Evidently this year will be the last year of greatness in another sports icon. Yes, the world had been preparing for the end of Yankee Stadium after the 2008 season, but this is a new development. As early as 2008, the Miami Hurricanes may be playing in the Dolphin's Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. As the Broward County suburbs continue to make Dade Co look bad (see Fort Lauderdale's airport vs. Miami International), it seems that the Canes are tired of playing in a stadium that really looks more like an aging battleship sent to the scrap heap (go to the article in the Miami Herald and check out the slideshow if you need to confirm that statement).
It's sad in a way--the Orange Bowl has seen some great games in the pros, and seen the rise of the most dominant program of college football's truly modern era (1980-present). 4 national titles. Monstrous win streaks. Intimidation. The Hurricanes were the local kids proving the in the game of 'us vs. the world'--they were winning.
Toss in the fact that the Orange Bowl Classic was also played there and you get some of the game's great moments (see our earlier post on the possible phantom clip on Notre Dame's Raghib Ismail in the 1990 Classic vs. Colorado for the national title).
It is sad, however,as the grand old stadiums start to fall. Much like Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, these stadiums were fan friendly, even if they had become dumps. And much like Crosley Field or the old Boston Garden or Municipal Stadium in Cleveland-- they weren't viewed as cash inflows, but a public gathering place for people of all classes. They will be romanticized as better than they really were, but a piece of our history dies off as they crumble under the elements with little upkeep until they become financially unrealistic to save.
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