Ghosts of the Orange Bowl

What's one thing about the old Orange Bowl that modern stadiums just can't replicate?

The Godfathers of Strength and Conditioning....Special thanks to former University of Miami strength and conditioning coach Steve Bliss for sending this photo of himself (right) with Nebraska strength and conditioning coach Boyd Epley (left) during a 1976 game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE. Bliss was the first very first strength and conditioning at the University of Miami. It's only fitting he learned the craft from Epley who is considered the first true strength and conditioning coach in college football history. Epley's training techniques would change the sport forever.

A native of Omaha, Bliss was a gymnast at the city's Burke High School. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska and took a physical education course taught by Epley. It was where Bliss developed a passion for strength training. Epley was hired by then Nebraska coach Bob Devaney in 1969 and developed the first true sophisticated strength and conditioning program for college football known as Husker Power. Bliss was outlifting many of the Nebraska football players at the time. At one point Bliss set an American record in the bench press as a 165 pound freshman.

Through Epley, Bliss found his true calling as a strength and conditioning coach. In 1975, Bliss was hired as then University of Miami head coach Carl Selmer to implement UM's first true strength and conditioning program. Selmer had been an assistant coach at Nebraska under Devaney. Bliss was at UM for two years. Although the Canes were struggling as a program, Bliss was instrumental in helping defensive lineman Eddie Edwards developed as an All American.

Bliss later became a strength and conditioning coach at Ohio State and North Dakota State. Over the years he has trained countless male and female athletes and 10 national championship teams. Bliss was named National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 1991. Since 1998, he has been the exercise coordinator at Sanford Health Systems Performance Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The late Carlos Joseph was born 46 years ago today. A Miami native, Joseph grew up in the city's Little Haiti neighborhood. He originally came to UM back in 2000 out of Miami Edison High School, where he was a Parade Magazine All American. Highly recruited, he chose to stay home and play for the Hurricanes, where his older brother William Joseph was a starting defensive lineman.

At 6'6 and 322 pounds, Joseph was an outstanding run blocker and solid pass protector for the Canes from 2000 to 2003. After backing up All Americans Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez his first 2 years, he became the starting tackle in 2002. Joseph was a member of Miami's 2001 national championship team. After a fine college career, he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 7th round in 2004. He played 3 NFL seasons with the Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Carlos Joseph passed away on June 11, 2021 after suffering a brain aneurysm. He was 40 years old.

Happy 53rd birthday to former University of Miami receiver Andy Atrio. A graduate of Miami's Columbus High School, Atrio was one of several walk-on players who made valuable contributions to the Miami program during the probation years of the mid to late 1990s. Due to the loss of 31 scholarships in the wake of NCAA sanctions, Atrio stepped up and earned playing time as both a backup receiver and on special teams. He earned varsity letters in 1995 and 1996. Despite the hardships, the Canes still managed to finish 8-3 and 9-3 in those seasons ranked in the AP Top 20 under very difficult circumstances.

After earning his degree, Atrio went on to a long career in real estate in Miami. His daughter Mia Atrio was a standout soccer player on the University of Miami women's team.

Happy 62nd birthday to former University of Miami kicker Mark Seelig. A native of Mount Dora, FL, Seelig was recruited to UM out of Apopka High School in Central Florida. Seelig attended UM from 1982 to 1986. He started his career backing up Jeff Davis during the 1983 national championship season. Seelig was hoping to replace Davis as the starter for 1984. But new head coach Jimmy Johnson would give the job to true freshman Greg Cox from Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Rather than transfer, Seelig stayed at UM and waited patiently for his chance to play.
In 1986, Cox was struggling with his consistency and split time with Seelig for the kicking duties. Cox was suspended just prior to the 1987 Fiesta Bowl against Penn State. Seelig made a 38 yard field goal to give the Canes a 10-7 early in the 4th quarter. But he also missed a 28 yard attempt earlier in the game. Miami's offense struggled all night with consistency. Although the Canes outgained the Nittany Lions 445 yards to 162, Miami turned the ball over 7 times, including 5 interceptions by quarterback Vinny Testaverde. The Hurricanes would lose 14-10. It would be Seelig's last football game.

After his college career, Seelig returned home to the Orlando area. He became a longtime history teacher first at Apopka High School and more recently at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando. In addition to his teaching duties, Seelig is also the groundskeeper for the Dr. Phillips football stadium. Maintaining football fields was a passion Seelig had since his high school days. He used to assist then Apopka High head coach Chip Gierke with mowing and maintaining the field. When he was at the University of Miami, Seelig struck up a friendship with Kevin Harty, the Hurricanes field manager at the time. The two worked together to keep the small practice field for the kickers in tip-top shape — and dugout seats for Seelig with the grounds crew during Miami baseball games.

Seelig's grounds keeping duties can be more intense than his teaching job. According to a 2016 article with the Observer, a Central Florida newspaper, Seelig mows the field as many as five times a week if the Panthers have a home football game — repairing the field and lining it ahead of games. He also maintains the school's practice and softball fields. “I have a very understanding wife,” Seelig said of his wife, Janet. “There are a lot of times in the summer when I’m up here 60 or 80 hours a week.”

Happy 74th birthday to former University of Miami receiver Witt Beckman. A 1970 graduate of Southwest Miami High School, the 6'2, 200 pound Beckman was a talented multi-sport athlete. From 1971 to 1974, Beckman starred in both football and baseball for the Canes. He led UM in receiving as a sophomore with 21 catches for 288 yards. Beckman finished his college career with 56 catches for 928 yards and 6 touchdowns

Beckman is most remembered for scoring one of the most infamous touchdowns in Hurricane football history. On October 14, 1972, Beckman caught a dramatic 32 yard touchdown pass from Ed Carney to give the Canes a 24-21 victory over Tulane in front of a sparse crowd of 18,956 at the the Orange Bowl in the closing seconds. However, Beckman's touchdown should have never counted. The officials and the chain gang had lost track of downs. Beckman's touchdown was scored on an illegal 5th down.

Beckman is one of the few athletes in UM history to be drafted in multiple professional sports. He was a 2nd round draft pick by the San Diego Padres in 1974 and a 16th round pick by the Chicago Bears in 1975. Beckman chose to pursue a pro football career. He played briefly with the Jacksonville Express of the World Football League in 1975. His younger brother Ed Beckman later starred as a tight end at Florida State and played 8 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1977 to 1984.

Happy 78th birthday to former University of Miami linebacker Bob Hawk Taylor. A native of Colby Kansas and a graduate of Lawrence High School, Taylor was a multi-sport athlete for the Canes. He played football for the Canes from 1968 to 1970 under then head coach Charlie Tate and interim coach Walt Kichefski in 1970. He also saw action on the UM baseball team for then head coach Ron Fraser. Bob and his wife Niki currently reside in Jacksonville Beach, FL, where he is the owner and President at Professional Energy Solutions Inc.