Hurricanes Football: 101

For years the premise intrigued me and after watching “The U” a few weeks back, the concept was solidified; the University of Miami needs to offer an accredited course on “The History of Hurricanes Football”. Your average undergrad could take the class, but it would be created and mandatory for all incoming, football-playing freshmen.

Educate those suiting up for The U about the last three-plus decades of Miami football. Teach them about the storied history. Explain to them the size of the shoes they have to fill and remind them that the need to build on that legacy over the next four years.

As the Rakontur doc played on ESPN last December, I wondered how current Canes, incoming freshmen and national recruits felt about two hours of unabashed, unapologetic UM football history. At 35 years old, I remember and relished in the ‘Decade of Dominance’ era – Miami’s 80s and 90s hey day – but what about those too young to reminisce? Were today’s players reacting to this documentary? Why or why not?

I read about some Miami recruits having watched the piece and dug it, but there was not much coverage regarding current Canes. UM was not on board with the documentary and didn’t want current coaches or players participating; a huge mistake on the university’s part.

Whether or not you approve of the past, embrace it and reshape how the history is told. Point out the good that came from that era – be it the adversity local inner city players overcame, the determination, the leadership, the success.

There was more to Miami football than penalty flags at the Cotton Bowl and a Pell Grant scandal. By keeping your head in the sand, you allow others to tell your story for you, focusing on sensationalism and painting the Canes as bad boys instead of praising the program’s accomplishments.

Hurricanes Football: 101; a way to educate next generation Canes about the job they’re signing on for and the tradition they’re expected to uphold.

Required reading would include Bruce Feldman’s “Cane Mutiny” and Jim Martz’s “Tales From The Hurricanes Sideline” while the Miami Football Vault could be your class textbook, featuring the following chapters:

– Foreward by Randy Shannon
– Shaky Beginnings, 1926-1947
– Coach Gus, 1948-1963
– The Coral Gables Carousel, 1964-1976
– “The State Of Miami”, 1977-1983
– “The U” Against The World, 1984-1988
– Miami Rules, 1989-1994
– Hurricane Watch, 1995-2008
– Afterword by Ted Hendricks

Give a brief introduction week one regarding the program’s inception, up through 1976 and then spend the rest of the semester focusing on 1977 through 2001.

Educate current Canes on Howard Schnellenberger and his impact on the program. How did the long-time NFL and NCAA assistant take a program that went 9-13 during the Lou Saban era and turn it into a champion within five years, as promised?

Break down the good, bad and ugly regarding the Jimmy Johnson era. Hell, even call JJ down in the Keys and invite him up to campus as a guest speaker. Same with coach Shannon and other former players of that era. Randy could talk late 80s, linebacker coach Micheal Barrow could go on about the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ era and Jimmy could drop some of his textbook psychology on the newbies.

Hurricanes Football: 101 – feature a guest speaker every week. From old school former coaches and players, right down to guys from the modern era who are currently dominating at the next level. Schedule the NFL guys on their bye weeks, reminding them that there are other ways to give back besides writing checks.

A three-day a week course could focus on the textbook every Monday, film study every Wednesday – footage of classic games and Guest Lect-U-re Fridays.

I took a one-credit ‘Strength & Conditioning’ course in college, as well as a one-credit racquetball course and a one-credit tennis course. My electives were a joke… which isn’t a shock considering I did my final two years at the University of Florida. (Ouch.)

If I crept one step closer to a diploma for lifting weights and playing games, why can’t a history of football type course be created? Especially somewhere like Miami, where the past three decades have provided so much depth and important information.

Of all the ’30 for 30′ docs on ESPN, only ‘The U’ was two hours (every other doc has been sixty minutes). There’s more than a semester’s worth of history to cover. You’d barely get to the turn of the century before it was time for the final exam.

Save the rest for Hurricanes Football:202 – a study of what made Miami tick between 2000 and 2003. Recruiting. Development. Depth. Domination.

Storytelling is a method of teaching and in this case you’re dealing with student athletes who didn’t see this era first hand. As much as we hate to admit it, 1983 was 27 years ago. Twenty-seven years prior to that it was 1956, which felt like lifetime ago in ’83, let alone ’10.

Even more sobering – the incoming college freshman was born in 1991, when the Canes brought home their fourth title. That generation saw Florida State and Florida combining for three titles before finally seeing Miami wax Nebraska in the Rose Bowl in 2001, the year they turned ten.

Once in high school, it was Florida winning titles – not Miami. No mystery why the Gators are cleaning up on the recruiting trail. ESPN college football coverage has been like a UF infomercial the past three seasons and Florida delivered on the field… until Bame came calling.

Florida’s recent run can’t hold Miami’s jock, but their success in the now – which is a big deal at 35, but monumental when you’re only 18. Before ‘The U’, today’s teenagers flocked to YouTube for vintage Hurricane football footage. Thankfully the Rakontur folk gave the Canes an ‘infomercial’ of their own, which deserves to see the light of day for years to come.

UM admin missed the boat when they had the opportunity to work with Billy Corben and crew, but it’s not too late to do something. Take that footage and use it to your advantage. Create a course… and turn it over to Professor Art Kehoe. There’s no one more passionate about Miami football. Anyone who’s been to a pep rally or Friday morning pre-game breakfast can attest.

The former player and o-line coach can fire up a crowd and capture an audience. Plus, he’s the only Cane in history that sports five UM championship rings.

Art saw everything, playing under Schnelly in the late 70s right up through 2005, working under five different UM head coaches during his tenure. No one more qualified to tell the story, teaching newbies what made Miami, “Miami”.

There’s an opportunity here, UM. Keep the legacy alive through the storytelling. Academically, this university has made a name for itself this past decade and should be proud… but don’t forget about what put Miami on the map in the first place; a winning football program. Now it’s time for you to give back, Administration and top brass.

Build the brand. Think creatively. Market this football program with something other than catchy slogans for Nike to sell.

Teach these current Canes about the past. The future is now as winning ways are needed to keep this thing rolling.

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