From the Desk of Dan Radakovich
Dear Canes Community,
Our fall season is in full swing, and it was a tremendous Labor Day Weekend for the Miami Hurricanes, including an impressive season opener for our football team at Florida.
Football
Mario Cristobal’s Canes kicked off the 2024 season with a resounding 41-17 win over Florida in Gainesville on Saturday. Quarterback Cam Ward threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns in his Miami debut, leading an offense that racked up 529 yards. Our defense limited the Gators to just 261 total yards and forced two turnovers, including a 67-yard interception return by safety Meesh Powell. It was not only a great showing by our team but a great showing by our fans, who were enthusiastic from start to finish. Thanks to all who made the trip north to support the Canes!
We are looking for that same level of support for our home opener. Let’s have a great crowd to welcome our Hurricanes back to Hard Rock Stadium this Saturday against Florida A&M. Kickoff is 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Ticket sales were brisk following the win in Gainesville and we’re looking to pack Hard Rock Stadium for Saturday – and throughout the 2024 season! The deadline for season tickets is 6 p.m. this Friday. Click here or call 1-800-GO-CANES to secure your season tickets now!
Olympic Sports Update
Our volleyball team (3-0) opened its 2024 campaign with three wins at the UNT Invitational in Denton, Texas. The Canes defeated Rutgers 3-1 before sweeping both Colorado and host North Texas. Heredia Colon was named the Tournament MVP. Congratulations to Heredia and the volleyball team on a great start to the season!
Our soccer team (2-2-1) won its second straight game Sunday night with a 1-0 home victory over FIU. Giovana Canali scored the lone goal of the game – her third tally of the season. We next host Southeastern Louisiana Thursday at Cobb Stadium at 7 p.m. Come cheer on the Canes!
Cross country opened its season at the FAU Invitational in Boca Raton. Our men’s squad finished first overall, while Maddie Scheier earned her first career race win in the 5K, helping our women’s team place second.
Ableman Retires After 35 Years
Randy Ableman announced his retirement on August 19 after 35 years as our head diving coach, concluding one of the greatest coaching careers in NCAA and USA diving history. Randy, who arrived at UM in 1989, coached 14 divers to 26 individual national championships, coached 160 All-America performances, was named CSCAA Diving Coach of the Year nine times, won ACC Men’s Diving Coach of the Year six times, and earned ACC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year four times.
Randy is one of the most decorated head coaches in the storied history of Miami Athletics. He put Canes diving on the map – not just nationally but internationally – and served as a coach and mentor to hundreds of divers who represented this university in a first-class manner. I want to thank Randy for his dedication to our program and I wish him and his wife, Karen, all the best as they begin their next journey in life.
Summer Olympics
The Canes were well represented at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as 13 current of former Miami student-athletes participated. Former track and field standout Alysha Newman won a bronze medal for Canada in the pole vault, while current diver Chiara Pellacani finished fourth in both the 3-meter and synchronized three-meter for Italy. Congratulations to Alyssa and Chiara and all of our Canes Olympians!
Hester, Johnson Enshrined in Canton
Canes legends Devin Hester and Andre Johnson were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 3. Devin is widely regarded as the greatest kick returner in NFL history and Andre was a seven-time Pro Bowler who had seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Both Devin and Andre were honorary captains at our spring game earlier this year and we are so proud of their UM and NFL accomplishments. Congratulations to our newest Pro Football Hall of Famers!
UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Awards
Alexa Noel (women’s tennis), Russell Robinson (men’s track and field) and Julia Edwards (soccer) were named the inaugural winners of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Awards for the 2023-24 school year.
Alexa, the 2024 NCAA women’s singles champion, won the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum Student-Athlete of the Year Award, which is presented to the top all-around Hurricanes student-athlete of the year. Alex became the third Miami player to win the NCAA singles title and earned a wild card berth in this year’s US Open. Russell, the 2024 NCAA men’s indoor track and field triple jump champion, won the Ron Fraser Award, which is named after Miami’s legendary head baseball coach and is presented to the UM student-athlete who brings honor to the athletic department and best exemplifies what it means to be a Miami Hurricane. Russell also competed in the triple jump for the United States Olympic Team this summer. Julia was awarded the Frank Gore Comeback Award, which is presented to a Hurricanes student-athlete who overcame hardship to return to the playing field and represent their program with excellence. Julia, one of Miami’s team captains, appeared in all 17 matches last season after returning from bilateral surgery on her shins and was an ACC All-Academic selection.
Congratulations to Alexa, Russell and Julia and thank you to the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum for sponsoring these awards!
Canes Connection
Canes Connection is the Official NIL Collective of Miami Athletics and helps develop partnerships to benefit student-athletes with the goal of building the most impactful NIL program in college athletics.
Canes fans, alumni, and corporate partners can support student-athletes through Canes Connection, and as a benefit of that support, receive exclusive access to a wide variety of benefits including direct interaction and engagement with student-athletes. There are six membership plans to choose from. Click here to learn more about Canes Connection.
Our Canes Community remains stronger than ever thanks to your generosity. We hope to continue seeing you support all our teams throughout the fall. Go Canes!
— Dan Radakovich
