The Last One
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
Four quarters.
Sixty minutes of game time are all that remain in the collegiate careers of the 18 seniors on the 2016 Miami Hurricanes.
Once the Russell Athletic Bowl kicks off at 5:30 p.m., at Camping World Stadium on Wednesday, the clock will start ticking down on this chapter of the football careers of these dedicated young men.
For many, it seems like their time at Miami has flown by. But the final chapter of their Hurricanes playing career will be written in a familiar place, as this year’s senior class returns to the Russell Athletic Bowl after facing off against Louisville in the same game during their freshman season.
“Last time we were here was a fun experience, outside of the loss we took,” senior defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins said. “This feels a lot like the same kind of atmosphere. We’ve had fun, but we are focused more on winning the game. We can’t treat it like a vacation. We came in here focused and prepared for the game.”
The 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl is fresh in the minds of Miami’s seniors and they’ve used that experience as a tool to help prepare for this 2016 edition of the game against West Virginia.
“We played Louisville and it wasn’t too good,” senior offensive lineman Danny Isidora said. “We had a really good time, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t win. We’re trying to win this one.”
Much like the last time they were in Orlando for the Russell Athletic Bowl, the Hurricanes participated in bowl events such as the welcome luncheon, the Give Kids the World Village visit, theme park trips and a Best Buy shopping spree. This year’s trip brought Isidora full circle with some Canes fans he met very early in his Miami career.
“I was here and we went to the same Best Buy,”Isidora said. “It was pretty crazy. I met a couple in 2013 and they took a picture with me and Sunny [Odogwu] and they came back to the Best Buy this year and showed us the picture on the phone. It was pretty crazy. I look really young and Sunny had his blonde hair. It was pretty ridiculous. We were like, ‘let’s take another picture so you have it.’ I’m pretty sure they are from here in Orlando. Last time we took a picture with their daughter and this time we took a picture with them.”
While there have been a lot of smiles, laughs and great memories made this week in Orlando, the seniors have also been a bit nostalgic. They’ve reflected on their time as Hurricanes, cherished the final practices and moments with their teammates and have prepared to suit up for the final time in a Miami uniform.
“I’m looking forward to going out one last time with my team and helping us get the W,” Jenkins said. “I want to help us end this bowl streak. I’m just going to go out and compete and have fun.”
“On and off the field, I loved being with my brothers, my teammates,” Jenkins said. “Just hanging out in the locker room or at each other’s houses. On the field, celebrating with my teammates. It was always fun to be there to enjoy a big play or big moment with the guys who have been there working with you and I hope I can do that again on Wednesday.”
Senior defensive back Corn Elder has been one of the most electric Hurricanes in recent history, making highlight reel plays on defense and special teams for Miami.
With plays like the game-winning, eight lateral return for a touchdown against Duke and countless big hits and turnovers on defense, one would think Elder could name a long list of favorite moments from his time as a Hurricane. But the senior has always put one thing above all else while at Miami.
“Just being with my teammates,” Elder said. “Through the ups and downs, everyone stayed together as a family and that’s important. Being able to come back here to play my last game is definitely exciting, especially since I missed it freshman year. I am looking forward to leaving it all on the field and giving my teammates everything I’ve got. Hopefully I can help us come out of it with a victory.”
Miami head coach Mark Richt knows the Hurricanes are in for a tough battle against the Mountaineers on Wednesday, but he also knows the team could not have reached this point without some of the leadership on and off the field that the seniors provided.
“This group of seniors in particular was special for me because I know how hard it can be for a group of guys that can be set in their ways and then all of a sudden in their last year there is change and maybe it’s more change than they were hoping for,” Richt said. “I asked them from the very beginning to trust me and trust us as a staff. I let them know that the best chance for success in their senior season is if everybody buys in and they’ve been just fantastic in that way and I am really proud of them.”
Miami’s seniors know their Hurricanes playing careers are nearly complete, but they want to wrap up the final chapter to their story with an exclamation point.
“You always want to hold up the legacy of ‘The U,’” Elder said. “That’s why we all came here – because of the tradition of ‘The U.’ For us to have the opportunity to [get a win], it’s definitely something we want to do.”
