1979 Miami Hurricanes football team

1979 Miami Hurricanes football
Conference	Independent
1979 record	5–6
Head coach	Howard Schnellenberger (1st year)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Rick Lantz (3rd year)
Home stadium	Miami Orange Bowl (Capacity: 80,045)

1979 Division I-A independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#6 Florida State		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
#7 Pittsburgh		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
UNLV		–		–				9	–	1	–	2
#17 Temple		–		–				10	–	2	–	0
Tulane		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				8	–	3	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				7	–	3	–	1
#20 Penn State		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Navy		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	4	–	1
Syracuse		–		–				7	–	5	–	0
Colgate		–		–				5	–	4	–	1
Boston College		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Holy Cross		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Memphis		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Miami		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
North Texas State		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Villanova		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Georgia Tech		–		–				4	–	6	–	1
Louisville		–		–				4	–	6	–	1
Connecticut		–		–				3	–	6	–	2
William & Mary		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern State		–		–				3	–	6	–	0
Illinois State		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Northeast Louisiana		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Army		–		–				2	–	8	–	1
Air Force		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Cincinnati		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Richmond		–		–				0	–	11	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami for the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team became known as the "Jet Lag Kids", playing seven times away from home and traveling over 28,000 miles, an NCAA record.^[1] It was also the first year under new head coach Howard Schnellenberger and they were responsible for laying the foundation for the school to become a national power in the 1980s and first half of the 1990s.

Schedule

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 15	Louisville		Miami Orange Bowl • Miami		W 24–12	41,129
September 22	at No. 14 Florida State		Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida (Rivalry)		L 23–40	47,679
September 29	Louisiana Tech		Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida		W 6–0	20,069
October 6	at Florida A&M		Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida		L 13–16	34,743
October 13	at San Diego State		San Diego Stadium • San Diego		L 20–31	40,126
October 20	Boston College		Miami Orange Bowl • Miami		W 19–8	15,013
October 27	at Syracuse		Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York		L 15–25	7,729
November 3	at No. 19 Penn State		Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania		W 26–10	77,532
November 17	at No. 1 Alabama		Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama		L 0–30	54,500
November 24	vs. Notre Dame		Korakuen Stadium • Tokyo, Japan (Mirage Bowl)		L 15–40	62,674
December 1	Florida		Miami Orange Bowl • Miami, Florida (War Canoe Trophy)		W 30–24	28,051
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll.

^[2]

Starters

QB Mike Rodrique/Jim Kelly

RB Smokey Roan/Mark Rush

FB Chris Hobbs/Gary Breckner

WR Larry Brodsky/Malcolm Simmons

WR Jim Joiner/Pat Walker

T Steve Grady/Frank Frazier

G Art Kehoe

C John Fenton/Don Bailey

G Jim Pokomey/Clem Barbarino

T John Canei

DL Barry Gonzalez/Johnny Daniels

DL Lester Williams

DL Jim Burt

DL Bob Nelson/Tony Chickillo

DL Tim Flanagan

LB Jay Brophy/Scott Nicolas

LB Mozell Axson/Charles Cook

DB John Swain

DB Gene Coleman

DB David Jefferson

DB Fred Marion

K Dan Miller

^[3]

Game summaries

Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (FL)	0	0	0	0	0
Alabama	10	0	7	13	30

at Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Date: November 17, 1979
• Game attendance: 54,500
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels and Frank Broyles
• Recap

Game information

Scoring ALA: James Haney TD run Passing MIA: Mike Rodrique 4/13, 37 yards, 2 INT, Jim Kelly 2/15, 10 yards, 3 INT ALA: Steadman Shealy 9/15, 187 yards Rushing MIA: Chris Hobbs 9–44, Gary Breckner 3–22, Mike Rodrique 3–21 ALA: Steve Whitman 11–70, Steadman Shealy 14–28, Mitch Ferguson 4–27, Major Ogilvie 9–26, TD Receiving MIA: Larry Brodsky 1–15, Jim Joiner 2–10, Andy Baratta 1–9, Chris Hobbs 1–9 ALA: Keith Pugh 7–126, Tim Travis 1–56

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Miami (FL) Alabama 1 Alabama Tim Travis 56-yard touchdown reception from Steadman Shealy, Alan McElroy kick good 0 7 1 Alabama 24-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 10 3 Alabama Major Ogilvie 1-yard touchdown run, Alan McElroy kick good 0 17 4 Alabama 25-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 20 4 Alabama 40-yard field goal by Alan McElroy 0 23 4 Alabama James Haney 5-yard touchdown run, Alan McElroy kick good 0 30 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 30

Statistics

Passing

Player	Comp	Att	Yards	TD	INT
Rodrique	94	201	1,197	2
Kelly	48	104	721	5

Rushing

Player	Att	Yds	TD
Hobbs	105	406
Roan	97	307
Breckner	47	179

Receiving

Player	Rec	Yards	TD
Brodsky	30	495
Walker	24	625
Joiner	24	293

^[3]

References

1. Miami Football History - Miami (FL) Official Athletic Site
2. College Football @ Sports-Reference.com
3. Broyles, Bob and Paul Guido. 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport.