Canes fans everywhere are cheering, yelling, and still amazed at the turnaround the football team has had during this season. After what felt like years of slumming it the team has started to clean up their act. Whether it’s that their practice has finally payed off, or the absolute godsend that is Cam Ward, Hurricane fans are happy to have a sliver of our glory back.
Undefeated for most of the semester, the Miami Hurricanes football team has sparked campus-wide enthusiasm, uniting students, players and fans in a wave of excitement that’s redefining the spirit of college football at the U.
From seasoned seniors to fresh-faced first-years, students say they are feeling a renewed campus spirit that had been dormant for several years.
Senior Skyler Brotherton-Julien remembers when the enthusiasm for the team was lower.
As a freshman, she attended the games because the experience was new. Then, she lost interest when the Canes were not pulling their weight.
She was not alone.
Hard Rock Stadium, which seats 65,326, saw average home game attendance at 49,714 in 2023, and that was down by nearly 10 percent over the previous year, according to D1.Ticker, which researches and publishes Football Bowl Subdivision attendance.
By contrast, the current average attendance for the 2024 season is 59,076, representing nearly a 19% increase over 2024. And in the Canes homecoming game against Florida State, more than 65,000 fans packed Hard Rock Stadium, marking the first sellout since 2022.
“Now, I’m actually excited about UM football,” Brotherton-Julien said.
“It’s not just the game, but the energy, the crowd and the way everyone comes together to support something so big. It’s changed my entire outlook on football,” said freshman
Emma Greaves recalling her first tailgate.
“The energy was incredible,” she said. Now, more people are staying for the full game, and the excitement just keeps building.”
The growing enthusiasm is fueled by the university’s student section and Category 5, UM’s official spirit organization.
“The energy at football games has been night and day different,” said Category 5 basketball co-chair David Kuper. “With the addition of our brand-new paint line and other traditions, we’re nationally known.”
Category 5 promotes a variety of giveaways and events before and during games, he said.
“We hand out custom merch, organize tailgates and make sure every game feels like a big event,” said Kuper, a junior legal studies and marketing major. “With each game, we try to create an experience that students won’t forget.”
Category 5 Internal Vice Chair Olivia Estoppey has supported the team over the years and feels a powerful surge of school pride with each new win.
“In my first season, we lost to Florida State 45-3 at home, which was heartbreaking,” said Estoppey, a junior political science major. The Canes reversed the loss in October, scoring a 36-14 victory over the Seminoles.
Game days for Estoppey are a mix of work and excitement as she and Category 5 manage “Fan Zone,” the student tailgate, and the “Storm Warning” tradition where they create smoke with fire extinguishers after the first quarter.
“Then, we get to enjoy the game in the front rows with all the other students,” Estoppey said. “It’s the best because we’re all very passionate about our teams.”
UM’s cheerleaders also have noticed the elevated atmosphere.
“In past years, if we were down by a few points, fans would leave early,” said Penelope Gilbert, a junior broadcast journalism major. “I cheered at the Cal game, where we were down by a lot, but our fans never lost hope,” she said of the Oct. 5 game against the California Golden Bears in Berkeley, California. The Canes were trailing by 25 points but rallied to win the game 39-38.
“They had faith we could pull off that comeback, and it was really cool to see,” Gilbert said. “If that was last year, I think they would’ve left by halftime.”
Gilbert described this newfound fan support as a “game-changer” that both fuels the players on the field and energizes her team as she cheers on the sidelines.
Team members say head coach Mario Cristobal’s recent emphasis on reconnecting with alumni has energized the team, with former players Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin showing up regularly to support the Hurricanes.
Lewis played as Miami’s linebacker from 1993-1995 before making his NFL debut in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens; Irvin was the school’s wide receiver from 1985-1987 before being drafted to the Dallas Cowboys in 1988.
Players say that seeing these Miami greats on the sideline fuels their drive and resonates with the crowd, adding a sense of tradition and pride to each game.
Running back Chris Johnson Jr. also credits this year’s success to a shift in leadership and team chemistry.
“The leadership is different,” he said. “You can see it in the way guys like Cam and the transfers have stepped in to lead, he said referring to quarterback Cam Ward. “We’ve all bought into the program, and that’s made all the difference.”
Ward, a transfer from Washington State, is a Heisman Trophy contender.
In the Canes’ first 10 games of the season, he averaged 3.5 touchdowns per game, leading the nation in passing yards (3,494) and passing touchdowns (32) and total touchdowns (35).
Sophomore running back Mark Fletcher Jr. said other transfers have had a huge impact on keeping everyone motivated. He said defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr., who spent the first four seasons of his career at Michigan State, has solidified the defensive line, making key stops that have kept opponents’ offenses at bay.
Linebacker Tyler Baron, who came from a winning program at Tennessee, has not only bolstered the team’s defense but also brought a winning mentality that’s inspired his teammates to adopt the same mindset.
“They’ve been a big part of keeping us from getting complacent,” Fletcher said. “We’re constantly pushing each other to be better.”
Fletcher said he sees a new sense of “family” among the team as players from different positions are building friendships and encouraging one another.
Category 5 is committed to keeping fan energy alive.
“We get loud, plain and simple. No matter the opponent, we are there and cheering all the way until the alma mater,” Kuper said.
words_sumner bradley & sophia orris & lucas de leon & raul aguirre jr. photo_ethan dosa. design_sal puma
This article was published in Distraction’s Winter 2024 print issue.
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