ESPN, Billy Corben Present "The U"

About "The U":

Film maker: Billy Corben

ESPN Producers: Keith Clinkscales / John Dahl

ESPN Films’ critically acclaimed “30 for 30” series will conclude its fall slate Saturday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. ET, immediately following the Heisman Trophy presentation on ESPN, with The U - a two-hour documentary about the dramatic rise of the University of Miami football program in the 1980s.

Directed by Miami native and UM alum Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys) and produced by rakontur and ESPN Films, the film is an intimate look at the program’s sudden and jolting transformation into a football powerhouse that essentially changed the rules of the game as told by the players, coaches, students and administrators who were there.

With music by long-time Canes supporter and rap artist Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell and Honor Roll Music, The U peels back the layers of a program that claimed four national titles from the 1983 thru 1991 seasons and produced a steady wave of NFL stars.

Bennie Blades, Melvin Bratton, Alonzo Highsmith, Michael Irvin, Bernie Kosar, Santana Moss, Brett Perriman, Jeremy Shockey and former head coaches Dennis Erickson,Jimmy Johnson and Howard Schnellenberger are among the 38 program insiders who were interviewed about what propelled Miami to the top and kept it there as the brash, controversial team its competition loved to hate.

I had the opportunity to join other media representatives from across the Country on a ESPN conference call on Wednesday and chat with Billy Corben the Director of the The U.  On Monday, December 7, I will publish that interview and let U in on some of what Billy had to say about the film, the Canes and the magic that happened at The U in the 1980s.

As many of you here at Canespace know, I graduated from the University of Miami in 1986 and had the opportunity to be on campus between 1981 and 1986 during the rise to glory of the Hurricane football program.  I spent a lot of my time at UM in Eaton Hall just across from the now infamous Building 36 where the UM football team was housed. 

I also was part of the West End Zone Rowdies that graced the Orange Bowl back in the day, and oh baby, those were the days!  There was nothing like a sold out Orange Bowl to intimidate an opposing team.  The "58 Straight" sign hanging in the Northwest corner of the stadium didn't hurt either!

I will be attending a special "invitation only" premiere of the film in Miami on December 9 along with Palm Beach Canes Club Athletic Events Coordinator Mary Clark (JSQ) and PBCC President Ben Leis.  We will cover the event for the blog with interviews and photos of the players and coaches who will also be on hand to see the screening of the film before its official release on December 12.

Until then just remember this: It's all about The U!

Comments

[Esteban]

Talk about let down. I thought u were going to say u saw it already.

[pb(CSROH10)]

Go Canes!

[SOUP]

ESTE...NO BUT IF YOU ARE NICE I MAY POST A LINK TO THE SOUNDTRACK AND A MOVIE TRAILER U CAN WATCH?

[DZ8]

Be nice Esteban! We want to see the link!

[DZ8]

I saw a comercial for it yesterday. Started to get me psyched!

[CaneSawMassacre]

I'm nice... Pleas post... link.NOW!

[SOUP]

OK, DZ8 and CSM, here it is:

http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2009/11/espn-films-presents-the-u/

[CaneSawMassacre]

Very very cool. Can't wait to see it.

[Rashad Reed]

Great link 86!!! Im fired up just watching it. Go Canes!!!

[86Cane]

Lots more to follow on Monday night at 7 PM.

The interview with Billy Corben was off the chain! Great guy, awesome interview!!!

[86Cane]

Raycom loves me, ESPN wants me.

Tee hee, tee hee

[CaneSawMassacre]

Can you answer one question 86... How does Billy feel about this current team compared to the older ones?

[pb(CSROH10)]

Damn that video was awesome.

[DATcane]

can the U run out of the smoke to that Uncle Luke song from now on!!! please!!!!!

[86Cane]

TEASE:

Tune in Monday night @ 7 PM and I will tell U! And a little something about what Jimmy Johnson and Alonzo Highsmith told Billy about the 1986 UM team also.

[raizecane]

Love the song.....how can i get that downloaded so I can play it on a MP3?

[Six]

"I would take all the guys I played with at the University of Miami, put them on one team, and I guarantee you we'd beat the s*** out of 90% of the people in the NFL .. that's what everybody knows, that's a fact ... that is a f*****g fact"

- J.Shockey

I couldn't stop laughing when I heard him say that

[86Cane]

Six...U think that is good? Wait until U hear what I have from the interview!

BTW the only South Florida media rep on the call apart from me was Ethan Skolnik from the SS. WTF is that?

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

I want to play Cincy

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

Wansteid is going for it wow, Dave Punt is going for it on 4th down

[John]

I think it's laughable the DA U DVD is being tauted as a recruiting tool. Thats like Parcells showing the '72 fins highlights to woo free agents.

[CaniaK aka True Canes]

That kid Deion Lewis was good

[canechic]

TJL, captain of the football team, graduate from Dartmouth and very easy on the eyes he is quite a catch!

[pb(CSROH10)]

Posted by: John | December 05, 2009 at 12:20 PM

I think it will be huge for recruiting.

[canechic]

raize google the music from "THE U" see what comes up and then go to I tunes or your regular music search site and see if they have those songs.

[Six]

What is a "Ethan Skolnik"? Sounds like a horrible drink served in some eastern bloc country, where Miami Vice is just now coming onto their televisions & they're just getting over Streets of San Francisco

I did hear what Randall Hill said about him running into the tunnel and pretending he had the six shooters, in the '91 Cotton Bowl

That was hilarious too. That's the type of stuff I wish the present Canes would say

[canechic]

I agree PB - kids in high school today are way into the 80's mystic (you know bad hair, too much makeup and neon colors lol)

[canechic]

But I am serious they are way into the "Way B!tchin 80's"

[DZ8]

Posted by: John | December 05, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Right after the Heisman trophy presentation... ya that'll hurt recruiting.

Hey jealousy...

[DATcane]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&ved=0CAkQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthe305.com%2F2009%2F11%2F23%2Fmp3-uncle-luke-the-u-theme-song-from-documentary-the-u%2F&rct=j&q=uncle+luke+the+U+&ei=45gaS8u0EY6Ytgezr_HZAw&usg=AFQjCNHBwG92R84sTYHyfKYui9-CxkkraQ

U

[RandyCane]

Like the RayCom site 86, Mrs 86 e-mailed me about getting a new 5 Iron, what,s up with that?

[pb(CSROH10)]

CC you are absolutely right!

We were partying in Key West about two months ago and this cover band was playing songs from groups like Journey and the Violent Femmes. The 20 somethings out on the dance floor knew every word to the songs!

Then the DJ started playing LL Cool J, DJ EZ rock and 80s rap/funk/dance and they were loving it.

[DATcane]

jus set that song as my voice mail

[Six]

Here we go, it's the first jackass of the day being reeled into the Canespace boat

It's a whopper of a jackass, didn't put up much fight, the Canespace put out some trolling bait and along came the stupidest fish first. It's named a "John". Although we didn't think we'd come upon a school of jackasses so quickly, I guess the Canespace hit one of them straggling too far away from the school

Na, if I'm a recruit from south Florida and I see this documentary, it would never help draw me to The "U" - or recruits from other parts of the country that have grown up Cane fans and see it either. They might not recognize players from the past, but I'm pretty sure they recognize someone like, I dunno .. Jeremy Shockey, Johnathan Vilma, Willis McGahee, etc.

And I'm sure they never watch the NFL, ever, so they wouldn't know about how many players there are in NFL"U" - and I'm sure none of those players appeal to them at all or are on their favorite team

No high school kid knows who these guys are, or try and model their game after them:

Ed Reed
Ray Lewis
Andre Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Jon BeasTon
Vince Wilfork
Brandon Meriweather
Kenny Phillips
Jeremy Shockey
Johnathan Vilma
Santana Moss
Clinton Portis
Rocky McIntosh
Antrel Rolle
Kelly Jennings
Frank Gore
K2
Greg Olsen
"Anytime" Hester
Willis McGahee
Calais Campbell
Tavares Gooden
DJ Williams

And no high school kid who hears anything about The "U" or visits, sees any of these same guys working out in the same gym that they could possibly be working out in. B/c all the kids that Boss Man Shannon brought in, know who every single guy in this documentary are, right? No, they probably don't - but they see what those players did wearing those uniforms, how they were, how current Canes have that same demeanor & are preaching how it is CLOSER than family - it's better than recruiting b/c it is visual history to see to these kids. It's a hell of a lot easier to watch it than to have a coach try and explain it. B/c it didn't work for the current Canes that Boss Man Shannon brought in, right? B/c none of those kids brought up any of those points .. right?

Dumbass

[Old Skool]

Wilson took the LSU job. Robinson ain't going there.

[86Cane]

Like the RayCom site 86, Mrs 86 e-mailed me about getting a new 5 Iron, what's up with that?

Posted by: RandyCane | December 05, 2009 at 12:32 PM

Yeah she used my old 5 iron to hit a nice low draw into the driver's side rear window of the Isuzu after she found that other famous golfer's wife's number on my phone.

Mrs. 86 used to be a "hooker". I told her to move the ball back in her stance, keep her head still and slow down her swing a little and that would fix it.

At least she wasn't a "slicer"...LOL

[86Cane]

Six...yeah "John" and "Brass Monkey" on the last blog are probably the same idiot trolling again.

Let it go man, do it NOW!

[roachcane77]

Nice post 86... can't wait to hear/read the interview Monday nite.

Ah yes... had a good friend in Eaton Hall... did some heavy partying there... just off the lake... kinda fuzzy now though... (go figure.)

Wow... "The U" film won't affect recruiting? What are you thinking John?

Can't wait to see that film... Billy Corben KNOWS how to do documentaries my friends.

[DZ8]

Posted by: Six | December 05, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Open and shut.

[roachcane77]

Wow, Pitt up 21-10? Barely into the 2nd qtr.

Where was this O production when Dave W. was with the Dolphins?

[86Cane]

Pitt is takin' care of bidness!

Pitt 21, Cincy 10

Pitt ball on an INT

[roachcane77]

Snow must be getting into the officials eyes... I've seen 4 missed calls already in Pittsburgh.

[Canez1]

Cincy is in a dogfight.

Pitt has a tough squad.

A ton of great football today and nothing to do.

Perfect afternoon!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[RBLCane]

Cincy's D getting SHREDDED out there. ND better wake the f up and realize another offensive coach is not the answer. Butch Davis is the answer... Would love for Randy to whoop him as a golden domer!

GO CANES!

[Canez1]

The kid Lewis is a stud.

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[Lurker]

Love the blogs, 86...you're firing them out machine-gun style. You're in no-huddle offense mode.

Six, you nailed it, my friend. That fish was reeled into the boat, but you gutted and filleted the JohnMullett. Niiiice!

Go Canes!

[Six]

It's beyond pathetic just how large of an inferiority complex the entire Croc fan base has. Here you have a team that is just 8 quarters away from winning back-to-back national championships (3 in 4 years) .. but yet .. they still are haunted by that little image when they close their eyes that is as bright and huge as a Las Vegas billboard - and it reads "4 < 5"

No matter what they do, they still feel inferior - though they won't admit it - and it kills them. It kills them to have less titles .. it kills them to have far less talent in the NFL"U" .. it kills them that their golden boy, who some delusional fans say will go down as the greatest college football player ever (with all the records, awards, titles) won't even play his position in the NFL"U" - let alone get drafted before the 4th or 5th round. They say it doesn't matter to them, but, deep down it does.

It will sting when NFL scouts say that they'd rather have a college Sophomore QBs Case Keenum & Robert Griffin the 3rd, than one of the most decorated college QBs ever. It will sting when the NFL scouts say that they'd rather draft a college Junior QB whose team is 4-7 (probably 4-8 after tonight) in Jake Locker .... but, but, the golden boy IS their offense, right? He's the only reason they win, right? He's the QB of the best team in college football the past 2 years and he broke Herschel Walker's record - so he's gotta be better than Herschel and all the other QBs that have come through the SEC, the toughest conference there is and, and, and .... yeah.

It stings and so does an inferiority complex, huh Crocs

[canechic]

Wow Cincy getting it handed to them....please let this happen all day UPSETS!!!

[CanesFan_GatorGrad]

Thanks for the link SOUP. That video has me hyped.

The running back for Pitt looks real good. Pitt is putting on a show.

And my Ali Gators gonna take it to 'Bama soon.

[CanesFan_GatorGrad]

Gilyard with a BIG kick return. Anyone know how this guy left the state of Florida? Were we, the Gators, or the Noles were after him?