State of The U - Gameday MemoriesPissed Off For Greatnesshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52592/sotu_fav.png2020-07-15T16:15:00-04:00http://www.stateoftheu.com/rss/stream/210645832020-07-15T16:15:00-04:002020-07-15T16:15:00-04:00Gameday Memories: Stephen Morris and Ryan Williams throw Canes past Bulls in 2013
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<p>Miami’s last trip to Tampa featured one of its best offenses in a long time on full display. </p> <p id="BXZKcB">We all have those seminal games that we will remember forever. Tackling our neighbor in the stands as Xavier Beitia’s kick sailed wide left in 2002. The pandemonium of <span>Trajan Bandy</span>’s return against Notre Dame. The awe of <span>Sean Taylor</span>’s unparalleled superiority over his college peers in the 2003 win over FSU. We celebrate those as naturally as we breathe air. It’s just easy. </p>
<p id="Q2gCqX">This.....is not one of them. Now, that doesn’t mean this type of gameday experience isn’t worth remembering, because it absolutely is. I happen to think Raymond James Stadium in Tampa is one of the most enjoyable venues I’ve been to, and the tailgating scene is relatively underrated, both for college and NFL games. </p>
<p id="CArwjI">When USF last hosted Miami in 2011, the game was at night, and the fans were rowdy and filled up the stadium well, which was not a common occurrence in Tampa (for either college or NFL). They had just beaten Miami the previous year (the nail in <span>Randy Shannon</span>’s coffin) and were still trying to prove to the college football world that their comeuppance since 2007 was not a fluke. They had already beaten Miami, FSU, Notre Dame, and Auburn, and were trying to big game hunt again against a Miami team that had fallen to 5-3. Miami won likely the ugliest football game I’ve ever witnessed in person 6-3, with <span>Jake Wieclaw</span> knocking through the game winner as the clock hit 0:00. Absolutely horrid game, but a win is always a win. Remember this kick?</p>
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<p id="Lfn3vK">Flash forward two years later, and Miami came to Tampa ranked #15 after a 3-0 start, which was highlighted by a 21-16 upset over then-number-12 Florida. Whether or not it was due to the excitement of the hot start, or the availability of tickets (there were MANY fewer USF fans this year than in 2011), the Miami crowd was in Tampa in full force on September 28, 2013. </p>
<p id="CVmY8I">At the time, I was living and working in Tampa. I lived about 5 minutes from Raymond James Stadium, so the game being as close as possible to my back yard was the best thing ever. I relished this series, having been able to attend the games in Tampa in 2009, 2011, and 2013. </p>
<p id="6D4R6M">That Saturday morning, I got up early and headed down to the stadium area to meet up with my buddy Matt (who I’ve mentioned multiple times in this series). We roomed together at Miami, and were actually practicing law at the same law firm in Tampa at that time in Tampa at that I was able to find parking without any problem. That’s the thing about Raymond James Stadium: the surrounding area consists of huge open fields with cars packed in, so it’s really easy to find a spot to park, set up your tent on grass, and get the grill going. </p>
<p id="KhpBMR">But that’s not what we did. I walked over from the lot to Himes Avenue, the side street that runs North-South by Ray Jay. Along Himes is a place called the Pirates Den (aptly named, given the NFL team), where the UM Alumni Association was having an eat-and-greet for alums and friends. Having bought a ticket, we stopped in and loaded up on food, along with the beer they were serving. It’s never too early for an ice cold one on game day. </p>
<p id="8E9ag8">I also vaguely remember athletic director Blake James being around that day. I spoke to him multiple times in Tampa, as he was at the UM alumni booster meeting once before. I can’t remember if it was that previous day, or the day of the tailgate, but we talked about how much he wanted to add the Gators to the schedule permanently, with the hold up being on their end. Seemed like a long shot, given Florida’s home scheduling requirements, the annual FSU game, and the rigors of an SEC slate. 7 years later, it proved to be the long shot it was then. </p>
<p id="puP9Zb">Being close to the corner of the stadium, we sat there and watched the fans come and go. There were so many Miami fans there that day walking around, shouting confidently, which became equally apparent when we got to our seats before the noon kickoff. The Canes were on the field warming up, sporting their stormtrooper uniforms (which should be the permanent road unis, if you ask me). Looking around, there were Canes fans everywhere. I didn’t go to FSU 2017, but from all the videos I saw and accounts of people who were there, it was a huge turnout. I don’t know if this was on that level, but there were a bunch of Miami fans in the lower level, and it was a sight to behold. </p>
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<cite>Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="ETfp59">The first half ended up being one of the most lopsided (in a positive sense) halves of Miami football I’ve ever seen. The Canes hopped on the board early, with <span>Dallas Crawford</span> doing what he did best - rumbling into the end zone, this time from 7 yards out. USF actually answered on the next drive, with running back <span>Marcus Shaw</span> scoring on a 3-yard run after setting the Bulls up with a 44-yard scamper. </p>
<p id="uIr96p">And I remember there being a bit of energy from the USF fans, and a little bit of WTF from my end on how the Bulls bullied Miami’s defense so easily. </p>
<p id="pmbDue">Then, the Canes blew past the Bulls like they were sitting still and left them with a gravel-cracked windshield in a cloud of dust. </p>
<p id="ud7SaD">On the following play, <span>Stephen Morris</span> found <span>Phillip Dorsett</span> on a go route for a 55-yard gain. Five plays later, Morris found <span>Herb Waters</span> on a skinny post for a 19-yard score.</p>
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<cite>Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="n4Ms5v">As the first half went on, and the Canes made chunk play after chunk play and pulled further and further away, I just remember thinking to myself, “dang, this is what Miami’s offense looks like when it’s clicking.” Miami’s 2013 offense just so absolutely loaded with talent; the locker room was basically a luxury car garage. Duke was a Lamborghini, Dallas was a Hummer, Dorsett was a Ferrari, <span>Allen Hurns</span> was a Maserati, <span>Clive Walford</span> was a BMW SUV, and <span>Stacy Coley</span> was a Mercedes. So much speed, so much explosiveness, so many weapons. A talented offensive line featured <span>Ereck Flowers</span>, <span>Seantrel Henderson</span>, <span>Jon Feliciano</span>, and <span>Brandon Linder</span>. Morris was underappreciated (IMHO) at UM, and when he was on, he was as good as anyone has been since the glory days (the 2012 NC State game showed that). What I wouldn’t give for that defense to have held its own down the stretch of 2013. 10 or 11 wins were obviously well within reach. </p>
<p id="kSzVAF">And all of those weapons were on display right before our eyes in that first half. Up 14-7 after forcing a three-and-out, Morris found Walford for 18 yards, Dorsett for 19, then <span>Coley</span> for a 34-yard touchdown right in front of where we were sitting. 21-7. After another long drive, ended in a fumble, the defense forced a fumble three plays later, which they recovered for a touchdown and a 28-7 lead. It was all over by that point, but the Canes weren’t done. </p>
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<cite>Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="d1AB1U">Well, actually one Cane was. Morris left the game with an injured ankle, and had nothing kind to say about the USF defense afterwards, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fncaaf%2F2013%2F09%2F28%2Fmiami-qb-stephen-morris-calls-usf-a-dirty-team%2F2888761%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stateoftheu.com%2F2020%2F7%2F15%2F21324476%2Fmiami-hurricanes-gameday-memories-stephen-morris-and-ryan-williams-throw-canes-past-bulls-in-2013" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">calling them “a dirty team to say the least.”</a> Sounds like the Bulls defenders tried to give Morris the Darnell-Dockett-in-the-pile treatment. </p>
<p id="md3NBn"><span>Ryan Williams</span> came in and didn’t miss a beat. He engineered the last touchdown drive of the first half, finding Allen Hurns for a long gain into the red zone, where Duke finished off the drive. 35-7. <span>Matt Goudis</span> missed a chip shot field goal to take that lead into the locker room. <span>Williams</span> finished the day with For the day, Coley, Hurns, <span>Waters</span>, and Dorsett each had catches of over 30 yards. </p>
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<cite>Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="dTLlFV">What I remember was how easy everything looked. How completely stress free this game was. Yes, USF was in its first year with Willie Taggart and were absolutely terrible this season (2-10), but Miami still dominated as it should have. By the third quarter, it was 49-7. Miami took their foot off the gas and let the Bulls score two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but we had left by that point. We figured it would be best just to get to a bar, grab some wings, and get ready to watch the 3:30 pm games. After all, we had seen a month’s worth of offensive highlights in one explosive half of football. </p>
<p id="grxOcp">So, I guess I decided to write about this game, because that half of football still sticks out to me as one of the most explosive and productive I’ve seen in recent memory....well, at least against an FBS team. The most fireworks I’d seen in a half in person, at least. </p>
<p id="8oCFTn">Anyone else at this game, or any of the other games in Tampa from 2009-2013? Anyone else hoping this series gets renewed down the line? Let’s hear it. Go Canes. </p>
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https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/7/15/21324476/miami-hurricanes-gameday-memories-stephen-morris-and-ryan-williams-throw-canes-past-bulls-in-2013Craig T. Smith2020-07-10T17:15:00-04:002020-07-10T17:15:00-04:00Gameday Memories: Canes crush Irish, christen Hard Rock Stadium as new home
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<figcaption>Matt, John, and I tailgating before the Canes laid the wood to the Irish. </figcaption>
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<p>My first trip back to campus since 2004 and the Canes’ domination made for a weekend to remember. </p> <p id="T9aam5">My friends Andy, John, Matt and I (as I wrote about previously with the App State game) have been trying to get together every year for one sporting event, which is usually a Canes game. Matt lives in Tampa, John in Jacksonville, Andy in Charlotte, and me in the Savannah/Hilton Head area. As such, it’s quite the undertaking for us all to get together. </p>
<p id="XF2xFi">When the 2017 schedule came out and the Notre Dame game was set for November, we circled it and decided it was time to go back and see the Canes play in a huge game at home. When Miami and Notre Dame play, it’s appointment television. One of those special rivalries that calls back to the golden days of football: the 1980s and early 1990s, when the Irish and Canes fought to determine who would play for the national championship. Jimmy Johnson wanting to kick the leprechaun’s a$$. The brawl before the 1988 jam job in South Bend. The 58-7 shellacking of the Irish in head coach Gerry Faust’s last game, which caused announcers Brent Musberger and Ara Parseghian to scold Jimmy Johnson for the beatdown they were applying. And, of course, 3rd and 43. In fact, there were so many great memories in such a short time, a book was written about it - Perfect Rivals by Jeff Carroll (I’ve read it and highly recommend it).</p>
<p id="l8oYoX">I had never been to a Notre Dame-Miami game before. I’d seen the Irish play once - in 1999 when they came to Knoxville, and the caravan of fans and national attention in Knoxville was huge (back when Tennessee was still nationally relevant). And that was for a random home-and-home with UT. This was altogether something on another level. </p>
<p id="hyYR5r">So I flew down to Miami on Friday morning, as I actually had an interview scheduled for something that morning in Coral Gables. After it was over, Matt picked me up in his Audi, and we were driving down the Miracle Mile on a sunny Friday afternoon. </p>
<p id="iOWqtK">“Dude, let’s hit up campus for a while,” I said. “Let’s go check out the new Rat.” </p>
<p id="m1hBeg">So we did. We drive onto campus, and boy, it’s.....changed a lot since I graduated in 2004. The last time I was on campus was to stop by the law school to go to the restroom while driving to Key West with my ex wife in 2011. Was my first time back since 2004, and hadn’t been back since. </p>
<p id="JZuhog">Wow. </p>
<p id="hD4kdb">We approached a gigantic building on Ponce de Leon right before we got to San Amaro Drive, just next to the Watsco Center. Turns out it’s the Lennar Foundation Medical Center, and it’s first-class. We parked at the nearby garage and headed across campus. As we approached Lake Osceola, we saw the new student center from across the lake. Amazing. With the sun and the lake (and even a freaking rainbow as I was taking the picture), I dare anyone to post a more gorgeous campus setting on a college campus than this: </p>
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<p id="w6zrtT">We walked around the lake and stopped off at the new Rat. And wow, what a sight to behold. The old Rat was small, dated, but with a world of class and memories. I had hoped it would be great, but wasn’t certain. It surpassed my hopes by leaps and bounds. We walked inside, and there were students, twenty-somethings, and older fans. It looked like a great place to watch football, which, if I were a student, would give me even less reason to leave campus to go to a game. The food was solid, the beer was cold, and the view was amazing. There were TVs everywhere, especially outside. Incredible. </p>
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<p id="JnbZDE">We left and walked over to the Gameday setup outside of the food court (not sure what they’re serving there now - Panda Express and Jamba Juice were my usual go to fare while at UM). <span>Desmond Howard</span> and David Pollack were nearby going through sound checks. Fans hung over the wall, trying to get their attention. We didn’t stay long. We ended up buying new Canes shirts at the book store (I had outgrown some of my old wear since my thinner, younger days) and then headed to the airport to pick up John. </p>
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<p id="XufX9x">And there we were, back on South Beach for the first time in seemingly forever. For me, it was the first time since I drove off the beach with a full car back in May 2004 to drive home to Tennessee to start my new life. And there I was again. I couldn’t believe it. Looked about as close to how I’d remembered it. We stayed at the Grand Beach Hotel on Collins Avenue, which is....ok. The view is certainly great, but it just seemed kind of cheap inside. And paying $40 a night for parking is an absolute racket (although that’s probably the going rate). In any event, like I said, the beach view made it worth it. </p>
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<p id="26aw7H">We hit up Finnegan’s on Ocean Drive for dinner, sitting outside. I remember the ocean breeze, sitting outside looking across the street at the beach like we used to do in school, ice cold beer in my hand, watching people walk by. Among several Canes games, we watched the clinching game of the 2003 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> there. We stopped at the Fontainbleau for a drink, but the prices of the drinks and the fact we were in casual shirts and jeans led us out the door and on to one of our old favorite drinking holes on South Beach - the Playwright. So many drunken nights there. So many Irish Car Bombs. So many poorly-hit pool shots. We watched a group of impassioned Peruvian soccer fans celebrate with flags and screams as their team went on to qualify for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>. </p>
<p id="5qt803">The next day, we watched Gameday on TV in the hotel while recuperating from the night before, then watching UGA - Auburn and Penn State - Ohio State and relaxing by the pool. We cabbed it to Hard Rock Stadium mid-afternoon. The last game I’d been to there was Miami-Florida in 2013, so there were certainly some changes since my last trip. The stadium coming in lit up the sky like a beacon.</p>
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<p id="XncnHq">Absolutely gorgeous. What a venue. Matt is on the Make-A-Wish board in Tampa, so we stopped by a tailgate of someone he knew from it. The tailgate tents, the barbacoa, the rap musing blaring, the funnels, the fifty-something Notre Dame fans shuffling through trying not to get noticed and harassed. I got to try on my first turnover chain, so that was nice (I’ve lost a few chins since this picture, too). </p>
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<p id="sxY984">After we hit up Matt’s wife’s uncle’s tailgate for awhile, we made our way inside and to our seats. We were five rows up in the end zone. Prime seats. And there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. By the time the team came out of the smoke, the place had turned into a fever pitch of rabid Miami fans waiting to explode. And as the flags went up and the players filed onto the field, we were going absolutely bonkers. </p>
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<figcaption>Good spot for an all-time great Canes game. </figcaption>
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<p id="O95snm">Now, the only time I’ve ever written to my alma mater was back in 2007, when the decision about the fate of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/orange-bowl">Orange Bowl</a> was being decided. I wrote in strong favor of keeping and improving it to the extent possible. I have been furious of the decision since. I should say “had”, as that anger dissipated that night. </p>
<p id="yygcgi">The first two touchdowns by <span>Braxton Berrios</span> and <span>Malik Rosier</span> happened right in front of us. When <span>Rosier</span> ran it in, I think everyone in our immediate area was jumping up and down. I was jumping and spinning like an absolute loon. The lead ballooned to 20-0, and we ended up going up with a few minutes left in the first half to try to beat the crowd to the bathroom and to get some more ice cold beer. As we walked up to the concession stand, we heard the loudest roar ever and scrambled to find a TV just in time to see <span>Trajan Bandy</span> finish his run into the end zone. I mean, it was LOOOOUUUUUD underneath the stands. I can only imagine (and dammit, I wish I was there at that moment) what it sounded and looked like in person. </p>
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<p id="zO9rru">It was all over but the shouting at that point, but we drank and reveled in what was a truly spectacular environment. Miami was beating the absolute dog crap out of #3 Notre Dame, who (if I recall correctly) most if not all of the Gameday crew picked to win. Touted Irish RB <span>Josh Adams</span> finished with a paltry 40 yards on 16 carries. </p>
<p id="aO4Isc">And speaking of Gameday. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit were absolutely in awe of the atmosphere at the Rock, with Herbstreit noting that they hadn’t been to a place louder than this. High praise, given where they go and who they see on a weekly basis. </p>
<p id="rM7NHM">And that’s what I took away from that weekend the most. Miami has a new home in Hard Rock Stadium, as much as I still long for the days of going to the Orange Bowl. If Miami is successful on the field/in the win column, special moments like Notre Dame 2017 will be stories we tell just as much as we do about Miami-FSU 2000, Miami-Notre Dame 1989, etc. etc. I would put this game very much up there with any and all of Miami’s most impressive wins in recent memory. </p>
<p id="PjDZQ9">We Ubered it home (<em>which is an absolute madhouse; that’s the one thing that could be improved upon, IMHO; the logistics of getting cars in and out of the Uber area; perhaps setting up more Uber locations?</em>) and crashed for the night. I sat in the Miami International Airport terminal the next day, with my Miami shirt on, drinking a coffee. Some guy came up to me and said, “hey man, that was an absolute a$$-kicking last night. Miami looks like they’re back.”</p>
<p id="i2FAm6">If only that had been the case. In any event, it was one of the most enjoyable trips I’d been on in a long time, and it felt great to be back in my old stomping grounds again with some old friends. Hopefully the Canes (and a <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/1/31/21113178/what-is-coronavirus-symptoms-travel-china-map">Coronavirus</a> vaccine) will provide us with similar memories in the coming years. Go Canes! </p>
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https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/7/10/21317741/miami-hurricanes-gameday-memories-canes-crush-irish-christen-hard-rock-stadium-as-new-homeCraig T. Smith2020-07-05T20:36:24-04:002020-07-05T20:36:24-04:00Gameday Memories: Sights, Sounds and Scenes from FSU-Miami 2017
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<p>A Virtual Tour of Tallahassee and Doak Campbell on the Day The Miami Hurricanes Reclaimed a Rivalry</p> <p id="p9qChc">Bright and Early.</p>
<p id="lZgbJ3">Over the last 13 years that I have been attending Hurricanes games, you know, when its FSU, its an ALL DAY event. </p>
<p id="dV2n55">12pm kickoff? Get up at 6am.</p>
<p id="kB7z8h">3pm Kickoff? Get up at 6am.</p>
<p id="ZxB8k6">8pm Primetime. Get your Green and Orange behind out of bed, AT, 6AM.</p>
<p id="JSkQIx">That has always been consistent.</p>
<p id="YEhvTc">So, three years ago, when Miami played FSU on that fateful night in Tallahassee at Hard Rock North, it was key to drive up the night before so I could make the 6am wake-up call.</p>
<p id="U2l8pw">The trip had been in works for a few months at this point. Usually we have family of about 20 for home games but, naturally an away game cut that down to about 10. For me, it was my first trip to Tallahassee for a game. I drove through on my way to my Bachelor Party in the NOLA for Mardi Gras the year before (TURN UP!!!) but never felt the need to stop, obviously. So it was exciting to finally get a chance to get up to enemy soil and cheer for that W. </p>
<p id="ENdwX7">In my car was me, my wife Megan and her cousin, Brooke, whose friend was staying in Tally at the time and graciously gave us a space to sleep (much appreciated). The drive up was definitely the worst part of the whole weekend. Even though 7 hours isn’t bad for a road trip, when you REALLY want to get somewhere it tends to feel longer than that.</p>
<p id="r9wKpK">Rolling into the state capital around 10pm the night before the game, we weren’t really able to see much but you could just feel the small, college town vibe with the country homes, main street and lack of palm trees, lol. The next morning, up at the prescribed gameday hour, I was excited to make it out to the local Publix, to start taking in the local vibe for gameday. I was expecting to see a decent amount of fans, even at that early juncture. (For those that have been to the Publix on 199th and 441 on GameDay, you know what I mean.)</p>
<p id="3R2pF1">To my surprise it was just about empty. It was me and two other Canes Fans who had already broken the seal on the drinks, but thats it. No students, no families, no dad’s getting ice for the cooler, nothing. My wife's cousin who is an FSU fan, stands by the statement that the students just stay up the night before, but call me skeptical because I’m not buying it.</p>
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<p id="mfKvHI">Fast forward to the late morning, and past a few cervezas, 10 of us made our way to a little Budget Inn parking lot close to the stadium. One of my friends with me that day, new Cane mom Angelica Knickerbocker, fondly remembered the lot we occupied before the game. </p>
<p id="NUaiPM"><em><strong>“We tailgated in a basically empty motel parking lot but had a blast (and made friends with those picture above with the RV). Kygo was new on the scene and JP (my cousin in law) played his music just to make us happy.” Angelica continued, “I remember the turnover chain was still a new novelty which is crazy to think about now.”</strong></em></p>
<p id="LV0429">My Cousin in law, Christine Murray, had a similar take to the parking lot tailgate.</p>
<p id="fSShdv"><em><strong>“The Hotel parking was unexpectedly a blast. Felt a little out of place playing all the Hurricane jams in Tally but it worked! The *new* DymeLyfe Turnover Chain Shirts were all the rage and impossible to find.”</strong></em></p>
<p id="LC7eTz">The Turnover Chain was still fresh and revolutionary to college football’s in game reward systems, and the guys with the RV were working with DymeLyfe and selling Turnover Chains on site at the game. We all made sure to get a shirt prior to the game. </p>
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<figcaption>Left to Right: Angelica, Christine, My Wife Megan</figcaption>
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<p id="bZy1se">It was surprising once again that the Miami presence felt more PRESENT, even in the heart of our biggest rivals territory. First the supermarket and then tailgate time. As we started to make our way to the stadium, walking through the heart of the campus, even then the Florida State presence was timid at best. Especially when compared to a packed Hard Rock parking lot in the Gardens, where it’s basically an alcohlic sea of Orange and Green. It was beginning to feel very different from years passed, when going into the game it felt like we had to subdue Florida State fans with our own bravado. That year, it felt as though there was a palpable nervousness. Maybe it was Jimbo Fisher’s public spat that had fans concerned, or just a premonition that change was in the air. Regardless, it was WAAAY to quiet for what is one of college football’s premier rivalries. </p>
<p id="ifBINP">Getting IN to the stadium was when the obvious presence of opposing fans was felt but more than that I noticed, A) Doak Campbell, on the outside, isn’t a bad stadium, B) Their practice field is hoooooorrible, C) It was a pain in the you know what trying to get in. When you play at an NFL stadium you take for granted how easy it is to get in and find what you need. Doak Campbell, not even close to simple navigation, entry and the concessions are a D-. </p>
<p id="csZiT0">Pettyness aside, an ok stadium.</p>
<p id="am5PEV">As we made our way to our seats, (fan section, duh) the green and orange flow was STRONG. We ran into quite a few people that we see regularly at Hard Rock and the love was heavy among Canes fans. </p>
<p id="AwmfVw">Now, I have been to a few opposing stadiums, and the fans once again, were DOCILE. When I went to Pitt/Miami at Pittsburgh I got beat Miami Sucks chants all the way to my seat (We blistered that PITT booty though). Here, It still felt like the State fans knew the gig might be up and were tentative to give us any reason to go heavy on the smack during and after what would be a Miami victory.</p>
<p id="Mb2Xs0">My wife, Megan, and Her Cousin Brooke (Boo for short), join to recall the there first takes in stadium.</p>
<p id="19smHy"><em><strong>Brooke: “I do remember that I wanted to sit in seats that were meant for the away team but there were still some FSU fans. I was sitting next to one. She wasn’t too bad but she would give me side eye when I was cheering. I also thought it was weird that we had to park in the motel parking lot as well. I thought there should have been a better parking situation around the stadium. </strong></em></p>
<p id="u3sYxP"><em><strong>Christine: “ I remember a lot of “U SUCK” FSU shirts... which I am sure the fans felt crunchy wearing out of the stadium, lol.”</strong></em></p>
<p id="ABcbXF"><em><strong>Megan: “HAHA! Crunchy for real! Oh but this little kid in front of us, jeez this boy. He couldn’t have been more than 8 but he heckled me (us) for most of the game. As I mom I felt weird heckling back, but by the 4th quarter I had to give him a taste of his own medicine when we started taking the lead! Haha!”</strong></em></p>
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<figcaption>Left to Right: Me, Megan, Chase Knickerbocker, Angelica, John Murray, Christine</figcaption>
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<p id="jfwCMR">As for me I was just taking in the scenery and enjoying finally making it to Tally for a game. Their pre game was interesting to say the least, and even though its not meant to be aesthetic, the bleacher/bowl look just looks bad. And I will say, when one of the guys in the color guard pregame dropped his baton, I was ready to claim victory on site. </p>
<p id="YGY8mo">The game itself was tight and it felt that way for all of the first half. You could feel the nervousness from the Garnet and Gold crowd, while the Miami seating was waiting for just about anything to roar about. The Canes faithful at many points throughout the game, including <span>Kendrick Norton</span>’s “Leg Guitar” sack and <span>Ahmmon Richards</span> life altering block for <span>Malik Rosier</span> were moments when we nearly knocked the roof off. </p>
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<p id="BsuHXB">It was an amazing game to be at and you just felt yourself clinging to every moment. The Throw from <span>Rosier</span> to <span>Braxton Berrios</span> to this day I still don’t understand how it got made but it was amazing to witness. Rather than undress a game we have all lived with and loved since it’s occurrence, I’d live to leave you with a victory pose, because ever since this game, when it comes to FSU and Miami, its been ALL, About the U.</p>
<p id="Ug21tj">Three in a row, and counting. Conquered, indeed.</p>
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https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/7/5/21301170/gameday-memories-sights-sounds-and-scenes-from-fsu-miami-2017Stephan C. Cheatham2020-06-27T13:30:00-04:002020-06-27T13:30:00-04:00Gameday Memories: Miami spoils App State’s big plans in Boone
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<p>A September tilt in Boone gave us a road trip to remember. </p> <p id="ri988q">I don’t remember exactly when it was that I saw the game had been added to the schedule, but when I saw Miami was slated to face Appalachian State in Boone, I said: ………heh??? </p>
<p id="3ML851">However, what followed was one of the greatest road trips I had ever taken in my life. </p>
<p id="FoPodH">My friends from UM law school – Matt, John, and Andy – and I try to get together every fall for a football-related event. When the game was added, we realized we had a great opportunity in front of us, because Andy has a second home in Zionville, about 20 minutes outside of Boone. He invited us all to come up, stay for the weekend, and go to the game, so we obliged. </p>
<p id="CeiDJ8">At the time, we hadn’t seen each other since 2013. I finished working early that Friday and hopped in my car in Bluffton, SC, where I live, and headed north up I-95. After 3.5 boring hours (SC is only a tad less boring on the interstate than Georgia), I pulled into the Charlotte airport parking lot, where I scooped up Matt, who had flown in from Tampa. </p>
<p id="jPPk1I">Then, we pulled back onto the road and headed north on 321 towards Boone, which is about 2 hours or so from Charlotte. We winded our way into the western North Carolina mountains, eventually seeing the signs for Boone dwindling to single-digit miles (don’t spend too long looking at road signs or taking in the mountain views, or you’ll end up like the end of Thelma and Louise right over the edge; dangerous roads up there). </p>
<p id="DIMJja">We rolled into Boone with the “U” car flags flying and my “U” decal on the car. Like any good visiting fans, we stopped off at the first liquor store we could find not far from campus. We walked in and picked up some booze and were greeted with a welcome-to-Boone from an older gentleman. I mention this because it would be a theme of kindness for the rest of the weekend, BUT ONLY FROM THE GUYS. Will get to that in more detail later. </p>
<p id="CaWoSv">In any event, we cruise down King Street (one of the main drags by campus), flags flying, windows rolling down. There were App State flags hanging from the light posts. There was black and gold EVERYWHERE. That place had as much school pride as any place I’d seen. And I get it, especially that weekend. App State was still working its way up, but had established itself as a championship-caliber program at the FCS level. They had just taken a top-10 ranked Tennessee team to overtime two weeks earlier. </p>
<p id="mVQbO5">We made our way up 321 and ended up at the beginning of an impossibly windy road. “Dude, this can’t be right,” I said. But it was. I made curves that were so sharp, as the road seemed to snake on forever. Eventually, we came to a clearing, and up at the top of the mountain was a number of gorgeous vacation mountain houses, and there was Andy’s. And there was John, being a goofball while holding a beer high above on the front porch as we made our way up the long drive to the house. We all caught up, taking in the splendor of the mountains. I mean….just look at this place…..</p>
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<p id="Tvdjcx">So after shooting the bull and catching up over some ice-cold ones, we call a cab and end up with a ride from a cab driver who was a good sport (and driver) in taking us to downtown Boone and giving us his card to call to get back home. We ended up having dinner at a microbrewery called Lost Province that Friday night, where we ended up spending a while having pizza and a bunch of different ice-cold ones. Went to the bathroom and John dumped salt in my beer while I was gone. Jack wagon. </p>
<p id="v9Uv72">After we left the brewery, which was right off King Street, we walked up King Street and ended up at some old dive bar that I had been to before with my ex-wife on a skiing trip. Don’t recall the name of it, but was the last bar before you got out of town westbound, on the south side of the street. We ended up shooting pool and putting away more beers than we should’ve. </p>
<p id="Ajxxh5">We shot the bull with some folks at the bar, and the talk was the same: everyone was nice and flat-out ECSTATIC that we were there. Miami, its fans, the ESPN folks. Everyone, all of it. It was the best thing that had ever happened to Boone and App State, and from the party the next morning, it was obvious that the Friday night hype was spot on. </p>
<p id="iDKEyf">After groggily waking up (the same cab driver took us home; I lost my best Tampa Bay Buccaneers visor in that van though), we cabbed it back down to the campus area, having breakfast at some restaurant on King Street right across the street from where we were pounding beers the night before. That’s not something I recommend, folks. Eating food while having the jitters from drinking the night before while looking at the establishment where you drank way too much was………weird. We did sit outside, and the weather was absolutely perfect, so we had that going for us, which is nice. Boone weather in September is akin to what I would imagine heaven feeling like. </p>
<p id="yd923P">From breakfast, we left and began what would be a seemingly never-ending walking tour of the Appalachian State campus. And everywhere we went, there was a giant gold “A” on black, whether it was a flag, a shirt, a tailgate tent, you name it. And available real estate on campus for parking was almost impossible to find. The App Staters were out in full form early. And, once again, the guys would see us in our Miami gear, and offer a handshake and some kind words. </p>
<p id="yP9JOa">Thanks for coming. Where are you guys from? Are you guys having a good time. How do you like Boone? </p>
<p id="VCVTzF">I’m telling you, it’s downright weird how nice the guys were to us there. Aside from maybe one rogue “Miami sucks” near the stadium before kickoff, not one guy said one bad word to us. Only welcoming. And, again, I said “guy”. </p>
<p id="4lk0AF">On the other hand, the women of Appalachian State were as nasty and foul-mouthed as any place I could have ever imagined. We were met with countless F you, Miami, you suck, get out of my town-type of comments from the start of Saturday morning until Miami had sent everyone home unhappy by 2:30 pm. And it was always by a young lady in App State gear!!!! They were as unfriendly and hostile as the guys were welcoming and polite. And these were unwelcomed and unprovoked comments, as my friends and I are all in respective marriages or committed relationships and were doing nothing more than wearing shirts or hats having the words “Miami” written on them while walking and minding our own business. Hand to God. Off the top of my head, I remember at least four times where we were told off out of the blue, having not even looked at them prior to said comments. Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina. I’ve been to all of those schools, and not once has any of them come anywhere close to that level of vitriol. It was uncanny. And most of this was while we were walking from breakfast to grabbing a beer at a bar/restaurant called Elevation 3333 not far from Kidd Brewer Stadium. </p>
<p id="gGjEhM">As we sat there at the bar having a beer, we had seen not an hour earlier the App State players come from the football facility and head towards the stadium. We were absolutely shocked at how normal-sized these guys seemed. “How did these guys hang with Tennessee?” we wondered. I had been worried about this game, but my friends’ doubts faded as soon as they saw them walk by us. Dude, the Canes are going to crush those guys,” Andy said. Matt, John, and Zach (Matt’s little brother who had come with us on this trip) probably did too. I was the most concerned of all of us, I think. </p>
<p id="95Q26C">We headed towards the stadium, and it was a beautiful sight to see, no lie. I don’t know when App State renovated their campus, but the architecture looks new and is gorgeous. Add in the scenery from the mountains, and you’ve got as gorgeous a gameday setting as you will find anywhere in the country, I swear. The stadium is up on a hill, with trees surrounding it. </p>
<p id="2mDqA9">To accommodate a record demanding of fans, the school opened up seating in the grassy hill in the open end zone, and it was filled as much as it could have been. There were even people watching from the street through the fence, where much of the field could be seen. It was an absolute mob scene getting in. After we did, I went to the first tunnel I could find and snapped this picture. </p>
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<p id="K3YeCz">I’ve been all over the southeast to games, and I was in awe of the scene. Absolutely awesome. We made our way to the other end zone to our seats and settled in right on the edge of Miami and App State fans. I think we might have been the first row of Miami fans. </p>
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<p id="K0ZKMo">In any event, the Canes took the field, and it was at that moment that I learned that App State fans aren’t…..well…..maybe aren’t all that seasoned in heckling opponents or firing up their own team. A few seats away from us, as the Canes took the field on offense after stopping App State on their opening drive, a twenty-something guy bellowed out, “GET THEIR (insert crude male anatomical word that starts with a D)!!!” Our group absolutely lost it laughing. </p>
<p id="BukRMv">Our laughter turned to joyous screams and their chants turned to silence when <span>Mark Walton</span> took the handoff from the 20 on the Canes opening offensive play, ran over the safety, and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown. While we high fived and laughed, the fans around us were understandably in total shock. They were supposed to win this game and make a breakthrough on a national scale. To a person, it seemed like they believed this. Instead, Miami punched them in the mouth early, and they began to see what superior athleticism and skill looked like. </p>
<p id="qmbP2P">Miami took control on the next drive, with Kaaya repeatedly throwing bubble screens outside, and App State refusing to adapt timely. Kaaya finished it off to a touchdown strike to <span>David Njoku</span>, and it was 14-0.</p>
<p id="deVE7k">By means of a comedy break, same joker near us, in an apparent attempt to fire up his team, yelled – and I kid you not – “FILL THEIR BUTTS WITH MUD!!!” Since that day, we refer to a pending blowout as a team backing up the mud truck, and the hapless opponent about to get seated on the nozzle. Thanks for this timeless bit of comedic gold, random, awkward App State fan. </p>
<p id="JPxPJA">Later, at the end of the first quarter, Kaaya found Stacey Coley wide open behind a lost defense, and he trotted down the sideline for a long touchdown and a 21-0 lead. <span>Braxton Berrios</span> followed that up with the prettiest sideline catch you’ll ever seen, dragging a toe while fully extended on a cross-field pass from Kaaya to extend a drive that led to a 24-0 advantage. The defense held near the goal line and forced a field goal for a 24-3 halftime lead. </p>
<p id="9P3252">We tilled around the concession stands at the half, and I overhead some disgruntled fan mumbling about App State giving Miami everything they had and making a season worth of mistakes, that Miami wasn’t very good. I couldn’t help but laugh. It was an absolute outclassing, and yet someone could still see it as a fluke. Amazing.</p>
<p id="VnJSKV">The second half started like the first – with a Miami big play. <span>Njoku</span> caught a pass in the flat and rumbled up the sideline into the App State red zone. Coley then caught a pass and made his way inside the five. On fourth and goal, Kaaya rolled out and lobbed a ball at the goal line that was picked off and returned 60 yards. Kaaya came up gimpy after getting hit on the return. We were standing there stunned, hands over mouths, wondering most of all if Kaaya was going to be ok, while the App State goofs jumped and danced around us. They would end the drive with a touchdown and draw to 24-10. Kidd Brewer Stadium suddenly had a ton of life. </p>
<p id="gPxCSZ">Then, on 3<sup>rd</sup> and 10 deep in their own territory, Miami ended all hope once and for all. </p>
<p id="vOT9nR">Kaaya (gimpy, but fortunately ok) lobbed a ball deep, and <span>Ahmmon Richards</span> caught the ball over his head in stride and went down inside the red zone after getting tackled by the facemask. Joe Yearby rumbled for 12 yards shortly thereafter, and Miami was up 31-10 and had broken their backs. It was 38-10 at the end of the third quarter, and everyone headed for the exits. We left in the fourth quarter and watched the final whistle at the dive bar where we had partied the night before. 45-10. Total domination. We later made our way to the Lost Province pub again to watch the afternoon games before returning to the mountain house to watch the evening games. </p>
<p id="0dhxIJ">All in all, Boone was a great college town. Kidd Brewer Stadium was a really beautiful stadium and a fun place to watch a game. I would definitely go back again sometime, without a doubt. </p>
<p id="2sOau9">Anyone else go to this game? Share your experiences below. Go Canes! </p>
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/6/27/21305327/gameday-memories-miami-hurricanes-appalachian-state-spoils-big-plans-in-booneCraig T. Smith2020-06-24T09:00:00-04:002020-06-24T09:00:00-04:00Gameday Memories: The Greatest Game Ever Attended
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<p>Miami FSU 2000 was my 1st Canes Noles game, and none have ever lived up to what happened that Saturday in October 2000. </p> <p id="diLUct">Rivalry is defined as “competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.” </p>
<p id="E1xD4E">The Miami Hurricanes have many rivals, but none creates the passion, the energy, the trash talk or the hatred like the Florida St Seminoles. For many years this game was for a spot in the National Championship game, so it meant more than just a typical college football game. It’s rivalry week on SB Nation platforms, so let’s relive the 1<sup>st</sup> live Miami/FSU game for me. </p>
<p id="NPfWil">For years as a youngster, my family and I would gather around the TV and watch Miami/FSU with the intensity and vigor of the people who were lucky enough to have tickets for the game. Money was tight, so the thought never crossed our minds to actually purchase tickets for the game. That all changed in 2000 when funds became more readily available, and the rivalry was back to wear it belonged.</p>
<p id="ZBrjcM">Miami was ranked #7; FSU was the defending National Champions and the #1 team in the country. Two of my best friends Carlos, and Dave called me and said “we are buying tickets for the game, do you want to go?” My response was a simple “hell yeah” and the plans were set in place for an epic weekend. Planning was simple, a cheap weekend trip from Atlanta down to West Palm Beach on Air-Tran, crash at their spot, drink a bunch, go to ESPN’s College Gameday, and watch Miami end the 5 game losing streak to the Noles. </p>
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<p id="cnnzVS">A guy’s weekend can never just be about the football game, so as a bunch of single 20 somethings, Friday night had to be epic before the big game. Dave hooked up a few “dancers” to come through their house the night before to get the activities kicked off. The festivities kicked off around 9pm with some Hennessy and Coke, and a few well-placed $1 bills. Remember this was a noon kick in Miami, and we are in West Palm Beach, so an early wake-up call was in the cards. The party raged until about 3am, and people crashed wherever they could. 7am came really quickly, the hangover and headache was raging, but there was college football on the docket, and the only way to recover is “hair of the dog”, so more alcohol was in the cup along with some type of breakfast. This would prove to be an ill-fated decision later in the day.</p>
<p id="egNKPn">We had a caravan of 15 people heading to the game, unfortunately about 11 of them being FSU fans. Road trip was quick and easy and we pulled up to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/orange-bowl">Orange Bowl</a> around 9:15am, which gave us enough time to refill and head over to the set of College Gameday. Miami fans were in rare form, chanting “F You Corso” and “Spank your Weinke” so loudly that the producers of ESPN’s signature college show had to ask us to quiet down. There was a moment where a drink was thrown at the set that soaked Corso and Herbstriet. Let’s just say Canes fans were ready for a big day. It was my 1<sup>st</sup> time at Gameday, so I lost a good portion of my voice yelling at the TV show. We didn’t make it to watch Corso pick FSU because we wanted to get to our seats before the noon kick.</p>
<p id="qarvi6">Third row! Third row, right on the goal line was where our seats were. I think I paid $40 for my seat to be third row for my 1<sup>st</sup> ever Miami/FSU game. I would’ve paid $40 to sit up against the chain-link fence in the upper deck, but here we were for what would turn out to be one of the greatest games in the history of the rivalry. </p>
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<img alt="University of Miami" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T5FgYwkViXLQV_BoYinCXDtUyF8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20049286/56946901.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Miami/Collegiate Images via Getty Images</cite>
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<p id="Ukm3Jx">It was hot, like historically hot that October afternoon in Miami, and do you think I had a drop of sunscreen or sip of water that day? The answer predictably is no, and this would come back to haunt me later that day. Miami played almost a perfect 1<sup>st</sup> half, and lead 17-0 headed to the break. Dan Morgan put an exclamation point by intercepting Chris Weinke in the end zone to preserve the 1<sup>st</sup> half shutout. Who knew at that point we all would be in for an epic 2<sup>nd</sup> half? We ran into the shade with the attempt to buy some water at halftime, but to everyone’s chagrin the Orange Bowl was out of water. Remember all the drinking? Well this was when the effects really started to kick in. So I bought a Sprite….it was liquid and cold, and surely would re-hydrate me for an epic 2<sup>nd</sup> half right? How do you run out of water? To this day I still have no clue how that happened. </p>
<p id="bwr4F6">Florida St would fight back, and entering the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter we had a close game. By now I was feeling the Hennessy, the lack of water, and the extreme south Florida heat. In between plays my entire body was cramping up, and I would have to sit and stretch between plays to avoid going into a full body cramp. Didn’t matter, it was the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter of Miami/FSU and my Canes were trying to announce they were back among the national elite. 20-17, Miami ball and the Canes faced a 3<sup>rd</sup> and short. <span>Ken Dorsey</span> hit Najeh Davenport on an angle route for what should’ve clinched the game, but unfortunately #4 put the ball on the carpet. “No, no, no, not again” was screamed collectively throughout the Miami fan base. FSU would get the ball in plus territory and a few plays later Atrews Bell caught a Weinke pass for a TD, and the Noles took the lead. My head dropped, tears welled up in my eyes, because there was no way my 1<sup>st</sup> Miami/FSU game was supposed to end this way. </p>
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<img alt="Ken Dorsey #11" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cfh4ZZvNaVJcfdywDz4AuAlVWKg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20049288/717296.jpg.jpg">
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<p id="FHMc8c">Ken Dorsey, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne and some guy named Jeremy Shockey would star on the ensuing drive. When Shockey caught the go ahead TD, it was on the opposite end of the stadium from where we were sitting so it took a second to realize Miami had the lead. 40 plus seconds was all that stood between us and an epic celebration. Those 40 plus seconds seemed to take an hour, but FSU moved down the field and setup a potential game tying FG. Matt Munyon finally got the opportunity to tie it up, but as in many other Canes/Noles games, he missed it wide right. I never looked at the kick; instead I focused on the closed end zone and watched the reaction of Miami fans. When I saw that he missed, the Orange Bowl erupted into one of the greatest celebrations I’ve ever seen. Yes I cried….a lot, and even attempted to jump on the field to celebrate with the players. A Miami Dade Police Officer politely told me that would be a bad idea, and it was better for us to celebrate in the crowd. </p>
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<p id="2xQoEg">Leaving the stadium was euphoric! I was sunburnt pretty badly and dehydrated to the point where I was drinking melted ice out of people’s coolers, but it didn’t matter, because Miami was back and we had just beaten the Noles. To this day it is awesome to remeber watching Snoop Minnis and other FSU players crying as they were leaving the field. We forever dubbed them the “boo hoo boys.” </p>
<p id="K3ES2t">The BCS would screw Miami out of a National Title that year, but Miami was back among the best teams in the country. Over the past 20 years, I’ve attended about 16 Miami/FSU games, but none will ever be a special as the 1<sup>st</sup>.</p>
<p id="hQz94L">Go Canes</p>
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/6/24/21299079/miami-hurricanes-football-florida-st-seminoles-ken-dorsey-santana-moss-reggie-wayne-jeremy-shockeyJohn Michaels2020-06-23T17:00:00-04:002020-06-23T17:00:00-04:00Gameday Memories: assault, battery, and redemption in the Swamp
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<figcaption>Corso taking our photo with Herbstreit was the icing on the cake of a great day. </figcaption>
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<p>Miami’s 41-16 win over Florida on September 7, 2002 was among the sweetest moments of my sports fandom. </p> <p id="LdVsZE">“Go home, b*tch!” </p>
<p id="QlRB1g">The words sounded down on me from a obscured figure silhouetted by the sun blinding me as I looked up at him, stunned. The orange letters of “Florida” on a blue shirt were vaguely visible, as the figure moved, laughing, walking on with a group of other fans. </p>
<p id="WG3BZr">I sat up in the middle of the street just outside of the southwest gate at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, chest cold from the freshly-poured adult beverage that had soaked through “Miami Hurricanes” on my shirt. As I turned on my hip and looked back, my then-roommate and lifetime friend Matt was streaking after the group of well-oiled early-twenty-something goons who had just put me down. However, my buddies Scott and Greg quickly interceded and grabbed him before he could get his hands on them. ”Dude, I just spent $125 on this ticket,” Greg said. ”I’m not going to jail and missing this game.” </p>
<p id="jJfucR">And so I had been indoctrinated into the Miami-Florida rivalry. </p>
<p id="j1B5GM">I had been to plenty of college football games across the southeast by that point in time, but I had (and have) never seen any rivalry that reaches the level of vitriol and nastiness - both on and off the field - that Florida and Miami radiate when they get together. </p>
<p id="C7OiBb">We were second-year law students at UM in the fall of 2002 and had just enjoyed watching the greatest team in the history of college football bring home the crown. With Miami facing Florida in Gainesville for the first time since the 1980s, there was a 0.0% chance we were going to miss out on that road trip, especially with a free place to stay. </p>
<p id="efutoZ">We headed up to Gainesville on Friday evening from Southgate Towers on South Beach, where Matt and I were living (fun fact: their deli served best Cuban sandwich I ever had in Miami). We piled into Matt’s white Chevy SUV and headed north. Fortunately the drive up the turnpike and I-75 was fine (but the alternator in his truck crapped out on the return trip and we had to call triple A; literally the only blemish on the weekend). </p>
<p id="TLAJAk">The reason the place to stay was free is because my parents lived in Gainesville from 2001 until just a few years ago. Yes, yes, they’re Gator alums, so please don’t hold that against me. My parents had a screened-in pool in the center of their house, with the house wrapped around, so we just hung out and drank ice cold beer after my folks made dinner, rather than go face the madness near campus and find a way to get all the way across town early in the morning. </p>
<p id="7TkIVm">Rather than drive and set up a tailgate, we decided to bounce around campus on Saturday morning, because there were a number of people there we could potentially meet up with that were tailgating near the stadium. My dad actually drove us there and dropped us off, so we could drink without consequence AND have to avoid the indescribable nightmare that is Florida gameday parking. The Citrus Bowl/Camping World Stadium will always be the gold standard for logistical and parking stupidity, but Florida’s setup is on the list as well. Parking in the lots on or by the side streets across University Ave in the student housing area makes the old <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/orange-bowl">Orange Bowl</a> “no-blockey” parking setup seem like an amazingly well-organized and dirt-cheap deal. </p>
<p id="NZhbAa">So, we were walking down University Avenue, when we get yelled at by a bunch of raucous Florida fraternity-like dudes, who point at this massive sign that’s in their front yard. No joke, it’s like 20+ feet tall. Under the title “Hurricanes Blow” is a picture of Dorsey jumping into Shockey’s arms, with his waistline near Shockey’s facemask. </p>
<p id="ebBqmu">Yeah. Stay classy, dudes. </p>
<p id="GUe74C">We also saw an old jalopy painted orange and green in a front yard, which some dude was hammering with a sledgehammer, with Florida fratty bros letting out gutteral YEAHs each time the hammer pounded the car. We received several “F-you’s” and “Miami sucks” along the way, and some girls put their hands up towards our faces with disapproving looks. Nothing too bad. Yet. </p>
<p id="BvkTMx">We had been looking for tickets as we walked towards the stadium up University Avenue, and as we got to the white picket fence of The Swamp bar & grill, the number of tickets in the air started to approach the number of fingers sticking up in the air seeking tickets. It was an absolute mob of people of all ages, with oranges, greens, blues, Us, Fs, dresses, shirts, face paint, visors, and the smell of beer and sweat all mixing together. The coronavirus would have absolutely loved this environment. </p>
<p id="hnjaug">Amid the insanity, we flagged down a girl with 4 tickets for sale. She offered us all four for $500, end zone, upper deck. The prices had been well north of $150, and we didn’t want to wait anymore, so we forked over the cash. Greg was very hesitant to hand over that money, as he was on a tight budget, but we got him to do it. I remember the overwhelming relief, as I always have some fear of being unable to get tickets every time I go to a game empty-handed. </p>
<p id="kTVwzo">So we worked our way across the street to campus, where we met up with some UM folks - I think they were friends of Scott (who knew then and still seems to know just about freaking everyone every time we’ve gone to a game together). We were hanging out with a good mix of Miami and Florida people. Drinking, shooting the bull. Everything going well. </p>
<p id="P4Ftyx">Then, as we were making our way to the stadium, it happened. As we were walking through the throng of people approaching the gate at the stadium, a group of Florida fans was walking past us. I was in the front of us, and some guy steps over - unprovoked and out of the blue - and two-hand shoves me as hard as he could. I went flying, landed on my back. My drink spilled all over me, as my solo cup clinked on the pavement. </p>
<p id="S1Wpv2">That’s the only time in my life I’ve ever been assaulted. Anywhere. Certainly the worst I’ve ever been treated at a game anywhere in my life. </p>
<p id="RIoMI9">And instead of retaliating, as I mentioned before, we trudged on, fought our way through the line of people getting into the stadium, and made it to our seats in the upper deck. </p>
<p id="9gJW3f">As it turns out, there was no need to fight outside the stadium, since the Canes beat up the guys in blue on the field for all of us. </p>
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<p id="hCFaTz">A back and forth first half saw Miami up 20-10, with the Canes scoring twice inside the half’s final 5 minutes. Dorsey found Andre Johnson for a 13-10 lead. Then, following a botched punt, Miami answered again with a 10-yard catch and run touchdown by Ethenic Sands. It could have been even more, if not for a deflected interception in the end zone by Florida safety Todd Johnson on second and goal with 0:05 left in the half. </p>
<p id="Li4gjA">Florida rallied in the second half, using 11 plays to drive 88 yards down to Miami’s 5 yard line. The Florida crowd was amped up. Everyone was standing; Florida fans smiling, Miami fans with hands on hips. Were we watching this one slip away? </p>
<p id="8WwgbZ">Then, on second and goal, Rex Grossman lobbed a ball for the goal line. It was a foot away from the hands of Florida wide receiver Carlos Perez. Just then, Maurice Sikes’ hands grabbed the ball. </p>
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<p id="ceCKn0">I spoke with Sikes back in 2013 or so, and he told me that he had a sore shoulder from an earlier hit and could barely lift his arm up. It took him all he had to do it, and what an amazing effort it was. </p>
<p id="6d4Bpr">As quickly as he grabbed the ball, he was streaking in the other direction with a convoy. He was sprinting, but watching him run away from us towards the other end zone, it all seemed like it was happening in slow motion. I almost blew out a lung screaming and we jumped as high as we could, all of us embracing and leaping up and down like absolute idiots. Sikes crossed the goal line 99 yards away and set the ball down in the end zone. </p>
<p id="lyNIji">34-16. Gator backs were broken. We exulted, screaming, high fiving the Miami fans sitting behind us, as adjacent Gator fans with the 100-mile stare remained cross-armed. I think I had my arms around whichever poor soul was sitting next to me. The Canes tacked on another score later, and we waved at Florida fans as they filed down the steps in the fourth quarter. We bought “Miami 41, Florida 16” printed signs outside the stadium that some vendors were selling and headed back to where my folks had dropped us off. </p>
<p id="UldPfo">Earlier in the day, we had stopped by the College Gameday set. There was a trailer there, and we hollered for Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso to come out. And......they did! They came out and spoke with the four of us and were very nice. We asked if they’d take a picture, and they obliged. Corso took the camera we were using (don’t remember whose it was) and snapped us standing with Herbstreit, as you saw above (I’m the one in the green shirt).</p>
<p id="pjWz2U">That moment was the cherry on the most delicious football sundae I had ever experienced. What I wouldn’t give to be able to go back and re-live a moment like this one. Notre Dame in 2017 was on that level, as were a very select handful of others. Hopefully the Canes will give us more memories like these in the coming years.</p>
<p id="SBBoYA">Go Canes!</p>
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/6/23/21300503/miami-hurricanes-florida-gators-2002-gameday-memories-assault-battery-and-redemption-in-the-swampCraig T. Smith2020-06-23T11:00:00-04:002020-06-23T11:00:00-04:00Gameday Memories: That Time Where Miami Was Supposed to Defeat Joe Burrow and LSU
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<img alt="LSU v Miami" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1U8R9pKDzaZiNzNaB82ZaImE58c=/289x0:3141x1901/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66970289/1026310792.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>First Hand Account from Opening Weekend in Dallas 2018. Everything appeared to be going in Miami’s Favor against Joe Burrow and the future National Champion LSU Tigers - Until the Game Started.</em></p> <p id="81TFGm">For the past few years, a group of friends and I have attended at least one away/neutral site Hurricanes game. In 2018, this was no different as we planned our trip to Dallas to watch Miami take on the <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/">LSU Tigers</a> in the season opener. </p>
<p id="6fj8A4">The stage was set for what was bound to be an epic trip: the college football season was finally upon us for the primetime opener, Miami was fresh off a strong 2017 campaign where they ranked as high as 2nd nationally, and the Canes were ready to exhibit why they belonged in the conversation with the nation’s best as they took on a well-respected SEC opponent. Better yet, my friends and I were looking forward to the big city of Dallas and the post-game celebrations that would surely ensue if the Canes started the season off on a positive note. Hopes were high not only for this game but for the future of the Miami program. That is, until the game started.</p>
<p id="f4wYi8">We arrived in Dallas on Saturday night of Labor Day Weekend and hunkered down at a local bar in the Deep Ellum area. College football was in the air as we watched Notre Dame take on Michigan in another matchup consisting of two ranked teams. Looking around the bar it was obvious that everyone in the city was there for the Miami-LSU game and the allegiances appeared fairly even based on the gear everyone was donning.</p>
<p id="uRPlSN">As we enjoyed the other games, we discussed the expectations for Miami-LSU. On paper, all signs appeared to be pointing in Miami’s favor. Miami was the nation’s 8th seed entering the game and was favored by 3.5 points over LSU, the nation’s 25th seed. Coach Mark Richt’s job seemed fairly secure after the Canes proved they could compete with almost everyone after blowing out Notre Dame in Miami the previous season and had a stout defensive roster ready to display the swanky turnover chain. On the other hand, LSU’s coach, Ed Orgeron, was on the hot seat after LSU finished the previous season at 9-4, and had relative unknowns at QB with transfer <span><strong>Joe Burrow</strong></span> <a href="https://www.stateoftheu.com/2018/8/25/17779728/lsu-tigers-joe-burrow-miami-hurricanes-football-2018-quarterback-transfer-defense-preview">who had seen insignificant playing time at Ohio State</a>.</p>
<p id="LtfbGH">As the night rolled on, we ended up bumping into a group of LSU fans who we knew from law school and their optimism also appeared high. My LSU friend detailed how the Tigers had monsters on defense with projected first round <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/nfl-picks-spread-pickem">NFL picks</a> for 2019, LB <span><strong>Devin White</strong></span> and CB <span><strong>Greedy Williams</strong></span>, and playmakers at the skill positions on offense with RB <span><strong>Nick Brosette</strong></span>, WRs <span><strong>Justin Jefferson</strong></span>, <span><strong>Jonathan Giles</strong></span>, and <span><strong>Ja’Marr Chase</strong></span>. He admitted the question marks circled around <span>Burrow</span> and a transitioning offensive line. However, even though he didn’t have to tell me about Miami’s qualms, he made sure to. This was featured by the fact that despite being in the College Football Championship talk going into their regular season finale, Miami finished the season with three straight losses. This included a blowout loss to Clemson in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/acc-championship-game">ACC Championship</a> game in Charlotte, which was coincidentally the last neutral site game my friends and I attended. Whatever. I denied it as it was a new season with new hopes and new expectations. We were onto game day.</p>
<p id="DHaSq2">The following day started early despite being a primetime game as we ventured over to bars around AT&T Stadium. As we approached the stadium in our Uber, I felt like Matt Saracen in the scene in the first season of Friday Night Lights where the Dillon Panthers arrive to Cowboys Stadium in their bus ready for the State Championship. In classic Texas fashion, the stadium was bigger than any I’d seen before.</p>
<p id="p5qhOr">Similar to the night before, we hunkered down at the closest bar, Texas Live, which was a huge venue filled with restaurants and gigantic TVs. The place had even more fans than the night before as swarms of people in green and orange and purple and gold trickled into the bar. Before we knew it, it got packed and it got loud. The big screen TVs played various highlight clips for each team and the respective (but not necessarily respectful) team chants started early and often up until game time.</p>
<p id="q1EWxv">As kickoff approached, we meandered over to Jerry World. Again, I felt a Friday Night Lights moment walking into the immaculate stadium, which featured 40,000 more seats than Hard Rock Stadium and an imposing jumbotron situated at the 50-yard line. Seated in a section filled with Canes’ fans, I felt right at home. And I felt confident and ready to cheer on Miami, who I was convinced was ready to blowout the Tigers.</p>
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<p id="CNvwXv">The game started off fairly slow despite some <a href="https://twitter.com/BrodyAMiller/status/1036380292771180544?s=20">pregame theatrics</a>, in which <span>Burrow</span> put himself right in the middle. Things looked good when the new turnover chain appeared like it would be making an early appearance after Canes cornerback <span><strong>Trajan Bandy</strong></span> forced a fumble in the first quarter. However, the turnover was quickly overturned and, to make matters worse, Bandy was ejected for targeting.</p>
<p id="idiHJE">The remainder of the first quarter was slow but QB <span><strong>Malik Rosier</strong></span> showed poise connecting with his formidable targets, <span><strong>Lawrence Cager</strong></span>, <span><strong>Jeff Thomas</strong></span>, and <span><strong>Deejay Dallas</strong></span>. Right when Miami appeared ready to take a lead, <span><strong>Bubba Baxa</strong></span> missed a field goal, which deflated the momentum amongst the Miami fans. </p>
<p id="GVNmwU">The fans in our section still seemed optimistic as the defense had been performing well but the enthusiasm quickly dissipated when Brosette broke off a long touchdown run before the end of the first quarter. It was more of the same in the second quarter as LSU started pulling away when <span>Rosier</span> and Miami’s offense struggled, which included a Rosier pick-six to LSU LB <span><strong>Jacob Phillips</strong></span>. <span>Burrow</span>, on the other hand, showed immense poise in the pocket and expanded LSU’s lead with relative ease behind an offensive line that kept Miami’s potent front-seven at bay. Turns out all of those starting linemen were either drafted or had been signed to an NFL roster: <span><strong>Saahdiq Charles</strong></span>, <span><strong>Damien Lewis</strong></span>, <span><strong>Lloyd Cushenberry</strong></span>, <span><strong>Garrett Brumfield</strong></span>, and <span><strong>Adrian Magee</strong></span>.</p>
<p id="D9WlYK">Although all signs pointed to this turning into a massacre going into the second half down 27-3, we remained optimistic in the Canes’ fan section. The Canes defense pulled together a bend-don’t-break mentality. But LSU’s kicker, <span><strong>Cole Tracy</strong></span>, a Division II transfer from Assumption College, was hitting everything which helped expand the lead to 33-3 going into the fourth.</p>
<p id="eklkJH">By the time the final quarter rolled around, it appears the Canes finally decided to show up. Rosier showed flashes of brilliance as he connected on deep passes with <span>Thomas</span> on multiple occasions and on a long touchdown to <span><strong>Brian Hightower</strong></span>. Miami scored back-to-back touchdowns and the defense held LSU scoreless. There was a path to a miracle down two scores - albeit it would require a pair of two point conversions - midway through the fourth quarter. However, at that point, we were merely watching to see if the Canes could finish in a respectable manner. Of course, they didn’t do much and the game ended 33-17 in favor of the bad guys.</p>
<p id="iUi5qs">Instead of celebratory post-game festivities, we dissected the game at a local bar. For Miami, there was some reason for optimism, and while LSU looked strong, there was reason to doubt they could maintain it due to the slow second half where they only scored six points. After all, they still had a lot to prove after their 2017 season, <span>Burrow</span> was not the <span>Joe Burrow</span> we know now, and they had a challenging SEC schedule to look forward to. For the Canes, the strong fourth quarter indicated their was reason for positivity moving forward. LSU would likely be their toughest game on the schedule as they faced an easier ACC schedule so recovery felt possible after the rough opener. As I boarded the plane back to Miami the next morning, I saw another grad school classmate on my flight who asked how the trip was. I think I spoke for the entire Hurricanes fan-filled plane when I said “it was great, until the game started.”</p>
<p id="43JLxf">Fast forward to now: LSU ended up finishing the 2018 season ranked sixth overall after a 10-3 campaign. This past season, LSU had a perfect season on their way to a National Championship. <span>Burrow</span> won the Heisman with ease. Orgergon won the Coach of the Year Award. And LSU tied a record by having 14 players drafted into the NFL in 2020, as well as several undrafted free agents making NFL rosters. Miami, however, ended up finishing an unranked 7-6 in 2018, which included being blown out in their Bowl Game. Matters didn’t get much better as they went 6-7 in 2019, with another bowl loss. Richt abruptly retired last year and there has been zero semblance of consistency at the quarterback position.</p>
<p id="Gej60r">Besides Florida in 2019, Miami has not played an SEC team since they lost to LSU. Assuming they do not play one in a bowl game this season, the next SEC team they face will be perennial powerhouse, Alabama, in Atlanta for the 2021 season opener. Even though LSU and Burrow waltzed into the 2018 season under the radar, they had one of the most illustrious seasons in college football history just a year later. </p>
<p id="RPUs8L">Miami will likely show up in the Bama game as an underdog. And maybe, just <em>maybe</em>, they can turn the tables on an SEC opponent, and go on to dominate for the years to follow. Regardless of that outcome, I fully anticipate being there for the annual trip. And, at least for now, this Canes fan can dream of writing a narrative where the positivity continues into and through the actual game. Hey, with any luck, this Canes fan can dream of writing a narrative where the positivity concludes with the same outcome LSU got a year after being the underdog against Miami - with an illustrious National Championship.</p>
https://www.stateoftheu.com/2020/6/23/21296528/miami-hurricanes-louisiana-state-university-tigers-joe-burrow-greedy-williams-devin-white-ed-orgeronJake Marcus