Miami Hurricane Football has always been about three things – speed, swagger, and winning.  This play had it all.  It was a task that most would view as impossible or even laughable before they saw the result of the play.  3rd and 43.
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It was November 25, 1989 and the hated Notre Dame Fighting Irish were in town.  The two teams played in one of the most memorable games in the history of college football the previous year when the number 4 ranked Fighting Irish beat the number 1 ranked Miami Hurricanes 31-30.  Before the game even started there was a pre-game fight in front of the tunnel that resulted in Miami’s starting quarterback, Steve Walsh, needing stitches.  The game was most remembered for the controversial call that cost Miami the game.  The officials ruled that Miami had fumbled the ball on the one yard line midway through the fourth quarter, Notre Dame was awarded the football.  The Notre Dame student newspaper stated the next day that it did not appear to be a fumble.  Notre Dame went on to win the National Championship and Miami finished the season 11-1 and ranked number 2 in the polls.
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It was now a year later and Notre Dame came to the Orange Bowl with a 23 game winning streak.  Meanwhile, Miami was riding a 32 home game winning streak.  There was over 81,000 in the stands that night which was a record at the time.  It has long been referred to as the most hostile crowd in Miami Hurricane history.  Fighting Irish head coach Lou Holtz often told his team that you can’t let the crowd beat you.  But after getting into the locker room and seeing the crowd outside the Orange Bowl Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Barry Alvarez told Holtz, “ I’m not too sure these people aren’t coming out of the stands. They may think it’s World Cup soccer.”
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Miami started out fast by going up 10 with a Dale Dawkins touchdown reception and a field goal.  But the number 1 ranked Fighting Irish would tie the game up at 10 in the second quarter.  A Steven McGuire touchdown run put Miami up 17-10 at the half.  At the beginning of the third quarter Miami put together a touchdown drive that lasted eleven minutes.  At one point in the drive the Hurricanes faced a 3rd and 43 situation from their own seven yard line.  And the record crowd witnessed a play that defines Hurricane Football.
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The announcers joked about the situation before the play saying, “every yard they gain now on this third down adds a yard to the punt.”  When asked what the coach should call the announcer laughed and said “touchdown.”  But the play resulted in the announcer yelling, “Randall Hill out there….FIRST DOWN MIAMI!”
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Randall Hill used his Miami speed to blow by Notre Dame defenders and haul in a long pass to convert on 3rd and 43.  He then proceeded to face the crowd and raise his fists in celebration.  The celebrations and swagger that Miami players made famous was something that made ‘The U’ the envy and enemy of all of college football.  With Randall Hill’s fists raised the record crowd erupted in celebration and the Notre Dame player’s jaws hit the floor.  Miami went on to win the game 27-10 and got their revenge on Notre Dame.  Miami won their third National Championship that year.  It is one of the most famous, recognizable, and symbolic plays in Miami history.  The phrase “3rd and 43” is one that will silence any knowledgeable Notre Dame fan.
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-Chris