Couldn't get enough football this week, so I watched a documentary on the University of Miami Hurricanes football team on ESPN. It is amazing to me how much these teams have changed the face of football. Much has been touched by Miami's influence. For example:
Anything that has to do with trying to stop players from celebrating, making intimidating gestures and such- these rules are mainly responses to Miami. Bringing these to same types of celebrations and gestures to the NFL- mainly by Miami alumni like Michael Irvin, Ray Lewis, etc. The ongoing question of sports programs making so much money for the university, with the players limited in what they can receive in benefits besides tuition. Just the whole plethora of racial issues that resulted with so many Black players on one team raising havoc against "respected" (mainly white) programs like Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Texas? This culminated in Miami actually not receiving the #1 ranking at the end of the 1991 undefeated season in the Coaches Poll after beating Nebraska 22-0 in the Orange Bowl. Washington the other # 1 in the polls was also undefeated, though the Coaches also may have been responding to Miami's thrashing of Texas in the prior years Cotton Bowl 46-3, in spite of 9 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties! Taunting, bravado, OK, it didn't sit well with "purists", but running up the score? It was OK for Notre Dame to do this for all those years, but not these guys… Speaking of Notre Dame, who had bitter experiences against Miami, who can forget the wonderful Christian attitude of Notre Dame fans using the theme of "Catholics vs. Convicts", with the press joining in. This was in 1988 when both teams were undefeated. Miami lost 31-30, with the controversial call of a fumble at the one yard line by Clevleand Gary, even though all replays clearly show the fumble occurred after he was down. Oh, well, it is Miami. How is Miami doing today? 15th ranked Miami lost to #25 Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl 20-14. With no controversy.Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!
