Football

January 13, 1999

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Average attendance for University of Miamihome football games increased 14,286 this past season, the second-highestjump in Division I-A. The Hurricanes averaged 43,202 spectators fortheir six home games in 1998, an increase of 49.4 percent over the previousseason.

“I think Hurricane fans are pleased with the direction the programis headed and it was reflected at the turnstile,” said athletic directorPaul Dee. “Coach Davis and his staff have done an exceptional jobwith a youthful football team. Our players exert tremendous effortand play with a passion that is entertaining to watch.”

UM was one of five schools realizing an increase of over 10,000 forits average home attendance. UCLA’s increase of 19,120 spectatorsper home game was the highest in the country. Rounding out the topfive increases behind UCLA and Miami are Alabama (12,258), California (11,561),and Mississippi (11,293).

Miami’s average home attendance ranked 42nd among the NCAA’s112 Division I-A football playing schools. Michigan led the nationwith an average home attendance of 110,965.

“The Orange Bowl is considered one of the best home-field advantagesin college football,” said coach Butch Davis. “There is somethingspecial about the environment created inside that stadium. With ourhome schedule next season I am hopeful that our fans will continue comingto the Orange Bowl and supporting the Hurricanes.”

The Hurricanes’ 1999 home schedule features Penn State, Syracuse,West Virginia, Florida A&M, Rutgers and Temple.This past football season also saw attendance records establishedin the BIG EAST (1,914,957), Division I-A (27,674,217) and collectivelyamong all NCAA Divisions (37,491,078).