College football is built on tradition, and Miami has always had its own style.
Game days at Hard Rock Stadium begin long before the Hurricanes take the field. Fans fill the parking lots hours ahead of kickoff as grills are fired up, tailgates come to life and the sea of orange and green starts to take shape.
Playing home games away from campus — first at the old Orange Bowl, now at Hard Rock — hasn’t stopped Miami from building traditions of its own.
Hard Rock Stadium has been UM’s home since 2008, and several traditions made the trip north from the Orange Bowl, including one of the most recognizable entrances in college football.
There’s the iconic split U, Sebastian the Ibis and, of course, the pregame smoke — traditions that have become part of what makes a Hurricanes game day unique.
For first-time visitors, there’s a lot to take in. Where else can you spend a day tailgating in the suffocating South Florida heat and humidity, then see the team disappear into a cloud of white smoke before taking the field?
Whether you’re a lifelong Hurricanes fan or making your first trip to Miami Gardens, here are five experiences that belong on every Miami football fan’s bucket list:
Tailgating at Hard Rock Stadium
Tailgating has long been a central part of the Hurricanes experience, with fans turning the parking lots around Hard Rock Stadium into a pregame party. Get there early, find some shade if you can, grab some food and soak in the South Florida atmosphere before heading inside.
Watch the Canes run through the smoke
This is the big one. Few entrances in college football are as immediately recognizable as Miami’s run through the smoke. The tradition dates to the 1950s, when fire extinguishers were used to create the cloud that would become a defining part of Hurricanes football.
Throw up the U
Fans form the iconic split U orange-and-green logo with both hands, a gesture that has become a universal symbol of Hurricanes pride. The tradition is traced to a 1992 game against Florida State and has since become a way for Canes fans to recognize one another anywhere.
See Sebastian work the crowd
Sebastian the Ibis became an unofficial Miami mascot in the 1920s, and it has become one of the most recognizable mascots in college sports. Former Ibis performers have said getting a packed stadium to spell out C-A-N-E-S is one of the most satisfying parts of the job.
Be there for a rivalry game
Whether it’s Clemson, Florida, FSU, Notre Dame or another longtime foe, the energy, tradition and intensity of a UM rivalry matchup is an experience every Canes fan should have. There’s something special about experiencing that kind of rivalry in person, even if it’s not on campus.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.