How UM is honoring Howard Schnellenberger, claiming South Florida with new turnover chain
About 40 years ago, Howard Schnellenberger revolutionized the Miami Hurricanes by building a recruiting fence around the “State of Miami” — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. In 2020, the Hurricanes are memorializing the legendary coach’s approach through flashy fashion.
Miami finally got to unveil its new turnover chain Saturday in its 47-34 win against the Louisville Cardinals when Al Blades Jr. intercepted Malik Cunningham late in the second quarter and the latest version played upon the phrase Schnellenberger coined. The design: an outline of the state of Florida with a “U” superimposed over it. The important detail: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, highlighted with green and orange gems.
“The ice is nice,” Blades said. “The whole theme of the chain is to really emphasize us taking over South Florida.
The chain, which took about three months to make, features more than 2,500 sapphires. Most of the state is made up of 1,900 white sapphires, but South Florida got special treatment. The three counties — the so-called “State of Miami” — is made up of 700 green sapphires and 700 orange. It all hangs from a massive, gold Cuban link chain.
On the final play of the half, safety Amari Carter got to wear the chain, too, after he recovered a fumble. Linebacker Zach McCloud added a third takeaway in the fourth quarter on a fumble recovery. All three are from the Miami metropolitan area — Blades played at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Carter graduated from Palm Beach Gardens and McCloud is from Lantana Santaluces.
“It is kind of a State of Miami-type deal,” coach Manny Diaz said. “It’s kind of a cool look and kind of pays homage to Coach Schnellenberger when he got this whole thing going by declaring the ‘State of Miami.’”
The turnover chain was an invention pioneered by Diaz in 2017. Diaz, a Miami native, was the Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator at the time and decided to award his defensive players a gaudy chain whenever they forced a turnover.
Last week, the night before UM’s first win against Alabama-Birmingham, Diaz secretly unveiled the chain to the Hurricanes, who chose not to reveal its new identity during interviews with local media.
“The fans will like it regardless,’’ McCloud said. “It’s the Turnover Chain.’’
Defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips said the defense’s goal “is always to that turnover chain every game. It was kind of disappointing that we didn’t get it last week. ...We’re hoping to break it out this week.’’
Miami debuted the turnover chain in its season-opener against the FCS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in 2017 and it has been a fixture on the Hurricanes’ sideline in every season since.
The first variation was a diamond-encrusted, green-and-orange “U” hanging from a gold Cuban link chain. In 2018, the Hurricanes started a tradition of introducing a new version of the chain every year, swapping in a diamond-encrusted Sebastian the Ibis hanging from the gold chain. Last year, Miami’s turnover chain had a diamond-encrusted “305” hanging from the chain, with a small “U” logo above the common Miami area code. It weighed 500 grams and drew a raucous reception when the Hurricanes unveiled it in their opener against the Florida Gators last year in Orlando.
According to Miami, since the unveiling of the chain, Miami has led all Power 5 teams with an average of 1.95 turnovers forced per game from 2017-19. The Canes tied with Wisconsin for No. 1 among Power-5 programs with 76 turnovers over the three-year period, including 20 last season worn.
In 2019, four players wore the turnover chain multiple times. The four: cornerback Al Blades Jr., safety Gurvan Hall, linebacker Shaq Quarterman and cornerback DJ Ivey. Ivey is the lone Cane to wear the chain three times last season.
This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 9:29 PM.
