Go find a football field in America. OK, so that wasn't that hard.
Now go find one that can claim to have hosted 7-on-7 camps, high school games, college games, NFL games and college bowl games all in one year.
Not so easy? South Florida has such a venue. You may know it as Joe Robbie Stadium or Pro Player Stadium. Or Dolphin Stadium. Or maybe even Land Shark Stadium or Sun Life Stadium. The artist formerly known as (fill in the blank) actually goes by Hard Rock Stadium these days.
Throughout its various names, the nearly 30-year-old venue has played a significant role in the lives of several Florida State players. And it will provide the backdrop for more memories when FSU plays Michigan on Dec. 30 in the Capital One Orange Bowl at the Miami Gardens stadium.
"I'm from Fort Lauderdale, and that's not too far from me," sophomore defensive back Tarvarus McFadden said. "We definitely see that as our field."
Seminole fans certainly relish the immediate history. FSU has won its last seven games against Miami. Four of those wins have come in Miami Gardens. Miami's last home win came in 2004, when it was still playing at the Orange Bowl.
In the time since the Hurricanes' last home win, they have changed venues and their new home stadium went through more name changes until settling on its current moniker. And the Seminoles' most recent win, which was a result of DeMarcus Walker's blocked extra-point attempt with less than 90 seconds left, is now known as "The Block at Hard Rock."
Those moments matter a great deal to FSU's South Florida contingent. Star junior tailback Dalvin Cook is 3-0 against Miami, with two of those wins coming at a stadium that is a 15-minute drive from his grandmother's home in West Little River.
"It's a big game down in Miami even though that stadium itself, I've played a lot of big high school games in it," said Cook, who could be playing his last college game at Hard Rock. "You go down there, and to finish our season off in that big bowl game, it definitely means a lot. Go give it my all."
