Jimmy Johnson couldn’t sleep, because he was worried about traffic and no doubt about being late. He’s never late. He can’t stand people who are.
And so he got up early even for him — he plays online bridge around 5 a.m. most mornings. He hopped in his car at 4:30 for the drive north from his six-acre paradise in Islamorada.
It was around 6 a.m., when he pulled into the University of Miami’s football parking lot Wednesday. Still dark outside. Quiet.
“Just like old times,’’ he said.
The coach lived a career of early hours and empty parking lots. But he got out of his car Wednesday to see the team he loves above any other and offer a word of encouragement, even inspiration, if he hit he right key.
He’s mostly out of the corporate-talk business right now, no matter how much money is offered. This is his first year officially out of football since high school back in Texas in the 1950s, too, now that he retired from the Fox Sports NFL studio show.
It should say “retired,” in quotes, because Fox executives just flew him to Los Angeles last weekend for a surprise visit with his old crew — and a surprise send-off to him.
They got a band the 81-year-old coach likes, Boyz II Men, to sing. Jimmy even got a microphone on stage with them. The comedian Bill Barr cracked some jokes. It was Fox’s latest way of saying he’s missed, even if they’ve planned a big project for him this season.
He drove to Coral Gables because his former Hurricane-recruit-turned-coach, Mario Cristobal, asked him to talk to Miami players. As much as he doesn’t like to leave the Keys, he can’t turn down that invitation.
So, he stood in a remodeled room he once commanded and asked these current players about all the former ‘Canes they’ve seen come through the door recently.
The players threw out names. Michael…
Source link : https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/08/13/dave-hyde-jimmy-johnsons-message-for-todays-hurricanes-is-to-go-make-some-memories/
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Publish date : 2025-08-14 09:30:00
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