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Question for those old canes in Hendricks era

canesfanmpls

canesfanmpls

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Dec 12, 2012
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My buddy is in town (MPLS) from Vegas with his fam - and his dad played for the Canes during the Hendricks years. He had stories of Hendricks. He said he was like a pro among boys.

Apparently his grandmother did not approve of his dad playing football so she actually died never knowing he played football. My buddy never saw pics or anything but his dad is Glen Gordon. If anybody could attach team photos from that era that would be $$$
 
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Man among boys is correct. In fact my dad used Ted Hendricks to convince me to watch the games instead of wanting to wander around the Orange Bowl or look at anything except the game. I'll never forget it. He tapped me on the shoulder and said, "See that #89? Don't watch the football game. Just watch #89 on every play."

I thought it was ridiculous. I assumed all the players were the same.

Within a few plays I turned and stared at my dad in disbelief. He was looking at me with a huge grin, "See what I mean?"

That must have been 1966. By 1968 I knew what was going on. Hendricks often would literally stand up the ball carrier instead of tackling him. Then he would rip the ball away and have it in his possession. But the annoying referee would be waving him back. No, Ted...we blew the whistle.

I'll always say that in the 50 years I have followed this program Ted Hendricks was the most dominant defensive player and O.J. Anderson the most dominant offensive player.

Jerome Brown was close on defense. I don't put anybody particularly close to Anderson. That's how phenomenal he was. Amazing feet. I guess Jim Kelly would be close if you use the criteria instrumental to what we became later.
 
I definitely qualify as a Cane “old fart”. I had never set foot in Miami and the first day I walked on the UM campus, was the day I enrolled for classes in 1966. And yes I still remember how Ted Hendricks completely dominated the game. I did have some old photos from back in the day but time has absconded with them, like many other things. Ted was in one of my classes that first year. He was definitely a beast on the field and was the best example of being a “man among boys” that I ever personally witnessed.
 
I played football for Columbus when TH was a freshman at Hialeah HS. We won that year at Milander Stadium and he wasn’t much of a factor as I remember. We had a WR named Jim Cox who went on to play at the U and was drafted by the Dolphins in 1968 and Jimmy said TH was the best football player he had ever played against in HS and with at the U. One of the greatest ever IMO! We also played against two other greats in George Mira (Key West) and Tucker Fredrickson (South Broward HS) and we were decimated by both! 😂
 
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