The 2017 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Hurricanes' 92nd season of football and 14th as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes were led by second-year head coach Mark Richt and played their home games at Hard Rock Stadium. They finished the season 10–3 overall and 7–1 in the ACC to finish in first in the Coastal Division. They advanced to the ACC Championship Game where they lost to Clemson, 38–3. They were invited to the Orange Bowl where they lost to Wisconsin, 34–24.
Turnover Chain Before the season Diaz suggested rewarding defensive players who recover fumbles or interceptions. Jeweler AJ "King of Bling" Machado created the Turnover Chain—a 36-inch, 5-5 pound, 10-karat gold Cuban link necklace with a large "U" charm covered with orange and green sapphires—in August 2017. Its gaudiness amazed the team and coaching staff, with one saying that "it's supposed to be larger than life".
ESPN described the chain as "quintessential Miami: flashy, swaggy, in your face, loud and flamboyant". Malek Young became the first to wear the chain, after intercepting a Bethune-Cookman pass in the end zone. Counterfeit shirts depicting the chain became available for sale within a week. Richt said, "It's good, clean fun. If we were 4-5 and had six turnovers, I think people would probably make fun of it. But when you win, things become cool sometimes".
Personnel
Coaching staff Name Position Seasons Alma mater Mark Richt Head coach 2nd Miami (1982) Manny Diaz Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2nd Florida State (1995) Thomas Brown Offensive coordinator/running backs 2nd Georgia (2008) Craig Kuligowski Defensive line 2nd Toledo (1991) Jon Richt Quarterbacks 2nd Mars Hill (2012) Ron Dugans Wide receivers 2nd Florida State (2002) Stacy Searels Offensive line 2nd Auburn (1990) Todd Hartley Special teams coordinator/tight ends 2nd Georgia (2008) Mike Rumph Cornerbacks 2nd Miami (2002) Ephraim Banda Safeties 2nd Incarnate Word (2004)
Support staff Name Position Seasons Alma mater Gus Felder Strength & conditioning 2nd Penn State (2002) Alex Devine Graduate assistant 2nd Mississippi State (2015) Matthew Gazzillo Graduate assistant 1st Florida State (2014)
Roster
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits
The Hurricanes signed a total of 24 recruits.
Schedule
The scheduled game between Arkansas State and Miami originally set for September 9 was canceled in the wake of Hurricane Irma due to travel concerns and was not rescheduled. The game between Florida State and Miami, originally scheduled to be played on September 16, was moved to October 7 due to the effects of Hurricane Irma. The game between Georgia Tech and Miami, originally scheduled to be played on October 12, was moved to October 14.
Game summaries
Bethune–Cookman
Toledo
At Duke
At Florida State
Georgia Tech
Syracuse
At North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Notre Dame
Virginia
At Pittsburgh
Clemson - ACC Championship
Wisconsin - 2017 Orange Bowl
Rankings
2018 NFL draft
Player Position Round Pick Team Chad Thomas Defensive end 3 67 Cleveland Browns Chris Herndon Tight end 4 107 New York Jets Mark Walton Running back 4 112 Cincinnati Bengals R. J. McIntosh Defensive tackle 5 139 New York Giants Braxton Berrios Wide receiver 6 210 New England Patriots Kendrick Norton Defensive tackle 7 242 Carolina Panthers
References