CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami's Hurricanes swag was out and dominating this Saturday from Coral Gables to Miami Gardens.
It was all about the "turnover chain." Jeweler Anthony John "AJ" Machado created the bling for Coach Mike Rumph. Vince Wilfork said the "Cuban link" was a must, and Machado used 900 sapphire stones on The U.
A University of Miami fan poses for photos to show off his tattoos Saturday before Miami-Notre Dame game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Photo by Ian Margol/Local 10 News
The coaches started handing it over the heavy 10-karat gold chain to players who forced a turnover during the season's first game against Bethune-Cookman University. It was a Miami 41-13 win. The tradition caught on.
For some fans, the game against Notre Dame was really an event between "The Turnover Chain vs. The Rosary." And in a sign of defiance, a few Canes' fans put the "Turnover Chain" on an image of Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II.
Fans also jokingly described the two-decades-old "Catholics vs. Convicts" rivalry as "The Catholics vs The Chain Gang" and "Gold Chains vs. Gold Helmets."
Fans put the chain on dogs, cats, babies and even made a giant Guava and Queso Pastelito in the shape of the iconic chain. On social media, the chain was on Catholic saints, the Abuelo of "¿Que Pasa, U.S.A.?" and on an old picture of Dwayne Johnson.
The "Turnover Chain" was a chant and a song. Miami's A.J. jeweler couldn't have foreseen the power of the icon.
"Turnover Chain" time begins with a Coundown to Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. on Local 10 News.