The father of football in Florida
UM’s Schnellenberger, 87, should have been Saban before Saban
The last time I sat down for an interview with Howard Schnellenberger was 17 years ago when he was just starting the fledgling football program at FAU and he sat in his office underneath a painting of his old college coach — Paul “Bear” Bryant.
I asked him then if he ever thought about what might have been if he hadn’t left the University of Miami all those years ago to take a supposedly high-paying job with the United States Football League — a job that never, ever materialized.
Would he have been the modern-day version of his mentor — The Bear?
Would he have been Nick Saban before Nick Saban?
Schnellenberger admitted he formerly would think about it a lot, but on this particular day he was in no mood to talk about it.
“It’s ancient history,” Schnellenberger said then. “A closed chapter.”
Schnellenberger’s time at Miami isn’t just a chapter; it’s the Genesis of the college football religion in our state. And sadly, the father and creator of collegiate gridiron greatness in Florida passed away on Saturday.
Howard Schnellenberger was 87.
“He showed us it could be done,” Schnellenberger’s old rival, Florida State legend Bobby Bowden, told me several years ago.
Did he ever.
He showed the entire country what college football in Florida was all about.
He took over a moribund Miami program in 1979 — a program bankrupt of money and morale and on the verge of being shut down by school administrators — and transformed the
to work with the Magic’s training staff and get back on the court.
“Injuries are always tough. It’s part of the game, but I’m here [now]. I’m thankful,” he told reporters after Friday’s 112-105 home loss to the Trail Blazers. “I’m getting better each day.”
Carter and Hampton project as players that fit the Magic’s rebuild plans. Carter will turn 22 April 16 and has one more year remaining on his rookie-scale contract while Hampton is barely four months into his rookie season.
Porter and Harris will provide a veteran presence for a team that has eight players 23 or younger.
Here’s a closer look at each player:
Carter
Age: 21
Height/weight: 6-10, 270
Experience: 2 years
Draft: No. 7 in 2018 (Bulls)
Season numbers: 32 G, minutes, 10.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 blocks, 51.2% FG, 36.4% 3FG
Carter will play for his fourth coach in Clifford, so some stability in that area likely will go a long way toward his development. More than anything, the Magic need Carter to remain healthy and stay on the floor. He entered this season having missed 87 of a possible 147 games, then was out 11 games from Jan. 19-Feb. 14 with a quad injury.
In his words: “It’s kind of like a reset, kind of like getting drafted all over again. It’s coming to a situation where I can just try to come and help this team win, so I’m just definitely looking forward to it.”
Hampton
Age: 20
Height/weight: 6-4, 175
Position: Point guard, shooting guard Experience: Rookie
Draft: No. 24 in 2020 (Bucks)
Season numbers: 25 G, 9.3 minutes, 2.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 41.7% FG, 27.8% 3FG
Hampton, a player who was high on Orlando’s draft board in 2020, possesses tremendous athleticism and length. He can play either guard spot. He didn’t get much playing time in Denver, but that should change. Inhiswords: “I think the guys, they all look so focused. They look eager to win more games, eager to finish off the season the right way. How I see myself fitting in with those guys
is have fun, play the right way, share the ball. We’re a really young, fast, athletic team and I think that’s something I bring.”
Harris
Age: 26
Height/weight: 6-4, 210
Position: Shooting guard
Experience: 6 years
Draft: No. 19 in 2014 (Bulls)
Season numbers: 19 G, 30.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 44.2% FG, 32.0% 3FG
A two-way player who can lock down opposing guards, Harris also can fill it up from the perimeter. His presence should help the Magic offense once he returns from his leg injury.
In his words: “I’m going to come in and going to play hard, play the right way. Do whatever coach asked me to do. I’m going to be there for my teammates and try to do whatever I can to help his team win games and kind of just bring in some of that culture that we had over there [in Denver].”
Porter
Age: 27
Height/weight: 6-8, 198
Position: Small forward
Experience: 7 years
Draft: No. 3 in 2013 (Wizards)
Season numbers: 25 G, 21.6 minutes, 9.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 44.1% FG, 40.0% 3FG
Porter is a career 40% 3-point shooter but has been slowed in recent years by injuries. He can still be a lethal shooter and should provide depth and leadership in his time with Orlando.
In his words: “I think, personally, it is a fresh start, a great opportunity to play some really good basketball. I think I can bring my leadership. Being a veteran, I can bring a lot of little things that will hopefully help the younger guys and teach them what it takes to get some wins.”