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 to allow John Reaves to 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.

 

[MedleyCane]

This probably deserves a separate thread, but Miami Film Festival has a documentary on soFla HS football. The trailer is interesting with the exception Uncle Puke is in it. It is called "The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium".

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32385017/

 

[atlCanesFan]

We actually had caravans of cars leaving Southwest Miami senior high school in the 70’s a couple hours before we did , it was awesome.

I’d be sound asleep at home about 12-1 AM windows open and here my own friends papering my house, they’d yell go back to sleep This is a master piece lololol

Packed stands overflowing to visitors side , we couldn’t get off the buses.

When we played MH in the OB , there was about 2-3 K .

Best time of my life the 70’s at SWMSH .

Fellow grad of SWMHS here, also from the 70's. I can remember heading out to Central Stadium to watch our "home" games. Thanksgiving day was the designated day when we would play (lose to) Coral Gables .
We did beat MHS in '72.
The benefit of playing at Central was that it was also the home stadium for both Coral Park and Columbus, so we were able to watch those games without any travel.

 

[Silver King]

Lawless was a very good player for the Cowboys.
I remember him well.
He was mentioned in the Facebook I mentioned with regards to the Super Bowl at OB between the Steelers and Cowboys.

He was the only Rookie Starter In Super Bowl X; undersized guard who had to deal with Jack Lamber at Mean Joe Green. He siad they were the real deal. Great guy, comes home every now and then. He still has his family house in Punta Gorda, but setlled in WACO.

 

[GOCANES05]

Fellow grad of SWMHS here, also from the 70's. I can remember heading out to Central Stadium to watch our "home" games. Thanksgiving day was the designated day when we would play (lose to) Coral Gables .
We did beat MHS in '72.
The benefit of playing at Central was that it was also the home stadium for both Coral Park and Columbus, so we were able to watch those games without any travel.

It was a wonderful time back then till that faithful Thanksgiving 12:00 kick vs Gables second half back on the wedge awaiting the return call EAGLE, I turned and cataclysmic explosion of the wedge breaker hitting me and return man
The result total ankle dislocation hanging by skin and muscle tendons carried off the field straight to Baptist hospital right in front of a sea of scouts , career ending
Tried a comeback but back then therapy in high school sports was walk around the track and an ice pack .

I look at my ankle now still purple color wrapping ball of my ankle

I would do it again in a second .

Oh I was trashing the Gables all state senior MLB , I was a junior making a run of my own at the title , he was MINE I OWNED HIM