`Canes and `Noles: Rivalry Takes Center Stage in Miami
Sept. 17, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Few things are more enjoyable as a sports fan than cheering for your team against its rival. It starts in youth leagues, grows at the high school level and culminates at the collegiate and professional ranks, where passion is unmatched and interest reaches its ultimate point.
Well Miami fans…here is your chance. Over the next three weeks, the `Canes will host rival Florida State in a number of different sports, beginning with tomorrow night’s 7 p.m. volleyball match between the Hurricanes and the Seminoles at the Knight Sports Complex.
Nicole Lantagne Welch has her team off to one of the best starts in school history, a year after leading Miami to the NCAA Tournament. The match-up between the Hurricanes – winners of 10 of their first 11 matches – and the 8-1 Seminoles is the marquee match in the ACC this weekend.
“Going against FSU is always a great battle and Saturday should be no different,” Lantagne Welch said. “This rivalry always brings out the best in our team and having it at home this year means that much more. I’d love to pack the stands for this match and make it the loudest place FSU plays in this year.”
And that’s just the beginning `Canes fans. After you get your first taste of the rivalry Saturday night, take a break until next Sunday when Miami will host FSU in a soccer match at Cobb Stadium. As expected, both teams are off to strong starts through the first month of the season.
The men’s tennis team will host the UM Invitational the following weekend and you guessed it, FSU is among the teams in the tournament. Matches get underway on Friday, Oct. 8 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Then, the game college football fans across the country look forward to every year – Miami and Florida State. Mark it down on your calendars, get your tickets and free up the weekend.
The `Canes and the `Noles will meet for the 55th time on the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Sun Life Stadium in a game likely to have big implications on getting to the ACC Championship game. The game will also mark the first time in 35 years that the FSU sideline will be without coach Bobby Bowden. Remember last year’s game in Tallahassee? Or any of the Wide Rights?
There is rarely a dull moment when these schools get together, regardless of the sport. Rivalries are what you make them. The student-athletes want it more and the coaches want it more but it’s the fans that take a rivalry to the next level.
“For me it’s Christmas and New Year’s and your birthday to the whole nine yards,” former offensive line coach Art Kehoe once said. “There ain’t nothing that’s going to get me as excited as playing Florida State.”
It starts tomorrow night at the Knight Sports Complex.
– Rob Dunning
UPCOMING MIAMI-FSU MATCH-UPS
Volleyball – Friday, Sept. 17, Knight Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
Soccer – Sunday, Sept. 26, Cobb Stadium, 12 p.m.
Men’s Tennis – Oct. 8-10, Neil Schiff Tennis Center, All Day
Football – Saturday, Oct. 9, Sun Life Stadium, TBA
