Canes Set to Kick Off Home Slate Against FAMU

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – They were among the most enduring scenes on a memorable day.

Not long after the clock wound down on the Hurricanes’ dominant 41-17 win over rival Florida in Gainesville last Saturday, countless Miami coaches and players milled about a corner of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

They posed for pictures, celebrated, exchanged hugs and high fives, waved Miami’s flag and savored a moment few of them will forget any time soon.

What made it especially memorable was that it all played out in front of thousands of Miami fans who – dressed in orange and green – had made the trek north to Gainesville.

Understandably, the Hurricanes were filled with gratitude.

“Our fans found a way to get in the stadium and we wanted to make sure they were recognized by our players,” Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal said. “Once a ‘Cane, always a ‘Cane.”

“Our fans showed up today and gave us so much,” added Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. “They helped us out so much.”

Now, after more than nine months since they last played at Hard Rock Stadium, the Hurricanes and their fans will be reunited again – this time at home – when 12th-ranked Miami hosts Florida A&M on Saturday evening.

And more than once in the days leading up to their home opener, the Hurricanes have stressed they can’t wait to show those fans the kind of work they’ve put in during the offseason and in training camp.

“Running through that smoke is going to be awesome. It’s the chance of a lifetime that I wanted as a kid,” said Restrepo, who had seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Florida. “Getting to play at Hard Rock again, I just can’t wait for the fans. They’re a really, really, really good key to our success. They’re just so helpful in our process and being able to get those fans anywhere, it’s just an amazing thing having their support. It really makes us play harder.”

While veteran Hurricanes like Restrepo have already played their fair share of games at Hard Rock Stadium, Saturday’s season opener will mark the first time some of the newest faces on Miami’s roster get the experience.

Quarterback Cam Ward – who is coming off a 385-yard, three-touchdown performance – will run through the smoke for the first time in his Miami career, as will running back Damien Martinez, wide receiver Samuel Brown, defensive back Meesh Powell, defensive linemen Tyler Baron and Elijah Alston and freshmen like defensive linemen Armondo Blount, Cole McConathy II, Justin Scott, receivers Ny Carr and Joshisa “Jojo” Trader and tight end Elija Lofton, among others.

And all of them – like their teammates – will be looking to build on Miami’s season-opening win when they line up against a FAMU team that has already opened the season with a pair of victories and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which the Rattlers won both the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game and the Celebration Bowl, which annually decides the HBCU national champion.

“They’re excited to come back home and play at home. We want to make Hard Rock an intimidating place to play. We want to make Hard Rock a true home field advantage. We want to make our families, our community, our fan base, we want to make everybody proud, and these guys feel equipped. They feel prepared and ready to do so,” Cristobal said. “And they know that they’re playing against a team that’s coming off an awesome, awesome season. I believe they had 13 straight wins, defending HBCU national champions [and] more than a handful of players that have been invited, or are going to be invited, to the Senior Bowl. …

“I mean, they present a lot of problems, spread offense, a quarterback with a ton of experience, lots of players from South Florida on the team as well. They have a really good football team and of course, [head coach] James Colzie’s a guy I have a tremendous amount of respect for, a local guy. … He’s not only a first-class coach, he’s a first-class human being and he’s going to have his team prepared to play. We will be prepared to play as well.”

Among the playmakers the Hurricanes (1-0) know they’ll have to contain Saturday is quarterback Daniel Richardson, who earned his second consecutive HBCU Player of the Week honor after he threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns in the Rattlers’ 22-18 win over South Carolina State last week.

Also putting up impressive numbers in that victory was Koby Gross, who had six catches for 106 yards and a touchdown and running back Levontai Summersett, who had 11 carries for 62 yards.

And while more than a few Hurricanes – including Ward, Restrepo, Martinez and Powell – made big plays against Florida, it was the way the Hurricanes responded to adversity in that game that Cristobal believes will make a difference for Miami this season.

In that win, the Hurricanes turned the ball over once and allowed a big touchdown run.

After both of those plays, the Hurricanes kept their composure and scored touchdowns on their ensuing possessions.

“I think our guys, their practice and preparation became game reality, and they did all the things necessary to start the season the right way against a very talented team,” Cristobal said. “I think culture showed up strong in a couple different ways. I mean, we responded very well to any kind of adversity. We turned the ball over deep in our territory and our defense goes out there and holds them … to a field goal. Then they score a touchdown, a busted play, and our offense comes right out and scores a touchdown, ends the half, then comes out in the second half and scores another touchdown. So, tremendous response. Really proud of the fact that we had zero pre-snap penalties and zero post-snap penalties. I think that’s also a strong sign of culture.”

Now, the Hurricanes will have the opportunity to put that culture on display in front of family, friends and their fans and they say it’s an opportunity they’re embracing, and one they hope will set the tone for all of their games at Hard Rock this season.

“This whole team has the mindset to reset and just get ready to go for another week,” said linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, who had six tackles and a sack in the opener. “The job is not done and there’s still a lot of work to do … I think everybody’s getting ready and everybody’s in the right mindset to attack this week.”