Clinton Portis is one of the best running backs in college football history and played a crucial role on one of the greatest teams of all-time. However, his commitment to the University of Miami was an accident.
The story is truly outrageous. (…and not suitable for children so if you are a young, stop reading now!)
Portis played three seasons for the Hurricanes. He became just the second true freshman to start at running back since the 1975 season and set a freshman record with five 100-yard performances, and led the team with 838 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries in 10 games.
Although Portis lost the starting job as a sophomore, the 5-foot-11, 218-pound ball-carrier bounced back as a junior in 2001. Miami went 12-0 to win the national championship in Larry Coker’s first year as head coach. Its running back went for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries in 11 games.
Portis was actually going to attend the University of South Carolina out of Gainesville High School but a fight led the Gamecocks to revoke his scholarship. Lee Corso also recruited him hard to Florida State.
Miami ultimately received his commitment during an official visit to Coral Gables as a senior, but Portis did not even know he committed until the coaching staff started to congratulate him on the decision.
As the wild story goes, a group of upperclassmen brought him out to the strip club. He was offered a lap dance and humbly accepted. It was a singular moment that changed his life forever— literally.
Portis greatly enjoyed how the exotic dancer moved her hips. She made him tingle.
And while the kind lady did her thing on his lap, an active Miami player leaned over to ask the star recruit if he was “going to come.”
Clinton Portis said yes!
There was only one problem. He completely misunderstood the question!
Upon his arrival to the team facility the next day, coaches congratulated Portis on his decision to play for the Hurricanes. They were thrilled to receive his commitment.
Except… he didn’t remember committing.
His mother was confused and wanted to know what she missed. He was also confused and wanted to know what he missed.
Well, what he missed was the true meaning of the question asked of him in the club!
The Miami player asked Portis if he was “going to come,” as in, come and play for the Hurricanes. His answer of “yes” was thus interpreted as a verbal commitment. The players later informed the coaches of his decision. They congratulated him the next morning.
In the end, Clinton Portis decided to roll with it and stuck with his unintentional decision to commit.
Even though it did not happen on purpose, Miami landed one of the top running backs in the country. Portis completely misunderstood the situation and accidentally committed to play for The U while getting a lap dance in a club.
He later won a college football national championship as a junior and was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, where he was named as the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Things always work out how they are supposed to…