The football alumni are flooding Miami's sidelines. The unbeaten Hurricanes are seeing the benefits
The Miami sideline was loaded with talent this past weekend. Michael Irvin was there, just like he's been all season no matter where the game is.
The Miami sideline was loaded with talent this past weekend. Michael Irvin was there, just like he’s been all season no matter where the game is. Ray Lewis did his trademark dance. Edgerrin James, Jessie Armstead, Bryant McKinnie, Rohan Marley,Bernie Kosar and Clinton Portis all showed up as well.
Today’s Hurricanes clearly have the attention of the program’s best from yesteryear.
When the big names show up at Miami games, it tends to be a pretty good indicator of what’s happening on the field. Getting the alumni — particularly the Miami greats — more involved was a priority for Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal when he came home in 2021, and he’s seeing the payoff.
“Some of those guys look like they can still play, and probably can,” said Cristobal, a Miami alum and national champion as a player himself. “Look at the old games, back in the ’80s and ’90s, look at that sideline and how littered it was with real-deal dudes. Like, into it, passionate, love Miami, bleed orange and green, dudes and how much of an attraction it was. I used to kill to get over here to watch these guys go at it.”
Some are expected back on the sideline this weekend, when No. 5 Miami (8-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays host to Duke (6-2, 2-2) and former Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz on Saturday.
There were well over 100 recruits at this past weekend’s 36-14 win over rival Florida State, and they all got to see the big names from the past. Time will tell if it left an impact on their upcoming decisions.