BYU Fans Share Memories Of Historic Win Over No. 1 Miami On 30-Year Anniversary

PROVO, Utah – Thirty years later, BYU football’s 28-21 win over then No. 1 Miami in 1990 is still the greatest win in the Cougars storied history.

BYU has pulled off some great wins over the years, but there isn’t any debate on the victory that stands above the rest. The win over “The U” will forever be etched in the memories of BYU fans for the rest of their lives.

#OnThisDay 30 years ago: @BYUfootball took down the No. 1 ranked @MiamiHurricanes.

The win catapulted @TyDetmer14 to stardom and Heisman glory.#BYU | #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/GwZdBSlQ4f

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 9, 2020

September 8th, 2020, marked the 30-year anniversary of BYU football’s greatest win. For young people who struggle to wrap their minds around a win over Miami being as big of a deal of as it was … think of it this way, picture Alabama today but better. Now does it make sense?

66,235 fans attended that game at then Cougar Stadium. To this day, it’s one of the biggest crowds to ever witness a live sporting event in the state of Utah.

Just listen to Ty Detmer from an episode of Cougar Sports Saturday earlier this year to understand the magnitude of that game. Detmer is always a modest and humble game but even he admits defeating a program like Miami at that time was special. What other game has produced a Heisman campaign for a BYU player? 10,000 BYU fans and even a few Miami players received ties that read, “why the Heisman vote should end in a Ty”.

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of that special game, I asked a simple question BYU fans, where were you when the Cougars took down the Hurricanes? BYU fans started sharing their memories of a game that launched Ty Detmer into superstardom and an eventual Heisman Trophy winner.

Here are some of the responses.

@TyDetmer14 so old I wasn’t even born yet! 😂🤙🏽 https://t.co/67UbrqCTKi

— Reno Mahe (@RenoMahe) September 9, 2020

Right there on the east bleachers. It was the loudest, most electrical atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at any venue

— Sang Kim (@5lbtrout) September 9, 2020

I was in the stands. It was my first live football game as a freshman at BYU. It was glorious.

— El Skipito Bandito (@LordBarak) September 9, 2020

In the north end zone with @phred84044

— Brad Warner 🇺🇸 (@bwarner360) September 9, 2020

I was there. Russell Maryland and I had a chance meeting on the field as I stormed the field. Needless to say, I went the other way…quickly.

— s_scharm (@ssskb33) September 9, 2020

Japan on an internship. The Jazz played in Tokyo later that year and I met Frank Layden after the game. He was talking about what a great opportunity it was to intern in Japan and then paused and said I was an idiot for missing the Miami game.

— Dave Morrison (@tooeledave) September 9, 2020

Section 134. Row 10 or so.
My dad let me hang out the car window and wave at people on the way home.

— Greg Welch (@ArtDirectorBYU) September 9, 2020

There. 7 years old. First full season tix. Been absolutely hooked on BYU football ever since!

— 🏳️‍🌈 BYU Boozer ☮ (@Truebrewcoug) September 9, 2020

My wife and I were on the first row of the East stands right on the goal line. Best student seats ever. That was when students were all over the East and south stands. It was an amazing evening.

— BrianHolt (@bbreinholt) September 9, 2020

I was at this game I have never seen a more fired up #BYU crowd for a game then when they played the #1 ranked Miami #Hurricanes !!!!!!! https://t.co/vdiidNJzpV

— #WeWantToPlay!!!!! (@lhcoug) September 9, 2020

Sitting in the MTC. One of the kickers on the team, Keith Lever, was also one of our instructors. He gave us a terrific recap of the game as part of our “study” the next day.

— Jason Slade (@Jasonlslade) September 9, 2020

In the stadium, south end zone. It was my first game as a student. I rushed the field after the game.

— Roy Angel (@Royalblue_92) September 9, 2020

In the MTC, we could hear the crowd, but we didn’t know the outcome until somebody ran by the MTC yelling “BYU won!”

— Chad Pollard (@chad_pollard) September 9, 2020

Watching from home a year before heading to the Y. I watched this game on ESPN classic last week. Ty was maybe the best QB in college history.

— Chad Fife (@chadfife) September 9, 2020

I was there, at age 6, on the west side with all the blue hairs. Matt Bellini said the stadium was electric. As a young kid I felt it, remember it still today. Ppl were let in from outside to stand in the aisles or cram into any open space. That game solidified my fandom forever

— Rad Clark (@therealRadClark) September 9, 2020

I was there live and my favorite highlight was Brad Clark taking out their punt return guy, a ref and their stupid mascot … all in one tackle!

— Chris Dayton (@chrisd8n) September 9, 2020

Listening to the stadium sounds from my grandma’s condo with cousins, because our parents were at the game. My dad talked about watching this one live for years!

— Chelsea Jolley (@ldsmom24) September 9, 2020

My uncle’s house. Embarrassed because my dad and Uncle screamed so loud they could hear them a block over…

— Michele Wilson (@ireadalotofbook) September 9, 2020

Am I the only one who watched this game at a stake center?! Eugene, OR. RS room w fam & friends. I was 11. And football became my passion bc of this game. *Every night for 2 yrs I wrote at the end of my dairy entry “I love Ty Detmer”. Yes, I did. #byufootball #byu

— Jill Newell (@JillNewell) September 10, 2020

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.