football. In the season opener, Coker lost to FSU for the first time when the Hurricanes blew a snap of a potential game-tying field goal. This was in contrast to previous games in the series where Miami had previously won after last-second missed FSU field goals. The Hurricanes defeated Clemson in OT in their 2nd game, barely avoiding their first 0–2 start in over 25 years. Things got much better in the next seven games, all of which the Hurricanes won by at least 18 points. The highlight was a 27–7 win on the road against undefeated No. 3 Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes entered a late November contest against Georgia Tech with an 8–1 record and #3 national ranking. At this point Coker's tenure took a permanent turn downward. The 18-point underdog Yellow Jackets beat the Hurricanes 14–10. After beating Virginia by 8 points in the next game, the Hurricanes finished the regular season 9–2 and were invited to the Peach Bowl. The Hurricanes lost 40–3 to LSU. This was the worst bowl defeat in school history, and included a post-game fight in the tunnel leaving the stadium. In the wake of this loss, Coker fired four longtime Miami assistants. The team finished with a 9–3 record for the second consecutive season. Coker was reported to be on the hot seat entering the 2006 season, with many speculating that he would need to at least take the team to a BCS bowl in order to keep his job. Although many outsiders thought it was ridiculous that Coker was on the hot seat despite a 53–9 record, many Miami fans believed Coker had brought the program on the downswing after winning for his first 2 or 3 years with the recruits of predecessor Butch Davis. Miami began the 2006 season with a 1–2 record, with losses to Florida State and a 31–7 defeat to Louisville, leaving the team unranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 1999. The Louisville loss led to rumors that Coker's firing was imminent, but Miami Director of Athletics Paul Dee gave Coker a vote of confidence, stating that he would coach at least through the end of the season. After the team's October 14 win against FIU was marred by a bench-clearing brawl, questions were raised in the media as to whether Coker would resign or be fired, but he was again given a