Living In The Past

This article was written for Canespace by SolarCane...

I was cruising along listening to Sting on one of those brand new CDs.  

Sally Ride had just brought women to heights never dreamed of 25 years ago.

The Return of The Jedi was playing in every theater in America at the same time.

It was 1980 something and life was good.

It was 1983 when the Miami Hurricanes shocked the world and were National Champions for the very first time. The Canes, led by a pipe smoking Head Coach named Howard Schnellenberger and without a single All-American on the roster, beat what was considered to be one of the best teams of all time. 

I thought to myself for a Hurricanes fan it can't get any better than this!  But it would. 

Living in the past is best left for old men on front porches I guess.
 
Wall Street crashes, Good Morning Vietnam is a hit, Jimmy Baker isn't, President Reagan and Bono are super heroes.  The Miami Hurricanes are becoming the most feared team in the country, and the most loved by television networks.

It was 1987 and the Canes would go 12 and 0 and win their second National Championship in five years after UM Athletic Director Sam Jankovich was ridiculed by Hurricane fans for brining in some unknown coach from Oklahoma State. 

I thought to myself, for a Canes fan it can't get any better than this!  But It did.

Living in the past seemed like a waste of time now; I couldn't wait for next season!
 
The Exxon Valdez spilled it's cargo, Hurricane Hugo slammed into South Carolina, and the San Francisco Earthquake were all terrible news.

Yet to Miami Hurricane fans it was the departure of UM Head Coach Jimmy Johnson that brought the most anxiety. The uncertainty of bringing in yet another head coach has the fans more than a little worried.

The Berlin Wall came down, giving us all something to cheer about.  But it was the Hurricanes' defense that received the standing ovations from Miami fans. Giving up just 9.3 points a game the defense allowed the new offense plenty of room to grow.  At the time, it seemed almost too good to be true.

It was 1989 and the 'Canes were National Champs for the third time under their third Head Coach of the decade in Dennis Erickson.  I thought to myself for a Cane's fan it can't get any better ever!  But it did.
 
Two more National Championships would be won in 1991 and 2001, bringing the current total to five.  Larry Coker, the player's choice for Head Coach, would be come the fourth UM Head Coach to win a National Championship, the Hurricanes first of the new century.  A second consecutive BCS Title in 2002 narrowly escaped the Hurricanes' grasp.

It was a new and different era in the early years of the new millenium, but it felt a lot like 1980 something.  Much like the time when playing for a National Championship every year was a given, and winning one every fews years seemed to be inevitable if not absolutely certain.

Coaches have come and gone. Miami Hurricane players have gone on to the NFLU, some into the Hall of Fame.  But looking at old pictures in dusty scrapbooks is only great if you like living in the past.

So now I dare you to join me for a peek into the future where several things are for certain. Every record we thought was unbreakable will be broken. Every player we considered the greatest, will be surpassed.  Another National Championship will be won. 

These are the reason why the games are still played each season.

Stop living in the past.

There are still college kids at the University of Miami with their whole lives in front of them.

They too are quality kids and talented players just begging for our attention.

Let’s enjoy watching them make some history of their own.

Comments

[woobirdsatsunlife]

I have faith in Haith.

[solarcane]

yup

[solarcane]

woobird cuts the light, sweet!

[Old Skool]

Slow slow slow slow dang

[solarcane]

skool maybe an energy drink, and a protein bar
or as you and I would do it
an RC Cola and a Moon Pie

[solarcane]

soup, nice touches with the editing thanks!

got to cut a few signs be back in an hour

[JSQ]

Cav I have no idea if that story I posted te link to is true. Seine posted it on my Facebook page and I thought it would be of interest to the space and I reposted it. That's it.

[Old Skool]

Solar quit offering sensible perspectives, people get more passionate over useless trivia.

You offer us a tall drink of cool water when we're all used to mainlining Kool-aid.

[JSQ]

Someone. iPhone strikes again. Sorry for typos.

[canesteeler]

Moon Pie, damn I use to love those!

[JSQ]

Nice article Solar.

Okay back to the foster kids and firefighters be back later.

[PhillyCane]

Ne one got a link to watch the bball game on?

[86Cane]

soup, nice touches with the editing thanks!

Posted by: solarcane | February 10, 2010 at 08:12 PM

It ain't no thang, it's what I do.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

I have absolutely NO faith in Haith. Zilch.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

an RC Cola and a Moon Pie

Posted by: solarcane | February 10, 2010 at 08:11 PM

>>>

haha, good ole moon pies. haha

[Old Skool]

Moon pies absolutely. I actually brought some to a Thanksgiving dinner as a part of a Southern gift basket along with Chow-chow, hot boiled peanuts and chewing tobacco.

It was not one of my better ideas.

Did you used to put peanuts in your RC too?

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Old Skool, that's some funny shat right there bro'. lol

[PhillyCane]

a yes or no would be nice.. bball game link?

[FightingIbis]

So I've been gone for a few days and was wondering if I missed anything of importance? Way to many posts to read through.

RB coach hired?
Anybody transfering?

Would love a summary...

[SlingBlade]

60-55 with 3 min left
all canes

[SlingBlade]

im on espn philly...just watching the gamecast...

[PhillyCane]

thnx same

[miamimike01]

Philly, the game is almost over.

RB coach hired?
Anybody transfering?

Would love a summary...

Posted by: FightingIbis | February 10, 2010 at 08:48 PM

Mike Cassano, from FIU, was hired. Coached with Whipple at UMass.

Arthur Brown left the team.

[SlingBlade]

canes win....canes win.....canes win.....canes beat 20th ranked Georgia Tech and improve to 11-1 at home...

[splarfy]

Canes Win! Finally!

[PhillyCane]

wow i wish i saw the end of that game

[86Cane]

canes win....canes win.....canes win.....canes beat 20th ranked Georgia Tech and improve to 11-1 at home...

Posted by: SlingBlade | February 10, 2010 at 09:01 PM

U called it! U got this!!!

[miamimike01]

If we could only have those two Boston College games back...

[KLCaneFan]

Sooo happy the Canes pulled out a win, but faith in Haith... :/

[solarcane]

Skool,
yea I used to open the end of the little tube bag and let the peanuts slide down into the RC or Coca- Cola.

I never had a clue why we did it but I knew it was tradition and not to be questioned.

Remember when Topp Cola came out with the first 16oz bottle and people said no one could ever drink the entire thing?

What are fountain drinks at gas stations now, around 80 oz lol!

[Daytoncane]

maybe the Canes don't need televised games. they seem to win more when they're not on tv.

[solarcane]

Capt0
I would never picture you letting anything as damaging as Moon Pie enter your body,.
I guess we were all addicted to crap at one time or another.

[404Canes404]

imma go out on a limb here and predict a canes win tonight against GT.....

Posted by: SlingBlade | February 10, 2010 at 07:06 PM

Great Call Sling! Go Canes! Maybe the NIT dream is still alive!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: 404Canes404 | February 10, 2010 at 09:20 PM

[solarcane]

Vince steeler,
When we go to Sam's Club, I look at the industrial size box of Moon Pies and wish I could eat the entire crate of them right there.
If I had a fork lift with me I might even buy a box and take em home. lol

[JSQ]

What are the 80s without pictures of me sucking my thumb holding my cabbage patch doll? Thanks for writing an article that made me feel young, Solar!

Packing for Lombardi Gras. I presume bringing your own beads is a faux pau but I'm doing it anyway.

I'll be there soon, Jeremy!!!

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Solar, nice piece.

BG, Berry needs more muscle to really turn the corner. He has the vision and explosion but he'll be much better with another 10 pounds of rock.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Capt0
I would never picture you letting anything as damaging as Moon Pie enter your body,.
I guess we were all addicted to crap at one time or another.

Posted by: solarcane | February 10, 2010 at 09:20 PM

>>>>

In my ignorant youth, definitely. lol

I even drank soda pop. haha

[miamimike01]

solar,

great article. Oh, the good ole' days...

[SOUP]

Check it:

http://www.theunews.com/

[mr troutman]

On Arthur Brown Situation...

Yeah he finally caved in after he realize more studs are on the way and he might not see the field. I heard other things went down but it is kept within the U family. He was a prime example on how a 5 star can be the star in another state but can be mediocre in another.

Shannon wanted more physical linebackers so will see if we got what he wanted. i like the guy from gainesville i think Nelson (sorry I don't know everyones name yet but come Sept they'll be household names.

i just want us to have a Big TEN type size lineman and linebackers but Florida type Wrs and Rb and Dbs and we ARE NOW COMPLETE AND READY TO BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF TEAMS AND I MEAN LITERALLY LEAVING THEM SNOTTY.

peace!!!

[SOUP]

TROUT! Tell 'em how it's gonna be.

MM01 is your man on Kevin Nelson. He will tell U all about him.

[FightingIbis]

Arthur Brown is a great example of why I put absolutely zero stock in recruiting sites. Wish him all the best but doubt he'll pan out. That darn light just wouldn't come on for him. I guess once he got on the field with football players he realized he'd been playing something different all together there in Kansas.

[JCane]

Nice win by Haith's boys tonight, although we sure did make the second half exciting, almost blowing the 14 point halftime lead completely. Luckily Dews came through at the end when we needed that bucket to break the tie. The story of the second half was GT dominance, as we were outrebounded, missed FTs, didn't convert well after turnovers and shot poorly (including 1/9 from 3 point-land). Luckily the D was solid and GT wasn't on fire in the second half, or the 14 point lead would have been demolished. Not meaning to take anything away from a nice win over a ranked team, as given the ACC season thus far a win is a win, and they didn't completely cave at the end as they've been prone to do (ie B.C.).

As for the football ticket policies, I agree about the great teams over the last few decades and all, but we're not exactly Penn State, OSU or Mich when it comes to attendance. Folks who have gone to the games through thick and thin, including during the 60s and 70s, shouldn't be discarded suddenly because of a good record and not donating enough. Many football factories fill up the stadium regardless, but the U isn't like that, and this needs to be considered when it comes to marketing. This never has and won't change my love for the U, and I'll still likely end up going to the OSU game, but I don't have to like or agree with the policies.

[JCane]

Solar and Dayton:

Nice last two articles, guys.

[The Truth]

Yeah solar - nice job...

[solarcane]

FightingI,

I hear ya.
When you recruit the best player in the nation from a state that is basically a big dirt field with a Waffle House on one end and a Greyhound Bus Station on the other; well you get what you pay for.

[JCane]

I see, per Rivals, that A. Chickillo is planning to graduate early. Obviously legacies don't always end up where you'd think (ie like nameless 'turds), but I'd be hard-pressed to believe a third generation would break ranks.

[solarcane]

aight boys an girls I'm down

Great night indeed, soup didn't even tase anyone.

of course its early and
Truth and Canez1 are back from Time Out and in the same room.. add pb and Six in a few and who knows what evil lurks in the hearts on men

im out

[Daytoncane]

nice article solar.

but you know our fans will always live in the past.

[pb(CSROH10)]

Just got in from the Canes game last night.

They have lots of good young talent but they are in serious need of some coaching on the offensive end.

They had at least 7 second half posessions where they didnt even start their offensive set til there was less than 10 seconds left on the clock.

Even though they won, their offense is shockingly basic and fails to put the ball in the hands of their scorers in a position to make a play.