The Orange Bowl Story (1970)

[TheU 4ever]

Tough, low-scoring defensive struggle if I recall. Stings ended Gables 28 game win streak. Gables was #1 in the state, Miami High #2.

Gables had the ultra-skinny QB Larry Rentz (went to UF) who was held in check. Miami High wore those Midnight Blue unis. Huge crowd. I said 45,000 but that was probably low.

MHS Stings QB was Richard Hormel! His dad, mother & Richard were very good friends of our family. That game was one of the greatest games ever played at the OB. Supposedly the crowd that day was in excess of 50,000. Richard graduated from the Naval Academy and was killed several years later during a test flight of (at the time) the new F-18. RIP Richard, Charles & Raquel!! All wonderful people.

 

[hotshot]

MHS Stings QB was Richard Hormel! His dad, mother & Richard were very good friends of our family. That game was one of the greatest games ever played at the OB.

Name rings a bell. I think George Hopgood was on that MHS team as well. He later was a starter as an Offensive Guard at UM. Fine player. George Mekras was another MHS defensive stalwart in that game (maybe a LB?).

 

[gatorsSUCK!]

my K-Land 55 lb team was part of canes half time show around 1973. Divided the field up and played several games. Artificial turf back then. Saw early 70’s fins to include the Bills with Oj. Was there when we beat Penn State in 81. Learned to keep my money in my socks after older thug kids emptied my food money from pockets in the OB bathroom. Lol. Teams cursed since manures dad tore it down.

 

[CaneinBroward]

Thanks for posting. It brings back lots of memories. I wish my Dad was still alive to see this video.

Fun to look back at a time where bringing a lion out in a cage and sticking a pole at it was cool. lol Also don't think you'll see an elephant water skiing on Biscayne Bay again. (Seriously, if that thing fell into the water wouldn't it just sink to the bottom?)

 

[Stan The Bat]

I haven't lived in Miami for over 35 years and saw Cane football games in person from 1971 through 1985 (those Friday night Canes games in the 70's were glorious experiences for a young kid). My afternoons and evenings at the Orange Bowl watching the Canes are the only things I dearly miss about living down there. ***** those who tore the old girl down.

 

[MedleyCane]

My first game at the OB was the season opener in 1964. Charlie Tate's first year as HC. The Noles beat us 14-0, on two TD receptions by future HoFer Fred Biletnikoff. Interestingly, the Canes starting QB that night was his brother, Bob Biletnikoff.

In my years at UM, I never saw a day game as all games were played at night back then. In addition to UM games, saw the 1965 battle between Gables and the Stingarees (about 45,000 there for that epic HS matchup), and the 1966 Orange Bowl game where Bama pounded Nebraska, behind QB Steve Sloan throwing to WR Ray Perkins.

 

[LawyerCane]

My first game at the OB was the season opener in 1964. Charlie Tate's first year as HC. The Noles beat us 14-0, on two TD receptions by future HoFer Fred Biletnikoff. Interestingly, the Canes starting QB that night was his brother, Bob Biletnikoff.

In my years at UM, I never saw a day game as all games were played at night back then. In addition to UM games, saw the 1965 battle between Gables and the Stingarees (about 45,000 there for that epic HS matchup), and the 1966 Orange Bowl game where Bama pounded Nebraska, behind QB Steve Sloan throwing to WR Ray Perkins.

I was at UM from ‘66-71 and don‘t think I ever (intentionally) missed a home game. What a place it was. Nothing else like it. So many great memories……

 

[DerpaDerp]

Namath called it but no one believed it. Quick story. Couple of Colts fans sitting behind us. The 2 fellas had a briefcase with a mini bar in it. They also had a cowbell they rang every time the Colts made a good play. My ears were still ringing when I got home.

Did you know, if the AFL lost that game, the NFL would terminate the contract with it for a combined championship game?

The contract was for three years and in none of the prior games was the AFL even closely competitive. In the contract there was an termination clause if the AFL didn't win one of the first three games.

Some think the game was rigged.

 

[423Hurricane]

Did you know, if the AFL lost that game, the NFL would terminate the contract with it for a combined championship game?

The contract was for three years and in none of the prior games was the AFL even closely competitive. In the contract there was an termination clause if the AFL didn't win one of the first three games.

Some think the game was rigged.

I remember hearing something about that several years later. I was 12 when I saw the game so all I knew at the time was the Jets won.

 

[Dorcane]

My first OB game was in 1954 for the North South Shrine game Alan Ameche was the MVP. My Little League team got us all into the game.

Scored winning touchdown for my Colts in the greatest game ever played first tv OT championship game

 

[Dorcane]

Did you know, if the AFL lost that game, the NFL would terminate the contract with it for a combined championship game?

The contract was for three years and in none of the prior games was the AFL even closely competitive. In the contract there was an termination clause if the AFL didn't win one of the first three games.

Some think the game was rigged.

As a Colts fan Bubba Smith intimated that. Colts had six possessions inside the twenty or so and no points. Earl Morral missed a wide open receiver may have been Ray Perkins ) on a play they had run before. The video shows number 28 jumping up and down wide open in the end zone. Shula coaching Colts.

 

[3GC]

Tough, low-scoring defensive struggle if I recall. Stings ended Gables 28 game win streak. Gables was #1 in the state, Miami High #2.

Gables had the ultra-skinny QB Larry Rentz (went to UF) who was held in check. Miami High wore those Midnight Blue unis. Huge crowd. I said 45,000 but that was probably low.

Actually, the Gables QB was Tommy Warren, Larry Rentz graduated a year earlier.
My parents were friendly with the gracious Rentz family.
Tommy Warren would go on to play for FSU.
The game ended 14-13, wasn't really that close.
Sting defense was Unreal..

 

[GOCANES05]

Sure do. Our home unis in the mid-60s had dark gold pants, white jersey with green numbers, bright gold helmets. No orange anywhere to be found. No logo either.

spit on , it was surly a great time those Friday night lights .
To experience the formation stages that eventuality became the greatest college football team ever assembled and sit in those same seats .
And watch Notre Dame play us on a Friday night rain storm and lose , I think 7-6 I may be off on this score been a long time ago.

Thank you for sharing and bringing memories to life again.

GOCANES

 

[GojiraCane]

Thanks for posting. It brings back lots of memories. I wish my Dad was still alive to see this video.

Fun to look back at a time where bringing a lion out in a cage and sticking a pole at it was cool. lol Also don't think you'll see an elephant water skiing on Biscayne Bay again. (Seriously, if that thing fell into the water wouldn't it just sink to the bottom?)

Elephants can swim.

 

[GojiraCane]

As a Colts fan Bubba Smith intimated that. Colts had six possessions inside the twenty or so and no points. Earl Morral missed a wide open receiver may have been Ray Perkins ) on a play they had run before. The video shows number 28 jumping up and down wide open in the end zone. Shula coaching Colts.

I could see in theory a referee influencing a game through bad calls, but to have coaches (a HoF coach) and a quarterback in on it? What would the NFL gain by this?

 

[hotshot]

What a find! Thanks for that.

The Stings HC, Bobby Carlton (who gives a run down on the game in the opening of the clip, played for UM and was a UM Asst under HC Fran Curci in the early 70s.

Carlton I think was born and raised in Miami. Listening to his accent, you'd think he was from South Georgia or Alabama. That's sort of a sociological comment on how Miami has changed over the last 60 years. Know anyone born and raised in Dade who talks like that today? Used to be common. "Dixie" was played regularly by the Band of the Hour at UM games in the OB back in the 60s. A very different time and place.

 

[MedleyCane]

What a find! Thanks for that.

The Stings HC, Bobby Carlton (who gives a run down on the game in the opening of the clip, played for UM and was a UM Asst under HC Fran Curci in the early 70s.

Carlton I think was born and raised in Miami. Listening to his accent, you'd think he was from South Georgia or Alabama. That's sort of a sociological comment on how Miami has changed over the last 60 years. Know anyone born and raised in Dade who talks like that today? Used to be common. "Dixie" was played regularly by the Band of the Hour at UM games in the OB back in the 60s. A very different time and place.

Interesting sociological comments Hotshot.
I caught the tail end of it when my family moved down to Hialeah early 1970s....In fact, the Mayor of Hialeah at the time was Dale Bennett and many of his supporters at the time waved the southern flag at his rallies. I also remember the big controversy when the first black student was attempting to matriculate at Miami Dade Christian HS. Heck, not too long ago I was at the Hecht athletic center looking at some of the old UM memorabilia and I noted a picture of the UM football team on the tarmac of Miami Airport, having return to a throng of fans after having upset Notre Dame (or Purdue).....Big crowd and some were waving Confederate flag....definitely different era.

 

[hotshot]

Actually, the Gables QB was Tommy Warren, Larry Rentz graduated a year earlier.
My parents were friendly with the gracious Rentz family.
Tommy Warren would go on to play for FSU.
The game ended 14-13, wasn't really that close.
Sting defense was Unreal..

Thanks for the correction on Rentz. And, I def recall Tommy Warren. He backed up former Dunedin HS star Bill Cappleman as FSU QB in the late 60s.

Wasn't the final score in the 1965 Cavs-Stings game 14-7? That I'm more sure about. And, yes, the Sting D collectively were the stars of that game.

 

[hotshot]

spit on , it was surly a great time those Friday night lights .
To experience the formation stages that eventuality became the greatest college football team ever assembled and sit in those same seats .
And watch Notre Dame play us on a Friday night rain storm and lose , I think 7-6 I may be off on this score been a long time ago.

Thank you for sharing and bringing memories to life again.

GOCANES

I remember the 1965 UM-ND game in the OB. Ara Parseghian was the Irish coach. Ended in a scintillating 0-0 tie, which was of course a massive moral victory for unheralded UM. Think the Irish missed 3 or 4 FGs, several from fairly close in.

 

[MedleyCane]

What a find! Thanks for that.

The Stings HC, Bobby Carlton (who gives a run down on the game in the opening of the clip, played for UM and was a UM Asst under HC Fran Curci in the early 70s.

Carlton I think was born and raised in Miami. Listening to his accent, you'd think he was from South Georgia or Alabama. That's sort of a sociological comment on how Miami has changed over the last 60 years. Know anyone born and raised in Dade who talks like that today? Used to be common. "Dixie" was played regularly by the Band of the Hour at UM games in the OB back in the 60s. A very different time and place.

By the way, Bobby Carlton had quite a life. I wonder if he was kin to former MLB pitcher Steve Carlton, who played at North Miami HS.

Remembering Miami High School Coaching Legend Bobby Carlton | Featured#

RIP Bobby Carlton. A 1952 graduate of Miami Senior High School, Carlton was one of the legendary figures of Dade County high school athletics, first as a head coach at Miami High and later as the first athletic director at Miami Southridge High School. He was a former All City lineman for the...

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