Legends Of The Fall: Lamar Thomas Part II

kkThis is the second article in a three part series of our interview with Hurricane Legend of the Fall Lamar Thomas (LT). We recently sat down with LT at The Titanic in Coral Gables and spent some time talking about the glory of past UM teams (Part I), his time in the NFL and current activities (Part II), and the potential of the returning players and new recruits on the 2008 team (Part III). 

LT had a spectacular career at UM and left Miami as the Canes leading all-time receiver.  He was a star on the Canes 1991 National Championship team a team which outscored its opponents by a 386-100 margin (a differential of 286 points!) in Dennis Erickson's high powered offense.  LT was a key part of "The Ruthless Posse" which helped QB Gino Toretta win the Heisman Trophy in 1992.

After his college carrer, Lamar was selected in the third round (60th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. LT would go on to play eight years in the League, three with the Bucs and five with the Miami Dolphins.  During his NFL career he would play 73 games and catch 106 passes for over 1500 yards and 10 TDs.  In his final and most productive season with the Fins in 1998, he caught 43 passes for 603 yards and five TDs from Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino.

Here is LT as you know and love him...

Canespace (86): You were selected by the Tampa Bay Bucs in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft.  Tell us about that experience?

Lamar Thomas (36): Sam Wyche was the Coach at Tampa when they drafted me. Sam called me to tell me the Bucs were going to take me with their pick and at the time I was like yeah, whatever.  I was kind of disappointed that I went in the third round but hey what can I say.  After the Bucs drafted me Sam called me back and he asked: "Are there any other players on the Miami team we should take a look at?"  I told him right away Horace Copeland; he had the prototype body for a WR.  He was shocked.  He said "You want us to take another WR.  You wouldn't be upset if we take another WR?"  I told him no, he's a Cane, he's my brother (in the Hurricane family) and he can play. 

He couldn't understand the bond between players at Miami.  Well they drafted Horace with another pick and we were teammates in Tampa.  I started like the first three games of the season and then Sam called us into his office one day after practice and told us that Horace was going to start the next game.  I immediately stood up and high-fived Horace and told him congratulations.  Sam was like "This is crazy".  He couldn't understand how I could be happy for the guy who took my job. He didn't understand that I love Horace like my brother and I was happy for him.  That's the Cane way.

86: You know I have to ask this, so here it is:  You were teammates with (former Alabama player) George Teague when you played with the Dolphins.  Teague was the player who was on the other end of the now infamous "Strip Play" in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. Did you guys ever talk or laugh about that play?

36:  First of all, as a Canes fan, you can understand that we don't like to talk about that game.  Let's just say that they were the better team on that night  They would have beat us with or with that play (The Strip).  But here's a story that nobody knows.  One day I was at the Dolphin practice facility and I see Teague drive up in his new Mercedes.  So in the locker room I (jokingly) asked him if I could borrow the keys and take it for a drive.  So he says sure and throws me the keys.  I said are you serious?  He says "Yeah, you made me famous, if not for you I may not have that car!"  We laughed about it then.

86: Let's talk a little about what you are currently doing.  You recently received your degree from UM?

36: Yeah, it felt really good to get my degree.  People used to ask me: "When did you graduate from UM?" and I would just say I left there in 1992. Now I can say I graduated. I'm proud of that.  I'm taking classes right now and have one class with several (current) players including Marve, Fortson, Spence, Jacory. Those kids are funny, and they are all really good kids. They really want to win trust me on that.

86: We recently saw you at you at several UM baseball games. Your brother is a pitcher for Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona and he recently pitched against Miami in The Regional Tournament at The Light.  How did you feel seeing him pitch against the Canes?  Were you torn between rooting for your brother or The U?

36: Look, I love my brother and I love The U.  When I went to The U that became my family. Watching that game, of course I wanted my brother to do well, but I wanted the Canes to win.  You have to understand, I love my University like my family. I love The U.

86: So what's next for LT?  What are your goals and plans?

36: Well I have my degree and I'm taking some more classes now (at UM). I liked working in broadcasting and may have some opportunities to do more of that.  But I really want to coach at The U.  My ultimate goal is to be the WR coach at Miami.  Aubrey (new UM WRs coach) is going to be a good coach for the program.  He's a disciplinarian, but he's good guy too.  I think he can help a guy like (Sam) Shields get the big picture.  He's a guy I could play for, I know that. 

I also want to be elected into the UM Hall of Fame, that's another goal.  I'm willing to pay my dues, and I'm willing to help the program and the Athletic Department any way I can.  I want all the fans to understand that I love The U, that's my family right there.

Join us again on Tuesday night at 8 PM for Part III of this series of articles on Hurricane Legend of the Fall Lamar Thomas.  LT talks about Coach Randy Shannon, the current Hurricane football team and which individual players to watch out for in 2008.  You will be surprised, I promise you that

Comments

[MWD]

Whose house is this?

[SuperCooper]

2nd?

Meyer is scumbag

[MWD]

Love the article and great story regarding Teague and the Mercedes. lol

[roachcane77]

LT, a true Cane!

Great interview guys. (86 & 36)

Does LT have a prediction for the 08-09 season?

Thanks again Canespace...

[SOUP]

Roach...thanks! And to answer your ??? about a season prediction, the answer is YES! Tune in Tuesday night for details...

[canechic]

SIX, I am number six!!!

[canechic]

U asked my question 86, thanks. Great read man I am so bored with no sports. Cannot even watch Marlin games here in Orlando. But I am so happy they are doing so well even though they lost today.

Lamar is a great guy, just a bit emotional, that is what makes him great!

[solarcane]

soup, emailed alph waiting for reply
hi canechic
peace

[canechic]

Hey Solar how is summer in NC?

Pretty rainy and boring here in FL! The lazy, hazy days of summer have begun!

[SOUP]

CC...of course I asked your ???

Some others too! More to follow...

[solarcane]

yea canechic, its boring here too.. can't wait for football to wash away the blues.
I even had women's softball on for a little bit.... cripez!

peace

[canechic]

Yes, I was watching softball too, Nick and I. I said to him why are we watching this, he says "So we can see the gators lose." We do not even want them to have a softball championship. We are crazy Canes!!!

[canechic]

Fresno is killing UNC 6-1 Maybe the dogs playing the dogs. Who would of thunk it??

[Calvin]

Ok, good job soup, you asked the question, and as much as i dis-owned and wanted to dis-own lt for years for letting teague do that, i can tell he's all UM so i'll cut him some slack because of how he handled the horace copeland situation from the start. Also, appreciate the feedback on the harland gunn situation from the last blog as well.

[dj moonbat@gmail.com]

I've always liked his attitude, but this interview has him flying up my Top 25 'Canes list.

[SOUP]

Calvin...gotta let it go dude.

LT#36 is TRU U to the core!

Trust me, he LOVES the U like his own family, maybe more.

[SFCane]

Lamar Thomas lived above one of my friends in a condo when we played for the Dolphins. Said he was a real nice guy.

I love LT. If everyone had his attitude on the team, we'd win the NC every year.

[Cavaleer]

Great work Soup. LT is great. I hope he reaches his ultimate goal. It might take a little while because Hill has some things to prove I'm sure before he goes to the next level. But LT would be perfect to eventually step in.

Super, what did Oscar do now??

[Cavaleer]

"Screw Urban Meyer, what a prick:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/orl-bianchi2208jun22,0,4542643.column?page=2

"It turned out to be a positive. Now, don't get me wrong, if ESPN had shown some of our rivals playing in their spring game with 12,000 people in the stands, that wouldn't have been a positive; that would have been a negative."

God I hate him. I know I have said we have no shot against them, but boy would it be sweet if by some miracle we pulled it off. Just to see the reaction of Meyer and his top 1% of 1%. Condescending **********."

Posted by: SuperCooper | June 22, 2008 at 05:57 PM

Super, Oscar's not condescending. A Gator could never be condescending to anything about the U.

HE'S NERVOUS!!!

Let him take his little side swipes, just like he did last year with recruits. He's playing right into Shannon's hands. He's such a damm fool he has no idea what Hurricane Football means. He thinks it's the Coker version.

He's going to learn a lot of hard lessons for the rest of his time in FL. lol

[Cavaleer]

DJ, thanks for that correction on Wayne and Moss. Why did I think Wayne left in '99??

I still don't know if I'd take them over Williams, Copeland and LT. Santana was the only real burner out the 200 class but all three of the '91ers were deep threats and they HATED to drop balls.

I think their attitude was a little more hard-core Canes as well. The Ruthless Posse. WRs calling themselves the Ruthless Posse?? That's some arrogant shyt right there. lol

Classic Canes I might add.

[Cavaleer]

Calvin, you can't judge LT by that one play. Teague made a great play.

Besides, you can't remember him by that play and forget that late, game-winning TD against FSU.

[dj moonbat@gmail.com]

Oh, geez. Look how memories fade: I forgot all about Irvin, Perriman and Blades all on the field at once.

The shame of it all.

[Loco]

How about that trio of Johnson, Mackenzie, and Byrd? Or customize your own trio ;-)

Great interview, LT is a great guy and a true Cane. Its all about the U!

[Loco]

Oh and for the CWS finals... Go Bulldogs! lol

Really though, go Fresno State, because I don't want to hear anymore about the SEC

[reggaebob]

86 part II was excellent. LT is indeed a great guy and hurricane to the bone. Cant wait to hear what he has to say about 08.

on another note, oscar is such a tard. do you know why the turds have so many at their spring game? because what else is there to do in that town? they (usually) dont whip out the kegs of natty that early. Those delusional fans dont understand what mediocre football is, thus they show up in droves. but, i digress.

LT is the man. Hopefully he sees in the eyes of the new guys what he saw in his teammates of years past.

[SOUP]

Loco...Johnson (Aldarius), Johnson (Davon) and Streeter (Tommy) are my trio.

ReggaeBob...U had to be there. LT was just great to talk to. For almost three hours we talked and laughed. Ask Cat5 he was there.

There were a lot of things said that will never make the blog. But trust me, they were all positive and they were all about The U!

[SFCane]

Just read that sun-sentinel link above about Meyer.

I didn't understand what the heck that writer was trying to say. You know there is nothing worth writing about when a 50 year old web journalist is proclaiming how cool a 40 something head football coach is. If Maxim wrote the story, it might have more street cred...

Anyways, I love LT and I hope he is very successful in broadcasting. I just hope someone gives him another shot after the whole FIU incident. I would love to hear his passion about football, but he needs to learn the craft a little more and I think he will.

To tell you the truth though, I think he needs to spend more time coaching at the high school level before he can become a position coach at Miami.

[bg1906]

Excellent!

[Matthew]

I don't know if anyone saw this, but The Miami Hurricane (I work there) did a story on Lamar getting his degree earlier this year. Really interesting; seems like a really nice guy:

http://www.thehurricaneonline.com/news/2008/02/04/Sports/Former.Canes.Wide.Receiver.Back.At.Um.For.Liberal.Arts.Degree-3185986.shtml

And why is the Sun-Sentinel featuring Mike Bianchi? He's an Orlando guy, and falls all over himself praising that school up north. Disgusting.

[Six]

Dammit - canechic stealing my signature spot *shakes fists in air above head*

Good interviews with Lamar Thomas - I'd like to know if Marve, Forston, Jacory, etc. know about the past 'Canes and have seen footage of them and how they played ... if Lamar talks to them about bringing The U back.

I dunno if anyone would be interested in my verbal jabbing back and forth, stretched over a 10 hour period with a former Croc player in the late 80's/early 90's - who then went on to get drafted by the Vikings, go to the Bucs for the majority of his career and play along side one of my favorite 'Canes of all time - #99 Sapp.

It started out as me trying to be nice and start up a convo with him, after the first 3 minutes of it, I realized he was more of a myopic kool-aid drinking homer Croc than any other Croc fan I've met. He wouldn't give Miami credit at all, said they had no athletes, also said that no other coach in the state - or in the country - is as good of a recruiter as Urban Myth. I think he was a bit taken back by how I basically didn't give a sh*t who he was or what he's done b/c I was relentless in stating fact about how UF is no where near and will never be close to being a powerhouse like Miami. I told him his two little National Championship trophies were cute and all, about how embarrassing it must be to have less titles in football than Cornell, about how rare it is to even find a Croc on an NFL roster that is worth anything except a body on the practice squad, etc. .. I'll write more later if anyone interested, I just covered some basics right now of the convo.

[Christopher Stock, InsideTheU.com]

Hey everyone, just stopping by...I just got done putting up some stuff on Bryce Brown after my trip to Wichita to meet up with him.

Check out the site if you're interested: www.insidetheu.com

[norm]

Cavaleer, I think everybody here knows how I feel about Urban M. This is just one of his ways to make the other school look bad, and make himself look good. He will try everything and anything to get and edge on his opponents. Just like his friend from New England. It only takes time before he gets caught doing something he is not supposed to be doing. I think his head is getting too big, and that will be his biggest weakness.

[SOUP]

Check out the site if you're interested: www.insidetheu.com

Posted by: Christopher Stock, InsideTheU.com | June 23, 2008 at 02:35 AM

Chris thanks for stopping by! What's your plan for the summer "dead period"? See you at Fall practices and scrimmages.

[Cane Since 1982]

To all those who write sports articles. YOUR STORY WILL ALWAYS LOOSE ALL OF ITS CREDABILITY WHEN YOU MAKE 2 HANNA MONTANA REFERENCES. That was the most pointless article ive ever read. I dont think recruits care as much about the hipness of a coach and the TV's that are in the coaches office as they do about the National Championship Trophies in the display case.

[Cat5 Cane]

Lamar... from my perspective.
From my seat... looking across the table at a guy who has soooo much potential to do anything he wants to do and he's just getting started in round two in his life. He's been there and done it. Played as a Super Star at the U. Went on to be drafted in the NFL as a player and has played as a starter in the Pros... Probably one tenth of one percent of all football players from high school can note that on their resume' and that ain't shabby!

He's a gifted individual with brains and great looks as a guy. Hell, he could model, if that was his thing and yes, girls, he has a great body to match is good looks.... definitely inspiring for those who would like to walk in his foot steps.
From the short time I spent with him, I can tell you that, as good as his looks are, his personality and smile outshines everything and I really enjoyed his persona as a person. He's appears down to earth and doesn't have barriers to hide the person behind the wall. He's open and I believe he's honest. Do I like him? Your damn tootin... Yeah, he's a Cool Cat with a "K"

Cat

[vince]

Mary Lou and Cocane I am catching up on the blog today since I spent the entire weekend with my 12 and under travel baseball team dodging rain and playing baseball. I want to say stay tough and isn't it amazing the events that happen in our lifes which put all the little things into the proper perspective? The hugs from a son, daughter or loved one makes all the other road blocks in life go away. STAY STRONG COCANE AND MARY LOU!

[vince]

Cat 5 sounds like you have a man crush!

[KLCaneFan]

LOL, vince, I was thinking the same thing when I read Cat's post! I guess if you are going to have a man crush it might as well be on someone worthy... Cat, you're right, he's definitely not hard on the eyes. ;)

I've enjoyed reading the LT interviews so far. It's interesting to get his perspective on the state of our U...

[SuperCooper]

Ben Jones has qualified!

[Mr Troutman]

Vince,

Leave that guy alone. He just showing off his MANLY EMOTIONS!! lmao HE DOES SEEM A LITTLE TOO MUCH ON HIS jOCK THOUGH..... CAT DO U SMELL TIDE OR FABRIC SOFTNER????!!!!

[KLCaneFan]

Hey, you guys know that Charlie Jones transfered to Memphis? Check their roster:
http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mem-m-footbl-mtt.html#Alphabetical

[Old Skool]

What about Brandon Washington?

[KLCaneFan]

Brandon Washington, CJ Holton, CJ Odom and Antonio Harper are not qualified yet. BW is waiting for his new ACT scores to come in.. if he does not get a 17 then he will end up in prep school.

[Cavaleer]

Super, one down a few more to go.

KL, I heard Holton did qualify.

Fingers crossed on the others.

I think B. Wash tried to cram and we all know how successful cramming is.

[SOUP]

Esteban...just for you:

New LINKS posted top right under the calendar, including one to the web site.

[Cavaleer]

You guys know what I think of this whole "man-crush" nonesense.

40, 50 years ago American men actually taught each other the finer points of grooming and complimented each other on their looks and style.

What's changed?? This whole h*m* BS.

Cat 5 is old school. Let it rest.

[Cat5 Cane]

Laughing ... to each his own!!!
OK Guys... If I were that way... you could call it a MAN CRUSH thing...LOL, but for those who know me, you wouldn't say it to my face... As I would put you on your azz and laugh as you were going down.

Listen guys, at my age, I have no walls and I say and do things the way I see'em with little concern of somebodies perception of me, as I like and know who I am as a man... LOL and to that I say... Here's to the "Scent of a Women"... Bless them all!... LOL

PS... I still like the guy, so stick-it... LOL

[KLCaneFan]

LOL! BELIEVE ME there is nothing wrong with a man crush... I tease my husband with that all the time. :)

[Cavaleer]

Norm, he doesn't and couldn't make the U look bad. It just shows he knows nothing about SoFl and even less about Hurricane Football, that's all it does.

It also reveals that he is deep down sleazy and nervous.

He feels the storm brewing because he can't understand how Team Shannon keep reeling in such talent, especially stealing one right from under his nose.

So when a punk is scared they start name-calling or trying to insult someone in a cowardly, passive-aggressive way.

This will be interesting on Sept. 6th.

[alf]

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