Seasoned Canes: Fans Share Their Stories
Matthew Carter
‘Dad and Chase Trips’ are what Matthew Carter looks forward to the most in the fall.
Carter and his six-year-old son, Chase, attend Hurricanes games together, making the five-hour drive from Jacksonville the morning of games. Sometimes, Carter’s wife Nicole makes the journey.
“She’s not into it as much as our son and I are,” Carter says with a laugh.
Carter’s passion for The U was born from his grandfather, William Horn – a 30-year Navy veteran who spent his last few years of service in West Palm Beach and retired in Jacksonville. After relocating from Savannah, Ga., to Jacksonville at the age of eight, Carter has remained a lifelong fan.
“That’s all I ever knew. That’s how I came up a Canes and Dolphins fan,” Carter said. “It can be tough being up here in north Florida, but we’ve got a good corps up here. And we’re loyal. I’ll never waver. That’s the thing. It’s a passion.”
Now, he shares his love for the Hurricanes with Chase.
“He’s as passionate as I am, and he’s only six,” Carter said. “He doesn’t know anything else and I don’t think he ever wants to. It’s one of those things where I would never root for another team.”
Tom Moses
Tom Moses was hooked early on.
It was the early 1980’s, and, as a lifelong professional football fan, he was immediately drawn to the energy of the college game after relocating to western Broward County to retire.
“It was just kids playing their hearts out. Those teams were special,” Moses said. “You knew they were going to give you 150 percent every play. They gave it back to the fans. There was an emotional bond between the fans and the players, and it was a feeling that you could feel.”
Moses, along with his 36-year-old son Tim, and good friend Lenny O’Neill, share three season tickets. The trio also made the trip to Charlotte for Miami’s first-ever ACC Championship Game appearance in 2017.
2020 will mark his 30th anniversary as a season ticket holder.
“We come from different areas, so we meet on the corner of University and Pines Boulevard and get down to one car instead of trying to park three cars,” Moses said. “We started in the Orange Bowl and the games were very much a family affair. Tailgating in front yards was a lot of fun.”
Tom has an expansive collection of Miami memorabilia that he shares with his children.
“I’m going to stay faithful to The U.”
Matthew Rotolante
Matt Rotolane was built for this.
As a fourth generation Miamian and a third generation Hurricane, Rotolante and his friends have been tailgating on Saturdays for quite a while.
Rotolante spent a couple of years in Chicago after earning his undergraduate degree in finance, but returned to UM to earn his MBA after taking his GMAT.
He graduated with a specialization in economics in 2001.
“I was done with winters,” he said with a laugh.
Now, Rotolante’s crew, who used to co-host events with the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, is coordinated through a weekly email that includes a written preview of the game, tailgate information and other details.
UM football alumni roll through the tailgates, which typically host between 40 and 60 people.
“I don’t do it all alone,” he said. “There are a bunch of people who help out. One time it’s one person doing a special recipe, another week it’s a different person. We’ve had a pulled pork cook-off between a bunch of guys. We keep it fun. It’s a good group of people and a good mix of people.”
Tell Us Your Story
Seasoned Canes is a platform for season ticket holders to share their stories of supporting The U – from favorite moments to tailgate traditions to personal memories of rivalry games, now is your chance to share!
