A Message from the Athletic Director: September 2021
Hurricane Fans,
Our fall sports are off to a great start, and we are all gearing up for tomorrow’s football home opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
After a tough loss to top-ranked Alabama to open the season, the Canes host Appalachian State tomorrow night at 7 p.m. It’s the first of four consecutive home games in September. We are preparing for full capacity at the stadium, and we can’t wait to welcome you back and hear the roar of the crowd! If you can’t make it to the opener, you can tune in to the game on ESPNU or listen to WQAM. Good luck to Manny Diaz and the team!
Tomorrow’s opener is just the first of seven opportunities to cheer on the Canes at Hard Rock this fall. Football season tickets are still available. For more information click HERE.
We will be honoring the 30th anniversary of our 1991 national championship team at our next home football game against Michigan State on September 18. The 1991 squad, led by College Football Hall of Fame coach Dennis Erickson, went 12-0 and defeated Nebraska in the Orange Bowl to win UM’s fourth national title. We’re looking forward to celebrating Coach Erickson and the 1991 Canes next weekend!
Our volleyball team has raced out to a 5-0 record, dropping just one set in the process. It’s our best start to a season since the 2017 team won its first six matches. Next up for Keno Gandara’s squad is a trip to San Marcos, Texas, this weekend for the Texas State Invitational. The Canes will face the host Bobcats tonight at 7:30 p.m. and then square off against Alabama Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Best of luck to the Canes!
Our soccer team improved its record to 3-2 last night with a 3-0 home win over FIU. The Canes outshot the Panthers 17-5 and recorded their third clean sheet of the season. We wrap up our non-conference slate Sunday at Cobb Stadium against USF at 2 p.m. The game will be televised by ACC Network. Best of luck to the Canes!
Our cross country squad opened its season in impressive fashion last week at the FAU Invitational, sweeping the men’s and women’s races in the nine-school event. Elle Mezzio finished first in the women’s race, while Austen Cannon took second overall in the men’s race. Congrats to the Canes! Our next meet is September 17 at the Florida State Open in Tallahassee.
Our golf team opens its fall campaign on September 13 as they participate in the Cougar Classic, a two-day tournament hosted by the College of Charleston. Good luck to the Canes!
Our tennis teams begin their fall campaigns later this month and several Canes earned spots in the preseason ITA rankings. On the women’s side Isabella Pfennig is ranked 16th in singles and joins doubles partner Diana Khodan as the 31st-ranked doubles pair. Maya Tahan and Audrey Boch-Collins are ranked 36th in doubles. On the men’s side, the doubles team of Franco Aubone and Benjamin Hannestad begin the season ranked 11th in the nation. Congrats to all of our Canes!
Basketball season is just around the corner and season tickets are on sale now for both our men’s and women’s basketball teams. Click HERE for information on men’s season tickets and click HERE for more information on women’s season tickets. We look forward to seeing you at Watsco Center!
Last month the three commissioners of the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced an historic alliance that will bring 41 world-class institutions together on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling.
The alliance – which was unanimously supported by the institutions’ presidents, chancellors and athletics directors – will be guided in all cases by a commitment to, and prioritization of, supporting student-athlete well-being, academic and athletic opportunities, experiences and diverse educational programming. At UM we are excited to see three conferences with great history and tradition collaborate going forward. Between us there are 41 like-minded institutions from coast to coast with shared values and vision on what college athletics looks like in the future. Jim Phillips continues to show tremendous leadership in his role as ACC commissioner and I’m confident this alliance will benefit our conference membership in the years to come.
Earlier this week we announced that the DiMare Family has made a $1.6 million donation to fund a state-of-the-art baseball scoreboard at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The gameday experience at The Light is one of the best in all of college baseball and this new scoreboard will only serve to enhance that experience for our fans. I want to thank the DiMare family for their continued support of Miami Athletics, which will assist us in providing the best possible student-athlete experience for years to come.
We recently announced the launch of the Athletic Director’s Society, our next step in strategically building and developing the future of the department. The Athletic Director’s Society will enhance the pool of resources to build state-of-the-art facilities, attract and retain the nation’s best student-athletes and coaches, and provide those who wear the “U” an unparalleled collegiate experience. This much needed philanthropic giving society is for donors who commit to a major gift of at least $50,000 payable over a five-year period. While the Athletic Director’s Society is philanthropic in nature, members will enjoy unique stewardship opportunities and a deeper, more meaningful engagement with UM Athletics. To learn more about the Athletic Director’s Society, please click here or contact Parker Poliakoff at the Hurricane Club at 305-407-5794.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to contact a member of our staff. For the latest information on UM Athletics, please be sure to visit our website — miamihurricanes.com – download our Miami Hurricanes app or follow us on our various social media channels. I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. Enjoy this month’s magazine!
Go Canes!
Blake James
