The band Scorpions sings the song with these famous lyrics: “Here I am, rock you like a hurricane.” Considering the events that transpired a few weeks back between University of Miami (Florida) and Florida International University, these lyrics are especially appropriate with regards to the Miami nickname, the Hurricanes. But, we aren’t here to discuss that brawl. Rather, we are here to discuss why Miami’s Hurricane comes in at No. 7 in the 12 part series, the ACC Mascot Rankings.
If you want to be a sports trivia wiz, there are three important things to know about “The U.” First, it is called “The U.” Second, the physical mascot (at games and events) is an Ibis. Third, the nickname is the Hurricanes. Now you can consider yourself an educated sports fan! If you already knew this, give yourself an extra pat on the back.
Now, for some explanations. Miami is the only school whose nickname is the Hurricanes, which gives it an edge over some of its ACC competition in terms of originality. However, while the nickname’s origin is good, it is not as great as one would think. Here is the official athletics’ website’s description: “It began in controversy. Some reports say the 1927 football team held a team meeting to select Hurricanes, hoping they would sweep away opponents just as the devastating storm did on September 16, 1926. Another version holds that Miami News columnist Jack Bell asked end Porter Norris of the 1926 team what the team should be called. Told that the local dignitaries and University officials wanted to name the team for a local flora or fauna, Norris said the players wouldn’t stand for it and suggested “Hurricanes” since the opening game had been postponed by such a storm.”
Either way, this is a decent nickname. I have already discussed corny nicknames in the previous rankings; if the first of these two explanations is the truth, then Hurricanes falls under the good-corny, not the bad-corny. Sweeping away opponents and causing devastation/wreaking havoc on an opponent provides for a strong sports team name. The latter explanation is tolerable as well, because the players shouldn’t accept being the Miami Plants or the Miami Palm Trees. Flora and fauna are good enough for a biology class, but not for the football team nickname. So, the Hurricanes get a 3 of 5 for their nickname, as it is good but not great. It is hard to say whether or not it is cliché to use Hurricanes in a city sometimes devastated by such a disaster, so I think a 3 is the best choice to make. If you disagree, let me know.
 Miami does some cool things that are fairly common in college football, such as entering the field running through a tunnel of smoke, and firing a cannon after each touchdown. One unique feature of The U is that, according to the athletics website, “At the beginning of the fourth quarter at every home football game, Miami players and fans can be seen holding up four fingers. The sign indicates their belief that a game is won in that crucial final period. True Hurricane fans and players use the sign as a symbol that they own that last quarter.” While the last sentence may seem arrogant, I don’t think it is as much cockiness as it is a symbol of unity and confidence — and it takes a lot for me to defend something done by Miami players…see the video of “The Brawl” in a 10/15/06 blog post (in the NEWS category). Sports fans know that, for the most part, non-blowout games ARE won and lost in the last quarter (and, for that matter, the greatest comebacks of all time take place in the fourth quarter).
 Also, Sebastian the Ibis is a pretty good mascot. The ibis came to be the mascot because “the school yearbook adopted the name ‘Ibis’ in 1926.” The school claims that its players uphold the “traditions of the Ibis” (courage, knowledge, strength, and speed), which may very well be true; The U generally has phenomenal athletes. (Nonetheless, “rational thinking” and “good judgment” are absent from this list, due to incidents such as “The Brawl.” But, I digress.) Finally, think about this: how many other schools have a mascot that looks even a little like Donald Duck? Therefore, Miami gets a “cool” rating of 4 out of 5, for the unique Ibis and the sweet tradition of holding up the four fingers before the final quarter.
Bon Jovi sings the song, “Whoa, we’re halfway there, whoa, livin’ on a prayer,” and he’s right. At No. 7, Miami rounds out the bottom half of the ACC mascots, with a total of six points out of 10. Congratulations to those left standing, and next week begins the ranking of the Final Six. I’m sure each mascot is “livin’ on a prayer” that he, she, or it wins the title of the ACC’s Best Mascot…Stay tuned, ladies and gents.
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