For The Love Of The Game

This article was written for Canespace by blogger UMike

 

Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you there isn’t much I love more than Miami Hurricane football. 

For as long as I can remember I've bled orange and green.  From watching as a child when my grandmother would yell at the TV whenever the Hurricanes were playing to cheering my beloved 'Canes on to victory at the historic Orange Bowl as an adult my love for "The U" never faded.

 

But over time, and as you grow older, you find out that there are some things you love maybe even more than the 'Canes...like children.

 

Some of you here on Canespace have meet my son in person, and to some he is just UMike’s kid, but his love for Canes football runs just as deep as mine. As a lot of you may know, he is in the process of trying out for his middle school football team and is just about a lock to make it.

 

I can’t express the joy I feel watching him play or talking to him about football. I feel closer to my son now more than ever and football is a big reason for it.

 

I have been part of the Canespace family for a few years now and I have received personal advice, legal advice, football knowledge and more on here. Whenever I have posted something non-football related, people were always eager to help out.

 

I have tried to return the favor by writing articles when I can and telling anyone who will listen about “Da Space”, but now I need to ask for a huge favor.  Plain and simple, my son’s football team needs help. 

 

The help is not just for my boy, but all the other kids busting their humps every day out there in the heat to get better. This team reminds me of our ‘Canes in a lot of ways. They are a team with a rich tradition that has recently fallen on hard times with a new coach bringing in old school discipline and hard work to turn things around.

 

 

In 1976 and 1977 the Soddy Daisy middle school team went undefeated and were HCL champs both years.  In 1984 they were the HCAC champs and the runner-up in 1987, 1992 and 1993. However in recent years there has been a steady decline as evident by the JV’s 1-7 record a year ago.

 

Not only haven’t they played like winners as of late, they also didn’t look like winners. From speaking to other parents and listing to coaches comments I learned that last year these kids played with holes in their pants, out of date helmets and on a muddy, dirty field.

 

 

The school hired Coach Ron Cox to turn this program around and I firmly believe he will. Parents like myself and the players have all bought into his system and style of play. Coach Cox is from the old school and is a disciplinarian, much like coach Shannon. He has put academics and hard work first and is doing all he can do to build these kids into winners.

 

And just like coach Cox, I believe these kids deserve more.  After all, it is the kids’ fault they live in a small town with limited revenue or that the economy has caused a lot of budget cuts? These kids love football and their team just like we love our ‘Canes and they are putting in the work every day in practice to get better.

 

They don’t care that the field is a mess, or that the bleachers may fall apart at any moment. They don’t even care that their pants and jerseys may have holes in them.  They just want to play.  They want to play because they love football.  These kids play football for one reason and one reason only:

 

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

 

For that they should be rewarded. They deserve to look like winners, because they are certainly acting like winners. They deserve a nice field to play on, new and safer helmets and uniforms that don’t have holes in them.  These kids deserve our support.

 

Since the start of practice we have had a car wash, sold t–shirts and Coke-Cola products and stood outside of Wal-Mart and begged. We even spent a few hours cleaning up an old run down cemetery to help out the community. 

 

These kids did all this without hesitation, for the community, for their teammates and for their love of the game.  Although they managed to raise some money, they need more. They are trying to install a new sprinkler system, refurbish the bleachers and buy new pants, helmets and jerseys.

 

I think we can help. In fact I know we can.  

 

I know that here on Canespace we don’t always agree on a lot of things, but we can always agree on one thing: our love for football. 

 

I’m asking you to help these kids, because they deserve it. Not because they asked, but because they have earned it with their hard work and dedication.  Let's help these kids become winners again.

 

You do not have to give a lot, but I encourage you to give what you can.  Please follow the link below to donate to the Soddy Daisy middle school football program.  And, to make it easy, you can donate via PayPal, credit card, check, money order or cash. 

 

To donate, and make a difference in the lives of these kids, please visit:

 

http://www.centralvacuumplanet.com/sdms.htm

 

Thank U!

Comments

[UMike]

CGNC (i think i said canechic before)..thought it was you..from NC and the first name..thanks so much..that is enough..trust me...

solar..just got your donation..thanks so much

[solarcane]

my pleasure Umike

[Six]

Ohio State schedules cupcakes from their own state plenty of years

It's rare to not see the following on an Ohio State schedule ..

Akron, Ohio, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Kent State, Cincinnati, and of course Youngstown State

Miami schedules their in-state teams, they consist of: FAMU, FIU, UCF, USF, FSU, UiF

Throw out FAMU and FIU ... UCF, USF, FSU, UiF > All those Ohio teams if they wanted to do a Ohio vs. Florida tourney

[Six]

Dez Bryant is a whiny two-legged snatch

No one questioned his ability to play, but, there were always questions about the type of person he was while at Okie State ... and you're now seeing a perfect example of it coming out

Some players will say that it doesn't really matter as long as he produces on the field ... I've never really bought into that type of thinking when it's a relative issue to playing on the field, like what Dez Bryant said/did

Just f'in do what every other person has been asked to do for a while now in the NFL

Even the great Jerry Rice was asked to do stupid rookie stuff .... it's part of the culture and also bonding with your team

[Six]

Garza just threw a no-hitter for the Rays

Matt Joyce breaks up the Tigers no-hitter with a 2 out, full count, Grand Slam to put the Rays up 4-0

F'in awesome

[Six]

Oh, and Matt Joyce is a hometown kid from Armwood High School ... that makes it even better

[Old Skool]

I second that Native. Good one.

[CGNC]

U are welcome UMike.

[canechic]

UMike - was not me but I will give a little something :)

[UMike]

canechic..I realized that afterwards..my bad...and thank you..I really appreciate it and so do the kids

[SOUP]

2010 leading rusher poll update:

Berry 75%

Cooper 8%

Miller and James with 6%.

Let's see if Shannon, Whipple and Cassano agree?

[ZarOkoN]

watched fsu vs miami. gotta love cooper in that games. he can kill in soo many areas. reciever and runner..kickoffs! that man is a beast. i for one thinks that he should wait in play kinda like how we used Berry last year?? and LOL at FSU's LB getting in trouble...hahaha!

[Cat 5 Cane]

Yahoo front page...

Scanning the web and I ran into this guy... Joe, smiling ear to ear and then glanced into the womens eyes of terror and I wanna GTFOH look!

Old Joe looks like it's the best day of his life and is smiling, cause he is finally getting rid of the 10,000 sq ft white elephant that tied around his neck... LOL

You would never know Joe Guidice was in the middle of foreclosure...

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/nj-housewife-teresa-auctions-off-contents-of-foreclosed-mansion--1417

Before everyone jumps down my throat... no, I didn't read the depressing article but the picture says a 1000 words!!!

Someone pass the scotch!

[SOUP]

If he says he wont be able to make the game or anything like that. They are open to anyone who would like them(3 tickets)again not the greatest seats but thats all I could get them to come off of for that game

Posted by: Sebastian57 | July 26, 2010 at 07:32 PM

Sebastian...I wouldn't wait for Cat5. He always says he's gonna go somewhere and then he no shows. U can't trust him I tell ya!

OK, everybody get ready to Lance Leggett in 5, 4, 3, 2...

[SOUP]

When the Canes hired Shannon, some fans wanted Kragthorpe or Mike Leach from Texas Tech. Glad we went with Shannon.

Posted by: WindyCane1 | July 26, 2010 at 07:50 PM

Can I get an AMEN from the Congregation?

[CGNC]

Six LOL or Dez could have done what Shockey did to Brandon Short when he wanted him to participate in a hazing ritual- knock him to the ground

[SOUP]

Why are we going to play Toledo, I mean a home and home series?? what the heck is Kirby smoking

Posted by: Caniak | July 26, 2010 at 08:32 PM

I don't know but it must be good and strong. I mean he does live and work in the 305, right? We might need to schedule a urine screening for him sometime soon. LOL

[SOUP]

We should schedule San Diego State again!

Posted by: DZ8 | July 26, 2010 at 08:54 PM

Or Houston.

Posted by: Ungar | July 26, 2010 at 08:58 PM

EITHER would be better than Toledo.

[solarcane]

amen

Best thing Leach did was get tossed out of college football just prior to the NCAA witch hunt.

[SOUP]

UMike...did U show the coach and the other parents the article? Email them the link?

[solarcane]

kirby was AD at Ohio U 2005- 2008 where the track team still hangs him in effigy now and then.
Maybe he digs Ohio?

[SOUP]

Clarett led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship in his only college season. He pleaded guilty in 2006 to aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon, and served 3½ years in a Toledo prison, where he took college-credit courses.

Posted by: UMike | July 26, 2010 at 09:30 PM

Wierd, we don't hear about Toledo in a decade and now we heard about it TWICE today?

[SOUP]

kirby was AD at Ohio U 2005- 2008 where the track team still hangs him in effigy now and then. Maybe he digs Ohio?

Posted by: solarcane | July 26, 2010 at 10:52 PM

Doing an old friend a favor?

[solarcane]

Soup I wonder???

I mean playing a Number 1 ranked Miami program at Toledo would surely be their all time windfall no?

[Cat 5 Cane]

Sabastian... just finished reading all of the posts since the morn.... I wrote this two days ago... and posted it... Bro

Hey Sab... My daughter threw in a monkey wrench for next weekends escape. Saying Dad, can you help me move? Yeah I just found a nice place to move into on the beach and could you help,...PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE!...*!@&%$# Ahhh OK..... Damn!

Commented 2 days ago on Manny Navarro Is Keeping His Eye On The U at Canespace article
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Soup... your words have never hit a nerve, as they have just now.

"U can't trust him I tell ya!"

I'm not going to respond to your comment but to only say... See Ya Big guy,... enjoy the extra space that you've created.

To all... Thanks for the many hours of enjoyment.

Cat5Cane... later

[Six]

Maybe Kirby wants to beat every team located in Ohio at some point in time while he's in charge

Or

Maybe Kirby is smart in helping out Boss Man Shannon & Company get more exposure in the state of Ohio, to reel in more recruits such as Latwan Anderson

Just maybe

[Six]

Hell, I was excited just to see the Canes come to Tampa to play - and I know a lot of high school kids around here were excited to see them up close as well

Hell, Derek Jeter came to watch the Canes play at Raymond James - he's never at USF games

Imagine if you're a kid, you have some interest in the Canes -or- you've grown up liking them .... then they come to within a 1 or 2 hour drive of you to Toledo to play - tell me you're not going to head to the game, someway, esp. if you're a potential recruit

[autumn]

Was there a substitute teacher here today?

Posted by: solarcane | July 26, 2010 at 08:35 PM

yeah solar, who let those luna(r)tics run this place?

[zarokon]

MUM ON HENDERSON

Shannon would not discuss newest recruit Seantrel Henderson, an offensive lineman and the nation's top-rated player, expected to report to fall camp.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/27/1747869/a-little-help-from-my-friends.html#ixzz0urLgu3xF

[WGT22]

Cat5Cane... later

Posted by: Cat 5 Cane | July 26, 2010 at 11:04 PM

sooner hopefully

C.A.N.E.S. correct

[Old Skool]

Nigel Carr, 20, faces two counts of burglary of a structure and one count of property damage, theft of a credit card and fraud. All of those charges are felonies, according to the state attorney's office

According to the school's website, Carr "has set new standards of excellence with his work ethic and accountability on and off the field and is poised for a big season after earning most dependable honors among linebackers at the conclusion of spring practice."

[Sebastian]

If anybody wants to go see the Rays v Yanks game on Sunday I still have those 3 tickets

Just need a name so I can leave them at will-call for someone

[Ungar]

Cat5Cane... later

Posted by: Cat 5 Cane | July 26, 2010 at 11:04 PM

sooner hopefully

C.A.N.E.S. correct

Posted by: WGT22 | July 27, 2010 at 06:14 AM

Ditto. Cat 5, you know that is just Soup's sense of humor.

Take two shots at the size of his cranium and call us in the morning!

(I first wrote this as "Take two shots at his cranium and call us in the morning!" but figured you might be carrying.)

[UMike]

SOUP...I have spoke with a few parents about it..but most of them have already given some out side of the $100 it costs for the kids to play. But so far we've got 5 donations from the Canesace family which we appreciate very much...

If anyone needs the link again its.. http://www.centralvacuumplanet.com/sdms.htm there are $5, $10, $20, $50 or $100 options that you can donate wth PayPal or credi card..or you can send a check or money order for any amount.. we got about a week and a half left to collect...I was hoping to get to $1,000, and so far we got $150..but still plenty of time lol

[calGaryCane]

That I know, but why is he wearing a Penn State sweater? Some bet he lost, I presume?

Posted by: CanesFanStuckInCali | July 26, 2010 at 06:12 PM

There were standing bets for the QB's then for FSU, UF and Miami to wear the winner's school sweaters when I was studying there.

I cannot say for sure. Penn state was a NC game, not a series. Also, that game was played as I was leaving Miami after graduating, so I never was able to confirm.

[calGaryCane]

Put it this way: "Did the Americans wear Japanese sweaters after they bombed us as Pearl Harbor?"

Posted by: CanesFanStuckInCali | July 26, 2010 at 06:13 PM

???

[Nashvillecane]

I was listening to Ferman on rivals this morning and he gave a pretty fair out look on the up coming season for the canes...alot of what he said has been mentioned by bloggers here and ob TOS...talked alot bout strenths being rb, wr, dl, but I was surprised to hear him say the db situation looked really good. He went as far as to mention mcgee specifically...he mentioned the question marks and overall key to success being how well the ol and lbs hold up...also he talk about how he doesn't expect Henderson to come in and " take over asap", as he mentioned BIG MAC having to red shirt out of jc...both Ferman and King thot the "ohigho" st game is a measuring stick to guage where team Shannon is in year 4...so I guess we'll see.

[360Cane]

Seba,

How much for the Tix?

[Sebastian]

Not a thing

Just 3 tickets for someone to enjoy the game

[Ungar]

Put it this way: "Did the Americans wear Japanese sweaters after they bombed us as Pearl Harbor?"

Posted by: CanesFanStuckInCali | July 26, 2010 at 06:13 PM

???

Posted by: calGaryCane | July 27, 2010 at 09:34 AM

Did you see "The U"? "Did the Japanese go and sit down and have dinner with Pearl Harbor before they bombed 'em?" He is just playing with that...

I know the story is long and starts with the PSU QB, but it does give you an idea of what was going on behind the scenes there...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=fiesta87

[sebas13]

hey guys whats the story about the tight end that threw up the "U" this weekend its over at canesport ?

[novaCANEPHINatic]

Does anyone know the ticketmaster code for the online presale of Dolphins tickets? I am trying to make a trip down and wanted catch a Canes/Phins home games(10/23-10/24) on the same weekend and wanted to get phins tix before all the brokers do. If not I'll grab em saturday when they're open to the general public. Thanks!

37 days and counting!!

[360Cane]

Seba,

That's awesome! I'll gladly take them. For Will Call use "Ben Guest".

I really appreciate them. We'll be sure to have a blast.

[Sebastian]

Ive never picked up tickets from Will Call before

If thats your real name or its ok to use any name it doesnt bother me, but if they ask for and I.D. you might have an issue

Its a sellout which doesnt come often at the Trop. so be prepared for the cowbells.

Not a problem

[360Cane]

That's my real name. Yea, you have to have I.D. Thanks again.

[Sebastian]

I`ll drop them off tommorrow

I`ll be at the game as well so lets hope the Rays take it to fat azz C.C.

[Ungar]

I must not make a cheap joke about 360Canes' real name.

After all, I bet all of them have been guessed in the past....

[360Cane]

Ungar,

My initials are "B.R. Guest" as in "Be Our Guest". Just a little more for your arsenal! lol

[Sebastian]

Thats why I had to ask

I hope it didnt come across as being rude by me asking

When I 1st read it I wasnt sure

I remembered the insurance guy that lives in the 386 where I used to and figured it very well could be real and I felt bad for asking

[Sebastian]

Ooops forgot to put that guys name

I think Fran lives near his office

Richard Swallows