15 FIU dumps

Isiah

     Athletic director Pete Garcia also lost patience with NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas after three abysmal seasons (26-65). Rick Pitino’s son, Richard, replaced him.

16 Reality TV hits South Florida

    The Dolphins and Marlins both agreed to be the focus of cable television reality series. HBO’s Hard Knocks proved far more compelling viewing than MLB’s The Franchise on Showtime.

17 UM lands top-10 recruiting class, led by electrifying running back Duke Johnson

Al Golden’s 33-player class made an immediate impact, with Johnson setting a UM freshman rushing record. Johnson and safety Deon Bush were named second-team freshman All-Americans.

18 Chad Johnson’s two-month Dolphins odyssey

After signing in June, the Miami Beach alum predicted a “monster year.” Instead, he was underwhelming in training camp, was arrested for allegedly head-butting his wife of six weeks, then was dumped by both his bride and the Dolphins.

19 UM baseball team’s shocking exit

A Hurricanes baseball season had never before ended in such embarrassing fashion: a 10-2 loss to Stony Brook and a 12-2 drubbing by Missouri State, at home, no less. UM failed to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time since 1993.

20 UM basketball team makes NIT

In his first season as Frank Haith’s successor, Jim Larranaga guided the Hurricanes to a 20-13 record and a berth in the NIT, where Miami was annihilated by visiting Minnesota 78-60 in a second-round game.