News@TheU will be sharing photos and video and nuggets of insights throughout the College Football Playoff run by the Miami Hurricanes. Second round: The Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31 as Miami takes on Ohio State in Arlington, Texas. First round: Miami defeated Texas A&M 10 to 3 on Dec. 20 in College Station, Texas.
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 at the Cotton Bowl will be featured in this report.
Look back at our multimedia content from College Station in this report.
Look back at our Dispatches from College Station.
Note: No. 10 Miami improved to 12-2, advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
We’re on cloud nine
Long-time Miami fans Susan, Jason, and daughter Kaylani Rodriguez were gushing with excitement minutes after the Canes took down the No.2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 24-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
“I still can’t process the feeling, just unbelievable,” said Jason.
“Epic, unforgettable experience, no lie,” added Susan.
The family, natives of Miami, flew out for the game with their 15-year-old son and to share the Cotton Bowl experience with their older daughter Tiffany, a sophomore studying business administration at the University and a member of the Frost Band of the Hour Color Guard.
With Tiffany performing with the Color Guard, the family attends a good number of Canes games, but this was one of the best ever, the Rodriguezes agreed.
“It was so amazing, we’re still on cloud nine,” said Susan. “We fly back to Miami on Friday, but now we’re trying to see if we can go to Arizona,” where the Canes will take on their next opponent in a College Football Playoff semifinals game.
Wednesday, Dec. 31
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Wednesday, Dec. 31
Keep up the pressure and finish strong
With the Canes up 14-0 over the Buckeyes at halftime, Amuni Logan, whooping and backslapping with Miami friends as they walked the passageways of the AT&T Stadium, could barely contain his enthusiasm.
Logan, who graduated from the U in 2010 with a major in business technology and minor in computer science, now lives in Dallas and was reunited with George Bermudez and other friends from his time at the University and living in Miami.
Originally from Minnesota, Logan spent four years studying at the U, then returned to Minnesota for two years before moving to Dallas a year ago “for work and a change of pace.”
I’m so excited, got to keep it up. Second half, finish strong. Keep up the tempo and the pressure. That’s how I feel,” he said.
His friend Bermudez, wearing a Canes jersey with “Baby Jesus” etched on the back, echoed the enthusiasm.
“I started watching the Canes at the Orange Bowl when I was 10—and I’m 41 now,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this for 20 years.”
-- Michael R. Malone
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Game ready
Gathering for the game, from left, alumni Eric McAlpin; Devang Desai, past president of the University of Miami Alumni Association; Darren Dupriest, current president of the University of Miami Alumni Association; and Reagan Dupriest, current graduate student, inside AT&T Stadium before the Cotton Bowl. Photo: Courtesy of Darren Dupriest
Wednesday, Dec. 31
A birthday treat for dad
Ernie Parish, who graduated in 1988 with a degree in criminal justice and played football for several years, is celebrating his 60th birthday in a big way—rooting on the Canes in their quest to roll onward in the College Football Playoff.
Parish, his wife Traci, and daughter Mourgan, live in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and arrived on a flight Tuesday from Ft. Lauderdale. They were among the throng of Canes fans gathered on an upper platform of AT&T Stadium for the University Alumni Official Pregame Celebration.
“He was born on Christmas Eve, so this is a big birthday trip and celebration,” Traci explained.
Parish played high school football at Southridge High under legendary coach Don Soldinger and was regarded as one of the premier players in South Florida at the time. Coach Jimmy Johnson tapped Soldinger, who would go on to be inducted in the USports Hall of Fame in 2013, to be the linebackers and tight ends coach at the U in 1984; Parish and other players traveled with him to the U.
Parish played for several years at the U until a knee injury sidelined his playing time as a senior. He remembers his football days fondly.
“Those were good days, I made so many good friends,” he said. Among those good friends are Russell Maryland, who went on to star for 10 seasons in the NFL. The two remain good friends.
As an alumnus, Parish attends many of the Canes games. His “plus one” to attend was his wife Traci for many years, but more recently daughter Mourgan has become his principal companion.
The family was excited to be all together to root on the Canes in Dallas.
“They’ve got to play mistake-free football. Ohio State is a very good team. If they do, they can certainly win,” Parish said.
-- Michael R. Malone
Wednesday Dec. 31
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Wednesday, Dec. 31
Ambassador on hand to root for the Canes
University alumnus Bernardo “Bernie” Navarro, who in January assumes the role of U.S. ambassador to Peru, took a detour to Dallas with his family to cheer on his alma mater in their showdown with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Born and raised in Miami, Navarro graduated from the U in 1994 with an undergraduate degree in international finance and marketing. He later earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree in government from Harvard University.
Navarro, a seasoned entrepreneur, civic leader—he is a former chair of the board of trustees at Miami Dade College—and nationally recognized expert in the fields of real estate finance, development, and economic recovery, is the founder of a private equity firm.
“There’s a lot going on in Peru,” Navarro said, “so we want to make sure we’re at the forefront and that our bilateral relations remain strong.”
Navarro explained that he lives half the year in Miami, half the year in Puerto Rico, and in January will move with his wife, a Peruvian American, and their three children to Lima, Peru, for his new post.
Navarro and his family were among the many Canes fans, friends, and families staying at the team hotel in the Dallas area in anticipation of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on New Year's Eve against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
As for the football Canes, he watches the games whenever he can. And though they’re an underdog against the Buckeyes, the No. 1 ranked team for most of the year, Navarro is confident about their chances.
“I think we’re going to do excellent, we’re going to go all the way,” he predicted.
-- Michael R. Malone
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Canes in Palm Beach celebrate
When M David Paolini was a student at the University of Miami, the Hurricanes were on a winning streak, and most seasons went undefeated. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in electrical engineering, and since then the football team’s glory days have been less frequent, but he thinks the Canes are headed for success again.
“It was this period with these great coaches and lots of incredible players,” he said. “I’d love to see that happen again, and if we can’t do it next year, I think we ‘ll do it the year after. We will get to the point where we will go undefeated.”
Paolini, who is president of the Palm Beach Canes Community, is excited that his team will be hosting three watch parties tonight for the more than 11,000 University alumni in Palm Beach County. They will all be held at different locations of Duffy’s Sports Grill.
For the Texas A&M game recently, one of the locations had a restaurant full of Canes fans decked out in their gear.
“Just the opportunity to be at this level in playoffs, everyone is over the moon,” he said. “In 2003, we played Ohio State and lost in overtime, and now we are the underdogs, but hopefully we will rally and win, so everybody is excited for this particular game.”
Paolini got involved with his local Canes Community about five years ago, first serving as a member-at-large, then secretary, and rose to become president about a year ago. He said after raising his children, he wanted to give back to the University more.
“I am who I am because of the U, and I mean that in terms of education and activities I was involved in,” he said.
He’ll be spending New Year’s Eve at the south location, hoping to celebrate with his fellow Canes fans.
-- Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Wednesday, Dec. 31
On the brink of redemption
Gloria Golden, a third generation Cane, has been waiting a long time for redemption. It’s been more than 20 years, in fact, since the infamous “phantom” interference call in the end-zone that gave Ohio State a double-overtime win over Miami in the 2002 title game that ended Miami’s 34-game winning streak.
“We’re so excited for the rematch New Year’s Eve in the Cotton Bowl. There’s been a lot of frustration built up over the years,” said Golden, who graduated from the U in 2009 with a degree in what-was-then exercise physiology.
Golden and her family, husband Jeff, and children Jacob, 2, and Clara, 4, were among the Canes fans who packed the Dallas Alumni Canes Community Pre-Game celebration on Tuesday, held at a popular sports venue near the AT&T Stadium.
Patricia Whitely, senior vice president for student affairs and alumni engagement, welcomed Canes fans from near and far who enjoyed complimentary light bites and exclusive giveaways. Several former Canes football stars joined the event, sharing memories of the Canes glory days as they pumped up the crowd.
Golden’s mother, Kimberly Jacobson, who graduated in 1983 with a biology degree, was with the family at the event, as well.
“We had season tickets for all those years when we lived in Pembroke Pines, and Gloria was attending football games since she was 4,” explained Jacobson, whose brother and sister also graduated from the U.
Golden moved to Fort Worth, Texas, after attending graduate school for family and work. The distance from Miami hasn’t diminished her enthusiasm for the Canes in the least.
“We watch all the games and are always rooting for the Canes,” she said. Almost as an affirmation, 2-year-old Jacob quipped “Go Canes!”
“We don’t have a good track record in Texas, but the win against Texas A&M in the first round helped undo that. Now we’re looking to undo our track record against Ohio State,” she added.
Golden stays in touch with friends from her study days at the U; some have become professors there, she noted. She returned to Miami last year for the first time in several years and toured the campus as part of her visit.
“We loved the upgrades and there are so many new buildings—it’s really amazing what’s happened on campus,” said Golden.
-- Michael R. Malone
Wednesday, Dec. 31
‘Hard work, dedication, and a love of the band’
Atop the director’s platform, assistant drum major Devin Thomas is resplendent in his gleaming white uniform, shiny boots, and plumed faux-fur busby hat. Thomas raises his white-gloved hands to command attention, gives a toot on his whistle, and the University Band of the Hour responds with a burst of sound.
The “Battle of the Bands”—staged just outside AT&T Stadium on a sunny Dallas Tuesday afternoon—was one of the many events for fans attending the Cotton Bowl Classic on New Year’s Eve. For the competition, the Miami and Ohio State bands are assembled side by side and, on a judge’s cue, take turns trading tunes to impress and enliven their respective fans.
The winner will be announced at the game. And while the Ohio State band was significantly larger in terms of numbers and musicians, the Band of the Hour more than held its own in terms of performance, volume, and vitality.
“We’re doing great, bringing the sound and the energy—we’re really giving it back,” said Thomas, who, whether atop the podium or awaiting the next tune, seemed to pulsate with melodious joy. “These are the songs that we love to play; we’re the soundtrack of Miami.”
A Hammond Scholar and Foote Fellow Honors Student, Thomas is pursuing a degree in architectural engineering with minors in civil engineering and architecture. He’s especially interested in sustainable land development and how integrated design can create more efficient and impactful built environment.
Thomas joined the band as a first-year playing the mellophone, a louder, front-facing substitute for the French horn. He advanced first to section leader, then shifted to train as a drum major.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to help the band,” he said. “And with lots of guidance and support and after a long audition process, I was awarded the position of assistant drum major.
He’s looking forward next year to possibly becoming the drum major.
“Hard work, dedication, and a love of the band—that’s what motivates me,” Thomas said.
This year, the Band of the Hour embarked on a new era with two dynamic leaders: director of athletic bands Craig McKenzie and associate director of bands Sheldon McLean, both doctoral graduates of the Frost School of Music.
-- Michael R. Malone
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Born to dance
When Kaelyn Burval steps onto the field at AT&T Stadium tonight, she will be fulfilling one of her dreams. Burval, who has been dancing since she was 2, and competing since she was 7, is a member of the Sunsations dance team. They build spirit on the field and the sidelines with the cheerleaders at every Hurricanes home game, and some away games, too.
“I’m so excited to dance at this stadium, I never thought that would happen,” said Burval, a junior from Nashville, Tennessee, whose aunt went to the University of Miami, and urged her to come to some games before deciding on a college.
Being a member of the Sunsations is a commitment, including more than 12 hours of practice each week at times and additional weightlifting, but Burval makes time for it because it is her passion. While half of her teammates practice in Miami for an upcoming competition, she was chosen along with 10 other members of the team to travel to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl this week, and is grateful for the opportunity.
“I’ve been competitively dancing my whole life and it’s a part of who I am now, so I knew I wanted to do it in college,” said Burval, who is studying finance and economics.
She has always looked up to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, as they are some of the most talented dancers in sports, and is excited to use their locker room this week at AT&T Stadium. She is also looking forward to meeting members of the Ohio State dance team, who are also phenomenal, Burval said.
“I’ve thought about auditioning for the Dallas Cowboys after college, so I’m really interested to be in that stadium and get a feel of what it would be like to be in that place,” she said. “Obviously, dancing in the Hard Rock has been very cool, but I know this one is even bigger.”
She is also interested to see the Buckeyes play as many members of Burval’s extended family are Ohio State alumni. She was even born in the state.
But regardless of the outcome tonight, Burval is eager to don her rhinestone uniform and white boots and run out on the field to cheer on the Canes. She is always glad to be representing the Hurricanes because of the positive energy present at Canes games.
“We’ve had a great season this year, and whether the team is doing poorly or great, the fans are very enthusiastic,” she said. “Everyone just loves the University of Miami, not only for the sports, but the actual school. Alumni bleed orange and green. Since joining the Sunsations, I’ve been to a lot of colleges, but UM students, faculty, staff, and alumni have so much spirit, so I love being on the field and being part of that.”
-- Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Wednesday, Dec. 31
I fell in love with football
Not long after she arrived in Miami from Cuba in 1969, Betty Fuentes hopped aboard a school bus that transported her from Shenandoah Elementary School to Key Biscayne K-8 to play a game of intramural flag football.
“From that moment, I fell in love with football and have been a fan ever since,” said Fuentes, who arrived in Dallas on an early morning flight from Tallahassee, Florida, together with her long-time friend Beth Bohanan.
In 1972 as the Miami Dolphins rolled to their perfect 17-0 season, Fuentes collected Miami Herald sports page covers of all her favorite pro team’s games. Her pigskin allegiance shifted slightly when in 1981 she watched the Hurricanes, directed by future Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, upset the then No. 1-ranked Penn State on Halloween Night in the historic Orange Bowl.
Now the two friends travel whenever they can to watch the Canes. This year they’ve seen the Canes win over the University of Florida and Florida State.
And though the Canes are pegged as a 9.5-point underdog, the two women are excited for Miami’s chances against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on New Year’s Eve.
“If they play well—and I think they will—they’re going to surprise Ohio State,” Fuentes suggested, adding that she thought the Buckeyes, though ranked No. 1 for most of the year, hasn’t faced a team this year of Miami’s caliber.
Fuentes believes her favorite Cane player, defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, might well be the difference maker. “When Mesidor kicks down the door, it’s going to wreak havoc,” she said.
“But win or lose, it doesn’t really matter. I love this game,” Fuentes said.
The two friends were bustling off Tuesday to attend the University of Miami Dallas Alumni Canes Community Pre-Game at a sports venue near the stadium, one of the many events and activities scheduled for fans as part of the Cotton Bowl festivities.
-- Michael R. Malone
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Canes eager to give back
When her son Lincoln left home to attend the University of Miami, long-time Dallas resident Kristine Carroll felt a need to do something that might help fill the void of his absence. She spent some time searching online and landed on the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).
The NTFB, a 240,000-square-foot food pantry just north of Dallas that served 116 million meals this past year, was abuzz with volunteers like Carroll Tuesday morning for the “Dallas Canes: Cotton Bowl Service Project.”
Several hundred volunteers from Miami’s Alumni Association and The Ohio State University teamed up to serve Dallas families facing food insecurity, helping to pack fresh produce and food boxes for seniors and children in the local community.
“From the first time I came to volunteer, I just thought this place was so amazing. What they do and how they have it so structured—I love how this is put together,” said Carroll, who’s excited to have her son home—Lincoln just completed his first semester at the U—for the holidays. Together with her husband, they’ll attend the Hurricanes-Buckeyes quarterfinal playoff game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on New Year’s Eve.
Carroll volunteers at least once a week at NTFB. She scans the website and picks convenient time slot to volunteer. Tuesday morning she packed boxes with beans, canned vegetables, fruits, and proteins, pasta, instant milk, and more, but oftentimes her efforts will be devoted to unpacking crates of food delivered by local companies that become food care packages for local elementary children to take home on the weekends.
Texas is the most food insecure state in the country, and the Dallas area is the third most vulnerable urban center in the country, according to Elizabeth Campo, volunteer engagement coordinator for NTFB.
“Volunteering here is just something that I now love to do. And this morning is so special to have volunteers from both teams here, everybody working together to help—it’s really inspiring,” Carroll said.
Beau Bridges, who graduated from the U in 2021, was among the many alumni volunteers at NTFB participating in the service project. He and his girlfriend, Chamanta Hommes, a 2023 graduate, were busy filling boxes with needed food items.
Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Bridges attended the University and earned his degree in computer science. After graduation, he secured a first job with JPMorganChase in Dallas and has lived here since.
“It’s so important to give back and help others, especially during the holidays,” Bridges said. “I really enjoy the connections and the chance to honor the opportunity that I had to go to college and to get a degree from such a wonderful school. It’s all hospitality at the end of the day.”
Bridges and Hommes are excited to join Canes fans at AT&T Stadium to root on the team in their 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal showdown against Ohio State on New Year’s Eve.
-- Michael R. Malone
Tuesday, Dec. 30
‘Miami's my team now!’
The frothy image of Sebastian swirled atop Diana Byrd’s cappuccino is such an accurate depiction of the Canes mascot that you might think this barista has a long history of crafting such creative caffeinated delights. But she’s learned it almost overnight.
Byrd grew up in Destin in Florida’s Panhandle, though the Dallas area has been her home for the past 13 years. The company she works for, Coffee Caterers, is providing a kiosk in the Canes hospitality suite at the Grapevine, Texas, hotel where the team and many fans are lodging in anticipation of the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Most of her workmates are Texans and still smarting a bit from the fact that Miami bested their Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the playoffs. None were too excited about serving Canes fans, but Byrd, true to her Florida roots, jumped at the chance—and has found a new allegiance.
“I didn’t really have a favorite team before, but Miami’s my team now,” she said. “There’s such a good vibe here with the fans, and everybody has been so nice.”
Byrd learned the night before of her new assignment and was told she’d need to wear the Miami’s orange and green colors.
“Well, my mom just knitted me this orange beanie over the holidays, so it was perfect—I just happened to have an orange hat!”
-- Michael R. Malone
Tuesday, Dec. 30
First College Station, now Dallas
When Zev Gordman was growing up, there weren’t too many professional sports teams to follow in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
So Gordman quickly became a college football fan, and couldn't help but notice the Hurricanes because of their strong rivalry with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. When it was time to apply to colleges, Gordman made sure Miami was one of his choices, and since setting foot on campus, Gordman has become a devoted Canes fan.
“I was always following many college teams,” said Gordman, a senior studying finance and economics at the Miami Herbert Business School. “But when I committed to Miami, that’s when the real fandom started.”
As a freshman, he ran through the tunnel at Hard Rock Stadium. In October, Gordman made the 8-hour drive to Tallahassee for the game against Florida State University. He also got up before sunrise when ESPN College GameDay visited campus in late September. And a few weeks ago, Gordman was watching the College Football Playoff Selection Show when Miami was chosen, prompting him to run around his rental house screaming for joy and celebrating with his roommates. His mother Danielle has also become a Canes fan, and video called him as soon as Miami was chosen so they could enjoy the moment together.
“I told my mom if we make the playoffs, we need to go,” he said, adding that they planned to find their way to College Station soon after. “It was the only thing I wanted for my senior year.”
The two recently drove 13 hours from their Omaha home to attend the first playoff game in College Station. Now Gordman is in Dallas, and is thrilled to cheer on the Hurricanes in their second playoff appearance. He will be sitting in the student ticket section, along with friends from his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, and his business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi.
“Mom is letting me experience this one with my friends,” he said, but knows she will be watching from home on New Year’s Eve.
Despite the ups and downs over the past four years, Gordman is confident about the Canes chances against the Buckeyes.
“Ohio State is a very talented team and the coaches have a ton of experience, but if we make the right plays and execute, there’s no reason we shouldn’t win this game,” he said. “Our defensive line is great and we have the talent, but regardless, I’m just so happy to be here.”
-- Janette Neuwahl Tannen
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Hurricanes will play in a larger-than-life super structure that can be seen from outer space.
From the Katy Freeway in Houston, which boasts up to 26 lanes at its broadest point, to the Galveston Bay Refinery, which processes roughly 631,000 barrels of oil a day, everything really is bigger in Texas.
But if there’s any doubt, just take a gander at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where the Miami Hurricanes will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes Wednesday in the Cotton Bowl Classic, one of the quarterfinal matchups of the College Football Playoffs.
Everything about the stadium, one might say, is Texas-sized. Home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, the massive venue seats 80,000 people but can hold more than 100,000 with standing room areas, making it the league’s largest stadium by capacity.
The dome stadium features a retractable roof, art, and shopping. And with several interchangeable surface panels, it can accommodate events beyond football.
Even the price tag to build the enormous stadium was huge: $1.3 billion.
Here are some other big facts about the bigger-than-life stadium.
- When the stadium opened in 2009, its 4K video board was the largest in the world. Measuring 160 feet by 72 feet, the center-hung video board has 30 million light bulbs and 25,000 square feet of video displays.
- The 305-foot-tall Statue of Liberty would fit inside of it with the stadium’s roof closed.
- The structure can be seen from outer space, with satellite images of it having been captured by missions such as the European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-2.
- AT&T Stadium is as much a museum as it is a coliseum, as the art inside of the venue has been viewed more times than the art inside the Art Institute of Chicago.
The stadium will host nine matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But on Wednesday, when the Hurricanes take the field inside the enormous venue to battle the Buckeyes, the stakes will be among the biggest of all, with the winner advancing to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs.
-- Robert C. Jones Jr.
Tuesday, Dec. 30
So proud of these Canes!
Vanessa Suarez, who graduated in 2018 and is president of the Los Angeles/Orange County (LA/OC) Canes Community, couldn’t be prouder of the Canes team as they ready to take on Ohio State in their 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on New Year’s Eve at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“We should celebrate the game in its totality—and there’s so much to celebrate. I’m already so proud of what the team has achieved and how well the program has turned things around under Coach Mario (Cristobal),” said Suarez, who is traveling to Dallas to see the game with her husband, J.
Suarez balanced her academic work with leadership experience, serving as director of the Citizens Board while earning her degree in public relations with a minor in marketing. Following her graduation in 2018, she began freelancing and, in 2021, left her role at the University to focus on growing her marketing agency full-time, a decision that has fueled consistent growth in the years since.
Through her efforts with the LA/OC Canes Community and her professional work she’s gotten to know some of the players and coaches.
“This season has been such a reminder of how far the program has come and the momentum that’s been building over the past few years. I’m proud of this team, not just when they win, but for the work they put in every week. Losses are part of the game for every program, even the best ones. As fans and alumni, I believe our role is to support our players and coaches through the wins and the losses. That commitment doesn’t change based on the scoreboard, and it never will for me.”
Suarez generally attends at least one game a year in person and she’s excited to travel to Dallas for this one. While her husband is not an alum, Suarez says she can’t imagine anyone who could be a bigger Canes fan than him. In Dallas, they’ll take advantage of their stay to visit with his aunt and uncle who live in the area.
Suarez has spent the past year focused on continuing the strong sense of community her predecessor cultivated in Los Angeles, while also establishing and growing a Canes presence in Orange County.
“I’m proud to say that this past season, we hosted watch parties in both Los Angeles and Orange County for every game except the one that fell on Thanksgiving weekend,” said Suarez. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to meet so many alumni and friends of the University, and I’m excited to keep building awareness and momentum for our Orange County Canes community.
She has expanded the board by adding two Orange County members while preserving representation in Los Angeles, helping ensure consistent engagement and support for Canes events across both communities.
-- Michael R. Malone
Monday, Dec. 29
Expect a battle in the trenches
As president of the University’s spirit programming board Category 5, David Kuper is far from being an objective fan. He sees the Canes as the most “Sunday-ready team” in the country and is confident they’ll win the battle of the trenches in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, prove the betting predictions wrong, and beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in a close game.
“We’ve had our ups and downs this season, but when it truly counts and truly matters, they’ll show up like they did against Texas A&M,” said Kuper, who joined Category 5 as a sophomore and assumed the role of president this year.
“Miami has faced top-tier opponents throughout the season, and so we’re built for these moments. I have a lot of respect for Ohio State—they’re a great team, and it’s gonna be a great match up, not high scoring,” he added. “Maybe a final score of 13-10 or so, similar to our opening-season win against Notre Dame. It’s not going to be a blow-out by either team.”
Kuper, a senior majoring in legal studies and marketing and who’s looking ahead to law school, will be traveling to the game with his mom and dad—both long-time season ticket holders. Even before he was a student at the University, Kuper attended a lot of games with his dad. He’s attended most games with friends these past few years, so he’s glad to renew the ritual of attending with his parents.
He plans to be sitting in the student section at AT&T Stadium for the game, along with several hundred Canes student fans. With the game so far away and certain stadium restrictions in place, it’s been challenging coordinating Cat 5 events in Dallas, but Kuper hopes that, at the very least, students will have rally towels to show team spirit.
“We’re still trying to see what we can do, it’s challenging because it’s a neutral site and we can’t guarantee students sitting together. But, at the very least, we’re looking to get rally towels into the student section, but it’s still all very up in the air,” said Kuper, adding that for now there are some 20-30 rows dedicated for University students.
Kuper suggested the game will be won and lost in the battle of the offensive and defensive lines.
“The offensive and defensive line is where you win games. And it’s clear that Coach Mario Cristobal has put his focus on recruiting some of the best. With guys like [Francis] Mauigoa and now having [Akheem] Mesidor and [Anez] Cooper on both sides of the line, you can put anyone from Miami in there and know that they’re likely going to win that match-up, if not give a great fight.
“I think we’ve been hiding a bit of our offensive playbook, so I fully expect the coaches to expand that,” Kuper said.
-- Michael R. Malone
Monday, Dec. 29
Canes set to take over Dallas
They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that maxim has certainly proved true this year for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Canes alumni community. It had already been a galvanizing growth year for the local alumni network, and now with the Canes coming to town to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game on New Year’s Eve at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the alumni community has shifted into overdrive.
“We’ve really been gaining momentum—it’s been an awesome year for us,” said Alana Dombrosky, B.S. ’15 and president of Dallas-Ft. Worth Canes. “The University has done so much to recognize us as a smaller community compared to say New York or Atlanta, and with the visit in November from Patricia Whitely [senior vice president of Student Affairs and Alumni Engagement] and a number of big game watches for football and basketball we’ve had a really cool year in Dallas.”
Originally from Philadelphia, Dombrosky attended the U from 2011 to 2015 to “escape the cold.” She ended up earning two degrees in math and computer science. But while pursuing her studies, she joined the Frost Band of the Hour, originally as a tenor sax player, but then as a sophomore, Dombrosky shifted to playing the bass drum.
“I thought the band snare captain was really cute and thought it’d be good to spend more time closer to him,” she said.
Thus began a relationship that started in the band, but would continue after graduation, when she and Bradly Dombrosky returned to Coral Gables to get married at the Shalala Student Center. They also moved to Texas when Alana started working for Microsoft, where she is now a director of customer support.
The Dombrosky’s pride for the Hurricanes has never wavered. They attended the Final Four basketball game in Houston two years ago to cheer on the Canes, and made the drive to College Station last weekend, where they celebrated the victory with Dylan Brooks, the immediate past president in Dallas and now a friend of the couple. Bradly also serves as the local Canes Community vice president.
With the news that a “Miami Takeover” is ensuing, Dombrosky and Brooks have been in high cadence contact with the University alumni staff.
The Dallas-Ft. Worth alumni community has swelled to some 1,200 members, and a number of the planned events in advance of the big game on Dec. 31 are expected to draw several hundred Canes friends and fans.
“It’s really awesome to have this game in Dallas, where our Canes Community has been growing,” she said, adding: “I’m excited to see AT&T Stadium bathed in orange and green, instead of the typical blue and white for the Cowboys.”
-- Michael R. Malone and Janette Neuwahl Tannen
