Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
305: Hurricanes have new Turnover Chain
Patchan, Quarterman get to show off tribute to the county area code
CUTLER BAY — The newest edition of the Miami Hurricanes’ famed Turnover Chain made its debut on Saturday night with the nation’s eyes on UM’s matchup against the Florida Gators in Orlando.
Redshirt senior defensive end Scott Patchan recovered a second-quarter fumble to bring out the third installment of Miami’s jewelry that helps provide incentives for forcing turnovers on defense. Hurricanes fans at Camping World Stadium began chanting “3-0-5, 3-0-5” with Patchan standing up on the bench showing it off, as they did when linebacker Shaq Quarterman recovered another fumble later in the quarter.
The latest version has a big, flashy 305 emblem to represent the area code for Miami-Dade County. A smaller Hurricanes “U” logo sits atop the center of the 305.
According to AJ Machado, Miami’s “King of Bling” that has been behind each Turnover Chain dating back to the original in 2017, the Cuban-link chain is 32 inches of 10-karat gold and weighs just over two kilograms (2,023 grams to be exact). The 10-inch-wide 305 charm is an additional 500 grams with 4,600 sapphire stones between the white in the numbers and the orange and green in the “U.”
Machado said Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz, a Miami native and son of the former Miami mayor by the same name, wanted to highlight the hometown, and what better way than with one of the most nationally recognizable area codes?
“This was his idea. He wanted the 305,” said Machado, who runs AJ’s Jewelry in Cutler Bay of south Miami-Dade County and claims more than 800 NFL players and 1,000 total athletes among his clientele. “The first year, we did the U, which came out pretty awesome. That was a hit. No one had ever done that. Last year, we took it up a notch and we did the ibis, which was like 4,000 stones. That was pretty hot.
“And then this, [Diaz] emphasized, ‘AJ, I really want to emphasize just 305.’ Didn’t want no ibis. He wanted the U, but just the way it is.”
Diaz is in his first season as head coach of UM after spending the last three seasons as defensive coordinator. While in that role, the two previous Turnover Chains were his idea.
“The Turnover Chain, you’re always looking to sort of spice it up,” Diaz said after Saturday’s game. “And I thought the 305 thing came out really well, and the kids loved it when they saw it.”
Machado felt it was a perfect fit with Diaz, one of Miami’s own, taking over the program this season.
“I feel like Manny is 305,” Machado said. “He knows how the guys want to do it. He knows that we’re a little different here in Miami. That’s why we wear these chains. That’s why we wear the big charms.”
When the Hurricanes debuted the original Turnover Chain in 2017, it sparked an inspired run where UM started 10-0 and was No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings before losing three straight games to finish the season. Within that run, the Hurricanes led all Power Five conference teams in takeaways, with 31 that season.
Earlier this month, Miami cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph touched on the overall impact of the Turnover Chain.
“The element that the Turnover Chain brings to this city is amazing,” Rumph said. “What other feature do you have on television where you’re in a sport and, for 15 to 20 seconds, you can take off your helmet, put on a Cubanlink chain and the whole world can see you — social media, all your friends and family. And the whole stadium goes crazy. It’s like the coliseum. They’re chanting for you to stand up on that bleacher and show that chain off.
“I think everybody benefits, like just for bragging rights, the city of Miami, adidas, the logo, the University of Miami logo, the former players of the University of Miami. It’s just a total celebration.
“I don’t know if there’s any other feature like that in sports that you can get that recognition for that 13 seconds. You can be a no-name guy, you can be a walkon, pick up a fumble and the whole world will know you off of what you did off of that play. I think it’s a great platform for us, and more importantly, in recruiting, kids want that platform, as well. You can get it here at the University of Miami.”
Turnover Chain spinoffs have been prevalent since the inception of the original one in 2017. Oregon had a more modest version with its own logo. FAU last season created a touchdown chain. Tulane did turnover beads — like you’d see at Mardi Gras — Memphis had a Ric Flair-inspired turnover robe, Boise State did a turnover throne, and UM rival Florida State had a turnover backpack. Although the Seminoles have said the idea was “securing the bag,” the Internet ran wild with the turnover backpack, and FSU retired the prop after last season.
Machado is pleased with the product he created and is happy to provide something for his hometown college football team.
“I’m blessed, and I appreciate that they gave me the opportunity to do it,” Machado said. “It’s our third year. I just want to keep getting it bigger and better and nicer and just, man, I can’t wait to do a national champion one when we finally win one.”
Late in the first half, tight end Brevin Jordan caught a touchdown pass that introduced the Hurricanes’ new Touchdown Rings for the offense.