Tales from the Miami Hurricanes Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Hurricanes Stories Ever Told

by Jim Martz

University of Miami football is more than national championships, thirty-game winning streaks, and being a pipeline to the NFL. It’s the Gator Flop, defeating Tulane on a fifth down, and playing three games in eight days. It’s converting third and 44 against Notre Dame, Michael Irvin talking smack with Florida State’s Deion Sanders, and Vinny Testaverde being sacked by hamburgers. It’s the Jet Lag Kids playing seven road games in one season, including one in Tokyo, and it’s the Ibis mascot being arrested on the field in Tallahassee and being nicked by a bullet on Bourbon Street.

Tales from the Miami Hurricanes Sideline is a collection of the greatest anecdotes and stories ever told about ’Canes football. In this newly updated edition, Jim Martz, who has covered the team for more than three decades, chronicles the ups, downs, and sideways of this spirited program that has produced five national championship teams under four different coaches since 1983. They have won under charismatic coaches and under low-key coaches. More than anything, they have won with colorful players. In an age of parity and just a few years removed from the program nearly being dropped, the Hurricanes have defied the odds and become a dynasty of modern college football.

Genres: Sports

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2012

Reviews

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a miami fan it's great to hear some tales of the university as well as read about it's rich history

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many college football fans, including myself, did not pay much attention to this school and it's football team until the early 1980's when coach Howard Schnellenberger led them into prominence topped off by the national championship in the 1983-84 season. Since then the football program has produced more championships and NFL players than most of storied programs. This collection of first hand stories by players, coaches and other key personnel in the program is entertaining. I especially liked the stories told by the man who was the team mascot for many years, especially when he was detained by police officers for holding a fire extinguisher so he could douse the flaming spear of the Florida State mascot.

It should be noted that there are also several good anecdotes about some of the year's before the "U" became the power it is now and some may look back on those times fondly as well. All in all a decent book for any Hurricanes fan.