Our fight song is wrong -- we're U Miami. Miami U is in Oxford, Ohio. Somehow this hasn't been corrected over the decades, even though we all know it. It's kind of like my illogical love for this team -- dating back to 1979.
Yesterday I watched the College Football Playoff Selection show, as my fellow rabid fans commented on two separate chats. We're all infected with this same disease -- one where a good amount of our moods are tied to a group of 18-23 year olds and whether they are more, or less, fleet of foot than other 18-23 year olds. It's absurd, and like a disease that's chronic and incurable, I suffer.
We were sure the CFP Committee was going to keep us out of the playoffs, and instead invite hated Notre Dame, even though we beat them like the Ulstermen beat the Dublin rebels in the early 1900s. OK -- so that's not a nice analogy, but Irish, like my Jewish friends, are immune to busting balls, even when it's politically incorrect. And I was at the game -- though the score was close, Canes dominated the entire time.
Despite that, the whiny Irish, by far the biggest TV draw, with their OWN network contract even though they last one a ring in 1988, the year D1 was born, looked to take our spot. It didn't happen, and when the green and orange flashed on the screen, I yelled, loudly. Wifey exaggerated to the Ds -- said I was dancing like a giddy ballerina. OK -- maybe I was.
Years ago, I said I wished I got excited about higher cultural pursuits -- like classical music, or opera, or, even though I'm a straight guy, ballet.
Never happened. Though the Canes have given us LOTS of disappointment since their domination of the sport in the 80s, 90s, and into early THIS century -- I can't quit them. Not even close.
A lot of it has to do with the brothers and sisters with whom I share this chronic disease -- even "adopted" Canes like my friend Kenny. Kenny is a Wash U and Drexel alum ( when he was there the med school was Hahnemann) and Kenny was baptized on a glorious night, January 2, 1984 when he sat with me in the hallowed ground of the Orange Bowl and watched the Canes win their first national championship against mighty Nebraska -- a team many had called the greatest ever.
Kenny and Joelle are in Southeast Asia, and this am Kenny sent a photo of his wrist, with an orange, green, and white cotton bracelet. He explained that days ago, he gave an offering to a Buddhist monk at a temple in Laos, and the monk thanked him with that cotton bracelet -- Kenny ignored the colors -- until yesterday. As he wrote: "Who's to say this didn't influence the Committee to let you guys in?" Can't argue with that!
So even 10 years ago, I'd have been booking a flight to College Station, TX to watch the Canes play their first opponent, Texas A and M. Eric even broached the possibility last night. But I answered that young Dave would have been in (in 1992 I was on a charter flight to the Cotton Bowl to watch us beat up Texas, flying home that night) whereas old Dave, who is leaving for a Puerto Rican starting cruise the following week, will instead take the sedentary route to watching my boys.
Plus, on December 20, the day of the game, we're celebrating Little Man's 6th birthday -- a few days late. I think he'll forgive me for having my eyes glued to the TV during those festivities.
I like the Dolphins. I enjoy when they have success, which they have a little of this season, after a slow start. I follow Canes basketball and baseball when they win. I enjoy the Panthers with my grandsons and Norman -- saw them win the Stanley Cup last year, and it was very memorable. I follow the always competitive Heat when they go far.
But the Canes? They're the only team I truly live and die with, as the saying goes, and this year they have a chance to win a 6th ring (really should be 7 if the evil ref Terry Porter didn't screw us against his alma mater Ohio State over 20 years ago).
I just renewed my season tickets. I've had them every year since 1979 when we got them for our student activity fee. Now they're over $1K each. I only have 2, and with parking it'll be $2500 gift to myself. I plan to start taking Little Man next season -- I had held off since I figured he was too young until now, and my tiny bit of selfishness was to enjoy the games without the stress of child care. But that will end in 2026, hopefully.
So for now, all this man can say is: Go Canes! Hail to the Spirit of U Miami!
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