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War Canoe Trophy Once Again Has Meaning

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Updated: 09/07/2008 12:44 am

GAINESVILLE - The War Canoe, the bounty that the Florida-Miami winner traditionally gets to hold, was once a big deal when the two schools were playing regularly.

The canoe is an old Seminole Indians hollowed-out log about 10 feet long, and it became the winner's trophy during the early 1950s.

But with Florida without a victory against Miami since 1985, Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley admitted earlier this week that he didn't even know the old boat still existed.

It does. And for the last 23 years has been on display at the UM Athletic Hall of Fame.

And it is quite a trophy.

"The thing is absolutely so big and heavy, no one ever knew what to do with it," Florida historian Norm Carlson said.

But Florida is willing to find a place.

"Darn right," Foley said, when asked if the Gators wanted it back. "It's the trophy, isn't it?"

MARSHALL HONORED: Former Florida LB Wilber Marshall (1980-83) was honored with an On-Campus Salute on Saturday during the first timeout of the second quarter.

The honor is part of Marshall's upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in December.

Throughout the season, each inductee returns to his school for the special on-field event and a commemorative plaque is presented to the university for permanent display.

Marshall, from Titusville, was a two-time consensus first-team All-American and one of only three Florida players to be a three-time first-team All-SEC selection.

IT'S SPECIAL: Florida's special teams play put another notch in its belt Saturday when Jeffrey Demps blocked a Miami punt, resulting in a safety.

In Coach Urban Meyer's fourth season at Florida, the Gators now have blocked 18 kicks.

MEYER CLIMBING: Saturday night's victory by the Gators was Meyer's 33rd at Florida. It moved him into a tie with Charley Pell as the sixth-winningest coach in school history.

Meyer won No. 33 in his 41st game, matching the pace by Steve Spurrier who also won 33 in his first 41 attempts.

Spurrier, Florida's all-time winning coach, went on to win 122 with the Gators.

FAMILY TRADITION: Freshman DL Matt Patchan from Armwood High may have been making his first appearance in a Florida-Miami series, but he already had it in his blood.

Patchan's father, Matt Sr., played on the offensive line for the Hurricanes (1984-87) under Jimmy Johnson. UM was 2-1 against the Gators during that stretch.

NUMBERS DON'T LIE: Here is one stat that confirms Miami's national prominence has slipped in recent years.

Going into Saturday night against the heavily favored Gators, the Hurricanes were winless in their last six road games against a ranked opponent.

Dating to a 40-3 loss to LSU in the 2005 Peach Bowl, Miami is 2-9 against ranked teams, getting outscored 299-158.

EVEN DISTRIBUTION: On Miami's way to running up a six-game win streak against the Gators, it won twice in Gainesville, twice in Miami and twice in bowl games.

The Hurricanes outscored UF 197-98 in the six wins.

The only time the Gators were really close was in 2003 in the Orange Bowl. They led 33-10 with 6:10 left in the third quarter, putting then-coach Ron Zook in line for his biggest victory as Spurrier's successor.

But then Florida fell apart. Brock Berlin threw for 340 yards, overcoming leg-buckling cramps and rallying Miami to a stunning 38-33 victory.

STREAK BROKEN: Miami's Graig Cooper's kick return of 15 yards in the first quarter broke Florida's six-game streak of not allowing positive yardage on a punt.

The last time was an 8-yard return by Georgia.

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