Miami And Oklahoma To Play In 2007, 2009
Feb. 16, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – One of the most intense rivalries in college football in the 1980s is being renewed, as the University of Miami and University of Oklahoma have signed contracts to play in 2007 and 2009.
The Hurricanes will play at Oklahoma on September 8, 2007, and the Sooners will visit the Orange Bowl on September 12, 2009.
“I am very pleased to announce together with Joe Castiglione, the athletic director at Oklahoma, a two-game series to be played in 2007 at Oklahoma and in 2009 here in the Orange Bowl,” said UM athletic director Paul Dee.” Each of us has won a national title since 2000. This will be a great series played by two of college football’s legendary teams. I’m pleased that the new 12-game schedule has allowed the playing of this game and several others which we have scheduled with Texas A&M and Ohio State.”
Miami head football coach Larry Coker added, “To play teams like Oklahoma is what the University of Miami is looking for. It’s great competition for us, as well as a great challenge. And I know our fans will like to see us play at Oklahoma and see Oklahoma play in the Orange Bowl in 2009. For me, it will be an opportunity to go back to my home state, which will certainly be some extra incentive. I remember the three games the two schools played in the 1980s – there were a lot of great players and great coaching and some big plays by both teams.”
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said, “This is another wonderful series for college football. We have great enthusiasm for games of this stature. Intersectional contests featuring the traditionally strong programs generate the kind of energy that makes college football so special. That is why we work hard in following a very specific scheduling philosophy that helps us maintain match-ups that attract national attention, while also seeking to keep our program on course for championship contention. The previous match-ups between our two schools have been legendary, and we have great respect for the Miami program. We also cherish our history with the Miami area, something that is significant not only to our athletics program, but to Sooner fans everywhere.”
The two universities played three times in 1985, 1986 and 1988, with Miami winning all three games. The Miami-Oklahoma series was considered one of the best in college football during those seasons. (The only other meetings between the two schools were in 1973 and 1975, both Oklahoma victories.) In 1985, Troy Aikman was injured and Jamelle Holieway took over. Although Miami won the game 27-14 in Norman, Okla., the Sooners won the national championship that season. A year later, in 1986, the two schools were ranked No. 1 and 2, and the game matched Vinny Testaverde and Michael Irvin against Brian Bosworth and Co. Miami won 28-16 in a classic, with Testaverde throwing for four touchdowns. A year later, on January 1, 1988, the teams met in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, with Miami coming out ahead 20-14 to win its second national title.
The two schools have not met since. But they will, in 2007 and 2009.
