forums

Forgotten 'Canes: Andy Gustafson

Advertisement
Remember him in '63. By then he was a senile old drunk whose team quit on him after losing the first game 24-0 to FSU. (Playboy had us ranked #1 going into that season.) We won three games that year and had absolutely NO defense whatsoever. We had a great QB in George Mira, but the receivers couldn't catch his bullet passes worth a ****. We also had a punter named Art Zachary who actually punted the ball backwards into the end zone to start another massacre of this horrendous clown act by some mediocre Big 10 team. Can't remember now who it was.

Just a wretched year for those Canes. The team became a joke. You had to be dead drunk by the start of the game to stand it. Just a constant comedy of errors.

I'm afraid the team this season is going to closely resemble that squad. The only exception is that Gus was once a great coach. He was just too old then and he was never sober. Al Golden, on the other hand, will never, ever be a great coach, young or old, drunk or sober.
 
Last edited:
mirednmediocrity said:
Remember him in '63. By then he was a senile old drunk whose team quit on him after losing the first game 24-0 to FSU. (Playboy had us ranked #1 going into that season.) We won three games that year and had absolutely NO defense whatsoever. We had a great QB in George Mira, but the receivers couldn't catch his bullet passes worth a ****. We also had a punter named Art Zachary who actually punted the ball backwards into the end zone to start another massacre of this horrendous clown act by some mediocre Big 10 team. Can't remember now who it was.

Just a wretched year for those Canes. The team became a joke. You had to be dead drunk by the start of the game to stand it. Just a constant comedy of errors.

I'm afraid the team this season is going to closely resemble that squad. The only exception is that Gus was once a great coach. He was just too old then and he was never sober. Al Golden, on the other hand, will never, ever be a great coach, young or old, drunk or sober.
Click to expand...

I remember those days. Nice comparison to today. Agree tha the difference was Andy once was a good coach and his teams occasionally beat good teams. Maybe Al should increase his drinking.
 
mirednmediocrity said:
Remember him in '63. By then he was a senile old drunk whose team quit on him after losing the first game 24-0 to FSU. (Playboy had us ranked #1 going into that season.) We won three games that year and had absolutely NO defense whatsoever. We had a great QB in George Mira, but the receivers couldn't catch his bullet passes worth a ****. We also had a punter named Art Zachary who actually punted the ball backwards into the end zone to start another massacre of this horrendous clown act by some mediocre Big 10 team. Can't remember now who it was.

Just a wretched year for those Canes. The team became a joke. You had to be dead drunk by the start of the game to stand it. Just a constant comedy of errors.

I'm afraid the team this season is going to closely resemble that squad. The only exception is that Gus was once a great coach. He was just too old then and he was never sober. Al Golden, on the other hand, will never, ever be a great coach, young or old, drunk or sober.
Click to expand...

That Zachary punt was in 1964 (Charlie Tate was the coach) against Indiana. He fumbled a low snap then had the punt blocked. He didn't kick it backwards.
 
"including a couple of 7-4 seasons in 1961 and 1962. Those two years ended in bowl appearances, with Miami losing in the Liberty and Gotham bowls. A 3-7 campaign in 1963 marked the end of the Gustafson era, as the long time coach stepped aside, and was named Athletic Director. In an era in which the position was looked upon as an honorary title with no actual role, Gustafson took the job seriously, and tried to keep Miami competitive on the national scene. He was unable to do so, as the program eroded following his departure from the sidelines... "

Dag, I hope it won't take another 20 years of decline at it did then to get back to national prominence.
 
Dingaan1828 said:
mirednmediocrity said:
Remember him in '63. By then he was a senile old drunk whose team quit on him after losing the first game 24-0 to FSU. (Playboy had us ranked #1 going into that season.) We won three games that year and had absolutely NO defense whatsoever. We had a great QB in George Mira, but the receivers couldn't catch his bullet passes worth a ****. We also had a punter named Art Zachary who actually punted the ball backwards into the end zone to start another massacre of this horrendous clown act by some mediocre Big 10 team. Can't remember now who it was.

Just a wretched year for those Canes. The team became a joke. You had to be dead drunk by the start of the game to stand it. Just a constant comedy of errors.

I'm afraid the team this season is going to closely resemble that squad. The only exception is that Gus was once a great coach. He was just too old then and he was never sober. Al Golden, on the other hand, will never, ever be a great coach, young or old, drunk or sober.
Click to expand...

That Zachary punt was in 1964 (Charlie Tate was the coach) against Indiana. He fumbled a low snap then had the punt blocked. He didn't kick it backwards.
Click to expand...

It sure looked like he tried to kick it and it went backwards to me. Don't remember an opposing player touching it, but, it's been a long time ago. Might have been '64. Both '63 and '64 the teams were just godawful and it all runs together for me now. Tate eventually had a few bowl eligible teams with Ted Hendricks and Co., but for the most part, we were just AWFUL. Sort of like we are now.
 
Back
Top