19 Miami

When Miami quarterback Scott Covington worked out this summer, lifting weights and running laps through the oppressive South Florida heat with his teammates, he frequently talked about an incident that occurred on Sept. 27 of last year, a day that will live in infamy among the Hurricanes. That afternoon, during Miami 's game against West Virginia , a plane flew by towing this message for coach Butch Davis above the Orange Bowl: FROM NATIONAL CHAMPS TO NATIONAL CHUMPS! THANKS BUTCH! AS the plane passed out of sight, you could almost see the mystique of Hurricanes football disappearing with it into the clear, blue sky over Miami .

"We've talked about that banner a lot," says Covington, a fifth-year senior. "It has motivated us by serving as a reminder of how embarrassing last season was."

True, the halcyon days of golden-armed quarterbacks, Heisman Trophies and national titles are over for the Hurricanes—at least for now. Last year Miami finished 5-6, its first losing season since 1979. Worse, the Hurricanes were at times laughably bad, as when they lost 47-0 to Florida State and 21-17 to that powerhouse Pittsburgh . Yet for the first time since Davis was hired in January 1995, there's reason for hope in Coral Gables . Fifteen true freshmen got valuable playing time last season, and the probation and scholarship reductions that Davis inherited have finally been removed. This year Miami signed its first full class of recruits (25) in five years. This all translates into program building, which doesn't take long when you're located in a region that breeds some of the best high school talent in the country and you have a charismatic coach like Davis . "There are no more excuses," says Davis . "Whatever we do now reflects directly on us. I look forward to that challenge."

That challenge will be made easier if Covington, a high school All-America at Dana Hills ( Calif. ) High, can live up to the hype that has followed him since he enrolled in 1994. Though he's blessed with beautiful mechanics and a strong arm, Covington failed to win the starting job in any of his first three seasons. Distressed over his lack of playing time, he quit the Hurricanes in January 1996 and returned only after Davis , citing the lack of scholarship players on the roster, refused to release him from his commitment to Miami . "I didn't understand at the time why he wouldn't let me leave, but it has worked out," says Covington, who appeared in nine games last season and completed 45% of his passes. "Hopefully I can help this team get back into the elite."

The return to glory won't happen this year, but Miami has an enviable foundation of experienced underclassmen, along with junior tailback Edgerrin James , who is one of only three backs in Hurricanes history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Sophomore wideouts Reggie Wayne and Daryl Jones constitute one of the best young pass-catching duos in the nation. Sophomores Damione Lewis , a defensive tackle, and Dan Morgan , a linebacker, are All-Americas-in-waiting.

"This is the year we start our climb back to the top," says Davis . "You have to have a lot of seniors to win a national title, and in 1999 we'll have 23." Davis stops here. He makes no bold predictions, but if he can pull off big things in '99, there will be a pilot out there with some crow to eat.

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