A sea of orange and green-outfitted Hurricanes fans holding cardboard U’s and rally towels streamed into the Watsco Center on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables Campus Monday night to watch the final nail-biting football game of the season.
And while it was not the outcome that everyone hoped for, the watch party—which attracted nearly 3,500 fans—offered a fun, festive atmosphere for students, alumni, and faculty and staff members to watch the College Football Playoff National Championship game between Miami and Indiana just a few miles away from Hard Rock Stadium.
“It’s nice to share this with most of the University community because we are very proud and committed, so I wanted to make sure my family was a part of it too,” said Dennys Bayona, director of facilities and operations at the University, who brought his sons Tony, 8, and Lucas, 14, to watch the game at Watsco.
Julie Taubes, an alumna who moved back to Miami in June, was thrilled to be back on campus. Taubes, who graduated in 1993, was a teacher in New York City for three decades before she returned to live in Miami again. She was at the watch party with her husband, Guy Hillel, and children Talia, 13, and Toby, 16, who are now Canes fans, too.
“I went to college here and fell in love with Miami, so by default my kids bleed orange and green,” she said. “And I knew that there was no better place to watch this game than on campus.”
While the first half of the game was quiet as Indiana took the lead, when the Hurricanes scored their first touchdown, the basketball arena erupted into joyful cheers as fans stomped along to the Hurricanes fight song.
The cheerful energy continued through the third quarter, when the entire arena got up to dance along to the macarena and other Miami-centric songs. The entertainment was courtesy of two dynamic alumni that are the faces of Main Brain Music—emcee Ian Adams, also known as Barry Fresh, and Nick Giordano, also known as DJ Sage.
“We have been playing gigs together since we were in school here, and we have continued the vibe since then,” said Adams, who graduated in 2002.
Giordano said the chance to serve as the soundtrack to the watch party helped him realize one of his dreams, regardless of the game score.
“I’ve been looking forward to playing in the Watsco since it was built,” he said. “It’s incredible to be here with friends and fellow alumni, many who I have known since 2004.”
Many students at the Watsco said they were experiencing one of the highlights of their sports experiences at the University and held out hope that the Canes would triumph.
“We’ll just get them next year,” said Austin Ushery, a sophomore. “It will make a better story then.”
Regardless of the ending—Indiana prevailed 27-21—many Canes fans said the football team had an incredible run.
“It was an epic season for our football program, and it was a big accomplishment that we made it this far,” said Jackson Kuster, a junior studying accounting.
Gaige Morse, a first-year student, agreed.
“There’s a culture in our team now that’s not going to go away,” said Morse, who is studying motion pictures. “Coach Cristobal has taken the team a big step forward, so next year I think will be the year we win it all.”
Drake Johnson, an alumnus who works in the orientation and commuter student office, said the game showed that the Hurricanes were “definitely ready to compete.”
“Two years ago, our team didn’t look anything like that, so it’s only up from here,” he said.
