News@TheU will be sharing photos and video and nuggets of insights throughout the College Football Playoff run by the Miami Hurricanes. First stop, College Station, Texas, on Dec. 20. Result: Hurricanes 10; Texas A&M Aggies 3. Next stop, Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Miami vs. Ohio State. Check back here early and often for updates.
Blog posts capturing what is happening on the ground, what Hurricane fans are saying, and the overall atmosphere will be found on this page.
Photos and videos from our multimedia team will be featured in this College Football Playoff report.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Canes ride Fletcher, defense to CFP road win
Riding a career day from running back Mark Fletcher, Jr., and a masterclass by their defense, the Canes defeated Texas A&M 10-3 on a windswept prairie Saturday before a crowd of 104,122 at Kyle Field.
Saturday Dec. 20
An Epic Day
Brandon Hechtman has been going to Hurricanes football games since he was in his mother’s womb, he jokes.
But it may be true. Hechtman, who graduated from the University in 2007, attends most home football games, as he did with his parents growing up in Miami. Now, he brings his 10-year-old son, Solomon. The pair stood among the section of 3,000-plus Hurricane fans on Saturday and rarely sat down throughout the tense game. They even watched the final interception that sealed the victory for the Canes—right in front of their section.
“It was epic,” said Hechtman, who stayed until well after the end of the game with his son, and some other friends from Miami. Then, they took the three-hour drive back to their hotel in Houston. “After the game, we high fived all the players and waited until the event staff told us we had to leave.”
He was still reveling in the day’s incredible win against the Aggies on Saturday night.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for over 20 years, and now I get to share it with my son, so it was pretty cool,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hechtman already booked tickets for his family of five to attend the Cotton Bowl in just 11 days. He is confident the Canes will be able to overcome the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“You can’t be better at defense than not letting the other team score a touchdown,” he said. “We had a great time today, and we can’t wait for the Canes to win the National Championship.”
—Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Saturday, Dec. 20
A Family Affair
When lifelong Canes fan Joshua Tacher, 21, learned the Hurricanes would be in the College Football Playoff, he knew it was a potential victory he did not want to miss. Tacher, who grew up driving to Canes games with his father from their Fort Lauderdale home, loves the friendly atmosphere at Hurricane football games and now considers himself a “die hard Canes fan.”
“It’s the best fan base in the world,” said Tacher, who is a student at Florida State University, but proudly dons his Canes gear on a regular basis, despite the heckling.
While he didn’t have to convince his father Jack to come to College Station, Tacher was glad he could also celebrate the win with his mother Arlene, his three siblings, and his grandfather Sabeto Maya, who decided to join them on the trip to Texas and enjoyed the electricity at Kyle Field.
“It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Tacher said. “Obviously, I hope it’s not, and that there are many more playoff games to come, but it was the biggest game in my life...and everything I heard about Kyle Field was that it was a very memorable environment, so when I heard the Canes would be playing a playoff game here, it was a no brainer.”
He said the Aggies put up a good fight and are a strong team, but the current Hurricanes roster was just a bit more talented.
“The Canes showed a lot of resilience and the ability to win in any environment today,” he said. “Texas A&M is a great team, and when you can play against a great team and win, that can only really help you.”
Tacher believes they might even make it to the National Championship, which is hosted in Miami this year. His immediate family is already talking about heading back to Texas for the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31, possibly with his grandfather. He is eager to see them win again.
“We have playmakers all over the offense, and I think we have the best defense in the country,” said Tacher.
For now, Tacher is just glad he could share the incredible win with his family, and especially his dad, who introduced him to Hurricanes football. They were able to watch the last interception from their seats right above the end zone.
“When we won today, it was surreal to be with my dad,” he said. “it’s something I’ll never forget.”
—Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Saturday, Dec. 20
Tailgate fun
Canes fans showed up for Saturday's tailgate party. Plenty of anticipation, fun, and a bunch of U's.
-- Photos: Joshua Prezant/University of Miami
Saturday, Dec. 20
An Aggieland connection
President George H.W. Bush may have selected Texas A&M University in College Station as the site of his presidential library and museum, but the 41st president of the United States also had a strong affinity for the University of Miami.
He also honored the Miami Hurricanes’ 1989 and 1991 national championship football teams at the White House. During the 1989 visit, Bush noted Miami’s reputation for producing NFL-ready quarterbacks such as Jim Kelly, Bernie Kosar, and Vinny Testaverde, saying, “No wonder they call it Quarterback U.”
Bush is buried next to his wife Barbara behind his presidential library.
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Six minutes to shine
Give the University of Miami’s Frost Band of the Hour six minutes, and they’ll give you Lady Gaga, the Backstreet Boys, and Bruno Mars.
Such is the popular music the band will perform during halftime of the Hurricane football team’s first-round college football playoff game against Texas A&M on Saturday. “Our greatest hits from this past season,” said Craig McKenzie, director of athletic bands at the Frost School of Music.
That’s a lot to pack into 360 seconds, the amount of time allotted to the band to perform on Kyle Field during the mid-game break. But its band members are ready and finetuned for the challenge—from the tubas and trumpets to the snares and saxophones.
“If there’s one thing we’ve tried to bring to this band, it’s been a sense of energy and entertainment,” McKenzie said of the efforts he and associate director of athletic bands Sheldon McLean have put into improving the famous Band of the Hour.
“We want to make sure that the show we put on each week is different than the one before, that we're connecting with our Miami audience, from the alumni that went to school here decades ago down to the kids who are looking to come to the U in the future and everybody in between.”
The Band of the Hour will so perform at the University’s Official Pregame Celebration outside Kyle Field before the start of the team’s showdown with the Aggies, with Sebastian this Ibis and University cheerleaders also making appearances.
But it’s the chance to strut their stuff in front of a capacity crowd that will put the Frost Band of the Hour to the test come Saturday. Their halftime performance will be a battle of the bands of sorts, as they’ll take to the field ahead of the nationally famous Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, a unit composed of more than 400 members.
“They’ve got that 12th man tradition there,” McKenzie said. “So, we’ll be bringing our own voice, making sure we’re doing everything we can to support our team.”
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
Saturday, Dec. 20
A Canes fan since birth
Hurricane orange and green have been infused in Kara Mencia's DNA since birth. A first year health and science major at the University of Miami, she comes from a family of multiple Cane grads.
“I guess you could say I’ve been a Hurricanes football fan since birth,” Mencia said. “So, when the opportunity came up to attend the U’s football game against Texas A&M , it was a no-brainer.”
She secured a ticket to the first-round CFP game and traveled solo to College Station, where she’ll watch the matchup with friends and classmates, rooting for and showing their support for the Hurricanes from the stands of Kyle Field.
But Mencia’s support for the Canes runs deeper than just attending football games. She works tirelessly as a member of the Student Government entity Category 5, producing still photography, videos, and social media content focused on preserving the traditions related to sports and spirit at the University.
Her favorite Miami Hurricane football player?
“Malachi Toney, without a doubt,” she said. “He is the representation of both true talent and true heart, showing that even the best of the best can remain humble and down to earth.”
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
Saturday, Dec. 20
A Canes couple
John and Joyce Sundman drove from Winter Springs, Florida, to cheer on their Miami Hurricanes. Both John and Joyce grew up in Miami, but John started going to Canes games around 7 years old with his dad and quickly grew up as a self-proclaimed “Gator hater.” Now, as Hurricanes season ticket holders, the couple makes the trip down to South Florida for every home game.
They couldn’t miss the Hurricanes first College Football Playoff game in years, and were visiting the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library on Friday afternoon in College Station. It was the second time they have visited Texas A&M University to attend a Canes game, and the Canes beat the Aggies the last time, so John is feeling good about his team's odds today.
“We’re looking forward to the game and coming out of there with a victory,” John said. “It’s been a while, but it’s great to be here.”
They expect to be back in the Lone Star State for New Year’s Eve, when the Hurricanes could face the Ohio State Buckeyes (should they win this weekend). However, the Sundman's are also aware of the fact that the Miami cheering section may be dwarfed by Aggies fans.
“We’re definitely going to have to step up our game as far as yelling and being rowdy,” Joyce said.
John added: “We won’t be able to talk afterwards.”
-- Joshua Prezant
Friday, Dec. 19
THE fan
He was just 17 years old when a friend invited Freddy Vazquez to a Hurricanes game. It was his first football game, and he can still vividly recall the electricity inside the Orange Bowl. After that, Vazquez became a loyal Canes fan, whose creative attire has now earned him the moniker, “CaneFreak.”
“I was at the west end zone of the Orange Bowl, when I saw players come out of the tunnel with their helmets and it inspired me to do something,” he said. “I was an Oakland Raiders fan and got the idea from watching their fans that I could do it too, so I picked up things little by little and then went crazy.”
Today, Vazquez attends every football game each season, and regularly roams Hard Rock Stadium at home games, visiting thousands of fans who summon him over to take a photo with them. Vazquez also has 10 tattoos, all featuring some Canes symbolism, like Sebastian the Ibis, or the split U. For his spirit and loyalty to the Canes, Vazquez was named 2025 Canes Fan of the Year last month.
“It’s because of the fans that I enjoy it,” he said. “They go crazy when they see me. I’ve taken 2,500 pictures in a game. They keep bringing me back, no matter what the circumstances are.”
A South Florida native, Vazquez now lives in Tampa but still drives to every game. He spent 18 hours driving to attend the College Football Playoff in College Station and is looking forward to all the revelry that comes with the playoffs. He said it means so much for the Canes to be on this national stage.
“Not just for team but for the fan base and the school, everyone watching tomorrow will know the U is back,” he said. “We’re getting there and it won’t be too long before we get there.
Of course, Vazquez brought his massive getup to Texas, including his signature orange and green mask and Sebastian hat, along with orange and green shoulder, leg, and knee pads. Tomorrow, he is set to be on College GameDay, which includes a 6 a.m. wake up call, and Vazquez will don his personalized jersey he received at the recent Homecoming game in Miami.
Tomorrow, his friends and other loyal Canes fans Alan Hernandez and Derek Coe will be cheering on the Canes along with Vazquez. He predicts a close game tomorrow, but believes his Canes may edge out the Aggies.
“It’s going to be a close game, but I think our defense will show off the Aggies,” he said.
-- Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Friday, Dec. 19
Kyle Field
This place will look a whole lot different tomorrow.
Friday, Dec. 19
Father, son to cheer on Canes
Corey Krentsa and his son Calvin Krensta, 13, traveled to College Station from Celina, Texas outside of Dallas. Krentsa grew up in Hollywood, attending Hurricanes games at Joe Robbie Stadium, which has been renamed Hard Rock Stadium.
Both were excited to check out Kyle Field, which seats more than 100,000, and to visit the ESPN College GameDay experience on the campus of Texas A&M University.
“We are getting ready to root the Canes on. We don’t get to see them often in our backyard here in Texas, so we are really excited to see them here in our state,” Corey Krentsa said.
Since he was a child, the elder Krentsa has been a devoted Canes fan, attending many home games in South Florida, but fewer since he moved to Texas. He is excited to share the experience with his son Calvin tomorrow.
“I’ve passed on the traditions to him, and Calvin has become a huge Canes fan, so we are living out these memories together, which is awesome,” Krentsa said.
— Joshua Prezant, photo and text
Friday, Dec. 19
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Friday, Dec. 19
Stifling the noise at Kyle Field
Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, where the Miami Hurricanes will take on the Aggies Saturday, is one of the loudest stadiums in college football.
It seats more than 100,000 fans, with noise levels often surpassing 120 decibels, making it difficult for opposing players to hear their teams offensive signals.
Here are our top 5 methods for silencing the intense decibels at Kyle Field.
— Robert C. Jones Jr.
Thursday, Dec. 18
A diehard Canes fan for life
As Gerard Loisel tells it, the 1970s were “the rough years” for University of Miami football. That’s when the victories were few and the bowl appearances rare.
But even through the lean years, Loisel, a 1976 graduate of the U who majored in biology, remained loyal to the Canes, rounding up his friends on Saturdays and hopping aboard a bus bound for the Orange Bowl for Hurricane home games.
“Always been a big fan,” he said Thursday, sporting a Miami leather jacket as he stood at gate D20 inside Miami International Airport, just a few minutes before boarding an American Airlines flight for Houston, Texas. From there, he plans to make the two-hour drive to College Station to cheer on his beloved Canes as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the college football playoffs.
“What an incredible run they’ve had this year,” Loisel said of the 10-2 Canes.
No matter the outcome, Saturday’s game at Kyle Field will be another memorable one for Loisel, who sat in the Orange Bowl stands back in January 1984 when Miami defeated Nebraska to win its first national championship.
The New York-born Loisel is the personification of a diehard Hurricanes fan, attending every Miami away game for the past 26 years, save for two—an away game played just after 9/11 and another game that fell on the wedding day of his goddaughter.
The former president of the University of Miami’s Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, he will tailgate on Saturday with friends who are part of the fan club Canes United.
Then he’ll watch the game. “Miami’s much better than people think they are,” said the retired college professor. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they go deep into the playoffs.”
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
Thursday, Dec. 18
The Power of Advertising
When ESPN’s College GameDay aired live from the University of Miami campus for the Hurricane football team’s matchup against the Florida Gators in September, the broadcast provided the U’s storied football program with unprecedented exposure.
Now, the 10-2 Canes, heading into their first-round college football playoff game against the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday, are enjoying exposure of a different sort—in the form of special ads throughout Miami International Airport that trumpet the team’s success.
“It’s all about the U,” read the colorful orange and green ads, which feature the ever-popular split U and an image of electrifying Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney.
“The ads are running airport wide, at all gates and on TV screens throughout all terminals and concourses,” said Richard Etienne, section chief of the marketing and creative services division in the Miami-Dade Aviation Department’s Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
“The love for the U will be ubiquitous throughout the airport,” Etienne added.
The ads are being featured at the airport through Sunday, and should the Hurricanes advance to the next round of the playoffs—a Cotton Bowl matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 31–“our plan is to go all out with new and even better ads,” said Charisse Lopez-Mason, assistant vice president for marketing and communications at the University of Miami, who collaborated with the aviation department and Miami Athletics to get the ads out.
“When the basketball team reached the Final Four, we did something similar with the aviation department, working with them on ads to support the Canes,” Lopez-Mason said. “We hope this is habit forming.”
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
