Hurricanes Legend Drops Bombshell: Strip Club Visit Sealed His Commitment
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Miami Hurricanes football was a must-watch for any sports fan. The University of Miami holds several NFL draft records, including the most first-round picks in a single draft and the longest streak of drafts with at least one first-round selection. As of 2024, Miami players have been chosen in 49 consecutive NFL drafts, dating back to 1975, with a total of 358 Hurricanes drafted — the 13th-most among college programs.
The Hurricanes rank among the most celebrated football programs in NCAA history, sitting fourth in all-time Associated Press National Poll Championships, tied with USC and Ohio State, and trailing only Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.
While the program has seen multiple eras of dominance, Miami hasn’t been a serious national championship contender in nearly two decades. From the 1980s to the mid-2000s, the Hurricanes captured five national titles, producing NFL legends like Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Warren Sapp, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, and Clinton Portis.
Former Miami Hurricanes Star Clinton Portis Reveals Shocking Details About Commitment
As a freshman at Miami, Clinton Portis set a school record with five 100-yard rushing games, finishing the season with 838 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries (5.9 avg.) in 10 games. He also caught four passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Although he experienced a dip in performance during his sophomore year, Portis came back strong as a junior in 2001.
That season, he helped the Hurricanes win the National Championship by rushing for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries, while adding 125 receiving yards. In the Rose Bowl against Nebraska, Portis ran for 104 yards and a touchdown.
In a recent podcast appearance, Portis shared a surprising behind-the-scenes story about his recruitment and ultimate commitment to Miami.
“My third visit, I go to Miami, and we’re in the strip club,” Portis recalled. “We got dancers coming, and one of them looks at me and says, ‘Are you coming?
Caught up in the moment, Portis said he didn’t hesitate to answer.
“YES!” he said, shaking his head and tilting back in disbelief.
The next morning, Portis had no recollection of his commitment, but that didn’t stop the coaches from congratulating him.
I get on the elevator for breakfast, hungover, and one of the coaches gets on and says, ‘Man, congrats, we heard you committed last night.’ I was like, ‘Huh?
More coaches piled on with congratulations as he realized he had committed without remembering. Despite the confusion, Portis decided to go along with it, swayed by their enthusiasm.
But in the end, Portis admitted the real factor behind his decision wasn’t the football program—it was the lap dance.
“It wasn’t Miami; it was the lap dance,” he said with a laugh.
Portis was later inducted into the Miami Sports Hall of Fame on April 10, 2014.
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