A Few Good Men

If you ever find yourself looking for a few good men then there are three names that I would like to submit for your consideration:

Eddie Dunn

Bennie Blades

Steve Walsh 

Last Friday, these three Hurricane legends were inducted into the University of Miami Ring of Honor, and by anyone's definition or criteria, they are a few good men.

The Ring of Honor was established during the 1997 season as a way to recognize the outstanding players that have played for the Hurricane football program.  A total of 16 players have been inducted into the Ring of Honor, with the first class being selected in 1997, and subsequent classes in 1999 and 2008.  The three players chosen in 2009 comprise the fourth class of players to be inducted into this illustrious group.

The event, which was absolutely top shelf in every aspect, was held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Brickell Avenue in Miami.  Canespace was on hand to capture this prestigious gathering of Hurricane players and fans that was coordinated and sponsored by the UM Hurricane Club.  We met Amy Ferguson, the UM Assistant Athletic Director for Development, who was on hand to help make sure everything went according to plan. 

As a Hurricane fan and Hurricane Club member I have to say that this is a rare and special event that must be attended if possible.  We met UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt who welcomed everyone to the event, and WQAM radio personalities Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey Jr. who introduced the players and recounted the inductees' many accomplishments while playing at Miami.

At the event I was able to take photos and record the following quotes from Blades, Walsh and Gary Dunn (seen above) who accepted the honor for his father, Eddie Dunn, who passed away in 1980 at the age of 64.  Gary also played football at Miami from 1973-75 and went on to play 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he won two Super Bowl rings.

Here are some quotes from former UM Safety Bennie Blades' (1985-87) acceptance speech: 

"I never thought I would have the opportunity to stand before you today and receive such an honor.  I want to thank the University of Miami for taking a chance on some kid from Fort Lauderdale and giving me the opportunity to play football at Miami."  

"I also want to thank my brother Brian (who played WR at UM) who inspired me.  He gave me support and encouragment.  I would never have made it without Brian.  You see, I really wasn't the most talented athlete in the family, that was Brian.  "My parents even joked with me: "Now Bennie, now you might not make it as an athlete" [pause for laughter], but one thing they always did say was: "You better focus on your academics if you want a chance to play."

"I also want to thank my family.  Whenever the Miami game is on, they know not to say anything to me because I take it so seriously.  I have broken remote controls (throwing them), TVs and furniture from being so upset if UM is losing [more laughter].  They put up with me all these years so I want to thank them."

"I remember when I was playing ball at UM my teammate, Jerome Brown would always get me in a headlock in practice and tell me that during games I better make a play.  You see Jerome was a player who didn't want to stay on the field too long.  The whole defense wanted to get off the field quickly, but Jerome especially.  He would get me in a headlock and tell me: "Bennie, you better make a hit or get an interception and get us off this field."  Jerome was a big guy, so I tried to listen to him!"

"My grand kids think I'm old.  I'm only 43 but they think that's old.  They think there's no way I could have ever played football.  But now with my name up there on the stadium they will know that I did play some ball.  I can just point to it up there and say: That's me right up there.  You see I could play."

"I just want to say that wherever I go, I will always be a part of this U."

Quotes from Gary Dunn's acceptance speech on behalf of his father, former UM Running Back, Head Football Coach, Head Baseball Coach and Athletic Director, the late Eddie Dunn (1935-39):

"When Randy Shannon called me to tell me that my Dad was selected to be in the Ring of Honor, I told him to shut up. [pause for laughter]  No seriously I did.  I thought it was one of my friends trying to pull my leg.  He told me like four times before I finally said: It really is you Coach!"

"The first time my Dad played in a game (at UM), the first time he touched the ball on a kickoff return he scored a TD.  The next time he touched the ball as a running back he scored a TD.  Later in the game he threw a TD! That's how talented he was; he was a great, great player."

"In 1938 he played in the first ever game against the Gators.  For 10 years they wouldn't schedule Miami.  My Dad used to call them "The Damn Gator".  Anyway, he scored all three touchdowns in the game that Miami won.  Dad always hated The Damn Gator."

"My Dad was my toughest critic.  He would watch the games or film and break down what you did wrong.  He would always criticize me if I missed a tackle.  He used to tell me that he never missed a tackle during his entire career.  One year when the 1938 reunion team got together they played a highlight film of one of their old games.  And I saw him playing and I saw him miss a tackle (Dunn also played some defensive back at UM).  So I asked him: I thought you said you NEVER missed a tackle?  He looked me straight in the eye and said just as serious as he could:  "That's the ONLY one I ever missed". [loud laughter]

"My Dad was a true leader.  He taught me little things like you should always run onto and off of the football field, you never walk on the football field.  He fought for the orange, green and white.  He always said to me: "Love the U, lift up those that follow U."  My Dad was all about The U." 

Quotes from former UM QB Steve Walsh's (1985-88) acceptance speech:

"Before I get started just let me say that the camaradarie here at Miami is unbelievable.  During my highlight film (they played before the players took the podium) Bernie Kosar was ripping me because they showed a screen pass.  Kosar said:  "That's your highlight film?  Is that the best you got?" [loud laughter]

"Talking about Bernie he inspired me in two ways.  The first time he inspired me was when I saw the UM vs Boston College game in 1984.  Even though Miami didn't win the game it was the passing attack and display of talent that day that made my mind up for me.  I said to myself: I want to go to a school that throws the ball like that." 

"The second time he inspired me was when I came to Miami on my recruiting visit.  I mean it didn't take much coming from Minnesota during the Winter with snow on the ground to convince me that Miami was for me. [laughter]   But I went to eat with Bernie and he showed me his National Championship ring.  I said to myself right then: I have to get me one of those!"

"I want to thank my high school coach up in Minnesota.  Not many schools go to Minnesota to recruit QBs, but my coach had a relationship with (UM QB Coach) Marc Trestman and that's how I got noticed and recruited to Miami.  I also want to thank Georg Mira Jr. who spent time watching me during and after practice.  He would always give me advice and tips on things technique wise that helped me.  He was very intsrumental to my development."

"When I enrolled at UM I became friends with Kenny Calhoun who tipped the pass that won the first National Championship in 1983.  He was the GA (Graduate Assistant) at the time and he would always tell me at practice and in the film room: "Throw it here, don't throw it there".   He was very helpful in my development and gave me the confidence that I could play at this level."

"Gary Stevens is another coach who played a big role in my development.  We would sit in offensive team meetings and it would be like a fire drill!  Vinny Testaverde was the starter when I arrived at UM and Gary would pepper him with a thousand questions: "What coverage are they in?  Where is the weakness?  Where do we want to throw the ball?"  I was overwhelmed, but Vinny would answer all the questions and that's how I learned how to be a QB." 

"As you know Jimmy Johnson was our coach at the time and he led the team.  He got all of the egos out of the way and started the whole "Big T, little me" slogan.  He always emphasized the team and he brought accountability to all of the players.  Jimmy was always known as a great motivator and the biggest thing that motivated me was that I didn't want to let my teammates down.  Compete, compete, compete.  Jimmy always drove that home."

Three good men.  Many more to follow...

Comments

[JSQ]

GO 'CANES!!!

[CGNC]

Lol at the "be patient" comment 86 - we want our new blog and next National Championship RIGHT NOW - LOL

[DZ8]

Awesome article 86!

Great, funny quotes in there. This site is getting better and better. For the fans by the fans.

Thanks again 86.

[DZ8]

You see Jerome was a player who didn't want to stay on the field too long. The whole defense wanted to get off the field quickly, but Jerome especially. He would get me in a headlock and tell me: "Bennie, you better make a hit or get an interception and get us off this field."

3 and OUT!

[DZ8]

we want our new blog and next National Championship RIGHT NOW - LOL

Posted by: CGNC | October 27, 2009 at 04:07 PM

dam straight we do

[Six]

SIXTH

BOO YA

That black and white pic of Eddie Dunn is awesome. It looks though like it's out in the middle of a field outside of a swamp somewhere

[JSQ]

Nice article, 86. It was a great event!

Sidenote:

Want to win a football signed by the Ring of Honor inductees? Then come in costume to the Palm Beach 'Canes Club Wake Forest game watch at Miller's Ale House on 1200 Yamato in Boca Raton. The attendee with the best 'Cane or football-related costume will win a football autographed by Bennie, Gary (for Eddie), and Steve!

GO 'CANES!!!

[solarcane]

about Ponder not getting his props

4th in the nation in total offense 330 yds per game
237 passes without and interception

Florida State junior QB Christian Ponder, who actually received his bachelor’s degree before the start of the 2008 football season and is scheduled to get his master’s degree by the end of this school year, currently leads the ACC in total offense and passing yardage and ranks 4th nationally in total offense. The Colleyville, Tex., native is averaging 330.4 yards per game of total offense for the Seminoles and has thrown 237 passes without an interception.

peace

[CGNC]

Mad props to Solar for his avatar - Homie D was the best

[SOUP]

Thanks! I fixed the typos and added new stuff under Walsh at the bottom of the article. I rushed it into publishing, my bad.

[SOUP]

Hey CGNC...where haver U been? We missed U!

[Sebastian]

Great article 86

Thanks for the insight and the pictures

I just saw where Spence is out for Saturday

Thats it...Im starting my drive to the Skyway Bridge!!!!

[solarcane]

thanks cg
I have admired your avatar many a time I might add.

I thought homie was fitting the way 86cane is always hasslin me

looking forward to seeing you at Tar Hell
looks like we will have a lot of spacers all over the stadium.

peace

[Texascane]

First time RS has been told to shut up in a while, I bet.

[Six]

Antoine Walker is the ultimate idiot

- $110 million-plus in career earnings

- Unpaid debts totaling more than $4 million

- 10 bad checks for casino markers totaling $1 million in Las Vegas

- Owe his former agent, Mark Bartelstein, more than $450,000 in unpaid fees

- Two Bentleys, two Mercedes, a Range Rover, a Cadillac Escalade, a bright red Hummer

Freaking moron

[CGNC]

86 - just off for a couple of days - posted alot the day of the game and after - got busy though

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1987/1012_mid.jpg

[solarcane]

For the Ladies

Excerpts from an article on why men are dilweeds

"But we don’t really think men should be judging, especially with the laundry list of stupid shyt they like.

#10. Fantasy Sports

“Hey, man how’d your team do?”You might think the guy is actually involved in some sort of extra curricular sports team, meeting on the weekends to play a little two-hand touch or throw a Frisbee. Totally hot, right? Wrong. Instead they are sitting on their azzs in front of a computer screen, picking real athletes who they think may possibly play well that week, and assembling a “fake” team. Yes. That is it. If they happen to choose correctly, other men will then applaud them."

more to follow

peace

[SOUP]

I just saw where Spence is out for Saturday

Thats it...Im starting my drive to the Skyway Bridge!!!!

Posted by: Sebastian | October 27, 2009 at 04:34 PM

Don't do it man! Put down the keys and step away from the car...

[JSQ]

Posted by: solarcane | October 27, 2009 at 04:42 PM

Girls play fantasy sports too, so #10 is crap. Tell me more, solar.

[SOUP]

Nice article, 86. It was a great event!

GO 'CANES!!!

Posted by: JSQ | October 27, 2009 at 04:29 PM

Yes, it was! And it was good to see U and Janice Leis (Ben's mom) there together. I am going to post your pic of the two of U together tomorrow for your blog. Or should I post it here instead?

[JSQ]

Yes, it was! And it was good to see U and Janice Leis (Ben's mom) there together. I am going to post your pic of the two of U together tomorrow for your blog. Or should I post it here instead?

Posted by: SOUP | October 27, 2009 at 04:48 PM

Post it here, please. It won't fit into tomorrow's article, which is a very special edition of "Mary Knows Football."

[dlu]

Very professional new blog with a lot of heart added.

[solarcane]

Very professional new blog with a lot of heart added.
Posted by: dlu | October 27, 2009 at 05:07 PM

dlu it kills me to admit this but soup is getting really really good at writing articles.

peace

[[email protected]@ne]

I do nt think there is any argument that is air tight any more... i guess its the middle age hehe

[Sebastian]

I dont even want to see an injury report for this week

Its depressing enough, I dont need anymore motivation for the Skyway

If anyone has a year of eligibility left please let the coaching staff know

[tortugacane]

Good stuff 86; enjoyed reading.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

about Ponder not getting his props

4th in the nation in total offense 330 yds per game
237 passes without and interception

Florida State junior QB Christian Ponder, who actually received his bachelor’s degree before the start of the 2008 football season and is scheduled to get his master’s degree by the end of this school year, currently leads the ACC in total offense and passing yardage and ranks 4th nationally in total offense. The Colleyville, Tex., native is averaging 330.4 yards per game of total offense for the Seminoles and has thrown 237 passes without an interception.

peace

Posted by: solarcane | October 27, 2009 at 04:30 PM

>>>>

This is almost as bad as Gino winning the Heisman over Faulk.

The good thing though is he's going to keep ballin' and force people to recognize him. But the best news is the NFL will definitely reward his hard work.

Bravo Christian!! Keep rockin.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Fantasy football is absurd.

Soap Operas are even more absurd.

[Canez1]

Faulk was an absolute badazz!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[solarcane]

Faulking around

check out at 25 seconds when he could just go out of bounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIcHlUWfpyY&feature=PlayList&p=3698DCA84EDD4883&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4
peace

[canezilla]

soup,somebody told me they saw u at the ring of honor event with a suit made out of canespace shirts?damn way to put canespace out there !

[CanesAddiction]

Can anybody put a percentage on the chances of a "hangover loss" to Wake Forrest Saturday?

What about the chances that Arthur Brown plays at LB on defense?

[Daytoncane]

i wonder do people actually get together and discuss fantasy football drafts like they do in the commercials?

i always thought that was a complete waste of a person's life. i love the NFL but im not doing that.

[Cat 5 Cane]

The betting line is set at Miami-7

[SOUP]

i always thought that was a complete waste of a person's life. i love the NFL but im not doing that.

Posted by: Daytoncane | October 27, 2009 at 06:37 PM

TOTALLY AGREE!

[SOUP]

soup,somebody told me they saw u at the ring of honor event with a suit made out of canespace shirts?damn way to put canespace out there !

Posted by: canezilla | October 27, 2009 at 06:30 pm

Lies, all LIES!

[solarcane]

canesaddiction

slim and none

dayton,soup,me also

but I used to bass fish every weekend that wasn't college football season, so what's a waste to some people isn't to others.

Although they were real fish i was lying to others about.

peace

[Canez1]

I always thought the same thing about fantasy football.

I still dont do it but my boy does and he says he loves it. It makes watching the NFL bearable again.

Daytoncane that pic scares me dude. Reminds me of how to catch a predator LOL

Just teasin ya bro ;)

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[SOUP]

OK, now everybody here go to the Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel and the UM web site to see if U find anything about the ROH event on Friday.

Go ahead, I'll wait...

[Daytoncane]

"Daytoncane that pic scares me dude. Reminds me of how to catch a predator LOL"

LMAO!!!

Canez1, you shoulda seen my picture when i played football a couple of years ago in college. i was a weakside LB and all the LBs took real scary lookin pics. we all looked like serial killers lol.

[Six]

Six's log, day (fill in the blank) and no sign of The Truth

Am beginning to think he pulled a Brad Pitt in "Legends of the Fall" where he just disappeared on a boat for months, searching new exotic lands and growing his hair out long

On another note, the guy in the gym that makes absurdly loud noises while lifting, sounded like a elephant seal today ... which is a change, b/c he usually sounds like Forrest Gump did when he was mimic-ing the humping sounds his principal made

[Sebastian]

Six
You still holding things down with 1040?

If so did they give you a break off the FU hi-lite stuff

Not much with the Bucs anymore

[Canez1]

Posted by: Daytoncane | October 27, 2009 at 07:15 PM

LMAO!!! You gotta love the mean football pics!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Six]

You mean like this picture of Chris Meyers?

http://i33.tinypic.com/n3p5hj.jpg

Dude looks nuts. I like it.

[solarcane]

Six would be the only guy or gal on this blog that I could see doing Fantasy Baseball and being really good at it.

peace

[SuperCooper]

ARTHUR ARTHUR ARTHUR!!!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

Posted by: Canez1 | October 27, 2009 at 11:14 AM

>>>>>

No Arthur, bro, not yet. He ain't ready. Ray Ray has moved ahead of him. That says it all.

Posted by: Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer | October 27, 2009 at 11:55 AM

Cav, I'm pretty sure that Shannon mispoke during that interview and actually meant Ramon instead of Ray Ray. No way they move him to LB during the middle of the season.

[Six]

Sebastian - let's just say that we're still in "talks" and a certain someone that shouldn't be on the air b/c they're past their prime is still holding up the process

Ha. I tried to be as vague and as informative at the same time

No, I still have to cut "The Damn Gator" highlights every week. (that was for Eddie Dunn)

Good thing though is, since I cut them, I get to put however many bad plays "The Damn Gator" does ... there were a lot against Miss St., so I actually kind of enjoyed it.

The 2 INTs for TDs that MSU had, Tebow getting shut down trying to run for it on 3rd and 1 a couple of times

Best part of the entire highlight reel that I cut was, ESPN put up a kid in the stands that was holding a sign that read TEBOW - and it stood for "The (something) Best Offensive Weapon" - and then about 10 seconds later, he throws that 100 yard INT for a TD. You know damn well I put those two sequences together on that highlight reel, even the replays of the INT

[Six]

solar - that might be true b/c it might have happened and I might have won the league, ha

They even have fantasy NASCAR. A guy up at work does it, he also did fantasy Arena Football

[Daytoncane]

man i miss the off the wall things that this team used to do. back when they didn't care what the outside world thought.

those guys couldn't be phased by anything. i hope randy becomes a little more lenient and let's these guys express themselves a little more.

[Sebastian]

Ha. I tried to be as vague and as informative at the same time

Six- Vague to some and very informative to others

Way to put those highlights together

Only to be topped by the fact that I heard he was a no show at the post game presser

Looks like the untouchable one is crumbling before the nations eyes

We win JSilk credits the team. When we lose or he plays bad hes not afraid to admit it and say its on him

Give me JSilk anyday