CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - The University of Miami held a pep rally on campus ahead of their season opening matchup versus Notre Dame.
The pep rally happened Friday afternoon, with hundreds of Hurricanes — including team mascot Sebastian the Ibis and some of the players — making an appearance ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
Students, alumni, fans, the marching band and cheerleaders, all decked out in orange and green, showed out as College Colors Day kicked off with the pep rally.
“We have to be loud, we have to be proud. We’re Hurricanes, and we’re ready to beat up the Fighting Irish,” said David Kuper of Category 5, UM’s official spirit programming board.
The stage was decorated with orange and green balloon arches as ‘Canes head coach Mario Cristobal took the stage to build up hype.
While it’s clear love for the Hurricanes runs deep in Miami, proven by a new mural in Wynwood, some students said pride for their school runs deeper.
“Ever since I got here, I just bleed orange and green,” said Jana Faour of Category 5. “We’re the fans, we’re going crazy, we’re so loud. If we can do anything for them, it’s give them that energy, and we will be giving them that energy, like, just go crazy.”
Sunday’s game is major for many reasons, as 2025 marks the university’s centennial year, and both teams are ranked in the top 10 — The U at 10, and Notre Dame at 6 — with a lot of history between the two programs who last met in 2017.
“There’s something bigger about that ‘U.’ When you hold it up, it is just a universal message, and we all represent it, and we need to be loud, we need to be proud, we need to go ‘Canes,” said Kuper.
The pregame hype around the city is palpable, with preparations spreading from campus to Hard Rock Stadium, where the matchup will take place.
“Greatness, faith, and swagger,” said Notre Dame alumni CJ Webster. “I want to change the narrative, and I’m looking forward to an amazing football game on Sunday.”
Webster graduated from the 574 but now calls the 305 his home. He is rebranding the infamous, and highly controversial, 1980s “Catholics versus convicts” logo ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
“I could see the hurt, and the pain and the frustration in their eyes from the ‘Catholic versus convicts’ shirt,” said Webster. “I wanted to do something different, and I wanted to change the narrative.”
The ‘Canes and Fighting Irish are set to kick off the first game of the season at Hard Rock Stadium, this Labor Day Sunday.
If you were lucky enough to get tickets to the game, remember it is an “orange out,” so fans are encouraged to wear their orange, as the team will be rocking their orange jerseys to open up the season.
If you weren’t able to get tickets but still want to tune in, pregame coverage begins Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by kickoff at 7:30 p.m., all on ABC Miami, Channel 18.
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