Taking a look at Dolphin Stadium

Big Bowl Media Day just concluded a couple of hours ago, and I got a chance to really look at Dolphin Stadium, where OU will play Florida on Thursday night for the national title.

I like Dolphin Stadium. I like it a lot. For football, it’s a great venue. It stinks for baseball, which is why the Marlins are going to get a new stadium, eventually. But for football, it’s a lovely place. Great sightlines, good look, great field.

All in all, a great place to host a championship game, which is why the Super Bowl is played here routinely — and will be next season again — and why the Orange Bowl is in the rotation to host the college football title game every four years.
I’ve only got one suggestion for Miami. And it involves the stadium name.

Dolphin Stadium is fine, and in this age of corporate names, Dolphin Stadium is great. But Dolphin Stadium was built as Joe Robbie Stadium, after the late Miami Dolphins owner, and was called Pro Player Stadium during the Sooners’ two national title games in Miami this decade, 2000 and 2004. Joe Robbie is a better name than Pro Player, and Dolphin Stadium is a better name than Joe Robbie.

But here’s a name for the stadium: the Orange Bowl. And here’s why:

1. The original Orange Bowl is gone, torn down a year ago after a glorious run as one of America’s great coliseums. It’s no sin to call a new stadium by an old name. Madison Square Garden is not the original MSG. The new Yankee Stadium won’t dishonor the old Yankee Stadium. Calling Dolphin Stadium the Orange Bowl would be a great tribute to the old stadium.