Behind Enemy Lines - Week 11: Tampa
Behind Enemy Lines isa weekly feature on HurricaneSports.com, highlighting the passion of Miami fansin opposing team territory. And if you’re reading this from Durham, N.C., give us a shout at @HurricaneSports – we want to hear from you.
This week’s Cane “Behind Enemy Lines” …
Larry King
Tampa, Fla.
How did you become aHurricanes fan?
“It started when I was 12 years old when I went to my first UMfootball game with my sister, who was going to UM. Miami lost to Norte Dame 44-0and I remember staying uuntil the end and thinking how great it would be if Miamicould ever beat the Fighting Irish. Flash forward to 1985, and I was in theOrange Bowl when we beat Notre Dame 56-7! That game was payback for me 12years later!”
Do you find itdifficult supporting Miami all the way from Tampa?
“Well, while USF is the home team, this is a Gator town. The localsports paper on Sundays has the Gators as the headline, then the Noles, thenthe Bulls and the Canes are on page four. But there are many Canes fans here. I see license plates andstickers on many cars. I make it a point to reach out to show the U hand sign.”
Is there a place you visit to watch Hurricanes games in the city?
I am very active in the alumni association and Hurricane Club. We have ourgame watch parties at CDB’s Southside in Tampa, as well as the Cheval AthleticClub, which I own. When the Canes play USF here in Tampa, we have a BBQ tailgatethat packs in more than 400 UM fans! Nothing is better than being in RaymondJames Stadium and hearing ‘We got some Canes over here!'”
How do you support the Hurricanes – Any apartmentdecorations? Favorite piece of Canes gear? Travel for games?
“I support the Canes in many ways. I am a season ticket holder, and I have also supported the Theodore G. Schwartz and Todd G. SchwartzCenter for Athletic Excellence. I am a alumni regional director and enjoyworking with our groups in the southeast to support the Canes. My officeis loaded with UM gear and my biggest challenge is dressing my kids in more UMgear than my wife’s school…FSU (ugh)! I like to travel to one to two gamesa year. This year I went to Chicago, and will be in Durham for the Duke game next week.”
Any favorite memories or stories from your time as aHurricanes fan?
“So many to remember, but I think it willalways be the first National Championship win at the OB in 1983. It was such adream and a surreal feeling when the pass was broken up at the end that wouldhave won the game for Nebraska. Miami was not supposed to have a chance and theway all the other bowl games played out that day, it gave us a chance. Theentire day was dramatic and culminated with one of the greatest games in thehistory of college football.”
