Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
George Mira Sr. (Photo Credit: Fanbase.com)
The 1960's were a time of great social and political unrest. It was also a time of change in the sport of football, thanks to quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Fran Tarkenton. For the first time field generals were encouraged to be dual threat players, players capable of beating a team with their arms and legs. While "Roger the Dodger" and "Tark" were getting most of the headlines, Miami had a dual threat quarterback of our own. "The Matador" George Mira was The U's first superstar, the first Miami player who played on the national stage.
George Mira, like most 'Canes, is a local product. Born in Key West, Mira enrolled at The U in 1960, and went on to have an outstanding career. Mira finished in the top 10 of Heisman voting in 1962 and 1963, finishing 5th in 1962. Mira, who was famous for his uncommon athleticism, was a one man offense. The Matador was top 2 in total yards gained in both 1962 and 1963 In an era in which most quarterbacks completed 40% of their attempted passes, George averaged 48.8% during his collegiate career. Mira led the nation in passing yards and completions in 1962, and also attempted the most passes that year. Mira, who was placed on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1963, was considered a leading candidate for the Heisman trophy, before a late season swoon ruined his campaign.
Even though Mira never got a chance to play for a national title, Mira had plenty of shining moments. Mira threw for 321 yards and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1962 Gotham Bowl. Mira also led a thrilling comeback against Florida in Gainesville, winning the game with an unlikely touchdown pass. The Miami Herald called it a "MIRAcle", it remains one of the best plays in Miami history.
Following his outstanding collegiate career, Mira was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and the Denver Broncos of the fledgling AFL. Mira signed with the Niners, and became a journeyman player, ending up playing for 4 different NFL franchises. In 1972, the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League welcomed the former Miami star, and Mira finished his playing career moving between the CFL and the recently formed World Football League. The Matador called it a career in 1977. Mira, whose son, George Mira Jr., became an All-American for the 'Canes in the 80s, moved back to Miami following the end of his playing career. He is currently running a food concession at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, and is still a passionate Miami supporter.
George Mira was an athlete that was ahead of his time. Players like Michael Vick, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson can look to Mira as a trailblazer. Mira was the first Miami quarterback to burst onto the national stage, paving the way for Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, and every other Miami quarterback that followed.
Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
When people think of The U, they think of elite athletes. Athletes who have been blessed with physical gifts that a majority of us could only dream of. Athletes that are part of a very selective group, the physical 1%. In football, these athletes train for hundreds, if not thousands of hours, just to be able to perform. Yet, in a ironic twist, some of the most important plays are made by some of the smallest men on the team. The guys who aren't blessed with pumpkins for calves, who can't lift the state of Delaware end up firing the shot that ends the war. These are the placekickers. The loneliest job in football. Carlos Huerta was THE placekicker for The U, and he's today's Forgotten 'Cane.
Carlos Huerta was a soccer player throughout most of his early years, which was spent mostly moving between Miami and Orlando. Huerta, during his formative years, ended up cheering for both Miami, and Florida State. By the time he reached high school, Huerta had become a solid soccer player, and looked forward to playing collegiate soccer. That all changed when Huerta was advised that he lacked the talent to draw attention from colleges. As a result of this unwelcome news, he decided to become a place kicker. Huerta starred at Columbus High School, and received some attention from FBS programs. This attention came with a caveat: Huerta had to walk-on, if he wanted to join any of these programs. In the 80's, teams were very reluctant to give scholarships to kicking specialists, unless the specialist was elite, due to the scarcity of scholarships. Therefore, teams offered spots to players, players who weren't on athletic scholarships, but were encouraged to join the program. These players had to pay their own tuition, and find a way to provide for themselves, despite being members of the football program. This practice continues today, and is how most backup kickers and punters find their way to college campuses.
Huerta decided that if he had to walk-on at any school he chose to attend, he might as well do it at The U, the school he had come to love. He was a redshirt on the 1987 National Championship team, but he stuck with the program, and he prepared himself mentally and physically to succeed All-American kicker Greg Cox. Huerta was a total unknown, he was considered unlikely to succeed Cox. The 'Canes had two scholarship kickers in Sum Kim, and Edgar Benes, two highly touted players. Kim never found his way to the field, due to an injury he suffered playing soccer, and the competition narrowed to Benes and Huerta. Carlos, with the help of the training staff, developed a workout regimen that allowed him to practice more, and to have a stronger leg. This was the difference as Benes bowed out of the competition, due to exhaustion and injury. Edgar ended up being the kickoff specialist, allowing Huerta to be the placekicker. From these humble beginnings, Huerta put together a run that is legendary.
Freshman All-American(1988), Consensus All-American(1991), NCAA record for most PATs made. These are just some of the things Carlos Huerta accomplished while a 'Cane. From 1988-1991, "Iceman" led the 'Canes in scoring, set records for consecutive PATs made, and was a member of two National Championship teams(1989 & 1991). Carlos rewrote the Hurricane record book, and he still holds most Hurricane kicking records. He was also responsible for some great moments. From his game winning field goal against Michigan in 1988, to his record setting kick in the 1991 Mobil Cotton Bowl, Huerta was always a dependable player who was at his best on the biggest stages. Following graduation, Huerta embarked upon a professional career. He saw time in the Canadian Football League(CFL), NFL, and the Arena Football League(AFL), before retiring in 2001. Today, Huerta is a real estate agent in Las Vegas.
Carlos Huerta was a player who came from nothing, and achieved great things through hard work and an iron will. It's not an accident that Huerta's story resonates with Miami fans. Huerta's story is The U. The U came from nothing, and worked its way to the top with nothing but hard work, and an iron will.
* A special thanks to ProCanes for interviewing Carlos Huerta in 2010, the information gathered was crucial to the crafting of this piece. If you are interested in learning more about Huerta, feel free to read this article. http://www.procanes.com/files/eae20feeb6224f6a8a0acbf9ea6c0084-6208.html
Written By: Nathan Skinner & Russ Denney Canes Rising Contributors
The Bermuda Triangle: From left: Jessie Armstead, Micheal Barrow, and Darrin Smith(Photo Credit: EyeOfTheHurricane.Net)
When you ask Miami fans to name a Hurricanes linebacker, the first
answers are usually Ray Lewis, Jonathan Vilma, or Denzel
Perryman. You might hear the occasional Sean Spence, Dan Morgan, or D.J.
Williams. Miami has been home to
linebacker talent for a long time, from Rod Carter and Maurice Crum in
the mid-to-late '80s to Lewis, Vilma, and Perryman in more recent times. But in the midst of
all these fast, athletic linebackers is a trio that is the best in Miami
history, and one of the best in college football history. These three
played at such a high level, they forever changed the way Miami
linebackers are judged. They are the Bermuda Triangle: Micheal Barrow,
Darrin Smith, and Jessie Armstead.
These
legendary Hurricanes played together from 1989-1992, anchoring two
National Championship defenses (1989 and 1991) and defenses that rank
among the best in Miami history. The '91 defense allowed a scant 100
points through all twelve games of the year, including only one game in which they allowed 20 or more points, three games where they only surrendered a field goal, and a shutout of a top 15 Nebraska team in the Fedex Orange Bowl. The 1992 team, while giving up more points, never allowed more than 16 points to any of the 4 ranked teams they faced. Smith's speed, Barrow's intelligence, and Armstead's freakish athleticism combined to create a unit that made vaunted offenses vanish.
Jessie
Armstead, who played weakside linebacker, was a native of Dallas, and
regarded the top national recruit by Superpro Magazine thanks to his
outstanding prep career at D.W. Carter High. Being so highly touted, he
was recruited personally by head coach Jimmy Johnson. When Johnson left
Miami shortly after National Signing Day in 1989, Armstead considered
requesting a release from his letter of intent, but ended up honoring
his commitment after the hiring of Dennis Erickson. Armstead was an
immediate contributor to the 1989 'Canes, playing in all 11 regular
season games, averaging just under five tackles a game. His sophomore
season started off strong; he started the first four games, averaging
nine tackles per contest. However, Armstead suffered an ACL injury in
the fourth game that ended his season early. He returned as a starter
for the 1991 season, becoming a dominant force on the weak side of the
defense. He averaged over eight tackles per game, finishing with 99
tackles for the season, good for third on the team. Armstead's senior
season was similarly outstanding, when he averaged over seven tackles a
game. Despite his on-field performance, his knee injury seriously
hampered his pro prospects.
Still, the New York
Giants drafted the talented Armstead in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL
Draft. The player who was once called Superman had to work his way up
the depth chart, and ended up becoming a star for the Giants. The former
'Cane proved to be a great successor to former Giants Lawrence Taylor
and Harry Carson. A 5-time Pro Bowl selection and 4-time All-Pro team
member, Armstead finished his career with 991 tackles and 40 sacks.
Jessie Armstead is now a member of the Giants front office and a
co-owner of Honda and Cadillac dealerships in New Jersey.
Darrin
Smith, the strongside linebacker of the group, was a 'Cane from birth.
Born and raised in Miami, he played both linebacker and offensive guard
at Miami Norland High. He arrived in Coral Gables in 1988 and redshirted
his first year, taking advantage of Miami's depth to get ahead
academically. When he finally saw action, Smith became feared for his
speed and tenacity. In his junior and senior years, Smith was named
first team All-America and Butkus Award semifinalist, and was Big East
Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Arguably his best game came
as a junior against Florida State (Wide Right I), when he
racked up 18 tackles in the 17-16 victory. Off the field, he was a
strong student, winning the National Football Foundation and College
Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award in 1992. Smith ended his Miami career
with 401 total tackles, fifth in Miami history, and just behind teammate Micheal Barrow.
Following his
highly decorated collegiate career, Smith was drafted by the Dallas
Cowboys, where he immediately stepped in as a starter. He was a major
contributor for the Cowboys, playing on two Super Bowl-winning teams
(1993 and 1996). Following a contract dispute in 1996, Smith became a
NFL nomad, playing for 3 teams before retiring in 2004. In his NFL
career, he topped 100 tackles twice, finishing just shy of 800 overall.
Darrin Smith is the only player to be a member of two National
Championship teams and two Super Bowl-winning teams. Following his
retirement from the NFL, Darrin put his Miami degrees to use, and is now
involved in real estate.
Micheal Barrow, like
Darrin Smith, was a local product. Following his successful career at
Homestead High, he brought his intelligence and blazing speed to The U.
For his career, Barrow started 37 out of the 45 games in which he
played, totaling 423 tackles (fourth in Miami history). His incredible
senior season came in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated
much of South Florida, including his hometown of Homestead. The team
strove to play well to help boost the area's spirits, especially Barrow,
who emerged as a team leader to the area and nation. He finished the
'92 season with an amazing 136 tackles (80 solo), was named a consensus
first team All-American and Butkus Award semi-finalist, and finished
seventh in the Heisman voting. His best performance came in a 17-14 win
at #7 Penn State, where his 19 tackles led all players and his 4th-and-1 stop was a game-saver.
Barrow
was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 2nd round of the 1993 NFL
Draft. While Barrow was never an elite NFL linebacker like Armstead, or
on great teams like Smith, he still put together a solid career. Lauded
by many as a great mentor to young players, and a player that was rarely
out of position, Barrow accumulated over 1,000 tackles during his
career, including a league-leading 150 tackles in 2003. Micheal is now
back at The U as the linebackers coach under Al Golden. There are few
people who can truly explain what it means to be a Miami linebacker, and
Barrow is in that elite club.
These three men came together at a halcyon time in Miami history. The speed, strength, tenacity, and intelligence of these three men was truly something special. Miami was at its zenith as a program, and this linebacker corp set the tone for the entire defense, a defense that dominated the competition.These men not only won on the field, they won in the classroom and they've managed to win in life. They are a sparkling example of what every 'Cane should aspire to be.
*Statistical Analysis and Research Provided By: Stats. Inc., and TotalFootballStats(TotalFootballStats.com)
Videos Courtesy of UM Sports Hall of Fame, and ABC Sports.
Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
Ted Hendricks pursuing Steve Spurrier (Photo Credit: University of Miami Archives)
College football is a sport built on history and tradition. There
is always a player or coach that epitomizes every major program: Alabama
has Bear Bryant, Notre Dame has the Four Horsemen and Knute Rockne, and
Michigan has Tom Harmon. Most Miami fans would name Michael Irvin as THE Hurricane legend, and they'd be wrong. Michael is a
'Cane legend, but he isn't THE legend.
That
honor belongs to "The Mad Stork," Ted Hendricks, who is today's
"Forgotten 'Cane." Everything that makes Miami special, Ted embodies it.
He was born in Guatemala but raised right here in Miami, where he
starred for Hialeah High School before making the move to Coral Gables.
Once he arrived at The U, Hendricks put together a career that is quite
simply the best in program history.
Ted was a
two-time first team All-American who accumulated over 300 career tackles
and finished fifth in the 1968 Heisman Trophy voting. He did all of
this as a Defensive End. "The Mad Stork" was a terror, especially
against the University of Florida, ripping them apart for a four-sack
game in '68. He had a nose for the football, too. Hendricks forced nine
fumbles in 1967, and he recovered twelve fumbles over the course of his
career. Ted wasn't just a great football player, either: he was an
honors-level student who majored in math. Hendricks was elected to the
College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Following
his outstanding college career, Hendricks went on to have a sparkling
pro career. He played in four Super Bowls, winning a championship each
time. His first came with the Baltimore Colts in 1970, and the other
three came as a member of the Oakland/L.A. Raiders. The Stork is one of
the few players in NFL history to be named an All-Pro as a member of
multiple teams (Colts, Packers, Raiders). A wiry frame and uncommon
athleticism allowed "Kick 'Em in the Head Ted" to compile 25 blocked
kicks, an NFL record that still stands today. Hendricks completed the
Hall of Fame double by being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Ted
Hendricks is a unique athlete and man. Howie Long, a teammate of
Hendricks' with the Raiders, once said, "Ted Hendricks is the smartest
man I've ever known. In business, in media, in anything, Ted beats them
all." I'd say that perfectly sums up the best player to have ever played
for the Hurricanes
Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
"The Autumn Wind is a pirate Blustering in from sea, With a rollicking song, he sweeps along, Swaggering boisterously.
His face is weather beaten, He wears a hooded sash, With a silver hat about his head And a bristling black mustache.
He growls as he storms the country, A villain big and bold And the trees all shake and quiver and quake, As he robs them of their gold.
The Autumn Wind is a raider, Pillaging just for fun. He'll knock you 'round and upside down, And laugh when he's conquered and won."--Steve Sabol "The Autumn Wind"
This poem may be the battle hymn of the Oakland Raiders, but it can double as the personal hymn of Jim Otto, this weeks "Forgotten 'Cane". Otto played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders, becoming one of the first stars of the fledgling AFL. Although he was allowed to wear double zero because it was a play on his name(Aught-O), the undersized center was far greater than the numerals placed on his barrel torso. A product of Wausau High School in Wisconsin, he was a two way player for the 'Canes, playing both center, and linebacker. Following a solid collegiate career, he was overlooked by the established NFL and ended up in the "second rate" American Football League. He built his body and became a fixture at center for the Silver and Black, never missing a single game due to injury, a streak that reached 308 games. He was one of the first stars in Oakland, leading an offensive line eventually included Gene Upshaw and Art Shell. With this outstanding front wall, the Raiders dominated the AFL, winning an AFL title in 1967, and playing for the AFL/AFC championship in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, and 1974. During his career, he was named an AFL All Star 9 times, a 3 time NFL Pro Bowler, and a 3 time NFL All Pro. With that record of achievement, it's no wonder why he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Otto, like a ton of former Raiders, has stayed loyal to the franchise, and to Al Davis. He's been employed by the franchise since 1995 in the department of special projects, and is also heavily involved in the business world. A former owner of numerous Burger King franchises, he continues to be a tough character, fighting on despite having his leg amputated in 2007 . A cancer survivor, a man who despite his numerous health issues continues to be a pillar of the community, Otto is an inspiration to those who believe in consistency, excellence, and toughness.
* Photo Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame(http://www.profootballhof.com)
Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
Chuck Foreman (Photo Credit: University of Miami Athletics Archive)
Another Thursday, another entry in our "Forgotten 'Canes" series. Today is all about Chuck Foreman, a running back at The U in the early 70s. The 70s were an awful time for Miami athletics, starting with the cancellation of the basketball program in 1971, and the continued instability of the football program. Through all of the sadness, through all of the losing, a beacon of light emerged, and his name was Chuck. Born Walter Eugene Foreman, he arrived at Miami from Frederick, Maryland. A versatile player, he played both running back, and defensive back at The U. Foreman, who was just as adept at catching the football, as he was running with it, ended up being one of the first multi-purpose backs.
Chuck went on to win NFC Rookie of the Year honors in 1973. From there, he built a career that included 5 appearances in the Pro Bowl, and 4 All-Pro selections. He played in multiple Super Bowls and is a member of the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor. Not bad for a guy who never got the chance to show his talents on the national stage while he was a 'Cane!
Written By: Nathan Skinner Canes Rising Contributor
Ottis Anderson
What were you doing in the 70's? For a majority of Canes Rising readers, the only thing they can remember about the turbulent decade was watching "That 70's Show" back in 2002. If you are one of the few old souls that can remember the decade that brought us Watergate, bell bottoms, and "Disco Duck", you also remember a powerful back named Ottis Anderson. Most football fans associate Ottis with Super Bowl XXV, where he won the MVP award, after battering the favored Bills, but before that glory, he was the first 1,000 yard rusher at The U.
Ottis is a local guy, born and raised in West Palm Beach, an underrated part of the "State of Miami". O.J. came to Miami in 1975, and proceeded to break all the major records set by another Miami great, Chuck Foreman. Anderson, despite playing on teams that weren't world class, managed to break the 1k barrier as a senior, ending up with 1,266 yards and 8 touchdowns. O.J. was a unique specimen, a rare blend of power and speed. In an era in which running backs were expected to carry the load, Ottis was a workhorse.
Ottis has been forgotten by most Miami fans, not because of a lack of talent on his part, but because of timing. We forget that college football began way before 1983, and that Miami was home to a ton of outstanding athletes before the "Miracle in Miami".
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