ESPN’s College GameDay came to the University of Miami campus ahead of the Hurricanes’ rivalry matchup against the University of Florida.
In an interview with the Hurricane, Joe Echeverria, the president and CEO of the University of Miami, shared his thoughts about what it means for GameDay to be held on campus: “This is the U. This is the U that I knew. The U is back.”
The last time College GameDay came to Miami was in 2017, when the Hurricanes seemed to be one of the most promising teams in college football before losing their final two matchups of the season, as well as the Orange Bowl.
Football legends Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and Pat McAfee all predicted Miami to beat Florida while a crowd of more than 3,500 people behind them cheered.
At the end of the broadcast, Pat McAfee not only predicted Miami would defeat the Florida Gators, but he also ran to the high dive at the campus pool and jumped into the water screaming, “The U is back!”
Some fans arrived at Lakeside Patio as early as 3:00 a.m. to secure a spot at the front. Among those fans was sophomore Luke Lentini. When asked his thoughts about GameDay in Miami, he said, “I love the atmosphere. It means our football team is doing great. And the ‘Canes are rolling, baby!”
That excitement carried over to one of the show’s most popular segments: the field goal contest. In this segment, one fan is chosen to kick a field goal to win a large cash prize. A Hurricanes fan named Henry Whiting selected his friend Giovanni Guerrette to kick. Guerrette was given two attempts to kick a 33-yard field goal to win $500,000. His first attempt bounced off the side of the Shalala Student Center and his second attempt fell just short of the goal.
College GameDay coming to Miami means more than just amusing signs and catchy chants. For the students, families and alumni who came to GameDay, the event signals a new chapter in the Hurricanes football program and a restoration to its former glory.
Shelton Douchett, a Miami native who is well-known for wearing a full Hurricanes football uniform to home games, was also present at GameDay. He wears the full uniform to honor his deceased brother, with whom he would frequently attend games.
“[College GameDay] means a lot. I’ve been coming to the games for the last 16 years, and I dress up in honor of my brother’s memory,” said Douchett. “It’s like Thanksgiving for me. It’s amazing.”
GameDay brought an increase in police and security presence to campus. Barricades were placed around campus and fans were subject to bag searches and metal detectors before gaining entry to the event. Fraternity tailgates were also cancelled due to the increased need for police on campus.
ACC Huddle, a live pregame show on the ACC Network, was also present on campus. It aired live from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and included an interview with head coach Mario Cristobal.
That evening, the Hurricanes traveled north to Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Florida Gators. Miami emerged victorious, defeating Florida in a 26-7 win.
When asked about Miami in relation to the rest of the ACC, Eric Mac Lain, former Clemson football player and current ACC analyst, said, “I think they’re the best team in the league. They’re the most complete team I have the least questions about.”
Some students had a difficult time acquiring tickets to the event due to a website crash and a persistent loading screen. In spite of these difficulties, student tickets still sold out just three hours after being available for claim.
The Hurricanes will play their next game on October 4 in Tallahassee against the Florida State Seminoles.