"A Tale Of Five" : Documentary on UM running backs


Rakontur set the bar with thir recent documentary on “The U” and now a fellow Cane is getting in the game. Former running back Najeh Davenport is behind this new piece, “A Tale Of Five” -regarding the top flight backs at UM between 1999 and 2004. Aside from Davenport, this era also included Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee and Frank Gore.

No clue where this documentary is at production-wise, but a fellow Cane sent me the trailer link on YouTube and I thought it was worth passing along. Check it out.

A great era for Miami backs. EJ started it in the rebuilding era of the late 90s, getting on board when the Canes were on probation and doing all in his power to bring the Canes back. After leaving before the 1999 season, it was Davenport who was expected to carry the Canes, but the sophomore blew out his knee in the season opener against Ohio State. James Jackson became the go-to, but was eventually supplanted by the talented Portis.

By 2000, it was the Portis show and teamed with a healthy Davenport, the Canes rolled to an 11-1 season and Sugar Bowl win over Florida.

In 2001, it got downright embarassing with Portis the starter, Davenport getting his reps at fullback, the freshman Gore in mop up duty and McGahee getting carries at running back and later at fullback when Davenport was injured for the title game. Four future NFLers in one backfield in one season. Downright scary.

McGahee came damn close to the 2002 Heisman and in 2003 and 2004, it was the Gore show, though the Coral Gables product battled his fair share of knee injuries, as well.

Depth is finally returning at running back for UM. Four more are slated to get on board in February, including the highly-touted Eduardo Clements and Storm Johnson. Combined with last year’s signing of Mike James and Lamar Miller and the Canes appear on the verge of being loaded at running back again.

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5 thoughts on “"A Tale Of Five" : Documentary on UM running backs

  1. POST 1/3:
    Cane305, this comment is about your previous post regarding Shannon’s situation in his first year. I, for one, was always a bit skeptical of Coker taking over the HC job for Butch. He seemed too meek and mild for my liking. As it turns out, history showed that his personality was the perfect type to take over the program – he simply left well enough alone and we won a national championship as a result. What came after those national championship years was another story altogether. I was always worried about the future with Coker. I was a grad student at UM for part of that time (1997-2003) and I felt that somehow Coker, after he had his taste of glory, would be honest about his role in the program and would bow out gracefully after a short stint as HC (say after 3 yrs or so). Either that or the administration would have been courageous and let him go, also admitting to themselves that he did nothing more than let Butch’s juggernaut run itself. Of course, those were my grad student days, full of idealism and naivete. Little did I realize how ego and pride and, of course, money play a role in just about everything, so naturally Coker stayed on too long and ran the program into the ground, which you have documented so well in this and previous posts (little did I know until reading them the extent of the damage he did to our beloved program).

  2. POST 2/3:
    Looking back at that time, I realize that by hiring Coker, Miami gave up their future in favor of winning a national championship. It’s obvious to see that now, although at the time, not so much. I live in Atlanta and have had the unenviable opportunity of witnessing first-hand some of the biggest beat downs in recent Miami history, the 2005 Peach Bowl against LSU and the 2008 GT game. I reference that simply to say that I have hated, absolutely hated, every aspect of this fall to mediocrity or worse. However, if someone had said to me this in 2000: you can trade a national championship now in return for a future of misery; I have to be honest and say that I would make that deal. In the end I believe that’s what we all ultimately agreed to. I think most fans, if they search deep enough, would admit that there is no way that they thought Lawrence Coker was going to be our coach well into the future, leading us to the Promised Land year after year. Anyone who did think that is just plain dumb, in my mind. So, with that said, I think it is incumbent upon every fan to be honest with themselves and to realize that we are paying the price for those decisions made back then.

  3. POST 3/3:
    There is one thing that I have wanted to ask you 305 for as long as I have been reading your blog (since 2007). After the Peach Bowl, I was upset and embarrassed. Even worse than that, I had a sickening feeling in my gut about where we were headed as a football program. I had never seen the Canes perform that way before, they were lifeless, without heart and I was really worried. I got on the web the very next day (no lie) and started looking for something, anything to help me make sense of what I just saw. Lo and behold, I stumbled upon the website cokermustgo.com. What a revelation! I don’t mean to be too melodramatic but it really helped ease my pain. My question to you is whether or not you were the architect of that site? In my opinion, you are far and away the best blogger about Miami football. You have a perspective and way of communicating that perspective that seems to capture the very essence of the program. I am not exactly sure how you do it, but just know that it is a gift. The only other time I have ever read such poignant and insightful blog posts such as yours was when cokermustgo.com was around. I visited that site weekly for a year until it shut down after the hiring of Randy. I thanked the creator then in a post for being the mouthpiece of frustrated Canes everywhere, during a very trying time for the program. Ever since, I have wondered who provided those great posts. I understand, of course, if you would prefer not to answer the question for obvious reasons. After reading your blog for this much time, I believe I know the answer but I thought I would ask the question so as to finally put the mystery to rest in my mind. GO CANES.

  4. Harris lost to Wisconsin, a big ten team and had a 9-4 record.
    Parallels?
    Tebow went 9-4 his sophomore year after splitting time his freshmen year ( sound familiar?)
    Tebow lost his sophomore bowl game against a lower ranked big ten team in the closing minutes (sound familiar?)
    He won the heisman because the media loved him, his stats from that season weren’t that great, he posted much much better stats the next few years.
    I don’t know about you, but sounds strangely familiar to Jacory.

    I’m not saying Jacory will be the next Tebow. What I am saying is you don’t know what will happen. Based on his record, history and stats he has parrels with sophomore campaigns by both Tebow and Jimmy Clausen (in terms of stats, Jacoiry had more wins). But, if the 2007UF team had miami fans, they would be screaming for Meyer’ s head. After all, Meyer was getting wooped in recruiting by an unexperienced coach at a school with little recent power ( Shannon and Miami), plus he had gone 9-4 showing a DECLINE in record from the previous years ( shannon improved). What I’m trying to show is that many things are being overexagerated right now by UM fans, relax.
    Furthermore I would like to say I do not think Shannon is the best coach in the world, but his improvement makes him deserve a chance to finish proving himself. If he doesn’t, then I’m all for firing him, but atleast let him bring things full circle. Worst case scenario we have a stocked team any head coach would take a la Urban Meyer in 2006 ( because what most fans don’t realize is if we fire Shannon good luck finding a coach, after all look at USC’s troubles which pays well, has a great fan base, and a stocked team in national spotlight with a recent tradition of winning)

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