national title one day later. The Hurricanes have won five NCAA Division 1 national championships in school history.