Michael Dellinger

Married to my wonderful wife, @Mom2TwinsBB. Father of 2.
Love movies, music, & sports. #Canes #Orioles #Wizards

[IT'S A 'U' THING @ItsAUThingBlog]

Pretty wild how 25 years later the 2001 Miami Hurricanes GOAT argument still rolls on—these guys with their top five teams who might've been able to beat 'The U'.

2019 LSU predictably tops the list; laughable that the Tigers were all offense and no defense that year—so Miami is putting up points, while that defense comes to play.

Again, a secondary with three first rounders in Ed Reed, Mike Rumph and Philip Buchanon—while James Lewis balled and went third ... first rounders like Jon Vilma and DJ Williams at linebacker ... recency bias kicks in with the explosiveness of that LSU team, but the adage "defense wins championships" exists for a reason and that 2001 Canes defense wasn't playing.

1995 Nebraska always enters the chat, but again when has a stout Miami defense ever had issues with an option quarterback or that Huskers' one dimensional ground-based offense? Never.

Great team, but a pedestrian regular season schedule and then took on Florida and Spurriers' "Fun N Gun" in the Fiesta Bowl, with a barely above average defense ... Frazier gets a spy and Miami's secondary ball-hawks his ass anytime he goes to the air.

2005 Texas with Vince Young on this list over 2004 Southern Cal didn't make sense—and being that Miami stuffed Michael Vick in a locker in 2000, again, full faith in that 2001 defense going up against Young.

2017 Alabama and 2018 Clemson made the list; those were both loaded rosters—and the minute peak-era Nick Saban was on the other sideline, it's a conversation ... but again everyone making this argument against the 2001 Canes always leaves out the x-factor and it takes true Miami fans of that era to remind them of what was.

Outside of UM being on a mission in 2001 after feeling snubbed of a title shot in 2000—losing a close early game and then going on to beat No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Virginia Tech in the regular, as well as No. 7 Florida in the Sugar Bowl—Miami knew they were the best team in the country by year's end, but didn't get to prove it.

Butch Davis convinced Ed Reed and Bryant McKinnie to return for their senior seasons, as the key pieces for a title run ... before Miami's top brass dropped the ball on the sixth-year coach's contract and he left for the NFL.

Had Davis stayed on in 2001, the entire season would've been a revenge tour and college football would've been put on notice—a disciple of Jimmy Johnson, Davis would've been out to prove a point.

Lest not forget, this man took over in 1995 and was blindsided by sanctions he didn't know were coming—the Sports Illustrated article that June with a "why Miami should drop football" cover story ... followed by sanctions, probation and the loss of 31 scholarships over a three-year run—Davis was the fall guy in fans' eyes.

The "From Champs To Chumps - Thanks Butch!" banner that flew over in 1997 during a loss to West Virginia—in a season that ended 5-6 and had a 47-0 loss to Florida State mixed in—it was a five-year slog for Davis, before turning a corner in 2000.

Country Club Larry stepped in as to not mess with the formula; but Coker was a nice guy who hadn't had a head coaching job since 1978 at Claremore High in Oklahoma—the man was tossed the keys to a Ferrari when all he'd ever drive was a Ford Tempo.

Miami opened the 2001 season at Penn State and was up 30-0 at the half, before Coker took the foot off the gas for a 33-7 win, as to not upstage Joe Paterno.

38-7 win over Troy ... 38-0 over Temple ... Coker didn't care about style points or running it up; he wanted to get in and out without any fanfare.

Miami rolled into Tallahassee mid-October and was in a 21-13 game at the half—where they should've been rolling Florida State; the iconic intermission speed where Reed went off about being hurt and not "dominating" before players took over and outscored the Noles, 28-14 down the stretch.

That too close for comfort win at Boston College— a wind-tunnel at Alumni Stadium where Ken Dorsey threw four interceptions and four red zone trips ended in field goals, before Reed put the game away—the next few weeks were the only time the foot went on the gas and players seemed to take over ... and there were now questions surrounding this team's greatness and a wake-up call in place after getting so close to pissing things away.

No. 1 Miami 59, No. 15 Syracuse 0 a week later ... and when No. 11 Washington came south for a revenge game from 2000 ... the top-ranked Canes kicked the ever-loving shit out of them, 65-7.

Coker danced with the devil once again; almost blowing a 26-10 early fourth quarter lead and not putting the game away—it coming down to a deflected two-point conversion to escape 26-24—before a Rose Bowl that looked and felt a lot like Happy Valley in the opener; up 34-0 at the half before cruising to a 37-14 win, as Nice Guy Larry from Oklahoma didn't want to embarrass a proud Nebraska program.

Long story longer, 2001 Miami's legacy is only ever questioned because Lay-Down Larry took over a team he didn't build, so didn't have the same fire, vengeance or point to prove that Davis would've as the face of this program for half a decade of that probation era.

Davis was part of the Johnson era at Miami—as well as two Super Bowl runs in Dallas—and with the Canes finally back going into the 2001 season; it would've been kick-ass-and-take-names time.

Going back into Doak Campbell where Miami hadn't won in a decade? Four years after the embarrassment of 47-0 and out to break the Noles' 54-home game unbeaten streak?

That game would've been circled on the calendar all summer and sure as shit wouldn't have been 21-13 at the half—it would've been a massacre in Trailerhassee and a point to prove.

Same with the opener at Penn State; that 1998 late-game home loss and 80-yard bomb—after that bad fourth-down spot where the Canes looked to have put the upset away—and it's a 27-23 loss to the second-ranked Nittany Lions.

Anyone thinks Butch gives two shits about JoePa's feelings and not showing him up in Slappy Valley?

30-0 at the half doesn't end 33-7; it's 54-0.

Same for that Rose Bowl against Nebraska; it would've been a fucking clinic and a 58-7 type game like he saw Jimmy drop on Notre Dame in 1985—to hell with the blue bloods or traditional powers.

2001 Miami remains the greatest team in history; the only shame is that it got there with a substitute teacher as head coach, opposed to the mad scientist who rebuilt a squad that put 38 kids in the NFL and produced 17 first rounders.

After six years of eating shit, that 2001 squad—snubbed the year prior—was kicking the ass off of anyone who lined up against them on January 2nd, 2002.

Period, full fucking stop.

#MiamiHurricanes
#HurricanesFootball
#TheU
#CollegeFootball
#GreatestTeamEver

https://t.co/B4oYeMgzdq

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

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[XBOX Game Pass @XBOXGamePass]

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[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@pickett_oroy @CanesHoops My buddy is a Pitt fan, I told him there's no way you guys are a bubble team. Should be solidly in the tournament, in my eyes.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@CrookedIntriago If you say Beastie Boys, as in the group, they're #1. If you break them out individually, they can be scattered throughout the list. Glancing through the list, though, it's wild.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@richcoastrican I love Pac, but Hell on Earth has a great one. Almost all of these have top notch disses though.

[proCanes.com @proCanes]

Thank you @Coach_MannyDiaz. You’ll never get the credit you deserve, but your tireless work ethic to try and turn this program around did not go unnoticed. You and your staff have not left the cupboard empty for the next coach.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@CrookedIntriago Damn near every single one. For me it's Late Nite, Who Do U Believe In?, & My Block. My favorites are If I Die 2nite, Krazy, & Me Against The World and they probably don't get talked about enough either.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@PKaotic @RAtheRuggedMan "E-I-H-T, now should I continue
Yeah you left out the G 'cause the G ain't in you"... love this song! 🔥

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@TriciaTigers10 @HelpSupercard I'm completely missing Wild Wednesday too and my daily challenge never reset either.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

I don't know anything this year, so I went with the favorite.
I picked Gonzaga to win the National Championship. Who will you pick? #bracket https://t.co/ux9h4HCPxU

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@MegNBrews @tiredhandsbeer @MonksCafePhilly @CandPBrewingCo I bet. I think PA was more strict than Maryland on the lock down & I don't know if they've lifted much of rules.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@CrookedIntriago Glasshouse 😔

[EA SPORTS @EASPORTS]

For those who never stopped believing...

#EASPORTSCollegeFootball

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@MegNBrews Are you looking for... "The Reason"?

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@BGfromPA @HelmetAddict That 2nd picture, when he's jumping over the pile, is the one I got autographed when I met him at a signing.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@BGfromPA @HelmetAddict He's the GOAT... and I'm my opinion, it's not even close.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@CrookedIntriago Follow the Slaughterhouse guys, 3 of you put out music, the other puts out Podcasts. That's 4 of the best in the game.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@RealziesCuts @RAtheRuggedMan Back when the game was actually on the disc or cartridge and didn't require an hour download before you could play the game you just bought.

[Michael Dellinger @MDCanesFan]

@CrookedIntriago one word, damn.... probably, Influential.