ItsAUThing.com — Formerly allCanesBlog.com — It's All About 'The U'!

Days like today I don’t know if I’m happier to have been raised a Miami Hurricane, or to not have been raised a Miami Dolphin. The NFL franchise, in the midst of almost a four-decade drought, decided to use Sunday October 23rd as Florida Gator appreciation day – celebrating the 2008 national championship won by that team up north. (Seriously, nothing like that round number – celebrating that oh-so-special three-year anniversary.)

Former UF quarterback Tim Tebow will be in town, holding a clipboard for the visiting Denver Broncos, barring he still has a roster spot in two months. Former Gators head coach Urban Meyer will also be in town, as well as about twenty more players from that championship team.

Mike Dee, CEO of the Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium, dreamed up this idiotic idea. Another marketing hack with zero foresight, completely focused on the short-term with zero long-term vision.

Great job, Mike. That late Sunday in October will be Jortsville, USA and you’ll get a fun-filled couple of hours while Florida fans pointlessly honor a three-year old championship, while clamoring for their Denver-based messiah to take off the headset and beat up on the franchise you work for.

Your promo also gave some extra motivation to three Hurricanes currently suiting up for Denver – Willis McGahee, D.J. Williams and Orlando Franklin – all for what really is a thinly-veiled Tebowfest. Sell out the masses for one guy. Nice work.

On top of that, you’ve completely alienated hometown fans who not only pull for ‘The U’ and your franchise – but Florida State, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Central Florida and South Florida alum who are also Dolphin-loving Gator-haters. Again, kudos.

This is one of those deal-breaking moments if you are a true Hurricane that also considers yourself a fan of the local hometown pro team. This isn’t a slap in the face. It’s a kick in the groin and a loogie in your eye while laughing at your pain.

If the Dolphins weren’t an absolute joke of a franchise, it would rely on wins and on-the-fleld success to fill seats – not selling its soul and hokey gimmicks.

Then again, maybe this is your alternative when you have two playoff appearances this past decade, a 1-15 season a few years back, a slew of horrible free agent signings and a front office with no commitment to winning.

A lot of Boston and New York transplants in South Florida, too. Why not have Patriots- and Jets-themed days, as well? Sales would be through the roof, I tell you.

Dee’s bio states that he attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. He played basketball and earned a degree in government.

In other words, this man hasn’t a clue about rivalries in college football and how deep the hatred runs. Especially in the South and in this case with the big money, egotistical state school versus the private school that’s always been deemed a college football outsider.

Attempt to honor the 2001 Hurricanes at The Swamp and you’re all but assured of a Gainesville-style terrorist attack. Hype the Gators in Miami and it’s just chalked up to clever marketing.

Dee attempted to make sense of his boneheaded decision. “We’re just not in a position to pick sides,” said Dee. “While this is the Hurricanes’ home field, we can’t not market to Dolphins fans who are Gators or Seminoles.”

“We love everybody. We’re agnostic. We root for everybody. Oftentimes that’s a high-wire act, because we certainly respect the University of Miami.”

If you love everybody and root for everybody, you don’t stab the hometown team in the back, pal. You can “market” to Florida and Florida State fans with a pre-game tailgate or other type of event without rubbing your local university’s nose in it mid-field, mid-game.

Beyond that, let’s be honest for a minute here. No one is “honoring” anybody. Parading some kids on to the field at halftime so drunk idiots can clap for them before the third quarter kicks off – that’s a publicity stunt, not a legitimate tribute.

The Dolphins organization has defended this move by letting it be known they also wanted to take a weekend to honor Miami’s 2001 national champion squad.

Yes, that makes total sense. A franchise that has become notorious in UM circles for passing up Hurricane greats – from the Don Shula era to today – now wants to honor ‘The U’?

How about you let UM honor itself, as it plans to do – on a Saturday, in the same stadium you share. In no way does the Dolphins franchise deserve to share in any of UM’s success. Go win your own ring. Quit celebrating 1972 and become relevant in the modern era.

The Dolphins organization has never given a rat’s ass about the Hurricanes — so let’s not start now, for nothing more than the sake of filling some not-so-precious empty seats.

Here’s a plea for Hurricane fans to get back at this boneheaded Dolphins organization. Show up in droves on Sunday September 18th when Houston is in town.

Sport your U gear and cheer for the seven Canes who are currently on the Texans’ roster — Andre Johnson, Chris Myers, Rashad Butler, Eric Winston, Damione Lewis, Darryl Sharpton and Brandon Harris. The lone caveat? Get your tickets via StubHub – current prices as low as $18. Gain access and make sure the Dolphins’ franchise doesn’t get a dime.

I know a large portion of you have stood by this do-nothing NFL franchise for while now, but this is the final straw and it’s time to move on.

UM absolutely needs your support – and your entertainment dollar – more than ever and for anyone that’s been on the fence regarding Saturdays with the Canes or Sundays with the Dolphins, your decision has been made whether you are ready to admit it or not.

Be done with this franchise that’s done nothing in four decades and support the team that’s given you five titles (while playing for ten) in half the time. That may not be easy or doable for the life-long diehard, but for the casual fan, follow the lead of this lifelong Cane who always chose orange and green over orange and teal — pull for the Canes on Saturday and pull for NFL Canes on Sunday.

For those who still choose Sun Life and their beloved Mullets, at least go the StubHub route and root for Canes — not for a franchise that doesn’t care about or support the hometown team.

Honestly, not only are the Dolphins failing on the field and in the front office, but the marketing department might’ve just delivered a bigger bomb than the 2007 season.

Comments

comments