Love is in the air at the University of Miami! Jamison reports what UM’s fraternities did this Valentine’s season to spread the love.
How Miami made ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ star Danny Ramirez
Actor Danny Ramirez dreamt of leaving Miami when he was eighteen. Having touched ground in the 305 for the second time in years on Feb. 16 after leaving to study acting in New York, he’s surprised he ever left.
To Ramirez, there’s no Miami without the ‘U.’ Ramirez has been a ’Cane’s football fan since first grade. Seeing Santana Moss, a ’Canes wide receiver, play one of his best games while on a Boy Scouts trip showed him heroes can come from Miami too.
Now, Ramirez is a Miami hero of his own. When Marvel approached him and asked how they could make his character Joaquin Torres more authentically from Miami, there was just one thing Ramirez had in mind.
“I told them, ‘He has to be a ’Canes fan’,” Ramirez said.
He urged them to put his character in a Hurricanes jersey, which did make it into a deleted scene, but they settled on having him sport a green ’Canes football shirt with the ‘U’ for a scene in the final cut.
Though Hollywood has embraced the rising star with his role in Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and the Emmy-nominated series “The Last of Us,” to him, there’s nothing like Miami.
“In Miami, I was able to be in an area that was basically the middle of Latin America. Everywhere I went everyone’s speaking Spanish,” Ramirez said. “Every third person is going to be the most charming person you’ve ever met.”
Miami hasn’t left Ramirez. Upon arriving to the University of Miami’s School of Communication’s broadcast studios to prepare for an interview with student media, he rushed toward a tray of pastelitos.
He quickly grabbed three guava pastries before getting touched up by his makeup artist.
“You feel at home yet?” she asked.
Ramirez went from getting interviewed by the University of Miami’s student media, to throwing the first pitch at Mark Light Field, hosting a meet-and-greet at the Bill Cosford Cinema and greeting guests at AMC Sunset Place at 9 p.m. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“This city has so much of that vibrancy that I used to fight against,” Ramirez said. “To be back and realize that a lot of it has shaped me as an artist in my identities is the cool part.”
Ramirez was at almost every football game during the 2024 to 2025 football season with quarterback Cam Ward (who he’s confident will be the number one draft pick in April).
When asked about football, he’d go on about the game-winning block in the ’Canes game against Virginia Tech and how he’s sure he developed a heart condition while watching the Syracuse match.
His love for the ’Canes and Miami knows no bounds. While the lengths he’d go to watch a ’Canes game are uncertain, one thing is: he’d really like an honorary degree.
“Shout out to anyone in charge of giving the masters,” Ramirez said. “Just at the end of the article be like, ‘Honorary degree? Maybe?’”
Ramirez is heading back to Los Angeles, yet his heart remains in Miami and will happily let the cardiac ’Canes make it skip a few beats.
Don’t miss Ramirez as the Falcon in “Captain America: Brave New World” and keep an eye out for all the references to his hometown and the U in the hit film.
‘A beacon of hope and love’: Remembering Professor Kathryn Sue Freeman
University of Miami Professor Kathryn Sue Freeman, known for making the stresses of her English students fade away with just a smile, died in her sleep at home on Jan. 24, 2025.
“My mind was rejecting it,” Rafaela Ochoa, one of Freeman’s past students, said. “I didn’t believe it.”
Freeman received her bachelor’s and doctorate in English literature from Yale before coming to UM as an assistant professor in 1992. Freeman has taught thousands of students over the years, though, being an educator was not the only role she played at UM.
Freeman also found herself helping Director of Undergraduate Studies Timothy Watson process faculty applications while he was department chair. While Freeman was typically fun and loving outside, she would readily flip her demeanor while working to give the department her all.
Watson was always in awe of her kindness and dedication to students.
“She helped them with their writing, thinking and presentation skills, they commented that her door was always open,” Watson said. “It’s hard to imagine that she’s still not up there one floor above in her office.”
Department Chair Jaswinder Bolian admired her persistence in developing the best English department for students. Though they would rarely talk outside of work, Bolina knew she was one of a kind.
“She would go from being warm, friendly Kathy to really inclusive, thoughtful academic Kathy,” Bolina said. “It was fun when she would switch gears and become the scholar in the room.”
Students imagined building their writing careers with Freeman at their side. Ochoa was originally a political science major before Freeman showed her a successful career in the demanding publication industry is possible.
Freeman emphasized that her classes were for everyone. Though they would dabble in 18th century literature in her romantic era courses, Freeman promised every student they would leave with a greater understanding of the text.
“Her tone was very welcoming to us and she really encouraged discussion in the classroom,” Ochoa said. “Myself and other students were just in awe of how intelligent she was.”
Freeman’s kindness was not without struggle. She balanced her incoming responsibilities with being a single mother while working on her scholarly books, like “Rethinking the Romantic Era” and “A Guide to the Cosmology of William Blake.” Still, Watson remembers how she was always graceful in the face of pressure.
“She did a lot of the invisible work that makes the University run, [the person] who will take notes, followup and volunteer,” Watson said. “Any large organization relies on people who do that work.”
Looking at student comments on Freeman from her last professor evaluations, Watson’s eyes were drawn to the student’s kind remarks, as if a piece of her lived in every word.
“I have students come to me saying, ‘I want to do a senior thesis, I want to work with Professor Freeman’,” Watson said. “They saw her as a model for somebody who combines research, teaching and generosity. It’s going to be very hard to replace that.”
The UM English department looks to preserve Freeman’s legacy by carrying out her dream ambition for the department, teaching more female authors. Faculty hopes to expand the literature used in class to expose students not just to acclaimed male writers, but underappreciated female authors who laid the groundwork for modern storytelling.
The English department looks forward to planning her celebration of life in their first department meeting this semester.
“We’re trying to regroup and process the shock and grief and figure out ways to celebrate her legacy,” Bolina said. “For anybody you talk to in the department, the memories are all warm and good, so you want to honor those and that’s what we’re working on now.”
While it’s impossible to sum up what Freeman means to the University with one event, her colleagues know just treating each other with Freeman’s kindness will help the department remember her for years.
Orange Umbrella’s Super Bowl ad shows Doritos are the chip that counts
Doritos have been a staple Super Bowl snack for decades. The University of Miami’s Orange Umbrella reinvented the iconic brand as not just a chip, but a lifestyle in the student-run ad agency’s ad submission for Doritos’ Crash the Super Bowl contest.
Unfortunately, they didn’t make it into the final round. Still, Mavorah is confident the agency will never forget the experience and Orange Umbrella looks forward to trying again next year with more tricks up its sleeve.
The contest invites creators from around the world to develop a Doritos ad that will make watchers turn off the TV and run to get that nacho-cheese taste. Winners would receive $1 million, a trip to New Orleans, and have their ad aired before over 100 million viewers during football’s biggest night.
The student-run ad agency heard about the competition four weeks before the submission deadline. Orange Umbrella Managing Director Ian Mavorah split students into groups to have them create multiple ad ideas and pitch them.
“When I found out they were doing it again, I thought this would be a great project for the team,” Mavorah said. “I mentioned it to the agency, we voted, and it was unanimous.”
UM senior Liam Kirkpatrick’s team’s idea was the winner. They imagined a romantic date where the boyfriend’s card doesn’t go through, so the girlfriend thought to pay with a Dorito.
She opened her purse, which had dozens of Doritos inside, and pulled out the best one to put into the waiter’s chip reader. The commercial then cuts to the Doritos logo and mantra, “For the Bold.”
Kirkpatrick and the agency’s video team set up in a local restaurant and spent four hours bringing their vision to life.
“The most difficult thing was getting actors together,” Kirkpatrick said. “Putting together people that we think of going to be of substance quickly and under time and budget was really important.”
Audio was another challenge. The restaurant was near a Metrorail station, and any passing train covered the actors’ dialogue from getting recorded. With minutes ticking by, the crew would wait for the trains to leave, which were coming every “four minutes in between each take.”
Orange Umbrella Vice President of Public Relations Ava Prinzo watched it unfold as an extra.
“Our video team really excelled at bringing the whole thing together,” Prinzo said. “We had such a great idea, and seeing them take that idea and apply it to that scale, it was really incredible.”
After hours of editing, the agency submitted its ad to the competition. It ended up in the Doritos gallery for the nation to see and vote on.
The agency is eagerly anticipating next year’s contest so they can take their new submission to the next level.
“At the end of the day, based on all the obstacles, the timing we had, I think they knocked it out of the park,” Mavorah said.
Click here to see Orange Umbrella’s unforgettable Super Bowl Doritos ad.
A guide to the 2025 student government executive election
Update as of Feb. 20: Brand New U has won the 2025 Student Government executive election. Ivana Liberatore has been selected as president-elect, Kylie Quintana as vice president-elect and Vic Wuyts as treasurer-elect for the 2025-2026 academic year.
This year’s executive seats of Student Government elections have been split between two tickets, Brand New U and Next Century Canes.
Brand New U, with presidential candidate Ivana Liberatore, vice presidential candidate Kylie Quintana, and treasurer candidate Victoire Wuyts is “committed to empowering students, expanding resources and making sure every voice is heard,” according to their Instagram account. Their campaign initiatives center around student empowerment, accessibility and innovation, including supporting Cane Card integration with Apple Wallet, improving campus infrastructure and expanding financial and professional opportunities for students.
“My journey in Student Government — from the First-Year Leadership Council to serving as assistant director of academic affairs and board of trustees undergraduate representative — has shown me the power of student voices,” said Brand New U presidential candidate Ivana Liberatore. “Running for president is about taking that advocacy to the next level.
Their key initiatives include a student leaders roundtable, where they hope to create a collaborative space for leaders from different organizations to share ideas, voice concerns and work on common goals. They would like to establish a Raising Cane’s location on campus and expand financial and professional opportunities for students. Their student services initiatives extend to providing free rides to the airport, supporting Cane Card integration with Apple Wallet, improving campus infrastructure and enhancing first-aid training for RAs.
“I believe in Brand New U because I know Ivana, Kylie and Victoire have characters that I can trust and the determination to do what’s best for our school,” said Nicholas Gavin, a freshman on the Brand New U campaign team. “I also appreciate their student body focused initiatives, especially professional development.”
Next Century Canes is made up of presidential candidate Isaac Jimenez and treasurer candidate Damian Gomez. According to their Instagram account, Next Century Canes is “about action: delivering results for [students].” Their proposed initiatives for the upcoming school year include increased funding for student organizations, increased student involvement and expanded opportunities for students. They also want to work to expand the dining hall hours, get discounts on transportation and offer more opportunities for students to become involved on campus and have their voice heard.
“It is important to me to listen to all students,” said Next Century Canes presidential candidate Isaac Jimenez. “We will make sure we do this by having town halls where students can speak and that will lead to action from our part to make sure we are addressing the needs of the students. I am running for Student Government president to represent and deliver results for all students.”
Next Century Canes’ key initiatives are strengthening campus safety and promoting graduate school and career opportunities. They also want to strengthen alumni relations so that current students can have access to mentorship and career opportunities from fellow ’Canes.
According to Chapter IV, Title 3, Section 9 of the Statues to the Constitution of the Student Government, “Candidates may withdraw at any point. Any candidacy withdrawn after the application deadline may not be reinstated.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Next Century Canes’ vice presidential candidate Dominique Thomas, withdrew from the race and posted a statement to her social media explaining why.
“As the campaign has developed, it became clear that my vision and priorities for leadership do not fully align with the ticket I stood alongside,” Thomas said in the statement. “Rather than continue in a space where I cannot fully represent the values and initiatives most important to me, I believe it is best to step back at this time.”
Because of this, only one Vice Presidential candidate will appear on the ballot. The voter’s second option will be to abstain. A selection to abstain does not count towards the total vote.
Voting is open from Monday, Feb. 17, through Wednesday, Feb. 19 on Engage, and results will be posted at noon on Thursday, Feb. 20.
BRAND NEW U
Brand New U is made up of presidential candidate Ivana Liberatore, a junior majoring in finance and legal studies with a minor in political science, vice presidential candidate Kylie Quintana, a junior majoring in political science and psychology with minors in business law and law and politics and treasurer candidate Victoire Wuyts, a junior majoring in business analytics and legal studies. According to their Instagram account, Brand New U is “committed to empowering students, expanding resources and making sure every voice is heard.” Their main initiatives center around student empowerment, accessibility and innovation, including supporting Cane Card integration with Apple Wallet, improving campus infrastructure, and expanding financial and professional opportunities for students.
Ivana Liberatore – Candidate for President
Ivana Liberatore is a junior majoring in finance and legal studies with a minor in political science. As a presidential candidate, Liberatore “promises a commitment to a Brand New U, one that defines the next century of innovation, inclusivity and collaboration.” She originally joined Student Government on the First-Year Leadership Council as a freshman, then became the university registrar liaison for the Academic Liaison Council as a sophomore. She now serves as Student Government’s assistant director of academic affairs and as an undergraduate representative for the Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee. She has also been part of Alpha Kappa Psi, Latina Project, Orientation Fellows, Student Managed Investment Fund, Association of Latino Professionals for America, Undergraduate Dean’s Advisory Council and Association of Commuter Students. In the next year, Liberatore wants to extend her efforts further than she ever has. “From my first day at UM, I have been driven by the idea that student leadership can truly shape the university experience. Running for president is about taking that advocacy to the next level.”
Kylie Quintana – Candidate for Vice President
Kylie Quintana is a junior majoring in political science and psychology with minors in business law and law and politics. She is “honored to present her candidacy for student government vice president” with Brand New U, where she wants to ensure “the next century of the U shines even brighter than the last.” At UM, she is a Presidential and Latina Project Scholar. On campus, she has served as an associate justice of the Student Government Supreme Court and led finances as vice president of internal finance for Alpha Kappa Psi, where she now serves as director of rituals. She volunteers at the Camner Center for Disability Services, serves as the community outreach chair for Girls of Outreach & Diversity and has logged over 200 hours at the Butler Center. For Quintana, becoming vice president would mean she could help foster the next generation of student leaders. “As vice president, I look forward to guiding the First Year Leadership Council as they begin shaping the first freshman class of UM’s next century, ensuring that the future of our university is built on innovation, inclusivity and purpose.”
Vic Wuyts – Candidate for Treasurer
Victoire Wuyts is a junior majoring in business analytics and legal studies. As a candidate for Student Government treasurer, “she is committed to strengthening the relationship between Student Government and SAFAC, increasing financial accessibility and ensuring equitable distribution of UM resources.” She is a Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee delegate, where she helped “allocate over $1.6 million across 306 student organizations.” She serves as vice president of internal finance for Alpha Kappa Psi, and she originally served as treasurer of Above the Bar, a pre-law organization, where she now is President. Additionally, she supports breast cancer awareness initiatives through Zeta Tau Alpha. She is also Foote Fellow mentor and Singer Scholar. For Wuyts, her first year as treasurer would be about making funding transparent, equitable and accessible for all. “Running for treasurer means ensuring that student organizations have the financial tools to grow, innovate and make a lasting impact on our campus.”
NEXT CENTURY CANES
Next Century Canes is made up of presidential candidate Isaac Jimenez, a junior majoring in political science on the pre-law track, and treasurer candidate Damian Gomez, a sophomore majoring in accounting and business with minors in business law and Spanish. According to their Instagram account, Next Century Canes is “about action: delivering results for [students].” Their big initiatives for the upcoming school year include increased funding for student organizations, increased student involvement and expanded opportunities for students. They also want to work to expand the dining hall hours, get discounts on transportation and offer more opportunities for students to become involved on campus and have their voice heard.
Isaac Jimenez – Candidate for President
Isaac Jimenez is a junior majoring in political science on the pre-law track. As a candidate for Student Government president, Jimenez is “excited to get to work” for the student body with the Next Century Canes ticket. He is dedicated to listening to students and having open communication, “including updates on what [he is] working on in the Student Government.” Jimenez currently serves as a Student Government senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, where he works on bills that help expand transportation options on campus, including one that will extend Freebee services to include weekends. He also serves on the Policy and Finance Committee, Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee and the University Affairs Committee. Jimenez hopes to prioritize making every student feel heard and represented in the next year if elected president. “I am running for Student Government president to represent and deliver results for all students … [My] experiences have prepared me to have a strong understanding of the needs that students have and a strong record of results that prove my ability to get things done for students.”
Damian Gomez – Candidate for Treasurer
Damian Gomez is a sophomore majoring in accounting and business with minors in business law and Spanish. As a treasurer candidate, Gomez is “ready to be a part of the team that leads the Next Century into continued success.” He serves as a delegate on the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee, treasurer of the Interfraternity Council and is the Business School liaison on the Academic Liaison Council branch of Student Government. He has experience “working with diverse individuals, communicating effectively, solving problems under pressure.” He has also “learned to balance different responsibilities, organize events and make decisions that benefit everyone.” He is confident that with the skills he has developed in his time at UM, he will succeed in leading the school’s finances if elected as treasurer. “Overall, the skills I’ve learned not only in my extracurriculars, but in class as an accounting and finance student, have equipped me with the necessary mindset to lead our school into the next centennial.”
Student Government takes Freebee’s free ride-sharing services to the next level
Freebee, the free ride-sharing service on campus, has accumulated 5,500 rides since its launch, nearly 10 times more than its predecessor, SafeRide. Following UM Student Government advocacy, the late-night service has expanded its 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. weekday services to also offer weekend rides.
The transition was driven by collaboration between SG, Parking & Transportation and university administration and is tailored to offer a sustainable solution to late-night transportation.
“Freebee is a perfect example of SG utilizing its position as the ultimate advocate for students to implement changes that directly benefit students,” SG President Roy Carrillo Zamora said. “This is the no-brainer kind of project that SG excels at and that tangibly improves the student experience. I think this is what SG should always focus on.”
In the 2023-2024 academic year, Emmanuel Clemente, the University Affairs Chair at SG at the time, conducted a large-scale student survey and introduced a bill to collaborate with Lyft to provide transportation to and from campus.
Administration rejected the Lyft proposal, so the announcement of a partnership with Freebee at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year came as a pleasant surprise to SG members and students.
“The SafeRide program has evolved into Freebee, which the University of Miami Parking and Transportation Department put in place in Fall 2024,” the University of Miami said in a statement to The Hurricane. “Freebee custom designed its service area to cater specifically to students and where they frequent. Rides must either start or end on campus to be eligible for the service.”
Following its launch, students responded positively to the service. Less than two months after the start of the 2024-2025 school year, Freebee had provided 396 rides, more than half of the 559 rides SafeRide provided in 2023.
“I would say I use Freebee once or twice a week,” Alissa Spence, a freshman at UM, said. “It allows me to save money on places close to school.”
Even though first-year students are not allowed to have cars on campus, the University provides a variety of alternatives, including Metrorail, Hurry ’Canes Shuttles and others.
Of these options, Freebee’s late-night transportation is key to creating a secure campus. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, violent crimes off campus were 50% more likely to occur at night.
What sets Freebee apart from its predecessor is its “efficiency and effective” use, according to the University of Miami. Unlike SafeRide, Freebee operates through the UMiami App and allows students to request rides, track vehicles and get more accurate pickup times.
Freebee was only available on weekdays between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. but has extended service to the weekends as a pilot program through the spring 2025 semester.
According to UM Parking and Transportation, the department “met with Student Government and the Dean of Students Office to gain feedback on the switch to Freebee. Student input guided the decision for the extended hours now being offered.”
Cecilia Ramirez and Bhavya Sharma, current chairs of the SG Senate University Affairs Committee, helped execute and pass the Freebee bill that expanded its services.
“Senate has been pursuing a free or subsidized ride-sharing service for years now,” Ramirez said. “After the incredible results [of Freebee], we knew we had to expand its availability to the weekends so that more students could benefit.”
As director of SG’s University Affairs Committee and leader of the Campus Liaison Council, Branden Logatto’s role involves bridging student voices and administrative initiatives. When his team saw the success and potential of the ride-sharing program, they worked together to advocate for the expansion to the weekends.
“This academic year, I personally meet monthly with Parking and Transportation Administration, Eli Stephan and Shane Plageman, in addition to my Parking and Transportation Liaisons, Emily Cleary and Layla Hilmi,” Logatto said. “We [are] able to clearly communicate the success of the service to the administration.”
After consulting with Heather Stevens, SG advisor and assistant to the senior vice president for student affairs, SG developed a survey to gather feedback about how students would like to see Freebee expanded.
“We had over 500 student responses, showing administration that the expansion of this service was a priority of the student body,” Logatto said. “Though we experienced some bumps in the road due to additional funding needed for the service, we were able to work with administration to successfully launch the weekend service of Freebee this past January.”
According to Zamora, SG’s future plans for Freebee advocacy include adding a third environmentally friendly car to the fleet and tracking usage of the service to explore ways to improve the experience.
Turn This TV Off: The revolution is being televised
This weekend, roughly 127.7 million people tuned in to watch a wonderful display of Black pride and excellence. There also happened to be a football game in the background. Those of us who aren’t football fans primarily tuned in for the commercials and, of course, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize award winner Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance, which some are calling the “worst ever.” I simply cannot agree.
This year’s Super Bowl went beyond football, tackled deeper themes of historical racism, celebrated Black culture and sparked a much-needed conversation, all accompanied by an excellent soundtrack. Lamar’s layered use of symbolism can make his performances difficult to decipher, so please allow me the pleasure of decoding some of my favorite elements of this performance.
Kendrick Lamar, our favorite Gemini rapper turned Marvel-level villain, begins his storytelling through strategic set design. At first glance, the set looks like a standard game board (a nod to the “games” he had been playing with Drake), but a closer examination reveals it also mimics the symbols used in the Netflix series “Squid Games.” Squid Games features debt-ridden citizens competing in deadly childhood games to win huge cash prizes. Lamar’s reference to the show serves as a critique of the exploitative nature of poverty. Black people often have to “play the game” in order to survive, yet the rules are constantly changing, and refusal to play can end in deadly consequences.
This message is reinforced through Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of Uncle Sam, directing Kendrick on how he should perform to mirror the way society and the government dictate how Black people must behave to succeed. This casting is also ironic because not only is Samuel L. Jackson one of America’s most popular Sams, but he also is a representation of Black people sometimes being complicit in our own subjugation. Jackson can be heard throughout the performance telling Lamar his actions are “too loud, too black, too ghetto.” Lamar counters this by displaying classic elements of Black culture and the Black experience, such as performers sporting gold teeth, having their hair styled in locs, and using African American Vernacular English.
At one point, Lamar declares, “You picked the right time but the wrong guy,” sending a clear message to America, including President Trump, that attempts to silence Black culture will no longer be tolerated. Neither he nor the people will be silenced, contrary to what was previously believed, “The revolution ’bout to be televised.”
Lamar also used classic patriotic symbols to further critique America’s political landscape. The dancers in the performance wore red, white and blue sweatsuits and stood in formation to mimic the American flag. At one point, while in flag formation, the dancers assume a pose with their backs parallel to the ground. This visual arrangement is a representation of America being built on the backs of Black people. Kendrick goes on to stand in the middle of this flag, dividing it into two to match the division within the country that, in recent weeks, has felt palpable.
But of course, much of Lamar’s storytelling and artistry could have been overlooked due to the audience’s anticipation of hearing the hit single “Not Like Us.” The diss track aimed at Drake earned Lamar a whopping five Grammy awards this year, and while I was rapping along in my house, it didn’t escape me that the song’s political undertones were still fitting for the performance. “ Not Like Us” not only dealt a backbreaking blow to Drake, but it also functioned as commentary on how America interacts with Black culture. Many trends in pop culture originate within the Black community before being adopted by the masses. However, this adoption rarely benefits Black people who often see their language, music, hair/clothing styles, general mannerisms and even trauma allow others to become popular and profitable without seeing any benefits themselves.
February is Black History Month, which you may have forgotten, since Google removed the default notification from our calendars. As we are currently in a tumultuous era of executive orders and DEI rollbacks, there seems no better time for America to examine itself than now. Kendrick Lamar’s performance prompts us to have some much-needed conversations and reflection. From the HBCU band being featured during the opening of the Super Bowl down to Serena Williams Crip walking on stage, I personally loved seeing so much Blackness on display. The Super Bowl was full of vibes and a message wrapped in one. While the Eagles took home the trophy (Go Birds!), it was Kendrick Lamar who really won.
Startin’ with a Sweep: takeaways from Miami baseball opening weekend
’Canes baseball began its 2025 season 3-0 after sweeping the Niagara Purple Eagles (0-3) in dominant fashion. Hurricane fans were treated to three quality games after a long offseason, winning 14-2, 10-0 and 11-1, respectively.
After a disappointing sub-.500 record last year, head coach J.D. Arteaga plans to lead his new-look squad back to the typical success of Miami baseball.
“All in all, great weekend. The fans were great … We’re excited about what’s to come,” said Arteaga to reporters after the game on Sunday.
Here are three takeaways after the opening series.
Taking Care of Business
First off, the quality of the opponent has to be considered. Niagara had only been outside to practice twice before this weekend, and it showed. The Purple Eagles looked ill-prepared to take on an ACC opponent. with countless errors from misplaying fly balls to booting ground balls across the diamond.
Miami took care of business in a dominant fashion. Across the three games, UM outscored Niagara by 32 runs, only being behind for a single inning. Pitching was in control from the start to the finish of each game, with the staff combining for 38 strikeouts on the weekend. The hitting followed suit, with 36 hits across the three games.
The balance of pitching and defense bodes well as Miami continues to prepare for higher-level competition.
Pair of Aces
Across all three games, each of the weekend starters delivered a promising performance, but the Saturday/Sunday pair of junior Griffin Hugus and redshirt junior Brian Walters impressed fans and scouts alike. The two combined for 21 strikeouts across 11 innings, carving up hitters as they pleased.
Hugus’ fastball delivered as advertised, a great rise that left hitters consistently under the ball and struggling at the plate. But as the game developed, he leaned on his offspeed, which proved equally as effective — a dominant display in his Hurricane debut.
“When your starter does a job the way Griffin did today, it makes everyone’s job a lot easier,” Arteaga said.
Walters initially struggled with command in his first inning, resulting in a run given up. But after that, he was completely dominant and efficient. His mid-90s sinker proved a problem for Niagara’s lineup, consistently generating swings and misses.
Both former relievers proved they could make it to the five-inning mark, which could be a sign of things to come for the talented pair.
Veteran Approach
With so many positives from opening weekend, the veteran approach across the series stood out. From a lineup with a great balance of righties and lefties to quality approaches at the plate, the squad projects to give opposing teams a headache when trying to gameplan.
Moreover, no one player solely carried the team throughout the weekend. From Tanner Smith connecting on multiple extra-base hits to Bobby Marsh dominating on Opening Day, going 4-for-4 at the plate, everyone in the lineup played a part in the success.
“We looked a lot at character and guys who will fit the culture we’re trying to build,” Arteaga said.
The culture looks to have truly shifted at The Light, but only time will tell how far this squad can go.
The Hurricanes travel upstate to Boca Raton to take on the Florida Atlantic Owls at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, hoping to continue their momentum from Opening Weekend.
Walters leads Miami baseball past Niagara to win final game of series, 11-1
Opening weekend for Miami has gone as good as can be so far, with total domination of the Niagara Purple Eagles in the first two games of the series, 14-2 on Friday and 10-0 on Saturday. It was no different for Miami in the final game of the series on Sunday.
The Hurricanes once again defeated the Purple Eagles in commanding fashion with a final score of 11-1 on Sunday afternoon. The game did not even last seven innings, since the ’Canes reached the 10-run lead mercy rule that both teams agreed upon prior to the game. In total, UM recorded 11 hits and seven walks on the offensive side of the ball while also notching 15 strikeouts with zero errors on the defensive end.
The first five innings were without a doubt the Brian Walters show. He got into some trouble in the first inning, giving up a run and two walks and had to fight his way out of a situation with the bases loaded. However, the redshirt junior was nothing but in control during the rest of his outing. In only five innings of play, Walters notched 10 strikeouts while only giving up one run, two walks and three hits. All except for one hit came in the first inning. Walters had a very strong outing for his first start in his injury-riddled career as a ’Cane so far, which also became his first-ever win.
The rest of the team had a top-tier outing as well. Niagara’s 1-0 lead, which came from a single by junior Shawn Cameron that brought in junior Nate Milk, had a short lifespan after the Hurricanes tied it up following a single by senior Dorian Gonzalez Jr. that brought freshman Michael Torres into score.
The second inning went almost as quickly as it could be for both teams. In the top half of the inning, Miami’s fielders did not have to move a muscle since Walters struck out the side. However, the Hurricanes were not able to capitalize on their starter’s 1, 2, 3 inning because the Purple Eagles managed to get three straight outs of their own.
The top of the third inning kept the defensive trend running as UM notched another three-straight outs. The trend ended in the bottom half of the inning, as the Hurricanes notched three runs to give themselves a 4-1 advantage. The first of which came in the form of a Gonzalez double that brought freshman Brandon DeGoti, who made his first career start, in to score. The other two runs came off a single from senior Wichita State transfer Derek Williams that brought in junior UNC Greensboro transfer Jake Ogden and Gonzalez.
The top of the fourth inning went pretty much the same way the last two innings had gone for the ’Canes defense, as they recorded yet another three straight outs, two of which came in the form of Walters strikeouts. From innings two through four, the Hurricanes recorded 12 straight outs. As for the bottom of the inning, the Purple Eagles replaced their starting pitcher freshman Nate Bennett, who had thrown 57 pitches while giving up four runs in three innings of work, for sophomore Jack Dickinson. Dickinson’s outing went south almost as soon as it began, giving up a home run to DeGoti. This was his first career homer as well as the first batter Dickinson faced in the game to give the ’Canes a 5-1 lead.
Things for Dickinson just got even worse from there, as Torres showcased his top-tier speed – first in the form of his first career double, then in the form of scoring off of a sacrifice fly from fellow freshman Ethan Puig, who came in to pinch hit for Gonzalez, who left the game with a non-serious injury, to make the lead 6-1.
Even more, Torres did not score from third base, where most sacrifice fly scores take place from, as he scored all the way from second base. The Puig sac fly was the only out Dickinson managed to tally, as he was replaced soon after by junior submarine-style pitcher Johnny Montgomery, who recorded the final two outs of the inning.
In his fifth and final inning of work, Walters stayed hot, allowing only one hit while he struck out the other three batters he faced. The Hurricanes’ offense kept the scoring train running in the bottom half of the inning, as they tacked on another two runs to increase their lead to 8-1. The first of the two scores came by way of a wild pitch by Montgomery, which brought in Williams from third base. The second run was scored by senior Oregon State transfer Tanner Smith, who came home after a fielding error.
With Walters’ day of work finished, the Hurricanes brought in freshman left-hander Michael Fernandez for his first career pitching appearance. Fernandez recorded three straight outs, two by way of strikeouts. The lead just kept growing for the ’Canes, as two more runs came in on a double from graduate student Penn State transfer Bobby Marsh to make the score 10-1.
For the seventh and final inning, Miami brought in sophomore Fordham transfer Brixton Lofgren to replace Fernandez. Lofgren struck out the side. In the bottom half of the inning, the final run that caused the 10-run lead rule to go into effect came from a single by freshman Fabio Peralta, who came into the game to be a pinch runner in the sixth inning. The win went to Walters for his first of the season, and the loss went to Bennett, the first for him in the young season as well.
Miami finished its opening weekend undefeated and started the season with a 3-0 record. For their next matchup, the ’Canes will travel to Boca Raton to face the Florida Atlantic Owls in a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Hurricanes MBB fights against Pitt, falls late 74-65
Coming off its statement win against the Syracuse Orange, Miami looked to snag another victory at Pitt. As the Hurricanes have played more team basketball as of late, they showed a strong showing against the Panthers. However, late in the game, poor defense and good ball movement from Pitt allowed them to seal a 74-65 win. This loss for Miami minimizes its chances of sneaking into the ACC tournament as they hoped to go on a bit of a run following the win versus Syracuse.
Even with the loss, select Hurricanes players put up good numbers. Graduate center Lynn Kidd put up 16 points on 5-6 shooting. He also boasted 15 rebounds, 10 on the defensive boards. After a zero-point performance against Syracuse, senior forward Brandon Johnson tossed up 12 points going 4-9 from the field. A.J. Staton-McCray, the redshirt junior, tallied 13 points going 3-6 from downtown.
After Lynn Kidd won the tip, both teams started sloppily with turnovers and missed shots in the first two minutes. Pitt (15-10, 6-8 ACC) hit the scoring column first on a Cameron Corhen hook shot. Corhen, the junior guard, would play a pivotal role in his team’s victory, scoring 17 points.
Shortly after, Miami’s (6-19, 2-12 ACC) freshman guard Divine Ugochukwu would use his speed to drive to the basketball for the easy layup.
This marked the beginning of a competitive first half. Each team would trade buckets, but Pitt would have the slight advantage, leading as much as seven and as little as one throughout the half. Amsel Delalić, the Pitt freshman guard, would bury a deep three-pointer right before the first-half buzzer sounded. Delalić would go on to score his career-high 14 points. With 20 down and 20 to go Pitt was up 32-30.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were eerily similar to the first. Pitt steadily led, but Miami was in striking distance thanks to the 12-point 2nd half effort of Lynn Kidd. Miami had chances to tighten the gap or even take the lead if they didn’t shoot the three-ball at 11% (2-11) clip.
In the last five minutes, you could see the Hurricanes slow down and wear out, something that has been an issue in many games past. This resulted in Pitt seizing a favorable advantage down the stretch. Pitt would bring the lead to as much as 11 and win by nine, 74-65.
Miami will look to get back on track as they face off against an in-state rival, Florida State, in Tallahassee on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 9 p.m. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
Miami WBB snubbed by rival Seminoles in 83-82 loss
The Miami Hurricanes played their hearts out Sunday afternoon in an age-old faceoff with the Florida State Seminoles, falling 83-82 at their home court in Coral Gables, Fla.
Coming off of three losses prior to this matchup, the Hurricanes needed this win in order to establish themselves as a threat in ACC play. While the Seminoles (20-6, 10-4 ACC) snuck out the win, Miami (13-12, 3-11 ACC) gave its all in the game and demonstrated that it could compete with such a strong team.
For much of the first quarter, each possession became a scoring battle between the ’Canes and the ’Noles. Haley Cavinder, who was honored before the game for scoring her 2,500th career point this past Thursday, continued to provide for Miami by putting up 27 points and tallying seven assists.
While UM remained hot on the Seminoles’ heels for much of the game, it truly came to life in the fourth quarter, where the team went on a 10-point scoring run and briefly took the lead.
With 3.3 seconds left on the clock and the Hurricanes down by 1 with possession of the ball, Hanna Cavinder dished the ball to Natalija Marshall. She kicked it out to Cameron Williams for a last-second shot, but it did not fall and the ’Canes were left with the loss.
Although Williams missed what would have been the game-winning shot in the paint, head coach Tricia Cullop stated that the loss was not on her but instead a compilation of small but impactful team errors.
“We did things throughout the whole game,” Cullop said. “It just happened to be the last play.”
One huge problem for the Hurricanes throughout the game was Florida State guard O’Mariah Gordon. She put on her best performance of the season, dropping a career-high 34 points and leading her team with seven assists.
Miami had several standout performances throughout the game, including the presence of freshman Ahnay Adams.
“She continues to put herself in harm’s way so we could have a chance to win games,” Cullop said about Adams. “She’s a big part of our future.”
Miami looks to gain more ACC wins under its belt with upcoming games against No. 2 Notre Dame and Wake Forest on February 20 and 22, respectively.
Miami secures opening day victory, pummels Niagara 14-2
On opening night at Mark Light Field, the Miami Hurricanes gave their fans something to cheer for, scoring 13 runs in four innings, hammering the Niagara Purple Eagles on Friday night 14-2.
UM held a 3-0 lead through three innings. In the fourth inning, the wheels fell off for the Purple Eagles. After securing two outs from the first two batters, Niagara’s fielding faltered.
With two runners on, NU second baseman Tyler ViVacqua let the ball hit from Max Galvin go underneath his glove, scoring Dorian Gonzalez Jr. and giving UM a 4-0 lead. ViVacqua’s error was the first of five errors in the inning.
“Niagara is a better team than they played tonight,” Miami coach J.D. Arteaga said. “I think this might be their second day outside after yesterday.”
The fourth inning ended with the Hurricanes scoring 10 runs, one earned, on six hits and four walks. 14 UM batters got to the plate, 12 of them with two outs.
With the help of poor fielding from Niagara, the Miami offense put up a clinic at the plate. All nine Hurricane starters got on base, scoring 14 runs on 12 hits before getting pulled in the sixth inning.
Penn State transfer designated hitter Bobby Marsh had himself a day in his Miami debut. The graduate student went 4-for-4, tallying two doubles and bringing in four runners in the process.
“We don’t call him Bobby Barrels for nothing,” Miami starting pitcher Nick Robert said.
With two runners on and two outs, UM freshman center fielder Michael Torres brought home his first base hit and RBI of his collegiate career, smacking a single up the middle. The Miami native’s first career hit was the Hurricanes’ first run of the 2025 campaign.
In the bottom of the third, Marsh went opposite field for his second hit of the night, a double into the left-center field gap, sending Gonzalez and Derek Williams to the plate.
Robert made his starting pitching debut for Miami on Friday. In five innings, the sophomore struck out four batters, surrendering four hits and one run.
The Stuart, Fla. native spent his freshman season filling in all the bullpen needs for the Hurricanes, appearing in a team-high 29 games. In 2025, the sophomore is slated to be the Friday night starter for the season.
“He’s [Nick Robert] throwing Friday nights as we knew he could handle it,” Arteaga said. “The only reason he wasn’t there last year was because we needed him in the bullpen.”
NU’s Friday starter Gage Wheaton struggled finding the zone against the UM offense. The sophomore from western New York finished his debut going three innings, allowing three runs on four hits, tallying three strikeouts and three walks. On 60 pitches, Wheaton threw 31 for a strike.
Niagara came into the 2025 season ranked fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach’s Poll. The Purple Eagles are coming off their best season in program history, making the NCAA Regional for the first time. NU also won its first MAAC regular season title since 1997, finishing the season 38-17 and 20-4 in conference play.
Miami looks to take the opening series against the Niagara Purple Eagles with the second of three games at Mark Light Field. Cincinnati transfer Griffin Hugus is slated to toe the slab in Coral Gables against Niagara’s Matthew DelVecchio. Saturday’s matchup will take place at 6 p.m.