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Miami legend Michael Irvin emerged as the team’s unofficial mascot thanks to the energy he brought to the sideline during their College Football Playoff run. The former Hurricane has been candid about his use of a certain stimulant in the past, but he went out of his way to deny it played any role in his antics this season.
Michael Irvin arrived at Miami a couple of years after the Hurricanes secured their first national championship, and he capped off his storied college career by helping them win another one under Jimmy Johnson’s watch as a junior in 1987—a win that marked the start of a dynasty where The U secured three titles in the span of five seasons.
The wide receiver was selected by the Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, and he spent the entirety of his 12-year Hall of Fame career with Dallas before suffering a spinal cord injury that forced him to retire in 1999.
Irvin has had a number of brushes with the law over the possession of illicit substances. In 1996, he pleaded no contest to avoid jail time over a felony cocaine charge, and he was arrested for the same reason in 2001 before the charges were dropped.
The 59-year-old has not been shy about discussing the drug habit that is now a thing of the past, and he felt the need to clarify he has not returned to the well after people assumed he was coked up due to his behavior at Miami games this season.
Michael Irvin says cocaine had nothing to do with his behavior on the Miami sideline
Miami punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff for the first time after posting a 10-2 record during the regular season, and Irvin was front and center during the playoff run that ended with a loss to Indiana in the national championship.
He was a very active presence on the sideline during those contests and was responsible for a postgame tradition where the jersey of the teams the Hurricanes beat got a beating from his belt.
BELT TO ASS pic.twitter.com/azNPTIQjqi
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) January 1, 2026
Given his history, it’s fairly easy to understand why some people assumed his behavior was bump-induced, but Irvin made it clear his enthusiasm was all natural while addressing the unfounded accusations on The White House, his new show on Netflix.
“I hadn’t partaken in 20 years, but if you got some five hour stuff, let me know. Stop saying this stuff.” 💀
Michael Irvin has had enough of the allegations 😂
A new episode of The White House with @MichaelIrvin88 is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/kJA43CoZlx
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) January 22, 2026
Irvin said he hasn’t hit those particular slopes for a couple of decades while pointing out some flaws in the reasoning, noting:
“I’m right there in front of the camera for five hours. After the game, I do a little belt thing, and everybody sends me all this stuff. ‘Man, Mike, right now, he coked up! Right now! You all on coke!’
I’m like, ‘Wait a minute.’ First of all, you all know damn well coke don’t last five hours. I haven’t partaken in 20 years, but if you have some five-hour stuff, let me know. Stop it. You’ve been looking at me for the past five hours. There’s no way I can do something on this sideline.”
Fair points.