Like every other gimmicky solution that involves something other than hard work and discipline, intimidation is a great ploy ... until it doesn't work.
I've made clear that Miami is the most overrated 'dynasty' of all-time. For all of the talk of their talent and greatness, they were quite lucky and not that good of a team away from the Orange Bowl.
Their 1983 title is about as big a joke as has ever been in college football. Simply compare their schedule with Auburn's and then explain to me how in the world in a situation WITHOUT a playoff and where Auburn CANNOT play Nebraska due to contractual obligation - tell me how that result was just?
They went into the 1986 Sugar Bowl with a shot at the national title. They got creamed by Tennessee, 35-7. They played five nine-win teams and lost TWICE by double digits yet they were a title contender.
They went into the 1987 Fiesta Bowl as the favorite and ranked #1 against an overmatched and one-dimensional Penn State team. They lost, 14-10. They played a wuss schedule, too - ONE challenging game against OU. Did I mention they had an off week prior to the OU game at home? OU was coming off consecutive games against UCLA and Minnesota while Miami played two jokes (Florida wasn't that good) and had an off week.
They were unquestionably the best team in the nation in 1987, and I have no problem with that.
In 1988, they were a good team but they played a tough schedule and it cost them the national title.
In 1989, they played a joke schedule while Notre Dame played the toughest schedule in the nation. They played THREE decent teams all year. Did I mention they lost one of them? After an off week even? But for the only time in history, when one team knocked off number one and had the best record (one loss), Miami was elevated to number one using the argument that they won the head to head match. This did NOT happen in 1978 with USC; in 1993, Notre Dame had beaten FSU as well but they didn't get elevated to number one. They did in 1977 because they beat number one head to head. Their title in 1989 is just as undeserved as the one in 1983.
In 1990, they made a mistake - they scheduled too many decent teams and lost twice (BYU and Notre Dame).
In 1991, they played an average schedule. TWO good teams (Penn St and FSU) and they won the latter on a missed FG that would have been good any year prior to 1991. Then they chickened out of going to the Sugar Bowl to face Florida and played an overrated Nebraska team at home and killed them. Given Miami's results in the Sugar Bowl (they got creamed, 35-7, by Tennessee and 34-13 by us - in between they had the fight of their lives and won, 33-25), they opted to stay home, figuring that pollsters would never drop a number one that won the bowl game.
They were wrong on one count and nearly on both - as Washington took home half the crown and nearly got all of it (which they should have). The 1991 title isn't near as tainted as the others but it's still proof they weren't as good as their press clippings.
They basically won one and half legit titles. That ain't a dynasty, especially when you duck tough foes.
