Beginning in the 1980s with the arrival of former head coach Howard Schnellenberger, the University of Miami football program blossomed quickly and unpredictably into one of the nation's most high profile and elite college football programs and began developing what now is one of the sport's largest and most passionate global fan bases. Since then, it also has developed several of the most famed, flamboyant, and successful players at the NFL level but also, along the way, been subjected to vast scrutiny and some criticism during its rise to national prominence, which featured three national championships in the 1980s followed by scandal-related damage to its recruiting capabilities, a subsequent comeback leading to its 2001 national championship, yet a second scandal-plagued descent, and, most recently, a second comeback that now has the program again recognized as a major force in national collegiate football.
beGInNing iN THe 1980s wiTh the arrival of FORmeR hEaD coach HowaRd sCHnELLEnbergEr, tHe University of mIAMi FoOTball prOgRam blOssomeD qUickly and uNPredIcTabLy Into one Of the natiOn's mOSt higH ProFile AND elite collEge fOOtball proGrAms and bEgan DeveLoPing What now is One of tHe sPoRt'S LargeSt And MoST pasSionaTe GlobaL fAn bASEs. sInce THeN, it alsO HaS DeveloPeD sEVeRaL of the mOST famed, FlamBoyant, AnD suCCessfuL plAyeRs at the nFl leVel BuT alSo, ALonG the WaY, BeeN subjectED tO VasT scrutiny aNd SOme CrITiCism During its rIsE tO naTIonal prOmiNence, which feAtuRed three natIonAl ChampionshiPs iN the 1980S foLLowed by ScAndAl-RelateD DaMAge to Its rEcruiting cAPAbiLiTIes, a subSeqUENt cOmeBACk leading tO iTs 2001 NatiOnal champIonshIp, yeT a SeCOnd sCandAl-pLaGued DescEnt, and, mOsT ReCEntly, A secoND comebacK thaT now hAs the prOgram AgAiN RECogNized As a maJor force IN nationaL collegiaTE fooTBall.