The Orange Bowl

History will remember that the only real difference between the two sides in the Orange Bowl/Dolphin Stadium debate was that one group had history, tradition and emotion on their side while the other group had progress, modernization and money on their side.

From the beginning, it was really a no-brainer as to who would win that argument. In today's world, money trumps emotion hand down. Money talked and tradition walked. 

But if you look closely, there in the distance, from atop the upper deck of the Orange Bowl, you can see them now, a small throng of orange and green clad fans slowly moving west down NW 7^th Street, looking lost, disoriented and confused.  "Where will we go now?" they ask. 

Somewhere in the background the last two remaining fans can be heard shouting from one of the ramps: "We got some Canes over here, whoosh, whoosh!"  The lady selling arepas and pinchos on the side of the road asks: "Donde vas los fanaticos?" "No se, no se" says the man in the guayabera next to her.

As the fans turn north along 27th Avenue, their beloved Orange Bowl and 58 game win streak no longer in sight, they shuffle along, heads down, on their way to Dolphin Stadium behind the slowly fading drum beat of the UM Band of the Hour.

As they cross under the 826 expressway, Sebastian the Ibis, now in tears, is followed closely by the few remaining west end zone crazies, dragging behind, still crying "Why? Why? Why? all the way to their new, fancy but just not quite the same home away from home.

It's now September 2008 and suddenly, shockingly, they begin to realize what has really happened.  The UM football games will soon start again in another stadium named for another team somewhere across town. And then, only then, the coaches, players and fans will collectively understand that things will never be the same again.

The University of Miami may move it's football games to Dolphin Stadium, but the fans, the true fans, will testify that the soul of the Miami Hurricanes, and even the U itself, was left behind to always reside in the wonderful memories of that familiar place we called The Orange Bowl.

Comments

[M.H.]

1st

[Cavaleer]

From the last blog...

T-Merc, relax, you're not looking deep enough into what brought us here and what it will take to get us out.

The answers to those questions are:

1) Larry Coker

2) Randy Shannon

Maybe another coach would have used a different philosophy to try to motivate this particular group of players, and it may have worked, although I doubt it.

But there isn't another coach in the country other than maybe Butch, who could remedy the attitude and direction of the program as a whole, and bring in the talent to boot.

It's not a simple process. I know I thought Shannon could work miracles in 18 days of fall camp. WRONG!

He got the team in better shape than its been in a long time and they played harder, here and there, than they have since VT '05.

But I didn't realize how spineless and leader-less these kids were until I saw the way they handled wins and losses.

When they won they seemed to lose perspective on what it took to win.

When they lose they go even further in the tank.

FSU was a result of the Hurricane Gods of Past Games breathing life into them, and the right combination of injuries and unconscious play.

The BIG difference between Miami and the other schools you mentioned is Miami is the only one with home grown talent and a new, dynamic coach who is at the same time a direct descendant of the Glory Years.

This, combined with his personal drive and proven strategic ability, will get us over the hump and back to the top of the heap.

But it appears the sophomores, juniors and seniors are a lost cause.

I hope I'm wrong but it doesn't seem so far-fetched at this moment.

And we're not losing recruits.

And what exactly is a "name coach", some guys who chose the NFL over the U??

Come on, dude, look at the full picture.

Stop all this doomsday talk.

We looked like doo-doo most of the year last year.

When you add Shannon's True U ruthless competition these eggshell players will crack, just like they've been doing.

A few have flourished, like Morse and DJ but most have cracked.

All you boys and girls who were screaming about how soft the team has been and how Medioker never made the players play or think like proper Miami Ballers think and play need to STFU.

Why??

Because Shannon is giving you exactly what JJ gave him and all the other greats who you love so much....not a inch to breathe.

So now that you have the good medicine, suddenly you've turned limp-dikk on him, just like a lot of these players.

Get real.

[dawgmeatcane]

2 stupid a$$ rules that have to go

1. Opening doors for girls ....get the F@CK out of here.

2.can't be out after mid... whats the to live in Miami if you can't enjoy it

believe it or not Randy this is a school of higher learning, you want them to act like men but how can you do that if have to be before midnite,F@CK YOU RS

[solarcane]

dawg,
I've opened the door for my mom, my wife, and any other female (your mom included) since I can remember, why is that wrong?
peace

[solarcane]

minn,
I can't confirm any info about Marve, but you read the blog you understand the dynamics here. Some come to enjoy and share info. Others not so much
peace

[solarcane]

minn are there quite a few Champps Restaurants in Minn?

I did the masonry consruction on a Champps in Ft Lauderdale/Cocoanut Creek and used a blueprint from Minn with all the freeze and blizzard proofing flashing on it.
That restaurant will stand up to any 55 degree South Florida winter!
peace

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Solar,

Yeah, there are a few actually in the Twin Cities mainly.

[solarcane]

Minn, soup,
Yea I toiled on that building for a while.
I really enjoyed eating there when it opened. Nice place to watch a game
peace

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Thanks Soup! It feels nice to finally be posting.

[M.H.]

If Uncle Al is not being truthful, than 86 must whack his PP.

[pb]

Bru's Room has the best wings in Broward.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Yeah, I've had to go to Champps many times to see the Canes on ESPN Gameplan, since we rarely see games up here that are shown on ABC. Not many Canes fans up here so I got the TV in the corner of the bar as everyone else watched the Gophers, Badgers games, and some Suckeyes games.

[solarcane]

nowhere, has the best wings in Georgia
you guys make me homesick at times
peace

[Montreal-cane]

November 12, 2007

Four-star OT visits Miami

Mike Farrell
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

Four-star offensive tackle Vinston Painter out of Norfolk (Va.) Maury took his second official visit of the season over the weekend. The 6-foot-6, 317-pounder made his way to South Beach to witness Miami's final game at the Orange Bowl.

This guy on OL would be more than we welcome...

[solarcane]

MH Canes law!
peace

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

I loved seeing Ron Zook beat those Suckeyes last Saturday, he is a very great recruiter, as Florida won with his players last year.

[SOUP]

MH...He done been whacked! He'll be back because he has a high tolerance for pain, but we got something for him. Igonre him when he posts and I will delete him when I get a chance.

Minn...Canespace always recognizes new folks to the blog. We encourage intelligent and diverse points of view about Hurricane sports.

pb...no doubt that is TRUE! Been there, done that.

Sometimes we have to deal with immature idiots who try to ruin the good flow of info, but it's all in a days work.

[CoCane]

86 vault this:

Haith's boyz are going to make the tourny & have the best season out of all the South Florida teams...

Faith in Haith for 08'!!!

[Montreal-cane]

November 12, 2007

Reports of LB's decommit greatly exagerrated?

Matt Shodell, CaneSport Magazine
CaneSport.com

A report from an LSU website stated that Marcus Robinson is no longer committed to Miami. Is that the case? You don't want to miss what Robinson is talking about.

[SOUP]

The Zooker can recruit and he can coach. The man has emotion on his side. I like that. I could play football for a man like that. Sure he's not the sharpest crayon in the box, and he may not be the brightest Xs and Os man, but the man has passion for his job. I like that.

[SOUP]

Co...whatz up dog? Bring it! What U got about Haith and the boys?

[SOUP]

Monty...that's ANOTHER false rumor. It was already posted on the last blog. Give it a rest man.

STOP THE FALSE RUMORS!

[alf]

best wings in broward, also the cane watch party for broward is landlubbbers

[alf]

also when was the last time the canes gave underdogs by 17 points? i dont think that ever happen in the probation years

va tech - 17

WOW

[Montreal-cane]

Johnson's visit a surprise like black jerseys

By Dean Legge
Publisher
Posted Nov 11, 2007

ATHENS – Georgia wasn’t supposed to wear black jerseys this weekend. Patrick Johnson wasn’t supposed to visit – both happened and both helped Georgia’s chances with him.

Patrick Johnson Profile
“I have been wanting to take a trip to Georgia to see how they operate. It was a true big-time atmosphere,” Johnson said of his trip.

The South Florida native indicated that while his trip may not have been common knowledge, he always knew that he was interested in taking in the SEC power. Still, Johnson will take his final official visit to Southern Cal the first week of December. Then he will make his final choice on the school he will be attending.

Johnson’s visits at the expense of his commitment to Miami – the talented senior has opened his recruiting back up, but could still wind up playing for the Canes.

“I want to win a championship right now,” Johnson admitted. “I am not knocking Miami, but I want to win now. I may go there, but I want see what other folks have to offer.”

Georgia, as it turns out, offered something no one else has yet given Johnson – his best single experience of recruiting yet. He was in the locker room when the Bulldogs were given their black jerseys. The moment was not lost on Johnson.

“I was in there and the energy just blew the roof off. That was a great experience for me,” he said. “That was the best experience I have had so far in recruiting.”

Will that sway Johnson? Time will tell.

“Georgia was telling me that I would be an impact player, and that I would compete for a starting job,” he said.

Johnson has formed a pretty close bond with Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, saying that the pair is in constant contact with one another. The personal relationship with the fellow Floridian will help in the recruiting game, Johnson said, as will Georgia’s impressive academic programs for freshmen football players.

“They are on you,” he said. “You have to be there as a freshmen early in the morning. The academic staff was awesome.”

As far as the Dawgs’ chances with Johnson goes, they are “good” he said. But the Dawgs are going to have to fight off fellow SEC powers and USC. Johnson said Florida was “up there” with Georgia, and he’s still exploring options at LSU and Miami. The trip to Athens, however, may have been just what Georgia needed to show one of the top recruits in the South.

“I thought it was going to be crazy and they were playing Auburn. I thought the fans were going to be into and they were,” he said.

I hope we still get a top 10 2008 recruiting class...

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Hey Guys, just want to give some insight on why a Minnesotan is a die-hard Canes fan. My father grew up in Miami and graduated from Hialeah High back in 67', he has been a die-hard Canes fan forever, so I've been a Canes fan all my life as well. We are originally from Charlotte, NC. Still have a lot of family down in NC, so we always try to go to the road games at Duke, NC, NC State whenever we can. We went to the Season opener against Marshall this year my second time at the Orange Bowl, because we knew it would be the last year. My dad is sad to see her go, as well as I am, but I believe this "Randy Shannon Era" is still to be shown, and who says we can't start tradition at the Dolphin Stadium, hopefully called FedEx field someday soon, per Cannon Smith and his father's money. Who's to say we can't beat the 58 game home streak and win more at the new stadium and start another historic tradition. CANES4LIFE

[CoCane]

SOUP,

The bball team returns more rotation players than anybody in the ACC. Considering how they played in the conference tourny I think they're going to shock the nation this year. If they stay healthy...

[SOUP]

Alf...CGNC wants pix of you and your girl for the CFOM. What's up with that?

[pb]

86 please tell me you sent mine to her...

[dawgmeatcane]

Solarcane

I've opened the door for my mom, my wife, and any other female (your mom included) since I can remember, why is that wrong?
peace

ya but are you in your mother ,wife or any other female doghouse if you don't, so if you have a good practice week and you don't open the door for some chic.... do you play or see less playing time..RS didn't do of this crap when he was playing. al long as their doing school work, staying out of trouble and working hard that all he really need

[SOUP]

Co...why don't you become our Canespace BB reporter? Do a write up, attend the games and bring us up to date with what's up with the round ball? You could hook up with Manny at the game and get a LIVE Intrenet connection and do a play by play for the BIG games? What do U say?

[pb]

I doubt Shields isnt playing because he didnt hold open a door.

[SOUP]

pb...YES! I did send it to CGNC.

I was gonna copy you on the email but I decide not to since I sent it to Shalala...

[SOUP]

Montreal...U are a day late and a dollar short, trust me.

Minn...nice story. Maybe we will meet next year at the Duke game?

[SOUP]

Dawg...name your three favorite Canes from this year and your predictions for who goes BIG next year?

[Teddy Mercury]

Hey Cav --- Here is a question I would like to pose to everyone:

If Shannon didn't currently have a top 10 recruiting class, would we be cutting him the same slack?

Trust me, I want to see things get turned around, but some yelling and screaming by Shannon does not convince me that he will be the man for the job or that the Canes will make it back. If you are one that says that the team has "quit" is this not a direct reflection of its leader? Why are we ready to heap praise on Shannon for "changing the attitude" of the team, when in all honesty, this team has gone down the drain this year and quit on its coach? I wish someone could point me in the direction of positive thing that has come out of this year, because I haven't seen it. The defense has regressed, the special teams stink, and the offense is as bad as ever. Please don't say that its because of graduation, because who the hell did we really lose? Why should we be patient with Shannon when he has lost this team?

What I am saying is that I don't have faith in the direction of the program. It is not only Shannon, it is Shalala, the AD and the fans that give me a bad feeling. I am not saying anybody on Canespace, but in general how do we expect to compete having only 30K in the stands on a weekly basis. The OB was pitiful this year and even the TAMU game only had around 50K (although it was loud).

Shannon has not proved anything to me yet. I actually think he is doing NO better than Coker did. Sure, the cupboard is not full, but why can we excuse Shannon when soo many of us say that the team is quitting? He has quit on his players, with all this begging for new recruits to come in. Why does he get a free pass? Just b/c he was not the coach? He actually recruited many of the kids on the current roster, so lets not pretend he has nothing to do with this.

Sure, I want a coach who will change the attitude at UM, but it just seems like Shannon is turning his players against him and has been reduced to pleading for high school kids to come in and help him out.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Soup

That would be great, my brother and his family live about and hour east of Durham/Raleigh area, we went to the Duke game last year. There were many fans there.

[busy_cane]

Good evening blog. A much more rational and sane busy is in the house.

[dg]

TeddyMercury,

You just hit a grand slam with your post! This entire program is in serious trouble! Shannon is getting a pass because he's a Cane and Coker is hated so much. A win is needed badly Sat. to calm the waters. When your team quits on you, that's as bad as it gets.

[busy_cane]

TeddyMercury...

After Jimmy Johnson's first year, I was ready to run him out of town. Fortunately there was no such thing as "firejimmyjohnson.com" available.

I am not saying that RS will be the next coming of JJ, however, I'm more than willing to give him some time to prove he is not.

He has earned the right to some time.

[SOUP]

BUSY...good to have you back! I was worried about that "other guy".

U are correct Shannon has earned the right to some time, but 3 years is it. He better have it going ON after three years or the natives will get restless...

[SOUP]

Minn..CGNC went to the Duke game a year ago and said it was a great venue to watch a game. We may consider that next year.

[pb]

Teddy, Ive been going to games for 20 years.

Know what the attendance was at the Hail Flutie game the year after winning our first title?

30,000.

We have never drawn big and we never will.

Its about hungry, athletic local kids. Always has been, always will be. No matter who the coach is, no matter how many people are in the stands.

Dont know if Shannon will fail or succeed. But I do know if he flops, he will do it following the formula that got us all the rings and all the success.

[TonyCane]

The Florida situation doesn't compare, Teddy Mercury. Zook was an outstanding recruiter. While his coaching didn't mesh with the Gators, he left the cupboard full when Meyer took over. There was no rebuilding to take place. Just an adjustment to a different scheme.

Mack Brown inherited a lesser squad with Texas in 1998 from a bad coach, but was able to prosper in a weak Big 12 (Oklahoma still down, Texas Tech still pre-Leach, Baylor in freefall, Nebraska weakening). He immediately started landing top recruiting classes and eventually got them over the edge.

With the Canes, Coker left the offensive cupboard barren. Two wide receiver recruits between 2004 and 2006 (Leggett and Shields). No quarterbacks after 2004. Marve could have started if but the injury. And McKenzie could be our number two out there next to Jenkins for the same reason. Plus our best tight end left early, as is traditional. So sheer numbers on offense are still lacking, and will be there until next year. Add to that a new scheme, and it's no wonder we've struggled. But if Shannon is consistently the recruiter that Mack Brown, Ron Zook, and Pete Carroll are, the future is bright.

Out here in Texas, even though Mack is not considered the best game day coach, the talent level is sufficient to overcome any potential deficiences. Thus UT is consistently a 10 to 11 win team. Even if Shannon is mediocre, UM can be that as well.
Remember, we have one of the most fertile recruiting pools to tap into.

Posted by: TonyCane | November 12, 2007 at 11:03 PM

One comment to add...I know its customary for our best players to leave early. But in comparing Shannon's potential recruiting acumen to the greats like Carroll, Zook, and Brown we should keep this in mind. As a friend once told me recently, Mack Brown has had but one junior leave early to go to the NFL during his entire coaching tenure - Vince Young.

Meanwhile in Miami we've lost:

HB Willis MgGahee
HB Clinton Portis
HB Frank Gore
WR Andre Johnson
WR Roscoe Parish
TE Greg Olsen
TE Kellen Winslow
KR Devin Hester

Had most or all of these players stayed on the team, results over the last five years could be very different. And that's just on offense! We need to keep more of our players rather than having them leave early. It puts us at a competitive disadvantage. I almost feel that too much emphasis is put to recruits on how many Canes go on to the NFL, that this takes priority over anything else.

[dawgmeatcane]

Soup

Dawg...name your three favorite Canes from this year and your predictions for who goes BIG next year?

Jenkins,Cooper,DVD and grant I don't understand your question on going bis so I'll assume you mean a player..I would Cooper and if your talking season I'll say 9-3

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Soup,

I thought we had more Canes fans than they had Duke fans there, the Duke band were A$$holes when they came onto the field before the game started and began to peform a mock brawl because it was the game after FIU game.
CANES4LIFE

[Teddy Mercury]

Hey Busy --- You are 100% right. I would go as far as saying Shannon should be given 4 years to see what he could do. He certainly deserves it...

My main point is to air my frustration so far with Randy. As the coach he should get the good with the bad. The team has quit on him this year, and although Randy is saying the only thing he could say which is "I have not quit on this team" these kids are not stupid and can see what Randy is up to. This is not the type of coach that players will be willing to go to war for in the future. If Randy NEVER takes the blame, and calls out his players on a daily basis, the team will quit on him year after year. I really don't like his style so far, and I think there is a fine line between being a disciplinarian and a dictator and Randy seems to be more of the latter in his first season. Maybe he is right, and he will turn this thing around, but it is clear to me that the players have quit on him and the coaching staff and that he is trying to cover his a## by constantly trying to draw attention to the incoming recruiting class.

[busy_cane]

I was looking for a fight last night... trying to start a blog battle, calling out some folks. I was pissed off about the game and more pissed off about how we the city, the fans, the world rose to the occassion that was the OB's swan song, and some how, the players couldn't manage it.

[busy_cane]

Anybody read Shandell's latest blog?

SOUP, that may be a 4 letter word here, but I'm curious what the LEGION thinks.

He makes some serious points, and if I wanted to be critical of Shannon and the coaching staff, it appears that they are equally as focused on next year as they are on this year. While recruiting is a year round event now played out in the media as much as on text messages, the rhetoric about next year will do little to motivate this year’s team for the remainder of the season.

Shannon says that he won't give up on this team. I believe him. But his media savvy, or lack thereof, may be unintentionally sending a message to this year’s team. For most of the team, this "Wait 'til next year" mantra doesn't mean anything because they will be gone.

At this point, with an ACC title, and potentially a bowl game out of the questions, why isn't the team playing for love of the game and pride? Playing organized football, at any level is a privilege. Don't take it for granted.

[busy_cane]

TeddyMercury,

It looks like we are making similar points. I just read you post above mine.

That is good stuff.