Miami Hurricanes pay tribute to Don Shula

The death of former Miami Dolphins coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula was the end of an incredible life of a South Florida legend. Many people associated with the Miami Hurricanes paid tribute to Shula after the announcement of his death on Monday.

Don Shula is the godfather of football in South Florida. There was some success by the Miami Hurricanes before Shula arrived as the second coach of the Dolphins in 1969 but without Shula and the success of the Dolphins in the early 1970s, the Hurricanes dynasty would not have existed.

The modern era of Miami Hurricanes football is considered to have commenced with the hiring of Howard Schnellenberger in 1979. Schnellenberger served two stints on Shula’s staff with the Dolphins are their offensive coordinator. The pro-style attack by Schnellenberger with the Hurricanes was innovative.

Shula adapted to his personnel. That is how he was able to coach in the NFL for 40 years. The Dolphins won three consecutive AFC Championships from 1971-73. The latter two were Super Bowl Champions. The Dolphins AFC title teams relied on defense and a dominant running game.

When the Dolphins drafted quarterback Dan Marino in 1983, Shula shifted to an offense that relied on Marino and wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper at wide receiver. Schnellenberger recruited QBs Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar and Vinny Testaverde to Miami eventually making the Hurricanes QB U.

Kosar began his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns where Shula played in the NFL. In Shula’s final two seasons coaching the Dolphins, Kosar was the backup QB to Marino. Kosar retired following the 1996 season after former Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson took over for Shula.

Only a handful of Miami Hurricanes played for Shula, Schnellenberger and Johnson. Kosar played for Johnson with the Hurricanes in Johnson’s first season in Miami and with the Dolphins in his final NFL season. Kosar provided his own tribute to the Miami legend on Twitter and retweeted a tribute by a Browns fan.

Current Miami Hurricanes staff also paid tribute to Shula. Athletic director Blake James and head coach Manny Diaz tweeted their own acknowledgments of the impact Shula made. Diaz grew up in Miami and his father later became the mayor of Miami-Dade. Shula made an impact on his coaching career.

The success of the Dolphins under Shula in the 1970s turned South Florida into a Football hotbed The plethora of players that continue to come out of South Florida high schools and the players that are in the NFL from the area can all be traced to the ambassador of football Shula was. James credited Shula.

Shula realized the importance of the Miami Hurricanes to South Florida. With Shula leading the way, the Dolphins and Hurricanes brought the focus of the football world to Miami for over 20 years. Former Hurricanes defensive lineman and radio sports talk show host Dan Sileo gave his own remembrances of Shula.

The tributes to Shula are immeasurable. Throughout social media, on the NFL Network, ESPN and throughout all media the last two days Shula has been remembered. The impact Shula had on football, particularly in South Florida will always endure. After he retired, Shula created a restaurant empire of steak houses.