forums

How did you become a Hurricanes fan?

Parents are from midwestern states and they met during their time at a small college in Arkansas in the late 60's, so neither had or have a school/university that they rooted for. Whereas my kids have parents who LOVE college football!

When we moved to Orlando in 1983/1984 (when I was 5 years old), the closest NFL team was the god awful Bucs, so we watched Marino and Dolphins games.... which naturally meant we gravitated towards the Hurricanes as well. And during those early years, it didn't take long, I was absolutely hooked.

My dad traveled at the time, and work would often take him on the road from Orlando to South Florida for a few days, and he would occasionally bring me a Miami Herald sports page, a college football preview magazine, a copy of the media guide, or my favorite... the full sized poster schedule.

Growing up, I fell in love the likes of Yatil Green, Jammi German, Horace Copeland, Testaverde, Gino Torretta etc... and so many others.
 
Advertisement
I thoroughly enjoy reading your stories guys. It’s truly fascinating as to the who, what, where and when we all became Canes. We should cherish these stories and never let them cease to exist because it’s part of our unique culture of being Canes fans.

Thanks!
 
RVACane said:
Uncle Craig’s been here before.
He played LB in the 70’s.

View attachment 362324
Click to expand...
golden girls blanche GIF
 
Lived in Iowa my whole life so tv coverage was minimal as a kid. Caught a few games on TV 99/2000-ish era like the end of the UCLA game, the 99 Kickoff classic, etc. I recall Santana Moss returning a kick against BC, ripping his helmet off in the end zone and thought it was awesome. I loved the in your face aggressive style of play they had. I could never stand watching the plodding Big 10 3 yards and a cloud of dust style of play so I like watching other conferences. My brother was a huge Florida State fan so natural opposition there. It helps the team was ridiculously good at that time and been all-in ever since.
 
We moved to Miami from Bronx NY, in 84. I was 4 years old. During the rise of the Canes; my Father and my brother were more in to marino and the fins since he was drafted that same year. But after the canes won their second championship, they started becoming big fans of them too, How i really became a fan was because of the 01’ team. I was working at the original Kendall Sports grill at the time and everyone there was die hard Miami everything. I was a line cook and we watched the canes play Ohio state on the TV in the kitchen and ill never forget that BS flag they threw. The passion and intensity from everyone at that time you could cut with a knife. Also Sean Taylor is from the neighborhood i grew up in and i used to see his sister all the time. Then my nephew was recruited to play QB in 18’ by Richts staff and the rest is history.
 
Advertisement
Dyalect79 said:
We moved to Miami from Bronx NY, in 84. I was 4 years old. During the rise of the Canes; my Father and my brother were more in to marino and the fins since he was drafted that same year. But after the canes won their second championship, they started becoming big fans of them too, How i really became a fan was because of the 01’ team. I was working at the original Kendall Sports grill at the time and everyone there was die hard Miami everything. I was a line cook and we watched the canes play Ohio state on the TV in the kitchen and ill never forget that BS flag they threw. The passion and intensity from everyone at that time you could cut with a knife. Also Sean Taylor is from the neighborhood i grew up in and i used to see his sister all the time. Then my nephew was recruited to play QB in 18’ by Richts staff and the rest is history.
Click to expand...
Max Johnson
 
Born, raised, and live in the Tampa area. Became a Canes' fan as a child. Couldn't just watch football without having a 'team' and the 89 Canes were the first time I started rooting for the Canes.
 
1983 - 7 y.o., dad took me to the OB to see us wax Purdue. I didn't even know all the rules of football but I was hooked. The colors, the mascot, the stadium, the energy. I was a fan for life from that day forward.

One thing people don't realize baout those "bad boys" 80s teams is that they were super approachable with fans, and especially kids. I was at Fuddruckers on 104th with my family once and the whole team came in for a team dinner. They were all happy to talk to everyone, sign autographs, play video games, etc. It was hard not to be a fan because they really loved the community.
 
I grew up in Southern California in the 90s. When you live out West, the games kick off at like 9:00 am. I always had youth football during the season so I wasn’t a big college fan because I couldn’t watch all the games. In 1998, UCLA was the best team in California. Hurricane Georges delayed a game between Miami and UCLA to December, which was after youth football was over. 8 year old me went in thinking I was going to be a UCLA fan because I was in 3rd grade and you just go for the best team. My family had no college football allegiance. 299 Edge yards and a huge upset later, I was hooked for Miami. They went on to be the most dominant team of my lifetime the next 5 years and the rest is history. God Willed it
 
Advertisement
native said:
PJCosden said:
I am born and raised in PA. My 2 great uncles played football at Miami in the late 70s. I grew up hearing them talk about playing there and my dad would go with my great grandparents to their games. He would tell me stories about going to see them at Miami and traveling with them to away games. That made me a fan instantly. Sadly for most of my life Miami has been a dumpster fire. It doesn’t help that I’ve had to deal with State Penn fans my whole life and I cannot stand them. To me the We Are chant is almost as bad as FSPoo’s War chant. The funny thing is I ended up graduating from there due to the cheap in state tuition. I’d always wear my Miami gear on campus. I may go down as one of the only people to go to Penn State that never wore any Penn State gear. My professor the one day tried to bust my balls about telling me what school I go to. I fired right back and told him you see where I would rather be. I still need to get down to Miami for a home game. I have been lucky enough to watch a basketball game and a few baseball games while down in Miami on trips just have never been able to get down in the fall for football. I am hoping that changes in the next couple of years. My dad and I are starting a new tradition of trying to go to at least one game a year. This year we plan on going to the UNC game.
Click to expand...
You gotta spill who your uncles are.
Click to expand...
As @RVACane said my one uncle is Craig Cosden and the other is Ray Ganong (adopted). Uncle Ray was on the strength staff as well until 1985. Growing up he’d let me try on his national championship whenever I’d get to see him which was not often.
 
All my family were born and raised in Miami but the military moved us away. This was the early-mid 80's so it was a good time to latch on and have been following them ever since through the highs and the lows.
 
Birth. Born in the 305 but grew up near Tampa. Dad is a Canes/Dolphins fan even though he was born in NJ and grew up in Cali. Die hard Marino fan
 
Back
Top