Hall of Fame Hurricanes: Jimmy Johnson
“Hall of Fame Canes” will highlight Hurricanes enshrined in the #HOF in preparation for Jimmy Johnson’s College Football Hall of Fame induction, along with the rest of the Class of 2012, on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Meet today’s Hall of Fame Hurricane…
Jimmy Johnson
College Football HOF, 2012
by: Camron Ghorbi
If Al Golden was hoping to convey his excitement to the 2012Hurricanes just prior to the opening of the season, he certainly picked theright man to deliver the message.
“Let me tell you something, guys,” the speaker said, pacing aroundthe meeting room. “This is going to be the greatest time of your lives! I usedto sit in this same room years ago, and say ‘We’re playing this big game! Thisis why you came to Miami! That’s why you wanted to be a Hurricane!'”
The passion so deeply fermented in that charming voice, thesame Southern twang that induces smiles from millions of football fans everySunday afternoon in the fall, sounded just as real in an August team meeting asit did back in 1984.
Indeed, if any of the hundreds of players and coaches thathave suited up in Orange and Green can attest to the Hurricane tradition, it’s69-year-old James William “Jimmy” Johnson from Port Arthur, Texas.
Fans and media members alike were skeptical of the initialhire, when Johnson was brought on to replace a coaching legend in HowardSchnellenberger after the 1983 season. But six years later, teary-eyed fans satback and watched as one of the all-time coaching greats moved from thecollegiate to the professional ranks.
After leading the Hurricanes all the way to the nationalchampionship game as head coach in 1986, Johnson guided Miami to its firstundefeated season in the modern era and its second national championship trophyin 1987. He would finish his time at Miami with an outrageous 52-9 mark (.852winning percentage), including 44-4 (.916) in his final four seasons.
His success wouldn’t end there.
Six years after capturing a trophy as head coach of theHurricanes, Johnson guided the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowltrophies. With the championships came the sealing of a legend – Johnson hadaccomplished the unthinkable: national championships as both a collegiateplayer and coach, and two Super Bowl trophies as leader of the most iconicfranchise in professional sports.
Twenty-five years later, back in the same meeting roomswhere he would gather his Hurricanes teams as a wide-eyed, upstart head coach,Johnson can’t help but reminisce.
“Enjoy this thing. I’m an old man, but you don’t know what Iwould give to be sitting in your seat. This is the greatest time of your life.Enjoy the journey.”
