2006 Miami Hurricanes football team The 2006 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2006 college football season . The team ' s head coach was Larry Coker . Preseason . Miami began the season ranked # 11 in the " USA Today " Coaches Poll and # 12 in the Associated Press Poll after going 9 – 3 ( 6 – 2 ACC ) in 2005 with a # 18 ranking in the " USA Today " Coaches Poll ( # 17 AP ) . Junior quarterback Kyle Wright finished second to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Calvin Johnson in voting for the ACC Preseason Player of the Year . Earlier during the summer , head coach Larry Coker announced that running back Tyrone Moss , receiver Ryan Moore , linebacker James Bryant , and receiver Rashaun Jones would be suspended for the first game of the season against Florida State for violating team policy . On August 26 , Coker announced that Moore ' s suspension would be extended indefinitely . Moore would eventually return for the final two regular season games . After back - to - back 9 – 3 seasons at Miami , where expectations are to compete for a national championship every year , it was widely believed that Coker was on the proverbial hot seat and needed to take the Hurricanes to a BCS bowl to keep his job . In the wake of last year ' s Peach Bowl loss , Coker fired four assistant coaches . During the offseason , Coker hired Rich Olson as his new offensive coordinator in an attempt to reinvigorate the Hurricane offense . Olson had previously served as Miami ' s offensive coordinator during the early 1990s under then - head coach Dennis Erickson . ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit picked Miami to win the 2006 national championship , predicting the Hurricanes would defeat Notre Dame in the national championship game . " See also 2006 NCAA Division I - A football rankings " Award Candidates . The following Hurricanes were named to preseason awards watch lists : Game Recaps . Florida State . Pregame Line : Miami - 3 . 5 This was the third time in the last three years that archrivals Miami and Florida State opened the season against each other . The previous two games were also low - scoring defensive struggles , with the Hurricanes winning , 16 – 10 , in overtime in 2004 , and the Seminoles prevailing , 10 – 7 , in 2005 . The game was the most - viewed college football game , regular season or bowl , in the history of ESPN , averaging 6 , 330 , 000 million households in viewership ( 6 . 9 rating ) . It was also the second - highest rated game in ESPN history , behind only the 1994 game between Miami and FSU , which notched a 7 . 7 rating Florida A & M . Pregame Line : Off This was the seventh meeting between Miami and Florida A & M . Miami continues to lead the all - time series , 6 – 1 . The two teams had last met in 2002 , with Miami winning , 63 – 17 . Louisville . Pregame Line : Louisville - 3 . 5 This was the eleventh meeting between the schools . Prior to this game , Miami had never lost to Louisville , owning an all - time record of 9 – 0 – 1 . Miami won the previous meeting in 2004 , 41 – 38 , in a game in which the Hurricanes had to rally late from a 17 – point deficit . After this humiliating loss in the rain to Louisville , Miami became unranked for the first time in 107 weeks – the then - longest current streak in college football . The game was highlighted by a pre - game confrontation between the teams that was sparked when several Miami players provocatively stomped on the Louisville Cardinal bird logo located at mid - field of Papa John ' s Cardinal Stadium . Four other teams ( East Carolina , South Florida , Cincinnati , and Rutgers ) had stomped on the logo in the past , and each wound up losing the game . Houston . Pregame Line : Miami - 17 In the eighteenth meeting between the schools , Miami extended the all - time series lead to 11 – 7 . Miami won 14 – 13 , after a 27 yard gain on 3rd and 24 which led to a touchdown pass by Kyle Wright to James Bryant and gave Miami the win . Freshman RB Javarris James set a school rushing record for freshman by posting 148 rushing yards , breaking the previous record of 147 rushing yards set by Clinton Portis . Prior to the game , a number of airplane s hired by Miami fans unhappy with the team ' s poor start circled over the Orange Bowl while carrying banners demanding the firing of the embattled Coker , as well as Athletic Director Paul Dee . North Carolina . Pregame Line : Miami - 20 . 5 Freshman Javarris James further solidified his hold on the starting running back position by rushing for over 100 yards for the second consecutive week . James carried 16 times for 111 yards ( 6 . 9 ypc ) , including a dazzling 62 - yard touchdown run in the third quarter which put the game out of reach . Tight end Greg Olsen had his best game of the season , catching 8 passes for 95 yards , while the Miami defense limited North Carolina to just 244 yards of total offense and forced 3 Tar Heel turnovers . The win gave Miami its first winning streak of the 2006 campaign as the Hurricanes improved to 3 – 2 overall . It was also Miami ' s first ACC win of the year , evening its conference record at 1 – 1 . Florida International . Pregame Line : Off This was the first meeting between the Hurricanes and the crosstown Golden Panthers , who began active competition as a football program in 2002 . Kyle Wright threw for three touchdowns , and the Miami defense held the Golden Panthers to 148 total yards . However , this game would become one of the biggest embarrassments in the history of both schools . After trash - talk between players from both teams during the opening minutes , and an incident in which FIU wide receiver Chandler Williams dove helmet - first into a prone Kenny Phillips after Miami intercepted a pass , the game turned truly ugly in the third quarter . After James Bryant caught Wright ' s second TD pass , he pointed to the FIU bench and bowed to the crowd , drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his act . At the end of the ensuing conversion , FIU ' s Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perelli to the ground and punched him . Another Golden Panther , Marshall McDuffie Jr . , kicked Perelli on the ground . Players from each side joined the pile , and both benches quickly emptied , with fights breaking out in several parts of the field . Several players from both teams threw punches , Miami cornerback Brandon Meriweather was seen trying to stomp on FIU players , and another Golden Panther , Amod Ned , was seen swinging a crutch at Miami players . During the melee , Canes safety Anthony Reddick ran across the field and swung his helmet at FIU cornerback Robert Mitchell , hitting him . Five Canes were ejected — Carlos Armour , Chris Barney , Bruce Johnson , Charlie Jones , and Derrick Morse . Eight Golden Panthers were ejected as well . Coach Larry Coker also indefinitely suspended Meriweather and Reddick for their parts in the fracas , plus Bryant for his taunting gesture that arguably triggered the melee . In the aftermath , Coker called the brawl " disgraceful , " adding the following day , " I don ' t have many bad days . This is a bad day . And last night was a bad night . " For his part , FIU head coach Don Strock said " I can promise you that this will never happen again . " Other officials from both universities also publicly apologized . The day after the game , the ACC suspended a total of 13 Miami players , and the Sun Belt Conference suspended 18 FIU players . Duke . Pregame Line : Miami - 20 Playing without 13 players who were suspended for their actions in the previous week ' s brawl with FIU , and missing starting tight end Greg Olsen and starting linebacker Jon Beason due to injury , the shorthanded ' Canes raced out to a 20 – 2 third quarter lead behind strong play from QB Kyle Wright . Underdog Duke would not give up , though , rallying to score two unanswered fourth - quarter touchdowns to trim Miami ' s lead to 20 – 15 ( Duke failed to convert a two - point conversion attempt on the second touchdown ) . Meanwhile , the Duke defense put the clamps on Miami ' s running game , holding the Hurricanes to a paltry 37 yards rushing on 25 carries ( 1 . 5 ypc ) for the game . Duke , however , could not capitalize on two opportunities to take the lead . After driving down to the Miami 29 - yard line with less than 3 : 30 remaining in the game , Duke was stopped on a fourth down attempt and turned the ball over to Miami . Duke ' s defense would bend , as Miami drove down to the Duke 34 , but Duke was able to stop Miami on third down . Faced with a 4th - and - 2 from Duke ' s 34 - yard line with inside 2 : 15 remaining , Miami head coach Larry Coker elected to punt and rely on his vaunted defense rather than go for it on fourth down or attempt a long field goal . Duke took over from its own 11 - yard line and strung together an impressive drive that brought the Blue Devils down to the Hurricanes ' 6 - yard line with : 03 remaining in the game . On third down and with time expiring , Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis ' threw a pass intended for wide receiver Eron Riley in the left side of the endzone . However , Miami safety Willie Cooper was lying in wait and was able to jump the route and intercept Lewis ' pass at the goal line . Cooper returned the ball all the way to the Duke 15 - yard line before voluntarily falling to the ground to end the game and deny Duke what would have been a momentous upset . Wright completed 23 of 41 passes for 291 yards , 2 touchdowns , and 1 interception . Duke wide receiver Jomar Wright was impressive in defeat , catching 10 passes for 170 yards against Miami ' s makeshift secondary . Miami sophomore safety Kenny Phillips intercepted three passes , tying a school record . Phillips was named the ACC ' s Defensive Back of the Week for his stellar play . Miami improved to 5 – 2 on the year with a 2 – 1 ACC record , setting up a showdown the next week with Georgia Tech for control of the ACC ' s Coastal Division . Georgia Tech . Pregame line : Georgia Tech −5 . 5 Georgia Tech ( 5 – 2 , 3 – 1 ACC ) entered the game in first place in the ACC ' s Coastal Division , leading second - place Miami ( 5 – 2 , 2 – 1 ACC ) by 1 / 2 game in the standings . The winner of this showdown would gain control its own destiny and be able to assure itself of a berth in the ACC Championship by winning the remainder of its games . Miami got on the board first when Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball fumbled the ball at the Georgia Tech 18 - yard line during the Yellow Jackets ' opening drive . Miami linebacker Glenn Cook returned the fumble for a Miami touchdown . After Miami forced a punt on the Jackets next possession , Javarris James broke a 49 - yard run that set up a 38 - yard field goal from Jon Peattie , putting Miami ahead , 10 – 0 . Georgia Tech answered with a 12 - play , 53 - yard drive on its ensuing possession , highlighted by a 43 - yard pass from Ball to receiver Calvin Johnson that set up a 39 - yard field goal from Travis Bell , cutting the Miami lead to 10 – 3 at the end of the first quarter . Miami added another field goal early in the second quarter to push its lead to 13 – 3 . After a 22 - yard punt by Miami ' s Brian Monroe gave Georgia Tech the ball at the Miami 46 - yard line , Tech scored a touchdown on its first play when Ball connected with James Johnson for a 46 - yard touchdown strike , bringing the Jackets within 3 . Georgia Tech later intercepted a Kyle Wright pass in Miami territory , which enabled the Jackets to add a game - tying field goal before the half . On its first possession of the second half , Miami moved the ball 69 yards before the drive was ended when receiver Lance Leggett fumbled at the Georgia Tech 10 - yard line . Miami forced Georgia Tech to go three - and - out before embarking on a long 14 - play , 54 - yard drive that ate up 6 : 59 and ended with another Peattie field goal , putting the Hurricanes back in front , 16 – 13 . Georgia Tech would respond with 17 unanswered fourth - quarter points . The first three came by way of a 39 - yard field goal from Bell . That drive was not without controversy , however , as replays appeared to show Miami safety Brandon Meriweather intercept a pass from Ball on a 2nd - and - 11 from the Miami 31 . The play was ruled an incomplete pass by the referees on the field . The officials in the replay booth declined to initiate an instant replay review of the play , nor did Miami coach Larry Coker , who still had one timeout remaining , initiate a coach ' s challenge . Instead of Miami taking over with its lead intact , Georgia Tech retained possession , and , after picking up nine yards on third down , successfully kicked a game - tying field goal from the Miami 22 . The Jackets forced Miami to punt , and , on its next possession , Georgia Tech went 74 yards in 9 plays , scoring on a 1 - yard touchdown pass from Ball to Johnson . On Miami ' s next possession , Wright was sacked by Adamm Oliver and fumbled at the Miami 35 . The ball was recovered by Georgia Tech ' s Kamichael Hall , who returned it eight yards to the Miami 27 . Two plays later , running back Tashard Choice ran for a 25 - yard touchdown , giving Georgia Tech a 30 – 16 lead with 3 : 30 remaining , seemingly sealing the game . Miami , however , made things interesting when Wright hooked up with tight end Greg Olsen for a 41 - yard touchdown pass on the third play of Miami ' s next possession , making the score 30 – 23 with just 2 : 10 remaining in the game . Coker , who only had one timeout left , elected to kick deep on the ensuing kickoff rather than attempt an onside kick . Miami was able to force Georgia Tech to punt and was set to take possession with less than : 30 remaining and no timeouts . However , Miami punt returner Rashaun Jones fumbled the punt and the ball was recovered by Georgia Tech ' s Chris Dunlap , giving Georgia Tech the win . With the loss , Miami fell to 5 – 3 ( 2 – 2 ACC ) on the year , causing the already intense criticism of coach Coker and quarterback Wright to intensify . James was productive in defeat , gaining 112 yards on 19 carries , while Olsen caught 5 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown . Virginia Tech . Pregame Line : Virginia Tech - 2 Virginia Tech avenged a 27 – 7 loss from the previous year by dealing reeling Miami its fourth loss of the 2006 season . Miami ' s defense was stout in defeat , holding the visiting Hokies to just 139 yards of total offense ( 86 passing , 53 rushing ) . Running back Tyrone Moss , filling in after starter Javarris James was forced from the game early in the first half with a hip pointer , had a strong game , rushing 13 times for 103 yards . The highlight of Moss ' evening was a 50 - yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that tied the score at 10 . But it was not enough to overcome Miami ' s sputtering pass offense . Kyle Wright struggled badly , completing just 14 of 29 passes for 84 yards . Wright also threw two critical interceptions late in the game . The first led to what would prove to be Virginia Tech ' s game winning touchdown , while the second came on the first play of Miami ' s ensuing possession , essentially sealing the defeat . The homecoming loss served to only intensify criticism of the struggling Wright , who was booed lustily at times during the game . Coker , the team ' s embattled head coach , was also the subject of boos from the crowd . The loss was Miami ' s fifth consecutive against ranked opponents dating back to the previous season ' s Peach Bowl loss to LSU , and ensured Miami of its first four - loss season since 1999 . Maryland . Playing in its first game since the murder of defensive lineman Bryan Pata ( see Bryan Pata murder below ) , a mourning Miami team dropped its third straight game , 14 – 13 , to the # 24 Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium , falling to 5 – 5 on the season ( 2 – 4 ACC ) . Sophomore quarterback Kirby Freeman , starting in place of the injured Kyle Wright , played well in his first collegiate start , completing 14 of 27 passes for 140 yards , 1 touchdown , and 1 interception . Freeman also rushed for 51 yards on 9 carries . However , a couple of long pass plays surrendered by the Hurricane defense early in the game proved to be the difference . Maryland took a 7 – 0 lead early in the first quarter when quarterback Sam Hollenbach hooked up with receiver Darrius Heyward - Bey on a 65 - yard touchdown pass . Hollenbach would find Heyward - Bey again in the second quarter for a 96 - yard touchdown pass , both the longest pass play in Maryland history and the longest pass ever surrendered by Miami . Miami would fight back , though , and cut the Maryland lead to one point in the fourth quarter . But after forcing Maryland to punt with 1 : 14 to go in the game , Miami returner Bruce Johnson fumbled the punt and Maryland recovered , enabling the Terrapins to run the clock out and walk away with the victory . Miami dominated the game statistically , racking up 320 yards and 18 first downs while holding the ball for 37 : 09 , compared to just 258 yards , 6 first downs , and 22 : 51 of possession for Maryland , but was unable to convert that statistical advantage into a victory . Maryland fans stormed the field in celebration after the final whistle . The loss was Miami ' s sixth straight against a ranked opponent , and was the third straight loss , and fourth loss overall , in which the Canes had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession , but squandered the opportunity with a turnover . Virginia . Pregame Line : Miami - 2 Miami lost its fourth straight game , losing to the Virginia Cavaliers for the first time in four all - time meetings . Miami ' s problems on offense continued , as the Hurricanes were only able to muster one offensive touchdown for the fourth consecutive game , while the Virginia offense picked apart the Miami defense . Jameel Sewell was the star of the Cavalier offense , connecting on 23 of 33 passes for 217 yards and running for a pair of touchdowns . Virginia also became the first team all season to rush for over 100 yards against Miami ' s defense , racking up 134 yards on the ground . Freshman running back Javarris James ran for 95 yards on 21 carries in defeat . Quarterback Kirby Freeman , making his second collegiate start after Kyle Wright underwent season - ending thumb injury earlier in the week , completed 11 of 18 passes for 152 yards , 1 touchdown , and 1 interception . With the Hurricanes dropping to 5 – 6 ( 2 – 5 ACC ) , they would need to win their final game of the season against Boston College in order to become bowl eligible . Boston College . Pregame Line : Boston College - 3 . 5 In a Thanksgiving night primetime nationally televised game , Miami upset # 18 Boston College at the Orange Bowl , 17 – 14 , to win its 15th straight game against BC . The Hurricanes won behind a dominating defense that held the Eagles to under 200 yards of total offense and an offense that made just enough plays to overcome a 14 – 3 first half deficit . With the win , Miami became bowl eligible and denied BC a potential berth in the ACC Championship Game . The win was Miami ' s first of the year over a ranked opponent . The game was played on the 22nd anniversary of the immortal " Hail Flutie " game , which was the last time Boston College defeated Miami . MPC Computers Bowl vs . Nevada . On November 29 , 2006 , Miami accepted an invitation to play against the Nevada Wolf Pack in the MPC Computers Bowl at Bronco Stadium in Boise , Idaho on December 31 . Playing in 20 degree temperatures , quarterback Kirby Freeman completed 11 of 19 passes for 272 yards and led Miami to a 21 – 20 victory in coach Larry Coker ' s final game . Freeman , who also rushed for a touchdown , was named the game ' s Most Valuable Player . The win was clinched when Nevada quarterback Jeff Rowe was intercepted by Chavez Grant at the Miami 33 yard line with : 18 remaining in the game . After the game , Coker was carried off the field by his players . The win improved Miami ' s record to 7 – 6 , making the 2006 campaign Miami ' s ninth straight winning season . Bryan Pata murder . Defensive tackle Bryan Pata was shot and killed on Tuesday , November 7 , 2006 . Pata was murdered at The Colony apartment complex in Kendall by an unknown assailant some time around 7 : 30 pm . The Miami - Dade police thus far have declined to release any further information about the specific circumstances of the shooting until they finish interviewing witnesses , but have ruled the death a homicide . Pata was the fourth Miami football player to die in the past ten years . Linebacker Marlin Barnes and a female companion were bludgeoned to death in Barnes ' on - campus apartment in 1996 by the woman ' s jealous ex - lover . In 2002 , linebacker Chris Campbell was killed in a car accident . A car accident in 2003 also claimed the life of safety Al Blades . Pata was described by friends and acquaintances as a " Christian " with a friendly , outgoing personality . Pata , who was projected to be a third - round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft , also harbored dreams of one day possibly joining the FBI when his football career was over . Post – Season . With the Hurricanes finishing the regular season at 6 – 6 , the 2006 season proved to be one of the worst for the program in the past thirty years . The fall of Miami , which established itself as the most successful college football program of the past twenty five years , was one of the biggest stories in collegiate football in 2006 . The season was the culmination of a gradual decline for the program since it won the national championship in 2001 . In each year since , Miami appeared to have taken a step back in terms of national stature and its overall record , going from an undefeated national championship in 2001 to a national championship game loss in 2002 to a two - loss season in 2003 to back - to - back three loss seasons in 2004 and 2005 , and a six - loss season in 2006 . The team , which had the longest current streak of being ranked in the AP Poll , fell from the AP Top 25 in 2006 for the first time in 10 seasons . Most noticeable during the decline were the mounting losses to mediocre programs , the increase in home losses , and a persistently anemic offense . Only a late season win over Boston College ensured that Miami would finish the season bowl eligible . Since 1983 , Miami had failed to play in a bowl game just twice : in 1995 , when the program served a one - year bowl suspension , and in 1997 , when the Hurricanes , hampered by NCAA scholarship sanctions , finished just 5 – 6 . Considerable speculation about Larry Coker ' s job status began to swirl after Miami ' s loss to Louisville in the third game of the season , which only intensified after the midseason brawl against FIU and the team ' s four game losing streak late in the season . As expected , Coker was dismissed on November 24 , 2006 , the morning after his Hurricanes closed the regular season with a 17 - 14 upset win over # 18 Boston College . Coker would coach the team in its bowl game . As part of the terms of his contract , Coker would receive a buyout in the neighborhood of $ 2 to $ 3 million . Head Coaching Search . In the aftermath of Coker ' s firing , a number of prominent college head coaches were speculated as potential candidates for the Miami head coaching job , including South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier , former Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez , and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano . Schiano , a former defensive coordinator at Miami , was reported to be the university ' s top choice . Schiano discussed the position with Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee , but subsequently removed his name from further consideration . Speculation ran high around Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach , who was one of only three coaches publicly confirmed as a candidate for the job , but Leach fell out of consideration after an interview with Dee . After an intensive two - week head coaching search , Miami opted to stay in the family and promoted its highly - regarded defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to the position of head coach on December 8 , 2006 . Shannon , who played linebacker at Miami from 1985 through 1988 , became just the sixth African - American head coach in NCAA Division I - A football at the time . Shannon took over recruiting duties immediately , but expressed his desire for fired head coach Larry Coker to stay on and coach the team one final time in its season - ending bowl game against Nevada .