Today in College Football History: Michigan Weathers Miami’s Storm
By Kyle Kensing
The road for a Western Athletic Conference member to reach a national championship would obviously be paved with numerous bumps and potholes. Such was the 1984 season. Brigham Young emerged as that campaign’s top team, but to get a shot at the sport’s most coveted prize, the Cougars were the beneficiary of countless shakeups. No. 1 in the Associated Press and Coaches Polls changed on a near-weekly basis. Week 2 brought the second such change, and marked the first loss of Jimmy Johnson’s tenure at Miami.
The top ranked Hurricanes came into Michigan’s Big House the reigning national champions, but without architect of said title run, Howard Schnellenberger. Schnellenberger left The U for the new USFL, and Miami was in the hands of Johnson, hired over from Oklahoma State.
Johnson’s tenure certainly began well. His Hurricanes toppled then-No. 1 Auburn 20-18 in the season kickoff, and followed it up with a 12-point defeat of Florida. The U had two high profile wins to its credit heading into the Sept. 8 match-up with Michigan. The Wolverines had yet to play, opening the year with the No. 1 Hurricanes.
The Michigan defense certainly looked well-tuned, making the Miami offense appear more as the team without an game experience yet to its credit. The Wolverines stifled quarterback Bernie Kosar en route to six interceptions. The 14 points Michigan held Miami to were the second fewest the ‘Canes tallied in any game that season, save against Florida State.
Michigan meanwhile would finish a thoroughly mediocre 6-6, but is one of the few teams to ever open its season against a No. 1, and end in similar fashion. The Wolverines played BYU in what was the Cougars’ de facto championship game.