'Canes Spotlight: Dan Sileo

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Hurricane football players were known as some of the best talkers in the game. Now, one of the stars of those teams, former defensive tackle Dan Sileo, is putting his talents to use at Fox Sports Radio.

Sileo transferred to the University in 1985 after a year at the University of Cincinnati and a year at the University of Maryland. “Butch Davis and Jimmy Johnson were the reasons I went to Miami… they sold me,” Sileo said. After redshirting in 1985, Sileo brought a force to the defensive line in 1986. He remembers the Florida game in 1986 as the most intense game he ever played. Sileo sacked Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell so hard that he spent a week in the hospital. That Hurricane victory snapped a 25-game home winning streak for Florida. Sileo was also a key component of the 1987 Championship team.

Dan Sileo’s time at the University of Miami rates as one of the greatest accomplishments in his life. “We played in front of packed houses and people would come up to me after the games and say ‘I drove 100 miles just to see this game.’ We loved each other and we loved being the Hurricanes.”

Sileo left the University in 1987 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. His greatest moment as a professional football player came against the Indianapolis Colts, when he knocked All-Pro running back Eric Dickerson out of a game. After two years with the Buccaneers, Sileo went on to play in the World League of American Football.

Sileo now lives in California and spends the majority of his time working with Fox Sports Radio. He has his own radio program running from 4:00 – 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Monday through Friday, and he can also be heard on Saturday afternoons talking about college football. He has enjoyed his career in radio because it keeps him involved with sports. “I can tell the stories of success and failure, but nothing compares to wearing the ‘U’ on the helmet.” In addition, Sileo and his wife, Kim, are expecting a baby soon.

“Have a fun time at the University,” Sileo tells current athletes. “The memories of being a Hurricane will last a lifetime… don’t waste it.”