Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Jim O'Brien

Jim O'Brien might be the most unlikely Super Bowl hero who ever played. In 1970, the long-haired rookie kicker for the Baltimore Colts was just hoping to play in the NFL. He was a 3rd round draft pick from the University of Cincinnati and most football fans outside of Baltimore had never heard of him. But on January 17, 1971 in the Orange Bowl, O'Brien forever etched his name in Super Bowl history. He would kick a field goal in the final seconds to win Super Bowl V.

The 1970 football season was the first following the NFL-AFL merger. The first four Super Bowls matched up the champions from the NFL and the AFL. Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Colts were established NFL powers. The Colts were among three NFL franchises that joined the new American Football Conference that was primarily made up of teams from the old AFL. The Cowboys were the champions of the National Football Conference. Super Bowl V established several firsts in the history of the big game. It was the first Super Bowl played on artificial turf. It was also the first Super Bowl in which the MVP (Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley) was a defensive player and also played for the losing team.

Super Bowl V featured some of football's greatest players including hall of famers Johnny Unitas, John Mackey, Ted Hendricks, Mike Ditka, Bob Lilly and Bob Hayes. But it was also one of the most poorly played Super Bowls of all time. The game was often referred to as "The Blunder Bowl" or "Stupor Bowl" Both teams combined for a record 11 turnovers, including 7 by the Colts who were the winning team. Dallas committed a Super Bowl record 10 penalties for 133 yards. But the most enduring image of the game was Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining in the game to give the Colts a 16-13 victory.

In a game that was filled with turnovers and mistakes, it was only fitting O'Brien's game winning field goal was set up by a Dallas interception. With less than a minute remaining in the game and the score tied 13-13, Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton threw a pass intended for running back Dan Reeves. The pass was high and bounced off Reeves's fingertips and fell into the arms of Colts linebacker Mike Curtis who returned the ball to the Dallas 32 yard line.

With only five seconds left on the clock, all eyes turned to Colts kicker Jim O'Brien. The rookie was under incredible pressure. O'Brien was an old-school straight-on style kicker, as opposed to today's kickers who all kick soccer-styled from the side of their foot. O'Brien was also one of the last of his era, who wasn't just a kicking specialist. He was also a wide receiver and wore #80. But if he was nervous, he never let anyone know he was scared.

"I always pretended that every field goal was the last second of a championship game," O'Brien said. "I wasn't the greatest kicker and I never pretended to be. I never told anybody I was. Whenever we needed a kick, I made it. I never missed a kick that would have won a game."

Colts quarterback Earl Morrall took the snap, placed the ball perfectly and O'Brien drilled the ball through the uprights of the Orange Bowl's east end zone. The Colts won their only Super Bowl as the Baltimore Colts.

"I knew that it was going to be good," O'Brien said. "It probably could have gone 55 yards. It was the best kick of my life and I was very fortunate to be in that spot and to be successful."

Jim O'Brien played only four seasons in the NFL. He was a decent to average kicker at best and also caught 14 passes as a backup receiver including 2 touchdowns in his career. He is not the only kicker to have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl. Twenty years after O'Brien's game winning field goal, Buffalo's Scott Norwood tried to duplicate O'Brien's heroics in Super Bowl XXV. But Norwood's 47-yard attempt fell wide right. O'Brien's distinction for being the only player to kick the game winning field goal in the Super Bowl finally ended when New England's Adam Vinatieri made the winning kick to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Vinatieri did it again two years later to beat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Mercury Morris

Former Miami Dolphins running back Eugene Morris was so quick on his feet, it was only appopriate he was nicknamed after the Greek god of speed--Mercury. When he scored, he didn't just settle for one yard runs or dives over the goal line. Morris preferred to cruise 40, 50, 60 and sometimes 70 yards past defensive players and leaving them in the dust. He ran fast on the field and he lived just as fast off it. Soon his life spun completely out of control and crashed with cocaine addiction. But just as he overcame the label of a "bust" after he was drafted, he beat his drug habits as well.

Eugene Morris was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He was always athletic, talkative and cocky. He was a standout high school basketball and football star at Avonworth High School. Academically he was a bit of an underachiever. He was intelligent, but didn't necessary apply himself in the classroom. His grades were average, but his athletic ability certainly wasn't. After graduation he took his talents to West Texas State University, now known as West Texas A&M University.

Morris first made a name for himself by putting up huge numbers at the small Texas college. He and USC's O.J. Simpson were the most prolific college runners of the day. During his junior year in 1967, Morris rushed for 1,274 yards and finished second in the nation behind Simpson. In 1968, Morris set college records with 340 yards rushing in one game, 1,571 in one season and 3,388 yards for his career. Unfortunatley for Morris, Simpson broke Morris's single-season rushing record. Simpson also had the advantage of playing for national power USC and easily won the Heisman Trophy. Morris was a small college phenom whose name was on top of the NCAA rushing statistics but was an unknown to most college football fans. But he was no secret to pro scouts.

During his career at West Texas State, Morris earned the nickname "Mercury" for his blazing speed and great breakaway runs. When his college career ended, he was invited to play in the North vs. South Shrine Game at the Orange Bowl. The North vs. South Shrine Game featured many of the top college seniors in the nation. For the first time, Morris got the opportunity to play and prove himself against athletes from bigger schools. But Morris struggled in his few carries and lost a fumble. He was still highly regarded by the pro scouts. But his draft stock slipped and he was picked in the 3rd round by the Miami Dolphins in 1969 NFL/AFL common draft.

When Morris arrived in Miami in 1969, the Dolphins were a struggling 3-year-old AFL franchise. George Wilson was in his final year as the team's head coach and there was a culture of losing. But while the Dolphins weren't winning many games, they were stockpiling a growing group of young, talented players. These young prospects included quarterback Bob Griese, running backs Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick, receiver Howard Twilley, defensive linemen Bill Stanfill and Manny Fernandez and defensive back Dick Anderson. This young core of players would later realize their potential under their next head coach Don Shula.

From the time Shula was hired by owner Joe Robbie to replace Wilson, the Miami Dolphins became South Florida's flagship franchise. They were the only pro team in town and they would no longer take a back seat to the University of Miami or local high school football. Miami became a Dolphins town. During Shula's first season as Dolphins head coach in 1970, Miami finished 10-4 and made the playoffs. Shula had brought a team-first mentality and discipline to a group of players who were talented but needed the right leadership. Most of the players bought into Shula's philosophy. But Mercury Morris wasn't one of them.

Morris found himself playing very little and backed up Jim Kiick at tailback. He was used to being the star of every team he played for and his ego demanded the same treatment with the Dolphins. But he needed an attitude adjustment. The Dolphins were emerging as one of the best teams in football and Morris felt left out. In 1970, he only carried the ball only 60 times the entire season, while the team clinched its first playoff appearance in franchise history. In 1971, Morris carried only 57 times and it appeared he was a huge draft bust. The Dolphins made it to Super Bowl VI, losing to the Dallas Cowboys 24-3. Miami was led by its punishing backfield of Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. While Csonka and Kiick were the most productive tandem of running backs in the NFL at the time, Super Bowl VI exposed a weakness amongst Miami's biggest strength. The team lacked a home run threat in the backfield. Csonka was power runner who gashed through defenses, often running over and trampling tacklers. Kiick was known for his versatility as both a runner and receiver and was money on goal line and short yardage situations. But neither Kiick nor Csonka had the speed to break big runs. The loss in Super Bowl VI opened the door for Morris. Mercury Morris never touched the ball from scimmage in the game and he vented his frustration.

"A reporter came up to me after the game and said, 'Hey Mercury, is there something wrong?'" Morris said. "I said yes, something's wrong. I didn't play in this game. The only time I was off the bench, except for the kickoffs, was for the national anthem."

Shula was concerned with Morris's attitude and discipline. But he never questioned his talent. In 1971, Morris averaged 5.8 yards per carry, the best on the team. Shula decided to increase Morris's role on the team for the 1972 season. He began rotating Morris and Kiick at the tailback position. Morris played so well, it became almost impossible for Shula to take him out. Soon, Morris had replaced Kiick as the leading tailback. The move could have completely destroyed team chemistry. Kiick and Csonka were the best of friends and were often inseparable. They were nicknamed "Butch and Sundance" and once did a promotional poster wearing cowboy outfits and riding horses. But both understood the promotion of Morris to starting tailback made the team better.

Morris made an immediate impact once he was inserted into the starting lineup. He rushed for exactly 1,000 yards, scored 12 touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. His galloping running style was perfect for the Orange Bowl's artificial turf. He often made violent cuts, faking out defenders and then darting past them. When he reached the end zone, he would often end his touchdown runs with a thunderous spike of the football. Morris and Larry Csonka became the first pair of running backs from the same team to rush for at least 1,000 yards in the same season. The Dolphins went from a good team to a great team--perhaps the greatest of all time. Miami finished the season undefeated and went on to beat the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. Morris was selected to the Pro Bowl and once again, found himself compared with Buffalo's O.J. Simpson as football's fastest running backs.

In 1973, Morris continued to make big plays from the backfield. He carried the ball 41 fewer times than in 1972, but he was more efficient. Morris rushed for 954 yards and averaged a remarkable 6.4 yards per carry, the best in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl again and Dolphins went 12-2 and went on to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII. It would be the last time the Miami Dolphins would rule pro football. It was also the last time, Morris would enjoy great individual success.

Morris's career began to decline in 1974. Injuries were beginning to take a toll and he played only five games in the 1974 season. Csonka, Kiick and wide receiver Paul Warfield would leave the Dolphins for the World Football League and the Miami dynasty was over. Off the field, Morris's life began to spiral out of control. He began using drugs, particularly cocaine. His play also began to suffer. In 1975, he played his final season with the Dolphins, rushing for 875 yards, but his average per carry was a career-low 4.0. Morris finished his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers in 1976 and carried the ball just 50 times for 256 yards.

With his football career over, Morris's drug use became a bigger problem. He not only used cocaine, he also was trafficking it. In 1982, his life hit rock bottom. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory 15 year term. But on March 6, 1986, his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court due to evidence Morris had been unable to prove entrapment based on excluded evidence that was mistakenly characterized as hearsay. He was given a re-trial and reached a plea agreement. Morris was released from prison on 23, 1986. He had been given a new lease on life and he wasn't about to throw it away.

Morris always had the gift of gab. He was charasmatic, articulate and very likeable. He would use those skills as a motivational speaker and began preaching to young people about the dangers of drugs. Over the years, he's shared his story with thousands of people.

"I'm happy that things turned out the way they did in my life," Morris said. "And I'm thankful, as I look back, for every single circumstance that I've gone through because it's enabled me to learn something about myself and about what teammates are and about who people are."

Morris has remained close with his former Dolphin teammates and can be seen at just about every reunion.

"Eugene has grown immensley in the years since we've been playing together," said former Dolphin offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg. "He made some mistakes that a lot of young people make and he got caught and got into a lot of trouble for it and he paid the price for it. I really enjoy my relationship with Eugene Morris nowadays. He's a pleasure to be with---a very bright fellow, very articulate and just a lot of fun."

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Marino and Kosar 1984

Miami was the quarterback capital of the world in 1984. The Orange Bowl was the home field for pro and college football's best passers Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar. It was aerial excellence the sport had never seen before. Going into the 1984 season, Sports Illustrated placed Marino and Kosar on the cover its pro and college football preview issue. Both were tall, curley-haired righties from blue collard towns along the Ohio/Pennsylvania border, coming off great debut seasons in 1983 with the Dolphins and Hurricanes. It's been said the Sports Illustrated cover can be a jinx. But both quarterbacks would more than live up to the hype.

If you were a fan of the passing game, the Orange Bowl was your one-stop destination every fall weekend. Both quarterbacks were coming off spectacular debut seasons in 1983. Marino was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and Kosar led the University of Miami to its first national championship as a redshirt freshman. But statistically the 1984 Miami quarterbacks set the standard of excellence at their respective levels. Marino completely re-wrote the NFL's passing records. He finished the season completing 362 or 564 passes for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns. The Dolphins won the AFC title and reached Super Bowl XIX.

Kosar's 1984 season was a year of extremes. He would shatter all the UM passing records completed 262 of 416 passes for 3,642 yards and 25 touchdowns. But despite Kosar's amazing numbers, the Canes could not overcome a young defense that struggled under first-year coach Jimmy Johnson that included devastating consecutive losses to Maryland (42-40), Boston College (47-45) and UCLA in the Fiesta Bowl (39-37) to finish the season. Kosar would finish 4th in the Heisman Trophy balloting and was named Academic All American in his final season as a Cane. He would graduate academically and leave school to enter the NFL supplemental draft.

Neither the Dolphins nor the Hurricanes won championships in the 1984 season. But it may have been the most entertaining year to watch football at the Orange Bowl. The two quarterbacks would become close friends and rivals when Kosar joined the Cleveland Browns. They later became neighbors in Weston and teammates when Kosar joined the Dolphins in 1994 and backed up Marino for his final three seasons. It's doubtful South Florida football fans will ever see a better pair of quarterbacks come along at the same time again.

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: The City of Miami Welcomes You To the Orange Bowl

The great stadiums all have that special trademark feature that distinguishes it from any other facility. It doesn't have to be something flashy or extravagant. Boston's Fenway Park has the famed "Green Monster" left field wall. Chicago's Wrigley Field has the manual operated scoreboard and the ivy-covered brick walls. But when you walked into the Orange Bowl Stadium, you were greeted by the long, narrow sign made of thin sheet metal hanging from the north stands that read, "The City of Miami Welcomes You to the Orange Bowl." Along with the palm trees behind the east end zone, it made the Orange Bowl a unique place like nowhere else.

The famous stadium sign didn't always exist. When the Orange Bowl opened in 1937, it was originally known as Roddy Burdine Stadium, named after the famous local merchant. Burdine had died just months before it was built. The stadium capacity was just over 22,000 at the time and was single-decked. By 1948, the stadium was double-decked on both the north and south stands. Even though it was officially named Burdine Stadium, most fans and the media always referred to it as the Orange Bowl. By 1959, the stadium's name was officially changed to the Orange Bowl. But still the sign didn't exist.

By the early 1960s, the City of Miami continued to renovate and expand the stadium. A project was launched to double-deck the west end zone. In 1963 the west end zone became connected with the north and south stands. Several changes to the stadium were made, including a new scoreboard and a new entrance sign outside the west end of the stadium which read "Miami Orange Bowl" in large orange letters. But the most noticeable addition was the new sign that separated the upper and lower decks of the north stands, "The City of Miami Welcomes You to the Orange Bowl". It was painted orange with white letters. Over the years, the design and color scheme had changed. By 1983, the sign was remade was painted white with orange letters. In the late 1990s the sign was expanded to include names of former great University of Miami players as part of its Ring of Honor. Names like Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, Jim Dooley, Ted Henricks, George Mira and Ottis Anderson were among those listed.

I'm not sure where the sign is today. I would like to think someone has it saved and displayed in their backyard. Perhaps its in a museum. It's possible it was destroyed and recycled along with the rest of the rubble of concrete and steel during the spring of 2008. But whererever it is, the sign will go down as one of the great landmarks the City of Miami will ever have.

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Carlos Alvarez

Carlos Alvarez wasn't the first athlete, nicknamed "The Cuban Comet". That distinction belongs to former major league baseball player Minnie Minoso. But to University of Florida fans, he was truly an original. For a short time, he was college football's best and most dynamic receiver. He set records that would last for decades at UF and he did it in an era when few college teams threw the ball frequently. He was the pride of Miami's Cuban community and his homecoming in 1969 against the Hurricanes would turn into one of the great indivdual performances ever by a receiver in the Orange Bowl. The Cuban Comet was launched.

Alvarez arrived in Miami when he was ten-years-old and he barely knew a word of english. His family had just fled Cuba following the Castro Revolution. As a young boy new to the United States, he recalled sitting in classroom behind a student named Paul Armstrong. Alvarez copied everything from Armstrong's paper, including his name. Adjusting to life in Miami wasn't easy. But what made the transition smoother was his love for sports. Alvarez was always athletic and was blessed with good foot speed. He was an accomplished basketball player and track athlete. But the sport that he loved most was American football.

At North Miami High School, Alvarez became one of the best athletes in Miami-Dade County. He played running back and his blazing speed made him one of the best high school players in the state. During his senior year in 1967, he was named to the Miami Herald's All City Team and became the subject of an intense recruiting war between the Universities of Miami and Florida. He grew up watching the Hurricanes and was a fan of quarterback George Mira. But during the recruiting process, there was one incident that made him a Gator for life.

"My dislike for Miami started when they were recruiting me and at the office of their head coach at the time, Charlie Tate," Alvarez said. "There was a stuffed Gator hanging---right in the middle of his office. When it upset me right away, I knew immediately I was Gator bound." Alvarez said.

Another factor that helped steer Alvarez to Gainesville was the recruiting efforts of UF assistant coach Lindy Infante, who was a graduate of Miami High and of Cuban descent. "Lindy said to my mother that he was Cuban, then my mom really pushed to go there."

The awkward young boy who once struggled with english developed into a stellar student in the classroom. He scored a 491 out of a possible 495 on the state placement test, making him one of the state's brightest student athletes as well one of its best. When he arrived in Gainesville, freshmen were ineligible to play varsity football. Because he didn't have great size, UF coaches decided to move him from running back to receiver to better utilize his speed. In high school, Alvarez caught only one pass in his career. But just as he adapted to American society as a young immigrant, he made the smooth transition to wide receiver. He was a quick study.

In 1969, Alvarez exploded onto the college football scene. He was one of a talented group of sophomores who helped energize the University of Florida football program. This group included quarterback John Reaves and running back Tommy Durrance. Together they were known as "The Super Sophs". In his first college game, Alvarez and the Gators crushed the University of Houston 59-34. Alvarez caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Reaves on the very first pass play of their college careers. Game after game the combination of Reeves to Alvarez was shattering SEC records. By the end of the 1969 season, Alvarez caught 88 passes for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns--all SEC records.

But the highlight of his great sophomore season came in the Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes. As a high school player, Alvarez had never won a game at the Orange Bowl. His North Miami High teams lost twice there. His freshmen team at UF had also lost to the Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl. But on November 29, 1969, Alvarez turned the Orange Bowl into his house. A crowd of 70,934 packed the stadium and many of them were Cubans watching their first American football game waiving Cuban flags. Alvarez turned in amazing record performance. He caught 15 passes for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Gators won 35-16 and finished the season with an 8-1-1 record.

"I knew in the beginning when we were warming up that something was going to happen in that game," Alvarez said. "Then the whole evening, we just couldnt miss. Having all your relatives there and a lot of Cubans up in the stands, it was pretty magical."

He was named to the Kodak All American Team and was the youngest player and only sophomore selected to the squad. Alvarez seemed to be on his way to breaking every receiving record in college football. But a knee injury he suffered in high school while playing basketball became worse. "There was no injury per se," Alvarez said. "My right knee just started to swell." It was deteremined by doctors that the end of Alvarez's bone was beginning to wear out. He was never quite the same player again. He was limited in practice and his play began to decline. He continued to be a productive receiver, but his numbers would never approach what he accomplished as a sophomore. During his junior year in 1970, he caught 44 passes for 717 yard and 5 touchdowns. He caught 40 passes for 517 yards and 2 touchdowns his senior year.

Off the football field, Alvarez was a brilliant student and was a campus activist. It was during the Vietnam War era and America's youth began questioning the social order. He formed a group called the Florida League of Athletes. Many thought it was type of union for players to make demands of coaches and administrators. But according to Alvarez it wasn't.

"That was probably the most misunderstood group that ever got together on a college campus," Alvarez said. "All it was ever meant to do was to apprise people that athletes were students too and that we could participate in campus activties whether they were controversial or not.

Due to his chronic injuries, Alvarez never made it to the NFL. But he followed in his father's footsteps and became an attorney. He graduated from Duke University Law School in 1975 and currently practices law in Tallahassee.

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Jerome Brown

There was nothing small about Jerome Brown. The former University of Miami defensive tackle was not only a physically large man, he lived large. He played big in big games. He spoke loudly and he loved to drive his cars fast. He was the leader of the swaggering Miami Hurricanes of the 1980s. He played and lived with swagger until the day he died.

Just about the only thing small about Jerome Brown was his hometown of Brooksville, Florida, located just north of Tampa in Hernando County. He was always the biggest kid in his class. His personality was just as large as his size. He was a class clown, loud and gregarious and always backed up his boastful claims. People were always drawn to him and he never lacked friends. By the time he graduated from Hernando High School, he was a hometown legend. He was a star in football, baseball and basketball. As a senior he was 6-foot-2, 250 pounds and had the speed of players much smaller. He led Hernando High School's baseball team to a state championship as a junior, while leading the team in home runs and stolen bases. He was the leading scorer and rebounder on the basketball team. But on the football field, he was truly a man among boys playing defensive tackle and tight end. He was recognized as one of the finest high school athletes in the nation and was named to the prestigious Parade All American Team in 1982. Colleges from all over the Southeast rushed to Hernando High School to recruit him. In the end, he chose to attend the University of Miami and its emerging football program.

It didn't take Brown long to make a strong impression on the Miami coaches. He was one of five true-freshmen to see action on the 1983 national championship team. He was a raw talent who got by on natural athletic ability. But his technique was poor and he was at times undisciplined. Brown's first two years at UM were spent primarily as a backup. But everything came together his junior year in 1985. He went from a raw prospect to quite possibly the most dominant defensive lineman to ever suit up for Hurricanes.

By 1985, Brown had grown to 275 pounds and finally became a polished player. He was now able to blend technique along with his natural athletic gifts. He introduced himself to the college football world on October 19, 1985. The Canes traveled to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Sooners. Miami was a young team and unranked at the time, while Oklahoma was a top national championship contender. In a game that featured two future hall of famers (Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman) and dozens of future NFL players, Jerome Brown was the best athlete on the field. Late in the first quarter with the score tied 7-7, Oklahoma attempted a short field goal to take the lead. Brown charged up the middle, through the Oklahoma line, and blocked the kick. He then pumped his arms and screamed to the crowd it was going to be a long day for the Sooners. Brown almost single-handidly dominated the game. Late in the second quarter, he sacked Oklahoma quarterback Troy Aikman. Two plays later, he stormed by the OU offensive line and combined with UM teammate John McVeigh to sack Aikman again. The tackle was so violent, Aikman would fracture his leg. The injury ended Aikman's career at Oklahoma and lead to his transfer to UCLA where he would later emerge as a top pro prospect. Brown finished the afternoon with 14 tackles from his defensive tackle position, blocked a kick and a recovered a fumble. He did this despite being constantly double-teamed. The Canes won 27-14 and were back as a national championship contender. The Canes finished the year 10-2 and Brown was named All American.

When the 1986 season began, Miami emerged as the nation's most dominant team. The Canes also developed a bad boy reputation both on and off the field. UM players were known for talking trash and intimidating opponents. Brown was the team's unquestioned leader. He would sack quarterbacks and throw down ball carriers like sacks of garbage and then stand over them and talk trash. When Oklahoma visited the Orange Bowl play Hurricanes in 1986, Brown set the tone during the coin toss. He stared down the Oklahoma captains at midfield and then yelled "fresh meat!" The second-ranked Canes beat #1 Oklahoma again 28-16 behind 4 touchdown passes by Vinny Testaverde. The Canes cruised through the regular season undefeated and Jerome Brown was the most feared defensive lineman in college football. Despite missing three games due to injury, he was still named to every All American team that existed and was a finalist for the Outland and Lombardi Trophies. The Canes finished the season ranked #1 and were invited to the Fiesta Bowl to play #2 Penn State.

When the Canes arrived in Tempe, Arizona, Brown became the focus of attention. It was his idea to dress up the team in military fatigues during the Canes flight to Arizona. Brown was the first player to get off the plane and he made it clear he was ready for war. During a steak fry function hosted by the Fiesta Bowl, Brown was insulted by a racial skit performed by the Penn State players that also lampooned Miami coach Jimmy Johnson. He led a walkout of the Miami players from the restaurant and said, "Did the Japanese go sit down and have dinner with Pearl Harbor befor they bombed them?" But Penn State was ready and upset Miami 14-10. Brown and the Canes defense did their part to win the game. Miami dominated every statistic except the score. Penn State was held to just 162 yards of total offense. But Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw five interceptions and Canes turned the ball over seven times. Brown had a sack and led a stout defense. But his efforts were left wasted in Tempe.

Jerome Brown finished his UM career with 183 career tackles, including 21 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, caused 5 fumbles and recovered 4. The Canes played in a New Years Day bowl in all four years he played, including the national championship in his freshman season at the 1984 Orange Bowl.

In 1987 he was selected in the first round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He quickly prospered playing for head coach Buddy Ryan and teammed up with Reggie White and Clyde Simmons to form one of the best defensive lines in the NFL at the time. He was named twice to the Pro Bowl.

Off the football field, he also stood out. He was easily recognized on campus for riding his red motor scooter to class. He once broke up a Ku Klux Klan rally by himself in his hometown.

"Jerome had a big 4-wheel drive truck with speakers and loud music," said former Eagle teammate Keith Byars. "And Jerome just came out there and drowned the whole Klan rally they had going. He wasn't going to back down to them and they just dispersed."

He once saved a trucker in an overturned cab. "I tried to interview him about the KKK rally,"said Ray Didinger of the Philadelphia Daily News. "I tried to interview him about saving the trucker on the highway. But he really didn't want to deal with it. In his mind, he did what anybody would have done under those circumstances."

But in the prime of his career, his life was cut short. On June 25, 1992, Brown and his 12-year-old nephew Gus were killed in an automobile accident in their hometown of Brooksville. Brown lost control of his Corvette at high speed and crashed into a power pole. He was 27-years-old.

"He's a person who impacted a team like nobody on any team I've ever played on," said former UM teammate and punter Jeff Feagles.

During an interview with NFL Films, former UM quarterback Vinny Testaverde said of Brown, "Whenever you talk about Jerome Brown to anybody, the first thing you do is smile. He really touched so many people in such a short time that he was with us. It really was incredible."

Ghosts of the Orange Bowl: Ed Newman

Longtime sports broadcaster Keith Jackson used to refer to offensive linemen as "the big uglies". The stereotype has always been that offensive linemen were big on brawn but not necessarily big on brains. Former Dolphins guard Ed Newman fit only part of that stereotype. He was arguably the strongest player to ever wear the Miami Dolphins uniform and possibly the smartest. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Newman set the Dolphins bench press record lifting 510 pounds. But even more impressive, was his transition from the football field to his current job as a Miami-Dade County circuit court judge.

Ed Newman arrived in Miami in 1973 as a 6th round draft pick out of Duke University. At the time, the Dolphins were the best team in football. Miami was coming off a perfect 17-0 season and boasted pro football's best offensive line that included All-Pro guards Larry Little and Bob Kuechenberg. From the moment he arrived, Newman was considered a longshot. At 6'2 and 245 pounds he wasn't particularly big--even for those times. But what Newman did possess was unbelievable strength, work ethic and intelligence. He made the team, but he was burried deep in the depth chart. He barely saw action in his first four seasons and was relegated to mostly special teams. He didn't become a fulltime starter until his seventh year. But by then, Newman had already planned his life after football.

Newman was football's renaissance man. From the moment he was drafted, he never planned on having a long career. He constantly challenged his body and mind. During the offseason he took classes at the University of Miami Law School. He also worked as a volunteer wrestling coach at Florida International University, back when the school had a wrestling program. He was a workout warrior in the weight room. When Bob Kuechenberg set the team record with a 485 pound bench press, Newman equaled Kuenchenberg's lift and then just kept adding weight. It was clear, Newman was not your ordinary offensive lineman.

By 1979 Newman was too good to keep on the bench. After six years of paying his dues as a backup, it was his turn to start. Aside from his strength, Newman was also known for his ability as a technician. He was a master at using leverage and beating bigger defensive lineman at the point of attack. By 1981, he was considered one of the NFL's best guards and was selected the first of his four Pro Bowls. In 1982, he helped the Dolphins return to the Super Bowl for the first time in nine years. The Dolphins lost to the Redskins in Super Bowl XVII. The 1983 season started a new era of Dolphin football--the Dan Marino years. Newman had spent his whole career protecting Bob Griese, David Woodley and Don Strock. He would now have to place more emphasis on his pass-blocking as the Dolphins became more throwing oriented. Newman played his final season in 1984, helping the Dolphins win the AFC title. His final game was the loss to the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. It was the last time the Dolphins had reached the Super Bowl. Newman blew out his knee before the 1985 season and retired from football.

Ed Newman played all 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Dolphins, which consisted of 167 games. All of his home games were played at the Orange Bowl. As a 6th round pick, he never expected to play this long. When his football career ended, he was ready to embark on his next career in law. Throughout his football career he prepared himself for life after sports. During road trips he would often spend his time reading law books on the plane rather than his playbook. When he retired from football, he had already earned his law degree from the University of Miami. He worked for a private law firm, started his own firm and then was elected as a Dade County circuit court judge in 1995 where he remains today.

Recently Newman was interviewed by Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel about his transition from football player to judge. He replied, "The feeling I used to get running out in the Orange Bowl between the cheerleaders as the crowd cheered my introduction is the same feeling I get now when the bailiff say 'All rise,' and I walk in the courtroom."