When people mention that Miami considered dropping football, they may not aware that Tampa did just that. They moved from NAIA to Division I in 71 and their BOT dropped football after the 74 season.
I remember. In fact, I read some detailed history on that recently. Football is very expensive for a smaller, private university not named Norte Dame. USCw is very large, unlike UM, with a much longer football history and larger alumni base.
I recall when we brought Fran Curci left Tampa to take over as UM head coach. Then some believe he screwed us when he left for Kentucky.
Interestingly, I mentioned in another post there was speculation we would take Carroll Williams, early ‘60’s star QB at Archbishop Curley, as our first Black player (which we did not). I believe Curci might have played for Curley in the mid-50’s, before he starred for us.
Archbishop Curley was a significant presence on the Dade sports scene back then, if not a top power. I think the school has completely closed down in the years since.
I also recall that many of the high schools not named Edison or Miami High (maybe the top two powers in Dade football) competed in the Gold Coast conference. I think the Conference included Curley, Columbus, North Miami, maybe Gables, Hialeah, Norland, maybe Southwest, and some others. I’m not sure if some Broward schools were not in the GCC.
Schools like Miami High and maybe Edison did not concern themselves with the Gold Coast Conference since they had established rivalries with state powers like the Jacksonville schools. Remember DaytonaCane posted some months back about her HS trips from Jax when her HS played Miami High. I’m trying to remember which HS she went to. She came to UM as a student when her husband-to-be, Doug Davis, came to UM as a fullback. I think he started for us in that position when Fran Curci had a big year in 1958. Fran was named an AP second team A-A, and was a star option QB.
I hope Daytona is OK. She went down to Miami for a heart procedure a few years ago. She seemed to be alright and posted a bit afterwards, but I haven’t seen her at all lately.
Anyway, Miami HS football was a lot different. And the schools were segregated, so a lot of the best talent was hidden away to a lot of us, who only paid attention to the news on our own school and it’s rivals.