UM’s Turnover Chain will return next season
CORAL GABLES – It was the most talked-about piece of jewelry in college football this season, and according to the man who came up with the idea for it, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
During a chat with reporters Wednesday ahead of No. 10 Miami’s matchup with No. 6 Wisconsin in Saturday’s Orange Bowl, Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz confirmed Miami’s famed Turnover Chain is no one-year wonder. The flashy, 10-karat gold, 36-inch chain will continue to be bestowed ingame to any player that forces a turnover next season — and beyond.
“No, I don’t think so,” Diaz laughed, when asked if he was planning to retire the Turnover Chain. “I think you’ve got one of the best things in college football, so I think … I know our recruits will be disappointed. It may come back in a different version, we don’t know. It’s mysterious. We don’t know what really happens to it. We’ll see what develops next year. … There’s an old whitebearded man that lives up on a mountain that talks to us about the chain midweek. So, we’ll see what he has to say about it.”
Mystery or not, the chain became a powerful motivator for Miami after it made its debut in the Hurricanes’ 41-13 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman.
In that game, after Malek Young picked off a Larry Brihm pass, the cornerback had the chain put around his neck as he came off the field. Television cameras caught the moment — and Young’s relaxed, cheerful expression on the bench — and a sensation was born.
Hurricanes fans began making their own versions of the Turnover Chain or purchased shirts with the chain emblazoned across the front. A South Florida brewery named a beer after it, and a South Florida sushi restaurant came up with a Turnover Chain Roll. Local high schools came up with their versions, too.
On the field, the chain became an annoyance to opponents, who were determined to try and keep the thing in its locked box on the Miami sideline. But the Hurricanes forced 30 turnovers this season, an improvement over the 19 they had a year ago. And entering the Orange Bowl, the Hurricanes are No. 2 in the nation in turnover margin, with only Wyoming — which has played one more game than Miami — ahead of them. The Hurricanes are also second in turnovers gained.
“It’s definitely a great incentive,” Hurricanes linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. “And it electrifies the whole stadium, whether it’s a home game and our fans are going crazy or an away game where their fans are silent. It makes or breaks the other team. I’m glad it’s coming back, and I feel as if it can stay for however long it wants to stay.”
Quarterman isn’t the only Hurricane happy to learn the Turnover Chain will be returning next season. Junior safety Jaquan Johnson, who reconfirmed Wednesday he’s planning to return to Miami for his senior year, couldn’t help but smile when asked about the Turnover Chain.
Entering the Orange Bowl, no Hurricane has worn the chain more than Johnson, who has four interceptions and two fumble recoveries this year. Like his coach and his teammates, he’d like to see the chain become a tradition at Miami.
“I think it definitely should come back, unless we have something crazy, exclusive that nobody would think of,” Johnson laughed. “I definitely think the Turnover Chain should come back. It excites everybody. It was definitely a trending topic. It was exciting trying to see other teams trying to emulate it, seeing the shirts made all around the world. I think the Turnover Chain opened eyes and put Miami where we needed to be, back in the spotlight. That’s how we want it to be. It was awesome.”