From the Desk of Dan Radakovich
Dear Canes Community,
There is lots of excitement surrounding University of Miami Athletics as our football team is bowl eligible and heading into its stretch run, while both of our basketball teams tip off their seasons this week in Coral Gables.
Basketball Season Tips Off
Jim Larrañaga’s men’s basketball squad – ranked 13th in both preseason polls – opens its 2023-24 season tonight at Watsco Center against NJIT at 7 p.m. Katie Meier’s women’s basketball team, which is ranked 25th in the preseason coaches poll, tips off Thursday at Watsco Center against Jacksonville at 11 a.m.
Both teams will have banner raising ceremonies before their second home games later this week. The men will raise their Final Four banner prior to their game against UCF Friday at 7 p.m. The women will raise their Elite Eight banner before their game versus Fordham Sunday at 2 p.m. We hope to see you there and continue to see you at Watsco Center all season long! Season tickets for men’s basketball start at just $300. Women’s basketball season tickets start at just $100. Call 1-800-GO-CANES or click here to reserve your seats today!
Football Update
Our football team fell at NC State 20-6 this past Saturday and now stands at 6-3 overall and 2-3 in ACC play. The defense is playing inspired football, led by safety Kam Kinchens, who ranks third in the country in interceptions per game. Freshman running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. has been on a recent tear, rushing for a career-high 115 yards against the Wolfpack one week after scoring the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Virginia.
Next up for the Canes is a trip to fourth-ranked Florida State. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on ABC. If you aren’t venturing to Tallahassee be sure to tune in Saturday!
Let’s Pack Hard Rock for Finale
After our trip to FSU, we wrap up our home schedule on Saturday, November 18 against No. 11 Louisville. We will be honoring our seniors, as well as Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta, who will have his No. 13 jersey retired at halftime. The Canes and Cardinals will also be battling for The Schnellenberger Trophy, which recognizes the legendary Howard Schnellenberger leading both programs to new heights. Tickets are still available so click here to secure your seats or call 1-800-GO-CANES. We can’t wait to see you cheering on the Canes in our home season finale!
ACC Football Scheduling
The ACC has announced the football scheduling rotation for 2024-30 with the addition of California, Stanford and SMU to the conference. We will still play eight conference games and the Canes are featured in two annual protected matchups – Miami vs. Florida State and Miami vs. Virginia Tech. Both the Seminoles and Hokies will return to Hard Rock Stadium in 2024, along with Duke and Wake Forest. We will travel to Cal, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Syracuse next season. This is an exciting step forward for ACC football and we look forward to the new schedule and the opportunities it gives our student-athletes.
Fall Sports Update
Our volleyball team dropped a tight, four-set match to No. 6 Pittsburgh Sunday but still sits at 16-8 overall and 9-5 in ACC play as they seek their third straight NCAA Tournament berth. Our swimming and diving team has won its first two dual meets of the season against FIU and FAU. Our women’s tennis team hosted the Miami Fall Invite this past weekend, posting an 8-1 singles record against Georgia Tech and Northwestern.
Our golf team won the Hurricane Invitational at The Biltmore last week, shooting 27-under par. It marked the second-best 54-hole performance in school history. Sara Byrne captured the individual title, shooting a program-record 19-under par. Congratulations to Sara, her teammates and head coach Janice Olivencia on a terrific performance!
Baseball Schedule Released
We released our 2024 baseball schedule last week and it features another terrific slate of games at The Light. The Canes open against NJIT on February 16 and host Florida for a three-game series starting March 1. Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson, Louisville and Pittsburgh all come to Coral Gables for ACC play. Click here or call 1-800-GO-CANES to purchase your tickets to cheer on the Canes throughout J.D. Arteaga’s first season as skipper!
Name, Image & Likeness
You can support our student-athletes’ NIL opportunities by contributing to the Canes Connection collective, which continues to build valuable partnerships with local businesses and connect those businesses with our student-athletes. Through Canes Connection we can deliver an exceptional NIL program that will help us create the best student-athlete experience in college athletics. Click here for all the latest news and information about Canes Connection.
ACC Unite Award
The ACC announced its 2023 ACC Unite Awards to honor individuals affiliated with the league’s member institutions who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice. Miami’s two winners were Dr. Laura Kohn-Wood and Dr. Donald Spivey. Laura is currently a Professor and Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami, becoming the first Black female dean in the school’s history in 2018. Donald is a Distinguished Professor and Cooper Fellow of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami, where he has served on the faculty since 1993. He currently serves as Special Advisor on Racial Justice to University of Miami President Julio Frenk. Congratulations to both Laura and Donald on this prestigious honor!
Our Canes Community remains stronger than ever thanks to your continued support. Go Canes!
Dan Radakovich
