Written By: Nathan Skinner & Russ Denney
Canes Rising Contributors
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| The Bermuda Triangle: From left: Jessie Armstead, Micheal Barrow, and Darrin Smith(Photo Credit: EyeOfTheHurricane.Net) |
When you ask Miami fans to name a Hurricanes linebacker, the first
answers are usually Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, or Denzel
Perryman. You might hear the occasional Sean Spence, Dan Morgan, or D.J.
Williams. Miami has been home to
linebacker talent for a long time, from Rod Carter and Maurice Crum in
the mid-to-late '80s to Lewis, Vilma, and Perryman in more recent times. But in the midst of
all these fast, athletic linebackers is a trio that is the best in Miami
history, and one of the best in college football history. These three
played at such a high level, they forever changed the way Miami
linebackers are judged. They are the Bermuda Triangle: Micheal Barrow,
Darrin Smith, and Jessie Armstead.
These
legendary Hurricanes played together from 1989-1992, anchoring two
National Championship defenses (1989 and 1991) and defenses that rank
among the best in Miami history. The '91 defense allowed a scant 100
points through all twelve games of the year, including only one game in which they allowed 20 or more points, three games where they only surrendered a field goal, and a shutout of a top 15 Nebraska team in the Fedex Orange Bowl. The 1992 team, while giving up more points, never allowed more than 16 points to any of the 4 ranked teams they faced. Smith's speed, Barrow's intelligence, and Armstead's freakish athleticism combined to create a unit that made vaunted offenses vanish.
Jessie
Armstead, who played weakside linebacker, was a native of Dallas, and
regarded the top national recruit by Superpro Magazine thanks to his
outstanding prep career at D.W. Carter High. Being so highly touted, he
was recruited personally by head coach Jimmy Johnson. When Johnson left
Miami shortly after National Signing Day in 1989, Armstead considered
requesting a release from his letter of intent, but ended up honoring
his commitment after the hiring of Dennis Erickson. Armstead was an
immediate contributor to the 1989 'Canes, playing in all 11 regular
season games, averaging just under five tackles a game. His sophomore
season started off strong; he started the first four games, averaging
nine tackles per contest. However, Armstead suffered an ACL injury in
the fourth game that ended his season early. He returned as a starter
for the 1991 season, becoming a dominant force on the weak side of the
defense. He averaged over eight tackles per game, finishing with 99
tackles for the season, good for third on the team. Armstead's senior
season was similarly outstanding, when he averaged over seven tackles a
game. Despite his on-field performance, his knee injury seriously
hampered his pro prospects.
Still, the New York
Giants drafted the talented Armstead in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL
Draft. The player who was once called Superman had to work his way up
the depth chart, and ended up becoming a star for the Giants. The former
'Cane proved to be a great successor to former Giants Lawrence Taylor
and Harry Carson. A 5-time Pro Bowl selection and 4-time All-Pro team
member, Armstead finished his career with 991 tackles and 40 sacks.
Jessie Armstead is now a member of the Giants front office and a
co-owner of Honda and Cadillac dealerships in New Jersey.
Darrin
Smith, the strongside linebacker of the group, was a 'Cane from birth.
Born and raised in Miami, he played both linebacker and offensive guard
at Miami Norland High. He arrived in Coral Gables in 1988 and redshirted
his first year, taking advantage of Miami's depth to get ahead
academically. When he finally saw action, Smith became feared for his
speed and tenacity. In his junior and senior years, Smith was named
first team All-America and Butkus Award semifinalist, and was Big East
Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Arguably his best game came
as a junior against Florida State (Wide Right I), when he
racked up 18 tackles in the 17-16 victory. Off the field, he was a
strong student, winning the National Football Foundation and College
Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award in 1992. Smith ended his Miami career
with 401 total tackles, fifth in Miami history, and just behind teammate Micheal Barrow.
Following his
highly decorated collegiate career, Smith was drafted by the Dallas
Cowboys, where he immediately stepped in as a starter. He was a major
contributor for the Cowboys, playing on two Super Bowl-winning teams
(1993 and 1996). Following a contract dispute in 1996, Smith became a
NFL nomad, playing for 3 teams before retiring in 2004. In his NFL
career, he topped 100 tackles twice, finishing just shy of 800 overall.
Darrin Smith is the only player to be a member of two National
Championship teams and two Super Bowl-winning teams. Following his
retirement from the NFL, Darrin put his Miami degrees to use, and is now
involved in real estate.
Micheal Barrow, like
Darrin Smith, was a local product. Following his successful career at
Homestead High, he brought his intelligence and blazing speed to The U.
For his career, Barrow started 37 out of the 45 games in which he
played, totaling 423 tackles (fourth in Miami history). His incredible
senior season came in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated
much of South Florida, including his hometown of Homestead. The team
strove to play well to help boost the area's spirits, especially Barrow,
who emerged as a team leader to the area and nation. He finished the
'92 season with an amazing 136 tackles (80 solo), was named a consensus
first team All-American and Butkus Award semi-finalist, and finished
seventh in the Heisman voting. His best performance came in a 17-14 win
at #7 Penn State, where his 19 tackles led all players and his 4th-and-1 stop was a game-saver.
Barrow
was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 2nd round of the 1993 NFL
Draft. While Barrow was never an elite NFL linebacker like Armstead, or
on great teams like Smith, he still put together a solid career. Lauded
by many as a great mentor to young players, and a player that was rarely
out of position, Barrow accumulated over 1,000 tackles during his
career, including a league-leading 150 tackles in 2003. Micheal is now
back at The U as the linebackers coach under Al Golden. There are few
people who can truly explain what it means to be a Miami linebacker, and
Barrow is in that elite club.
These three men came together at a halcyon time in Miami history. The speed, strength, tenacity, and intelligence of these three men was truly something special. Miami was at its zenith as a program, and this linebacker corp set the tone for the entire defense, a defense that dominated the competition.These men not only won on the field, they won in the classroom and they've managed to win in life. They are a sparkling example of what every 'Cane should aspire to be.
*Statistical Analysis and Research Provided By: Stats. Inc., and TotalFootballStats(TotalFootballStats.com)
Videos Courtesy of UM Sports Hall of Fame, and ABC Sports.
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