Legends Of The Fall: Lamar Thomas

As part of our on-going series of articles and interviews with University of Miami football players, we sat down with former Hurricane wide receiver Lamar Thomas (LT).  The interview was held on Wednesday, June 11 at The Titanic Brewery near the UM Campus where we had a chance to have dinner a Hurricane Legend. 

Lamar (who could often be found at UM baseball games this year) was fired up and forthcoming in his responses to questions posed by Canespace blogger Cat5 (seen here at The Ti with OcalaCane), myself (86Cane) and many other fans here at Canespace who submitted questions prior to the interview. 

LT was also very generous with his time as he spent almost three hours with us at The Ti sharing stories about old school Canes.  We laughed a lot, learned what it takes to be successful at The U and also a little about what made those late 80's early 90's Hurricane teams so dominant. 

LT, who wore #36, played for the Canes from 1989 to 1992 and was part of infamous "Ruthless Posse".  He not only helped UM QB Gino Torretta win a Heisman Trophy but left UM as the Canes leading all-time receiver, passing another UM legend and recent NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Michael Irvin (The Playmaker) in the process.  LT was later passed in the UM record books by Canes WR Reggie Wayne, who now catches passes on Sundays from Peyton Manning. 

Here is our interview with Hurricane Legend of the Fall, Lamar Thomas:

Canespace (86): Tell us about your HS playing days (in Gainesville)?

Lamar Thomas (36): I wanted to be a Quarterback. I could have been a good QB.  They had me playing at Cornerback in my first year and I scored like nine Touchdowns, as a DB! That year late in the season I went up against Ronald Lewis (who later played at FSU) who was senior and he scored like three TDs in the game against me and we lost 21-20.  I was only a freshman.  The coaches asked me if I would play WR, and I said hell no, I don't want to get hit, I want to hit people! Well they moved me over anyway and the rest is history.

86: Who recruited you to Miami?

36: Don Soldinger recruited me to The U.  He was a no nonsense guy and he didn't mess around.  He came up to Gainesville and he looked me in the eye and said:  "Look don't waste my time.  Do we have a chance with you or not?" I remember he came to my HS and I saw that "U" on his shirt and I was all excited.  I wanted to play at Miami.  I know this sounds stupid now but I remember asking him, "Do you know Michael Irvin?"  I was a huge fan of "The Playmaker".  I wanted to be the next Michael Irvin.

86: What was it like when you arrived on campus?

36: I remember I was in the weight room when I first met "Ax" (then UM WR/TE coach Hubbard Alexander now the Head Coach at Melrose HS in Memphis, TN a UM pipeline).  Now here I was, this tall skinny kid struggling under the weights and he had never met me.  He asked someone "Who's this skinny kid" and I told him Coach, I'm Lamar Thomas and I'm going to be the next great reciever at Miami.  He just looked at me funny and said "You better stay in here 24/7 then!"  I told him coach I may never be good in here (the weight room) but I will catch the ball, I promise you that!

86: Tell us about practice at Greentree Field. 

36: It was coach (Art) Kehoe that really challenged me every day in practice. He'd say things like, "Ryan McNeil (the Canes starting CB) is gonna eat your lunch today" or "You'll never get off the line against Kenny Berry".  I went up against McNeil, Berry and Roland Smith in practice every day.  Bubba McDowel played safety.  They were all good, but Ryan (McNeil) was the best.  Practices were like game day. I knew whoever I was going to go up against in the game was going to be EASY. The guys I faced in practice were way better than they were.

86: When we interviewed Rohan Marley he told us that the Canes defense felt like "Lions on the Serengeti" out there (on Greentree).  How did the Canes offense feel?

36: Rohan said that?  Well, we were like...(LT thinks for a minute then says), we felt like B-52 bombers out there. We were always ready to go deep and drop some bombs on their heads.  Let the "lions" deal with that!

86: What games stand out for you during your UM Career?

36: It was the game against BYU and Ty Detmer that out me on the map.  I think I had like 9 catches in that game.  I was playing as a freshman between two seniors, Wesley Carroll and Randal Hill.  I was just glad to be on the field and here I was catching passes! 

Another game I remember well is scoring the game winning TD and beating FSU my senior year in "Wide Right II".  I remember FSU scored first and I kept telling the guys on the sideline not to get down.  I told them the score was 7-7.  We always felt that we had a 7 point advantage at home.  Here is something that a lot of people don' know.  I would listen to the "Warchant" song all day long before the FSU game.  When they started playing it in the stadium I would tell T-Buck (FSU DB Terrell Buckley) or Corey Sawyer (FSU DB) "Hey, they are playing my song".  They would look at me like I was crazy or something.  Mickey Andrews (FSU Defensive Coordinator) put Buckley on me every third down play because he knew I was Gino's go to guy. I wound up beat T-Buck for the game winning TD.  When I did that I knew I belonged. 

86: Tell us more about preparing for the big games?

36: I couldn't sleep.  I'd be so amped up I'd be up until like four in the morning.  I wouldn't put on deodorant or brush my teeth.  This was war!

86: Why couldn't you sleep?

36: Anticipation of the kill. The game against Houston and David Klingler is a good example.  They were all hyped up (by the media), but we knew we would destroy them.  Their DBs took a picture of a skeleton wearing a #36 jersey the week of the game.  That was their first mistake.  Now I was always hyped up for games, but that game?  I was crazy!  We beat them like 40 to 9, it wasn't even close.

Join us for Part II of the Lamar Thomas interview on Sunday at 8PM.  Lamar talks about the NFL draft, his time in the NFL, his teammates at the Bucs and Dolphins, the current Hurricane players that could be special and much more!   

Comments

[SuperCane1]

Uno

[Cat5 Cane]

1st

[canechic]

3 times the charm

[Manny Navarro]

Big Canes news. Gino DiMare steps down... http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2008/06/dimare-steps-do.html

[Loco]

I reffed one of Lamar's flag football games... lol

I was also coached by Kenny Berry (Damien's dad) for a few years

Great job getting the interview, 86

[bg1906]

Nice Work fellas!

[canechic]

Good article 86. Lamar Thomas crazy guy! The baseball game is in another rain delay. Did you guys see the LSU pitcher hit 2 batters last night before the rain???

[Cat5 Cane]

whats up with this??? I saw it post, clicked on it to open and wrote 1st in comments, then hit post button and U beat me by 2 minutes??? no-way...What's up here???

aaaaaaaaaa re-count, Looking for a re-count,... someone check to see if I have a ched hanging,... Solar???? what are you up toooooooooo?..... Ahhhh you must have posted the article and turned it on and posted first,... U dog!

RE-count, re-count!!!
Cat5

[canechic]

Manny good read, Do you think that was because of the meltdown in Omaha or just him wanting to leave??

[Cat5 Cane]

mmmeant supercane1... dognabit

[SOUP]

hmmmm...bats went cold in the Super Regionals and Omaha and now he resigns to "be with family"? Hmmmmm...

Too many HR swings and not enough base hits?

[canechic]

Cat5, hows the cold? My son is watching the NHL draft so I only have the blog tonight, hubby working and baseball game in a delay! Boring, Broke, Friday Night!!

I think everyone is out!!

[SOUP]

CC...I'm here! What's shakin'?

[SOUP]

Hey, are you ready to do some HS football scouting in Central Florida?

[Cat5 Cane]

Hey girl... the cold has got a lock on me but the meds are helping me feel no pain, like Buffets song goes... But there's boozes in the blenda and soon ever enda, that frozen concoction is help'n me hang-on!

How's by U???

[Cat5 Cane]

Ocala... I looked for you email but must have misplaced it... contact me
cat5cane@gmail.com

[SOUP]

New photos added above...

[Cat5 Cane]

86...
Maybe your right and what happened just helped the decission... but hopefully it was for reasons stated... Family first and it was good timing, especially if the kids are 11/12 and up, which are critical years!

[Cavaleer]

Great work Soup!!! LT is so True U! I can't wait to read the rest.

OGV, what is a "pool day"???

[Hurricane Mitch]

Nice interview 86.

[canechic]

So how many of you guys are going to the Madonna concert?

[SOUP]

Only if we can go with U CC!

[SOUP]

Cav, Mitch and others...let me tell U how cool LT#36 was. It was unbelievable. Down to earth, friendly, good natured guy.

He spent almost three hours with us just talking and re-living the days. Totally cool and comfortable. Willing to do more for The Space too. LIVE chat is guaranteed.

Host of CanespaceTV? Nothing offered or agreed to, but it is a thing that makes U go Hmmmmm....

[CoCane]

COKE! IN DA BUILDIN'!!!

Sorry I missed the anniversary. I've been sick with blood clots in my lungs. If Coke Jr. ain't fall asleep with me watchin' game 5 of the NBA finals, he wouldn't have woke me up barely breathing the next morning. I'd still be sleeping. Taking a dirt nap...

86' Congradulations! You're the source...

Good season for the baseball team. They still lose cool points being the most talented team but not winning it all...

Shannon is still recruiting at a hi level & I LOVE IT!!!

Haith still AIN'T recruiting at a hi level even tho we finally went dancing last year. That shyt ain't payin' off. Boynton ain't fukkin' with us & neither is any other blue chip in the 09' class. He's missed every top recruit in his backyard over the last 2 YEARS!!! At least he's winning...

Yall fill me in on the shyt I've been missing...

[SOUP]

CanespaceTV?

Hmmmm...who's hosting, let's see (just speculating here):

Manny Navarro
Lamar Thomas
Steve Walsh

Who do you have???

[SOUP]

COKE...missed you and glad to hear you are OK! If you are NOT a baseball fan, then you haven't missed much. We have been running baseball for the last two months. Canes did great winning the ACC title and making the CWS. Didn't get the ring, but hey it was a good season.

Get well and see you 'round The Space. All the experts are saying that the Canes football team is gonna go 9-3 in 2008. What do you say?

[CoCane]

I'm a expert & I say 8-4...

[canechic]

I want Michael Irvin, How bout Bro Sweets? A little Ray Lew?

Don Bailey Jr?

I want to see Madonna but not at Dolphin/UM stadium! I would prefer a smaller venue.

[canechic]

Cocane feel better man, pretty boring time but baseball was fun, too bad it ended so soon! :(

[SOUP]

I'm a expert & I say 8-4...

Posted by: CoCane | June 20, 2008 at 10:32 PM

U and Solar agree. Are U sure you are not the same person???

[SOUP]

HATE Don Bailey Jr. with a passion.

The Playmaker and Ray Lewis will be guests but not hosts on CanespaceTV.

[canechic]

Hate is a pretty strong word, wow, do not know him so I cannot say, just think he is pretty funny.

See LSU and NC tied at 3! Not sure if maybe the ACC outplayed each other this season. Yikes I sound like a Gator fan with their the SEC is hardest conference crap!

Anyway I say Fresno State wins it all, maybe it is in the cards or they have all the baseball gods on their side.

[canechic]

Hey how bout Brett Perriman?

[SOUP]

Brett Perriman...YES!!!

Can U call him for me???

And when it comes to Don Bailey, HATE is the operative word, sorry if that disturbs U.

[SOUP]

CC...U mean this Brett Perriman:

http://canespace.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/16/hpim1159.jpg

[SOUP]

CC...U mean this Brett Perriman:

http://canespace.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/16/hpim1159.jpg

[SOUP]

Joe Zagacki is an egotistical idiot and Don Bailey a blind Hurricane Homer and is not far behind. Yeah, I said it!

[solarcane]

regbob,
email me your address,
I'll send you down some stuff.

gonz1320@yahoo.com

peace

[solarcane]

soup nice interview!
amazing other blogs I'm sure.

"Joe Zagacki is an egotistical idiot and Don Bailey a blind Hurricane Homer and is not far behind. Yeah, I said it!"

For once you and I agree on something.
peace

[solarcane]

8-4 still

Back on signing day some guy on here kept saying:
some of these guys will get injured, some will have scholastic problems, some will get arrested.... pretty smart guy

peace

[Mephistopheles]

Interesting reading Space-you guys do a nice job with this site-congrats on your anniversary.

Thanks for providing a venue to enjoy the baseball season. It was fun while it lasted, and any season that ends in Omaha is a success.

In some ways, next season's team may be more suited for the CWS, much like the 99 team. They will have a deep, experienced group of starting pitchers backed by a dominant closer. If Severino stays, he likely moves to center, keeping a strong D up the middle. We may lack power but should have good speed. Unable to rely on the homer, they can focus on the little things (bunting/running game, etc.) which will make the offense more consistent, less susceptible to slumps.

10 years ago, we mourned a star ladened baseball team that lost disappointingly in the CWS, and our football program was mediocre. (Sound familiar?) What followed were 2 CWS titles in the next 3 years, and the emergence of a Monster of the gridiron.

Will history repeat itself?

While I turn my attention to Ferrari's title defenses in F1, I'll still be checking in on the Legion-keep up the good work fellas.

[solarcane]

FSU projected starting lineup

Florida State

QB 11 Drew Weatherford, 6-3, 216 Sr.
Position Spotlight: You'd figure it would be Weatherford's show now that Xavier Lee is gone, and after so much experience after a good freshman campaign. Nope. He missed most of spring ball hurt, and now sophomore Christian Ponder will get every shot at the job this fall after an efficient spring.

RB 6 Antone Smith, 5-9, 188, So.
FB 41 Sedderick Holloway, 5-10, 247, Jr.
WR 18 Greg Carr, 6-6, 210, Sr.
WR 9 Richard Goodman, 6-0, 186, Sr.
TE 40 Matt Dunham, 6-2, 255. Jr.
OT 62 Rodney Hudson, 6-2, 283, So.
OG 71 Evan Bellamy, 6-4, 296, So.
C 60 Ryan McMahon, 6-3, 274, So.
OG 75 Will Furlong, 6-5, 262, RFr.
OT 70 Antwane Greenlee, 6-6, 302, RFr.
PK 43 Graham Gano, 6-1, 197, Sr.

DE 95 Kevin McNeil, 6-2, 255 Jr.
DT 72 Budd Thacker, 6-2, 282, Jr.
DT 91 Emmanuel Dunbar, 6-5, 284, Jr.
DE 99 Everette Brown, 6-4, 246, Jr.
LB 36 Dekoda Watson, 6-2, 222, Jr.
LB 30 Derek Nicholson, 6-2, 234, Sr.
LB 31 Toddrick Verdell, 6-3, 222, Jr.
CB 4 Tony Carter, 5-9, 166, Sr.
FS 24 Darius McClure, 5-11, 207, Sr.
SS 3 Myron Rolle, 6-2, 218, Jr.
CB 21 Patrick Robinson, 5-11 189 Jr.
P 43 Graham Gano, 6-1, 197, Sr.

peace

[SOUP]

Thanks guys for the compliments.

The blog started as just an idea.

It has become my passion.

We have big plans, really BIG plans...

[CoCane]

86'

I'm Coke! The 1 & only. Solar is just a very intellegent brother...

[canesfan2121]

And can u give us the poor folk a hint on some of these big plans 86???

[SOUP]

Here's the TRUTH:

Russell Maryland was too fat. University of Miami coach Jimmy Johnson took a chance on the defensive tackle from the Chicago area.

"We were looking for a defensive lineman," said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, recalling that decision in the winter of 1986 when he was a Miami assistant. "Very few people were on him. [Canes assistant] Hubbard Alexander stood up for him. He was oversized for the type we took. We were more of a speed defense. He made himself a player. He lost weight, lifted weights every day. He was by far the least impressive athletically out of the top 25."

By the time he left after the 1990 season, Maryland had a 6-foot-2, 273-pound body and an Outland Trophy.

"When he graduated, he was the first pick in the draft and drafted by the guy who signed him," Tuberville said, referring to Johnson. "His attitude was the big difference. If they've got the passion and the work ethic, they can be a factor."

[CoCane]

Thanx Canechic... Just got released from the hospital tonight. Gettin stronger by the minute.

COKE BABY...

[SOUP]

CaenspaceTV...weekly 1 hour shows.

Steve Walsh, Michael Irvin, and other interviews.

Canespace Select-a-seat day at TNP Stadium.

Hurricane Club and UMAA opportunities to meet real Canes fans and share Cane experiences.

"Canespace Corner" not only at The Light but at TNP also.

Dancing bears and free beer...

[KLCaneFan]

Nice interview with 36. I met him in Tallahassee last year at a pregame party and he was WAY cool. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your interview. We ready!

[KLCaneFan]

dancing bears?