A Message from the Athletic Director: November 2021
Hurricane Fans,
It’s Homecoming Week at the University of Miami, a time when we gather to celebrate what it means to be a Miami Hurricane and UM Athletics plays a major role in that celebration.
Our football team will host Georgia Tech for Homecoming Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on RSN (locally on Bally Sports Florida). The Canes defeated then-No. 17 Pittsburgh and then-No. 18 NC State the last two weeks – their first consecutive wins over ranked opponents since 2017 – and are in the thick of the ACC Coastal Division race. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has been named ACC Rookie of the Week two weeks running. We need your support to keep the momentum going. Click here to buy tickets or tune in Saturday to root on the Canes!
Our volleyball team, which boasts a 19-3 record, looks to continue its torrid pace Friday when the Canes face a crucial road test at No. 14 Georgia Tech at 7 p.m. The Canes and Yellow Jackets are currently tied for second place in the ACC with Pittsburgh, all three teams sporting a 10-2 mark in conference play. Peyman Yardimci earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors this week after racking up 22 kills and 11 blocks in two home wins. After playing Georgia Tech we head to Clemson for a Sunday afternoon match at 1 p.m. Good luck to the Canes this weekend!
Our cross country squad competed at the ACC Championships in South Bend and is now preparing for the NCAA South Regionals in Florence, Ala., on November 12. Our women’s team is ranked 13th in the South Region heading into the meet. Best of luck to the Canes!
Our soccer team completed its season last week at home against North Carolina, a season that included their first win over Florida since 2012 and their first-ever win at Boston College.
Our women’s tennis team is currently hosting the Miami Fall Invite, welcoming Duke, Kentucky, Columbia and Barry to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. Matches continue tomorrow at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. Come out to the Schiff to root on the Canes!
Our men’s tennis doubles duo of Franco Aubone and Benjamin Hannestad qualified for this week’s ITA Fall Championships in San Diego, one of only 32 pairs in the nation to earn an invitation. Congratulations to Franco and Benjamin!
Our swimming and diving team is at Cincinnati Friday for a dual meet against the Bearcats. The Canes then return home to host their last fall home meet at Norm Whitten Pool November 18-20 against Iowa and Vanderbilt. Best of luck to the Canes!
Our rowing team finished off its fall season with a flourish, as our varsity four team took the bronze at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta in Boston. Our golf team wrapped up its fall campaign with a third-place finish at the White Sands Invitational in the Bahamas. Congratulations to both teams!
We tip off basketball season this Tuesday, November 9, with a women’s and men’s doubleheader at Watsco Center. Katie Meier’s squad hosts Jackson State at 4 p.m. before Jim Larrañaga’s team faces Canisius at 7:30 p.m. It promises to be another exciting season of Canes basketball for both teams as they battle in college basketball’s most competitive conference. Season tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information on how to buy men’s basketball tickets and here for more information on how to buy women’s basketball tickets. We look forward to seeing you at Watsco Center!
We released our 2022 baseball schedule earlier this week. The Canes are set to play 36 home games, including series against Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and defending ACC champion Notre Dame. Click here for season ticket information. We hope to see you at The Light throughout the spring!
We will be recognizing the UM Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 during Saturday’s Homecoming game against Georgia Tech. The 2022 class is comprised of 10 Miami greats representing eight different sports at The U — Jeff Alkire (baseball), T’erea Brown (track and field), Lane Carico (volleyball), Conny Falk (tennis), Cleveland Gary (football), Tim Harris (track and field), Shenise Johnson (basketball), Jack McClinton (basketball), Brittany Viola (diving) and D.J. Williams (football). Congratulations to all!
We will also be recognizing our 2021 University of Miami Trailblazer Award winners during the Homecoming game against Georgia Tech. The inaugural class feature three former student-athletes – Will Allen (men’s basketball, 1967-71), Ray Bellamy (football, 1967-70) and Kim Sands (women’s basketball, 1974 and women’s tennis, 1974-78) – as well as former University President Henry King Stanford. Miami Athletics launched the award to honor and recognize current and former minority student-athletes and others affiliated with athletics who have distinguished themselves as pioneers and game changers in sports and life. The award originates from the Diversity and Inclusion unit within the athletic department. Congratulations to the 2021 Trailblazer Award recipients!
This month marks the public launch of Ever Brighter, the University’s Campaign for Our Next Century. Ever Brighter is a $2.5 billion initiative—the largest of any private institution in Florida—that is already accelerating the University’s drive to shape a brighter future for our students, our community, our health, and the health of our planet. Athletics is proud to do our part in helping to raise funds for Ever Brighter. For more information on the campaign please click here.
Our Athletic Director’s Society is the 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. Enjoy this month’s magazine!
Go Canes!
Blake James
