Florida vs Miami (as recent programs)

Anyone choosing Miami (over Florida) can enjoy playing football in empty stadiums.

When compared to playing in the SEC, it's probably also less pressure to play in a talent-challenged league like the ACC. See the total number of players taken by the NFL from both the SEC & ACC conferences (see below).

In the last five years (2017-2021), there have been four SEC programs (Florida-33, LSU-39, Alabama-51; Georgia-28) with more players drafted by the NFL than the top 2+ teams from the ACC (Clemson-27, Miami-27, 17-{FSU, NC St, NC}).

With all of those players recently drafted from Miami, there is nothing to show for the on-field success (see below).

Auburn(22), TexasAM(21) and Miss St(17) would be ranked 3rd in the ACC (but ranked 5,6 & 7, respectively, in the SEC) for most players taken by the NFL. Heck even last place Vanderbilt(7) would be ranked 9th/10th in the ACC and who knows how much better the Commodores would do on the field against that same competition.

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Florida gave Malik Bryant (& others like him) such a great opportunity to come play in the SEC against the best college competition possible but it looks like that he took the 'easier' path.

In the last five years, the Hurricanes had failed to be ranked in the final AP poll four times - the only time was in 2020 - Miami finished #22.

Meanwhile, Florida was ranked five times in the last seven years. Even at 6-6 last year, Florida was the only program from the so called Big-3 from Florida to go to a bowl game (not Miami, not FSU).

So, which state of Florida program is doing the best, right now?


Miami is such a sorry program - the hurricanes have finished unranked in the final AP poll 12 times in the last 16 years:
#17('05)- Larry Coker's last season!
#19('09)--(6 year gape)---#20('16),
#13('17)--#22('20)
Mark Richt saved that program for a couple of years before it all fizzled again!

In contrast, Florida was ranked 11/16 times under four different coaches (Meyer, Muschamp, McElwain, Mullen):
12('05), #1('06), 13('07), #1('08), #3('09)
#9('12), 25('15), 14('16), #7('18), #6('19), #7('20,CFP).

Since 2005, Florida finished in the top 10 seven times!
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Wait till Napier really gets going at Florida!

 

How about the chances of being drafted by the NFL which was what my post was really about (I did not say anything about academic rankings)?


Also, the league you choose to play will indicate the quality of competition.

If one plays in the SEC, half of your games against competition could be against similar quality or greater than as the talent on your team.

Usually, playing against better competition will make one better!

 

We will see if it matters.

There are still people who would like to enjoy & have the entire college experience and be part of something bigger than just themselves!

 

At Florida, one can get drafted by the NFL while also playing on successful football teams that have finished in the top 10 while knocking on the door of the CFP's!

Then, there is that perk of getting a top 25 (or top 5 public univeristy) degree - oh, for shame, that we have to live that one down! lol!

Their college experience would include playing in higher tier, New Year-6 bowl games:
Cotton Bowl('20),
Orange Bowl('19),
Peach Bowl('18),
Citrus('15), Sugar('12), etc...

When was the last time Miami has played in the Orange Bowl, Sugar, etc.?
Orange ('17, a loss to Wisconsin under Richt)
Peach ('05, a loss under Coker)
Sugar ('00, a win over UF by Btch Davis, oof!)
Still, that was over two decades ago for Miami!
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We will soon see which of Napier or Cristoball can have their programs back into the thick of things.

The games will still have to be played on the field. Miami has had a poor record playing in the ACC!

 

Meanwhile, Miami has the history & experience of playing these recent bowl games to sell to their recruits:

Cheez-it bowl (2020-L)
Pin-Stripe Bowl (2018-L)
Russel-Athletic Bowl (2016-W under Richt)
Independence & Sun Bowls (two times each, 4-L total)

Then, who can forget the following:
Champs Sports Bowl ('09-L, under our very own randy Shannon)
Emerald Bowl ('08-L)
MPC Computers Bowl ('06-W, good for Coker who must be great at computer programming!)


Oh yeah, Miami has lost 10 out of their last 11 bowl games!

What a sorry-loser program!

 

You would think so!
Let's hope!