Oct. 15, 2009
By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
Saturday night will mark 73 years to the date when the Miami Hurricanes last played a game in Orlando. In 1936, the Canes beat Rollins 26-0. That's right, Rollins played football years back. These days Miami's program is a bit different than it was in the 30s. While I am not old enough to remember the game verses the Tars, I do remember when Miami's legion of fans was a bit smaller and games at the Orange Bowl were played with attendance similar to another program who once played home games at the Citrus Bowl.
Growing up in south Florida in the 70s and 80s, I remember the Miami program and the little coverage it received and the little attention fans gave it before Howard Schnellenberger arrived in 1979.
My dad worked in Miami and his company had season tickets for the Canes. No one ever used them. But he would often take the freebies and along with my brother, the three of us went to the Orange Bowl to watch college football.
Long before Schnellenberger, Johnson and Erickson coached national championships, Fran Curci, Pete Elliot, Carl Selmer and former UCF coach Lou Saban combined to win 34 games in eight seasons. Jimmy Johnson won that many in three-and-a-half years.
Crowds were not something to brag about back then. In 1974, Miami played FSU for homecoming and the game drew less than 20,000. The following week in that same season, the Canes drew 26,000 for second-ranked Alabama.
The magical year for Miami took place in 1983 when Schnellenberger's team won 11-straight after an opening day loss to Florida. When the Canes shocked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl they captured their first national title. Suddenly Miami was a hot ticket. Recruits were convinced by Jimmy Johnson that a dynasty could be built and the "U" went on a roll winning titles in 1987, 1989 and 1991.
In my opinion, it is very difficult to duplicate Miami's rise to prominence, going from a struggling independent to national contender. The current makeup of the BCS limits the growth of any program not in the super six conferences. Boise State's success is something for many to mirror. The Broncos have become a top-10 team, but the system may limit their growth.
But what Miami's past has shown is that one magical season can do a lot. One year of big wins and a major bowl victory can certainly make the college football world take notice.
When the Canes arrive Saturday, they will bring a national name, a top-10 ranking and a long history of football. Much has changed in the last 30 years, let alone the 73 years since they last played in Orlando.
UCF once played before smaller crowds. UCF used to not have the facilities to recruit. These days Bright House Networks Stadium is the perfect venue for a team to make its own history. It is the place where big games are now played. And it's the place where magical moments can be made this Saturday, by Orlando's U.
Marc Daniels' From the Pressbox runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF-ISP Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts "The Beat of Sports" on ESPN 1080 in Orlando from 9-11 a.m.