Michael Irvin explains Miami celebration with Hurricanes out to end 25-year drought amid CFP’s Notre Dame backlash
Michael Irvin was hyped up as Miami knocked off Ohio State on New Year’s Eve.
The NFL icon, who played his college ball with the Hurricanes before going on to win the Super Bowl on three occasions with the Dallas Cowboys, was one of many alumni in attendance for the Cotton Bowl match-up.
With the greats watching on — Ray Lewis and Jimmy Johnson were also inside AT&T Stadium — the current crop of Miami talent got the job done against the defending champion Buckeyes.
Behind NIL-rich quarterback Carson Beck, and an impressive defense that held Ohio State to zero first-half points, the Hurricanes won 24-14 to advance to the last four of the College Football Playoff.
It was one of the biggest upsets in CFP history, and a moment that Ivrin wasted little time in celebrating.
Michael Irvin’s Cotton Bowl antics turn heads
Clearly fired up to see his old program back on the championship path, the Hall of Famer made his way down the sideline once the game had concluded, and whipped off his belt.
“I told you… not to come to this stadium!” he yelled, before turning his attention to a Gatorade cooler that was still standing next to the field.
Irvin then furiously whacked the tub with his belt, because as far as he was concerned, Miami had just put belt to Ohio State butt.
“We did it every week, and we’re going to keep doing it until we land back home in our stadium,” he concluded, predicting that the Hurricanes will contest the National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium later this month.
“Next week, same deal.”
Michael Irvin explains brutal celebration as Miami look to end 25-year drought
As Irvin’s belt celebration went viral, it caught the attention of comedians Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson, who demanded a full explanation in the days that followed.
“You know, everybody is always talking BTA… belt to a**,” the Cowboys icon responded.
“So, the last couple of games, they never give us any opportunity to win. And I keep telling them, ya’ll are messing with a bunch of Florida boys.
“Down in Florida, we know how to put BTA, because we got BTA’d a lot.”
Irvin’s feelings, perhaps, have been brewing for quite some time.
Miami and Ohio State have only met five times in their history. Before last week’s Cotton Bowl, the biggest game between the two teams took place in January 2003.
That year, the defending champion Hurricanes faced off against the Buckeyes in one of the most memorable National Championship games in history.
The underdog Buckeyes won 31-24 in double overtime, and ended Miami’s 34-game winning streak.
Ever since then, the Hurricanes have fallen short of the big game. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have made five other appearances.
But this year, thanks to a massive Cotton Bowl upset, Miami are back on the championship road and chasing their first national title since 2001.
Next up, the No. 10-ranked Hurricanes will be out to upset No.6 Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
Why did Miami get into the CFP ahead of Notre Dame?
Their inclusion in this year’s CFP, though, came at the expense of Notre Dame.
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Despite a strong 10-2 record, which saw 10-straight wins to close the regular season, the Fighting Irish were not handed a spot in the postseason tournament.
Ranked No. 10 heading into selection weekend, the school was bumped to No. 12 with Miami going to the CFP instead, thanks to an early head-to-head win.
Notre Dame’s exclusion was highly controversial, and led to plenty of people calling for CFP reform. The team also declined a bowl game invite following the snub.
Still, that changed nothing, and the country has been watching as the Hurricanes make their way through the bracket.
Irvin, one Miami’s greatest ever products, will be there every step of the way.
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