When crowds packed the OB for HS games...

[MedleyCane]

The good ole days…there was Dale Bennett the Mayor of Hialeah, confederate flags flew in Hialeah like they did in South Carolina, there was Hialeah Speedway, Follies International and Mae & Dave’s on Palm Avenue. How many of you remember that !

Yes, I remember Mayor Bennett.
He used to show up to the Hialeah Optimist games and other functions like banquets.
I'm also old enough to remember the big news where a family enrolled their daughters at
Miami Dade Christian school who balked at their acceptance when they learned it was an
African-American family.
Speaking of same school, I remember one of their basketball players being suspended from
school because he had temerity to attend a party where dancing was involved.
Man, I'm old.
Lol.

 

[305 MOUNTAIN MAN]

Yes, I remember Mayor Bennett.
He used to show up to the Hialeah Optimist games and other functions like banquets.
I'm also old enough to remember the big news where a family enrolled their daughter at
Miami Dade Christian school who balked at her acceptance when they learned it was an
African-American family.
Speaking of same school, I remember one of their basketball players being suspended from
school because he had temerity to attend a party where dancing was involved.
Man, I'm old.
Lol.

Love it ! Our job to educate these youngsters…I’m with you Brother.

 

[Cookie917]

Back 50-70 years ago, there'd be crowds of 20,000-40,000 to watch Edison and other schools play at the Orange Bowl.
Do I have that right? I see mentions of it from time to time.
Why did HS football attract such big numbers and when did that era end? And why did it end?
Maybe for lack of options before the Dolphins and the Heat?
Dunno.

I think it is a combo of factors....

1. There are hella high schools now all with good football programs, you dont have the few programs that would garner the following;

2. hella transplants, hard to get community involvement if you did not grow up here or go to school here. I can see people who never went to HS here not giving a **** about a HS football game.

3. The youth needs instant gratification and they dont care about ****. I recall my dad bringing me to HS games, even the thanksgiving classic every year as a tradition, house was packed, we didnt really have much else, you read the paper to see your stats, no highlight tapes or cell phones, you were limited in what you had as a kid so that was fun, now even my 6 year old wont sit through an entire HS game, he has other **** that is grabbing his attention.

4. social media makes it way easier to feel "included" sitting on your couch or just watching someone's live stream. Hence not as big of a draw to go out of fomo

 

[MedleyCane]

Another guy who played on that Gables team was John Clifford, who I got to know when he was the coach at PK Yonge in hogtown.

If I recall, during the uf-UM game where the Gator defenders did the infamous "Gator Flop" to allow a UM TD, so they can get the ball late in the game so John Reaves could break the passing record, Clifford was the only gator defender who refused to do the "flop" because, as he stated, he was from Miami and had many friends on the UM team.

The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop

Page 2 relives the 1971 Gator Flop through words of players, coaches.

www.espn.com

 

[Fatboycane]

If I recall, during the uf-UM game where the Gator defenders did the infamous "Gator Flop" to allow a UM TD, so they can get the ball late in the game so John Reaves could break the passing record, Clifford was the only gator defender who refused to do the "flop" because, as he stated, he was from Miami and had many friends on the UM team.

The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop

Page 2 relives the 1971 Gator Flop through words of players, coaches.

www.espn.com

This is the content I'm here for.