Miami lets defenders wear iced-out chain for turnovers

The Miami Hurricanes showed off a new football tradition against Bethune-Cookman when Malek Young wore an iced-out chain after his interception.

There was a time when the Miami Hurricanes dominated college football. In the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s, Miami regularly blew out big-name opponents, won national championships, and looked good doing it. It’s been a while since the Canes competed for titles, but at least the 2017 squad looks the part.

Miami sophomore defensive back Malek Young intercepted Bethune-Cookman quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. in the fourth quarter Saturday, helping secure a 38-13 lead in Miami’s 41-13 season-opening victory. Cooling down on the sideline after his big play, Young was spotted wearing an oversized gold chain with the Miami “U” logo.

As FOX Sports South sideline reporter Rebecca Kaple told viewers, the Hurricanes instituted the new hardware this season to reward players that force turnovers on defense.

After the game, linebacker Shaquille Quarterman – who led the team with eight tackles in the win – offered more details to David Villavicencio of HurricaneSports.com, including the role defensive coordinator Manny Diaz played in developing the new tradition.

"“He told us this morning about the turnover chain. It goes to whoever gets the turnover. You get to rock that huge Miami-style chain… it was just another incentive. We didn’t really need much, but that was definitely an incentive. Seeing Malek get it was amazing because we all wanted to know who was going to be the first guy to get it. Malek did his thing and he earned it, so congrats to him.”"

Next: Mark Richt among the top 20 head coaches in college football

Young’s interception was the first of two turnovers for the Hurricanes defense against the Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman receiver Demetrius Weaver lost the handle on the football after a short reception on the final drive of the afternoon.