Thus ignited 60 years of sometimes happy and sometimes sad memories of what transpired at the historic, venerable structure.

I will skip the obvious like Joe Namath's guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III; the Dolphins 17-0 season; the Hurricanes upset of No. 1 Nebraska that resulted in their first national championship; and the Doug Flutie Hail Mary Pass.

Returning to 1947. It turned out to be a pivotal year for Miami football. The Canes went 2-7-1 and, under pressure, Jack Harding decided to concentrate on his athletics director duties and brought in Andy Gustafson to replace him as coach.

Three years later Gustafson, who had coached the backfield of Glen Davis, Doc Blanchard and Miami High's Arnold Tucker at Army, led the UM to an undefeated season and a bid to play Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Sad Memory No. 1: Miami led Clemson, 14-13, going into the fourth quarter and was headed for another score when it was slapped with three successive 15-yard penalties. One took away a long touchdown run by Harry Mallios. A few minutes later another penalty backed the Hurricanes to the one-yard line and on the next play star running back Frank Smith was tackled in the end zone for a safety and a 15-14 victory for Clemson.

When the final whistle sounded Gustafson rushed across the field in pursuit of J.J. Lynch, the official who had called three of the four game-changing penalties. Someone grabbed Gus and practically dragged him toward the locker room. Among those looking on was the famed announcer Mel Allen, who I was spotting for in the radio booth that afternoon.

But that is not the end of the story. That night there was a post game party at a Miami Beach nightclub attended by both teams and Mr. Lynch. As you might guess, Lynch stayed well clear of Gus. And J.J. never officiated another Hurricanes game.

MORE MEMORIES

Fast forward five years to August 1956 when for one night the OB field was configured into a baseball diamond with Little League dimensions down the right field line. It was a charity game and the Miami Marlins, then in the triple A International League, played before their biggest crowd ever, 51,000 plus.

Satchel Paige was Miami's starting pitcher and won the game over Columbus, OH, 6-2. And, though it was only about 250 feet to the fence in right field, the canny pitcher, then in his mid-50s, did not allow a home run.

Then there was the 1963 Orange Bowl game. Joe Namath led Alabama to a 17-0 victory over Oklahoma, but that is not where my memory is focused. What I can still visualize like it was last week is President John F. Kennedy sitting among the paying patrons about the 12th row on the southside 50-yard line, puffing on a cigar. There were very few secret service men nearby and a spunky, attractive Alabama cheerleader walked right up and asked the president for an autograph.

She got it, along with a kiss on the cheek and broke out in tears of joy. Less than 12 months later Kennedy would be assassinated. Presidents don't sit in open stadiums anymore and no one smokes cigars at sporting events.

In 1966 Joe Robbie founded the expansion Dolphins and one of his ''limited'' money partners was actor Danny Thomas. The actor was not around much, but he was on the Orange Bowl sidelines for Miami's first regular season game against Oakland.

The Raiders kicked off and Joe Auer, once an All-Dade running back at Coral Gables High School, took the ball near the goal and headed for the north sidelines in front of the Dolphins bench. Along about midfield Auer appeared to have a chance to go all the way. Thomas sensed this and starting sprinting down the sidelines, escorting Auer.

Amazingly, Thomas, about 60 years old, arrived in the end zone shortly after Auer and rushed on the field to hug him as an official signaled touchdown. The 95-yard return turned out to be the highlight of the Dolphins inaugural season.

HIGH SCHOOL SCENE

Older readers will remember when high school football dominated the Orange Bowl scene. The traditional Thanksgiving night game between Miami High and Miami Edison regularly attracted crowds over 40,000 in the late 1940s and 50s.

The peak was hit in 1964 when nearly 50,000 showed up for a showdown between unbeatens Miami High and Coral Gables.

Gables won and The Herald's Neil Amdur wrote the memorable line: ''There is no defense for Larry Rentz.'' Legendary coach Nick Kotys and the skinny quarterback went on to win the mythical national championship.

My other high school game memories include watching ESPN's Lee Corso at quarterback for Miami Jackson; Hurricane All-American and former Chicago Bears coach, Jim Dooley at Miami High; the elusive Edison, later Gator and Dolphins, running back Nat Moore; and Hialeah's Ted Hendricks, the ''Mad Stork'' who is a member of both the college and pro football Halls of Fame.

If the Orange Bowl could talk it would tell of many memorable performances.

To them, and scores of others, we say thanks for 60 years of great memories.

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