NO. 1

UM 27, NOTRE DAME 10 | NOV. 25, 1989 - WIN 31

There could be no greater joy in the Orange Bowl during UM's NCAA-record home winning streak than when the Hurricanes defeated top-ranked Notre Dame in the final regular-season game of 1989. So despised were the 11-0 Fighting Irish that this game might as well have been for the national title -- and in a way it was.

After losing 31-30 to the Irish the year before in South Bend, Ind., costing UM a second consecutive national title, the seventh-ranked Canes ended Notre Dame's two-year, 23-game win streak with the 27-10 triumph. The victory propelled UM (10-1) to the Sugar Bowl against Alabama, resulting in UM's third national championship.

The crowd of 81,634 was the largest ever to see an OB event.

UM's defense, led by linebacker Bernard Clark, prevented Heisman Trophy favorite Tony Rice from winning the prize.

Quarterback Craig Erickson threw two touchdowns to Dale Dawkins, fullback Stephen McGuire scored, Randall Hill caught a key pass, and Carlos Huerta kicked two field goals for the Canes.

''I've never been around a win like this,'' UM coach Dennis Erickson said. ``It's the greatest I've ever been associated with.''

NO. 2

UM 20, OKLAHOMA 14 | JAN. 1, 1988 - WIN 18

Miami met Oklahoma for the third time in three seasons on New Year's Night, and for the third time the Hurricanes gave the Sooners their only loss. Oklahoma came into a jamming Orange Bowl with the No. 1 offense in the country, averaging 43.5 points and 499 yards.

But a UM defense that included linebacker Randy Shannon, now the head coach, held the Sooners to 14 points and 255 yards. UM receiver Michael Irvin, who caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Steve Walsh, danced for the crowd after the game.

Even Melvin Bratton, UM's extraordinary fullback who had nine catches for 102 yards before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee late in the game, can look back and smile.

``I blew out my knee but we won the national championship, `` Bratton said recently. ``... I remember saying, `If I have to give up a part of my body to win this game tonight, I'm willing to do so.'''

UM coach Jimmy Johnson said he cherishes that game. ''We came off a frustrating year [in 1986], so that was big,'' Johnson said. ``We had such a great run at the Orange Bowl. We just didn't lose there, so winning the national championship there was special.''

NO. 3

UM 31, FSU 0 | SEPT. 3 1988 - WIN 19

Two nights before the opening game of the 1988 season, Miami coach Jimmy Johnson played the tape of a rap song Florida State's Deion Sanders and his teammates had recorded. The Hurricanes listened. The Hurricanes got mad.

The No. 6 Hurricanes ripped No. 1 FSU, 31-0.

''The rap song and all their crap about revenge and unfinished business!'' senior cornerback Donald Ellis told The Miami Herald. ``Hey, we were on our own turf... That rap song was the last straw. ...Jimmy Johnson's boys make a rap song and Jimmy Johnson can't control his team. Bobby Bowden's boys do it and everyone says, `Gee, that's nice.'''

The Orange Bowl was rocking -- fights in the stands and all.

Miami scored on Cleveland Gary's two-yard run, Rob Chudzinski's 19-yard pass from Steve Walsh, Leonard Conley's five-yard pass from Walsh, Pee Wee Smith's 17-yard pass from Craig Erickson and Carlos Huerta's 39-yard field goal and four extra points.

''Our third-stringers could have put up a better game,'' said defensive end Willis Peguese. ``No challenge.''

NO. 4

UM 28, OKLAHOMA 16 | SEPT. 27, 1986 - WIN 6

The hype made it a national affair: Sports Illustrated brought four photographers to the Orange Bowl. Even Time magazine came.

No. 2 Miami against No. 1 Oklahoma for a 3:42 p.m. kickoff in front of a national television audience and crowd of 71,451.

UM had soon-to-be Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde. Oklahoma had outrageous and talented linebacker Brian Bosworth, with his multicolored hair and foul mouth.

Testaverde threw four touchdown passes and scrambled a memorable 10 yards that left defenders diving at his feet -- and missing.

''Testaverde,'' Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said, ``is the best quarterback we've faced in our 21 years at Oklahoma.''

After it ended with the Canes at OU's 1-yard line, declining a final TD, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who had two touchdown catches, shouted, ``Let's play four more quarters!''

UM coach Jimmy Johnson explained that ''the turning point'' on this day came ``before the game. We had the better team.''

The Hurricanes finished the regular season 11-0 and ranked No. 1, then lost the national title to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.

NO. 5

UM 19, FSU 16 | OCT. 5, 1992 - WIN 48

The nightmare of field goals gone wrong -- and right -- began to take shape in the Orange Bowl, as FSU's Dan Mowrey missed wide right from 39 yards on the game's final play to give Miami a 19-16 victory.

Miami was ranked No. 2. Florida State, No. 3.

The game has been known ever since as Wide Right II.

''As soon as I hit it,'' Mowrey said, ``I knew I'd missed it.''

The year before, Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yarder wide right in Tallahassee with 29 seconds left to give UM a 17-16 victory en route to the national title.

This game, as The Miami Herald story said, ``had all the markings of a classic. [FSU's] Tamarick Vanover returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. Gino Torretta passed 29 yards to tight end Coleman Bell off a fake reverse for a score. Field-goal attempts were blocked; there were monster hits. . .''

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