Having The Horses

This article was written for Canespace by one of the "Original Ten" Canespacers, CanesgirlNC...

In any sport, there are many ingredients necessary to build a true champion. Talent, competition, hard work, commitment, physical ability, practice, dedication, and learned skills are some of the essential ingredients. This is true with both humans and animals and translates to any sport, from football to horse racing.

But, what is it that takes any average competitor and turns them into a true champion?

One factor is the mentality to understand what it takes to become a champion and what is needed to achieve that goal. But there is an intangible factor also – what is inside and cannot be seen – heart; the will of a person to be their very best. The true champion gives 110% when 100% just isn’t enough.

Somehow these rare athletes have an inate ability to know what is required of them and have the desire to exceed the normal limits of performance and endurance. They are able to excel while other competitors fade or fail. It has often been said that true champions not only have the will to win, but that simply they refuse to lose.

Horses have partnered with humans in competitive events since early times.  One classic example of a true champion, one with heart and the refuse to lose mentality, is Seabiscuit.  Recently of Hollywood movie fame, 'Biscuit was an undersized horse with knobby legs, a reputation of being difficult to train and never expected to do much.

But the right person bought him, the right trainer trained him, and the right jockey rode him right into the history books.  Under the right circumstances this average competitor had become a true champion.  He was unstoppable, and the rest, as they say, is history.

'Biscuit's owner, when asked why he bought the undersized colt, said "It was just a look he had." There was that intangible, that feeling that maybe, just maybe, this horse could be a champion. And a champion he was as he became the equivalent of an equine rock star by beating out the more physically “gifted” War Admiral in a highly touted match race with his will and heart.

This excerpt is from Wikipedia on the "Match of the Century":

On November 1, 1938, Seabiscuit met War Admiral in what was dubbed the "Match of the Century". The event itself, run over 1 and 3/16 miles (1.91 km), was one of the most anticipated sporting events in U.S. history. The Pimlico Race Course, from the grandstands to the infield, was jammed solid with fans. Trains were run from all over the country to bring fans to the race, and the estimated 40,000 at the track were joined by some 40 million listening on the radio. War Admiral was the prohibitive favorite (1-4 with most bookmakers) and a near unanimous selection of the writers and tipsters, excluding the California faithful.

Head-to-head races favor fast starters, and War Admiral's speed from the gate was the stuff of legend. Seabiscuit, on the other hand, was a pace stalker, skilled at holding with the pack before destroying the field with late acceleration. From the scheduled walk up start, few gave him a chance to head War Admiral into the first turn. Smith knew these things, and had been secretly training the Biscuit to run against type, using a starting bell and a whip to give the horse a Pavlovian burst of speed from the start

When the bell rang, Seabiscuit ran away from the Triple Crown champion. Despite being drawn on outside, Woolf led by over a length after just 20 seconds. Halfway down the backstretch, War Admiral started to cut into the lead, gradually pulling level with Seabiscuit, and then slightly ahead. Following advice he had received from Pollard, Woolf allowed his horse to see his rival, and then asked for more effort. Two hundred yards from the wire, Seabiscuit pulled away again and continued to extend his lead over the closing stretch, finally winning by four clear lengths.

In the heat of recruiting, coaches are looking at and evaluating potential recruits and high school football players are doing the same thing of prospective universities. Both coaches and players alike (at left UM coaches talking to BTW's Brandon Haris at the FHSAA championship game in Orlando) are sizing everything up and seeing where the best fit for them will be and who shares the same mentality.

They are in search of those with the mentality necessary to become a champion and trying to determine who has the heart and desire to achieve those goals.

These young athletes will have to be able to rise above adversarial conditions and distractions, get in the zone and focus. Personal issues, school work, traveling on the road, curfews, lack of sleep, playing in the heat or cold, and playing with injuries all have to be tucked away and dealt with later.

Time doesn't wait for true champions. 

The bottom line for players is that when the ball is kicked off, it is time to focus, concentrate, execute and play the game. The bottom line for any coach, as good as he may be at x's and o's, is that to be successful, he has to recruit the right players. 

He's simply gotta have the horses.

I have ridden horses at the competive level for many years all across the South.  Recently, I won a championship on my horse in show hack competition.  Horse competitions deal with some of the same issues as any other athletic competition. At Clemson, South Carolina in November we were running late, I was cold, tired because of sleeping in a hotel, and didn’t get the warm-up time I would have liked.

But, when we hit the in-gate, I could tell immediately that my horse was ON. Everything else just faded away and I just relied on training and rode. I was in The Zone and my horse was simply spectacular.

I won the class and show hack championship the next day, but remember being so cold I couldn’t really feel my feet.

True champions understand what it takes to win.  Sure, talent, ability, dedication, practice and hard work are all key ingredients in the making of a champion.  But it's heart and desire that allow an athlete to suffer through adversity and reach down to find that extra 10% when necessary to develop the mentality that simply says: I refuse to lose.

On that cold November day in Clemson, South Carolina, my horse displayed the heart of a champion.  That day, my horse had "IT" and simply refused to lose. 

Canes fans everywhere are keeping their faith that the UM football team gets "IT" in 2008.  Either way, it will be this recruiting class (MNW LB Sean "Superman" Spence pictured at left) that will help shape the team for years to come. 

Coach Shannon knows what it is to be a true champion and has the rings to prove it.  He also knows that to get it done next year and beyond, he will have to "have the horses"  The Four Horsemen pictured here surely will help!

Comments

[Sarasota 'Cane]

1st!!

[bg1906]

2nd

[Carlos]

The Gators are getting desperate....word is he flew in Art Kehoe for some sort of interview even though there is no Oline job open. He is going to try and get Matt Patchan's commit this way. Patchans family is very close to Kehoe, His dad is good friends with him.

[Sarasota 'Cane]

Repost

Tickets are on sale for next years ACC Championship game which will be held at Raymond James Stadium (Home of th Bucs) in '08 and '09.

It moves to Charlotte in 2010 and 2011 so who knows how long it will be before it comes to Florida again. This is the best time to see this game if you live in Central or South Florida!!

The stars are lining up for the 'Canes next year!! I have a good feeling about this one!! Get your tickets now!! They make great stocking stuffers!!

The link below will take you to the official website for the tickets. Hope to see you all there (as well as the team!!).

http://www.acctampabay.com/acc/index.cfm

[86Cane]

CGNC...great article! Let's hope EVERYONE actually takes the time to read it!!!

If you can re-send some more pictures of you on your horse I will add them. I seem to have only saved the one I posted above?

[MidWestCane]

Comming home last night, I had a great thought but I could be wrong.

(If Tommy Streeter is worried about being over-shadowed again) then -- Since we don't have any TE's comming into this class, Tommy Streeter could get more playing time (than the other receivers) as a Tight End and primarily as a Wide Receiver. He is big, strong, and smart enough to play in a DUAL ROLL. "A DUAL ROLL"

Think about it. A TWO POSITIONS PLAYER (WR/TE). He would never be off the field. This doubles his NFL stock. And now he is more valuable.

It is possible that this notion have never been expressed (or at least, never PROPERLY EXPRESSED), if at all, to TS.

I don't even know if the coaches have considered this. They have been VERY rushed and busy. But if this is reasonable then someone in Miami must help out and put it to them. It would be your IDEA - I DONT CARE, I JUST WANT HIM AS A CANE (Period).

Someone PLEASE.

Maybe, Im wrong. I don't know, it is just a thought. What do you think?

[MidWestCane]

GREAT ARTICLE CanesgirlNC!!!!!!

I'm in love?

Can I call you "True Champion" for now on?

[86Cane]

I STRONGLY suggest that you left click on the photo of CGNC on her horse for a larger view and then right click it to save as your desktop background or screen saver.

[Esteban]

I think Streeter's a WR and will want to keep it that way. I hope he heads out west to Oregon and does well. I think that would be his best decision to make - well BC would be a good one too.

[ALLCANES]

MWC i like this idea of having Streeter play 2 positions WR and TE...Also i don't
think we are recruiting big time TE which
i think is a must...

[MidWestCane]

"I've never posted so much in one day...granted I'm fairly new on here but still.

I think that's a great selling point MidWest, but if I'm Streeter, I don't want to hear that. I want to be the #1 or #2 guy on the offense and get plenty of attention. Plus, to be honest, I don't think he wants to play TE. I know he's 6'6" but to play TE that means he'd have to bulk up some and learn to block.

I know you said "dual role", but he'd still have to bulk up @ some point. Plus he's more likely to get hurt that way. But as a recruiter, I'd def try selling that to him."

Posted by: Mike1023 | December 21, 2007 at 12:51 PM

You are probally right Mike1023 - Maybe he don't wants to play TE. I know he's 6'6" but to play TE that means he'd have to bulk up some and learn to block. However, we are speculating - I think it is worth a try.

[ALLCANES]

86 who posted the false statement on patchan?

[MidWestCane]

I hear ya 86, it is ALL GOOD.

To Esteban:

Why would you say that:

"I hope he heads out west to Oregon and does well. I think that would be his best decision to make - well BC would be a good one too."

Posted by: Esteban | December 21, 2007 at 01:06 PM

To ALLCANES:

"Also i don't think we are recruiting big time TE which i think is a must..."

Posted by: ALLCANES | December 21, 2007 at 01:08 PM

ALLCANES, you are right. The big ones we were after has commited to other schools and with Farr's transfer - WE ARE IN NEED.

[Montreal-Cane]

In the last 25 years who were our best 3 DC?

[Montreal-Cane]

MWC we are on the same page...If we want a great offense, we need 2 great TE...

[Esteban]

MidWestCane, I feel that way. It's not from the Cane Fan view, but from the view of I want to see him grow as a player/person and reach his potential. I think he'll be thrust into the role of being the man at BC with huge expectations and I think he'd step up and fill those expectations. If he comes here the expectations are less since he's already the "other" WR. Most are expecting him to be complementary in college too. He needs to break from that role and mindset to being The Man. Harder to do when expectations are the same, the people around you are the same. Real easy to just keep things the way they are. He goes to BC and he's look at as the big time WR from Miami who's going to be our big time top WR.

[ObviousCane]

I hate hearing stuff like this....

Rally (Jacksonville): What are the next major ESPN 150 prospects that will committ to Florida? Do you see Scott or Harper committing to the Gators? Thanks.

Billy Tucker: I think they have a good shot at landing one of those backs. I could also see one or two more of Miami's top 150 defensive players following McCray(#6 OLB) to the Gators (where I think he is headed)

[86Cane]

ALLCANES...to answer your question it is just some idiot who comes around once in a while just to try to ruin the blog. If you EVER see posts from me or another regular blogger here that make no sense whatsoever, just assume it is not really one of us but an imposter.

The policy and SOP here is to ignore obviously FALSE or intentionally inflamatory posts and just skip right past them.

Myself or others who have been assigned administrative rights like CGNC or Solar will delete them ASAP. Thanks!

[MidWestCane]

"MWC we are on the same page...If we want a great offense, we need 2 great TE..."

Posted by: Montreal-Cane | December 21, 2007 at 01:23 PM

Montreal,

I you stepped back and really looked at this class again - It is looking like a dream team.

Tommy Streeter is a clutch catcher - he'S a big receiver - he'S a rise to the occasion play-maker (remember he burned Jeremy Brown to make the first statement in the State Championship game), he is well mannered, and he is "Ivy league" plus "Street" smart. It is without saying - WE NEED HIM.

[TLuv]

Great article CanesgirlNC.

Is Patchan announcing today?

When is BH going to announce? I saw the article on canesport?

[DOG!]

86 I have a nice Pic with THE 4 HORSEMEN from MNW, what e-mail should I send them to?

[86Cane]

host@canespace.com

[86Cane]

TLUV...Did U miss the last blog? U gotta read the blog FIRST, then post.

We already announced via Manny that Patchan is supposed to announce today at 5 PM.

According to all sources BH has stated that he is waiting until NSD in February. No change here.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

MidwestCane,

You're right about Streeter, he could be made into a TE like USC did to Fred Davis(WR out of highschool) now look at him, he led the team in receptions this year, and is going to be the #1 TE taken in the draft according to Mel Kieper.

[Six]

CGNC - good write. Seabiscuit is one of my all time fave movies and great stories. Another one is Cinderella Man, which is a true story of James Braddock - quite possibly and arguably the greatest comeback story of all time for an athlete.
http://www.jamesjbraddock.com/theman/
There are some great lines in Seabiscuit, some of them can be said about the 'Canes. I'm thinking of one line from that movie in particular that would describe the 'Cane mentality of how they changed the perception of the player on the field ... when they made linebackers into defensive lineman, secondary players into linebackers and overall speed demon athletes all over the field ...... Red Pollard: "Though he be but little, he is fierce". A list of former players come to mind when I think of that line from Seabiscuit, and a few of the new recruits come to mind when I think of that line as well. Namely, one of them that you mentioned in your write: Sean Spence. Another great line from Seabiscuit is when Tom Smith was out early in the morning looking over the horses and saw Seabiscuit .. Narrator: "Smith would say later that the horse looked right through him. As if to say, "What the hell are you looking at? Who do you think you are?". That's pure 'Canes mentality.

On a side note: I can understand exactly what you mean when talking of horse shows/competition. My parents have bred, trained and shown their horses in competition since I was in elementary school and they've had horses since before I came into this world. I grew up riding them, primarily Missouri Foxtrotters and a Tennessee Walker - also found out at a very young age that chicks dig horses, esp. if you ask them to come over and you can take them on a ride .... so that was always a good card to have up my sleeve. Now that both parents are retired, the horses are what they do 24 / 7, 365 days .. before they were retired and were both working, it's what they did 23 / 7, 364 days.

Trying to find out right now about Patchan, when and where. If he's holding a press conference, then we're heading to it to cover it.

[86Cane]

I just checked and we had 275 comments that got sucked into the new spam box by TypePad over the last five days. All were from previous blogs except one from BG1906 (Second!) which I posted.

Some I published on the old blogs and some were duplicates so I deleted them. For the most part, the problem seems to have been corrected now, correct?

[MidWestCane]

(of Tommy Streeter)
"He needs to break from that role and mindset to being The Man. Harder to do when expectations are the same, the people around you are the same. Real easy to just keep things the way they are."

Posted by: Esteban | December 21, 2007 at 01:27 PM

Esteban:

You have a point. But I think these Coaches (Three Rings on RS fingers) will instill confidence in that respect. - TS just have to trust - he says he is a God fearing person - then he have to have FAITH in the ones with his best intrest at heart, FAITH in the teachers around him, FAITH in himself.

[86Cane]

Six...great post! Do what U do and keep us up to date on MP.

[norm]

CGNC, very nice and hopefully the Canes can do the same soon. Congrats on your Championship.

[MidWestCane]

ObviousCane:

Don't worry about losing Harper.

Someone posted an article suggesting that RS may hire the fired coach at UCLA as DC for the Canes. That coach is a Great recruiter:

http://rivals100.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=687147

If we get him, we could end up with an inside track to Darrel Scott.

Do you feel better now.

[TLuv]

thanks 86

[DOG!]

86 I will send that pic (4 Horsemen) to you later tonight, from my other computer.

To the rest of CANESPACE..Don't eat here:

http://www.breaktaker.com/albums/pictures/signs/FukMi.jpg

[MidWestCane]

"The policy and SOP here is to ignore obviously FALSE or intentionally inflamatory posts and just skip right past them."

Posted by: 86Cane | December 21, 2007 at 01:30 PM

86,

That's a good Policy.

[ObviousCane]

MidWest

I just don't want to lose ANY recruits...

[MidWestCane]

"MidwestCane,

You're right about Streeter, he could be made into a TE like USC did to Fred Davis(WR out of highschool) now look at him, he led the team in receptions this year, and is going to be the #1 TE taken in the draft according to Mel Kieper."

Posted by: MinnesotaCane4Life | December 21, 2007 at 01:41 PM

MinnesotaCane4Life,

Could you make that point of yours to - RS or one of the Coaches on the Staff or even to the President of UM. Do it by way of a letter, over nite mail, or hand deliver it - but get that meassage to him.

I am living in IOWA - where behind their pleasant manner is a hatred for the Canes or any Florida Team for that matter. If I was back in Miami a possible good idea would not be unheard when it is reguarding THE CANES.

[Montreal-Cane]

Apparently that UM narrowed the list to 5 for our next AD...

Anyone knows who are the 5 candidates?

[MidWestCane]

"MidWest

I just don't want to lose ANY recruits..."

Posted by: ObviousCane | December 21, 2007 at 02:04 PM

Obvious,

I hear we only have room for 33 recruits, we have 27 now and it is not even January yet. Scott is widely know as a better RB. The AB commitment was very exciting but if we get DS, there will be a Super Bowl atmosphere around here. Some people will miss it - because they would be the ones to pass out from such news. Gayturds will be so jellous the temperture will spike up in Florida another 15 degrees. Trust me that will be the Camel that broke Haters back.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

I feel Streeter is like Terrell Owens, spends to much time thinking about himself, not the team as a whole. I think that is why he doesn't care to play at Miami, I feel he wants to be the man, and I think he fears he will always play in the shadows with his former MNW players at Miami. He just needs to play the TEAM concept and do what the coaches ask of him and if they need to him to change to TE do what he is asked, I'm sure without a doubt he could become one of the best TE's in Miami history if it doesn't work out for him at receiver. But, I can't be mad at him for going somewhere other than Miami because he needs to do what's best for him in the end and maybe we will look back in a few years and see him blossoming at some other college and say to ourselves he is a baller and just needed to get away.

[pbcfrcane13]

the only name out there right now is keith anderson the ad for army the other 4 have not been leaked out yet

[Alex D]

Hey CanesGirl, nice post. Hey does anyone have a picture of the 5 Canesmen (QB's Jim Kelly, Marc Richt, Geoff Torretta, Bernie Kosar and Vinnie Testaverde)? I think it was taken in 1981 or 1982?

[Esteban]

Minnesota, remember Streeter's team won the title. Right now its his recruitment process. It's the Streeter team. He's not on the UM team so there is no reason for him to look out for UM's best interest. He needs to be looking out for what is best for him. And if he feels what is best for him is go to a place where he'd be expected to be the Man then that's what he should do. If he wants to be a Cane then that's what he should do. If he feels both those feelings then there is a dilemna to be faced. It's not an easy decision.

[MidWestCane]

ESPN INSIDER

Travis Benjamin
WR | 5'11" 146

Hometown: Belle Glade, FL
School: Glades Central High School
Region: South

View Briefing Room player archive
ESPN150 Rank: #143 Status: Insider Only
School: Insider Only

DATE NEWS
Dec. 21

The fast get faster, wide receiver Travis Benjamin to The U
ESPN 150 prospect Travis Benjamin committed to Miami-FL on Thursday over Florida, LSU, and Rutgers, ESPN affiliate InsideTheU.com reports. He said, "I felt like Miami was a good program and a good school."
Additionally, Benjamin is looking forward to teaming up with the Hurricane's other wide receiver commits, all from the Miami area; Davon Johnson and Thearon Collier of Booker T. Washington, and Aldarius Johnson and Kendal Thompkins from Northwestern. "I feel like those are good kids. If we work together, we can accomplish a lot at Miami. I know we are going to have to work hard to build the program back up together and I am willing to do that."

[sebastian]

Alex I have a pictur of the 5 CANESMEN, I will send it when I get a chance In the mean time What about a pic of the "LONE CAVEMAN"

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/24/247197m.jpg

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

Esteban,

Yeah, that's sort of what I was trying to get at. Like I said in the end he needs to do whats best for him. CANES4LIFE

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

I might have gone overboard with the comparison to T.O.

[dj moonbat]

If you click on the photo of the coaches talking to Brandon Harris, just look at the picture of Walton in the middle. Seems like he knew something.

[TLuv]

It sucks that Willie Parker got hurt. But now America will realize what kind of beast Najeh Davenport is.

[86Cane]

dj...I tell you something else that was very starnge about Walton at the game. He was wearing BROWN not GREEN like the rest of the coaches? I mentioned it to Keoki and Six and they thought it was stange too.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

I just wish Najeh Davenport didn't defecate in that womans dorm in college and get in trouble, last night I was at the bar with some friends of course these friends are Big 10 fans. They saw him running for the TD and had to bring up the story about him taking a defacating in a woman's closet in college. Man people never give Miami a break!

[pbcfrcane13]

still a pretty funny story though