OPINION: A lot for Miami Hurricanes fans to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here, and while perhaps Miami Hurricanes fans may disagree on if the team’s played consistent championship-level football this year, the team does sit at 10-1 heading into the finale in a couple of days at Syracuse. So there’s certainly a lot to be thankful for. Here are five things the CaneSport staff is particularly thankful for on this Nov. 28:

5. MIAMI COACHES AND PLAYERS

Media and fans love to point out things we’d do differently when perhaps things don’t look perfect, but today let’s reflect on how hard these coaches and players work and continue to work to make sure The U gets back and stays back. This season has surpassed all but the most optimistic preseason expectations, so let’s all take today off from criticizing the defense in this game or that game, the offense for being too conservative here or there, so-and-so not setting the edge, why aren’t they playing this guy more, etc., etc. etc. These coaches and players are all pulling in the same direction as fans, so give a little love and appreciation to them all today. They sacrifice time away from friends and families year-round just to try and put a little smile on our faces for a bunch of Saturdays in the fall and winter.

4. 2-9 FLORIDA STATE

No matter what happens with the end of Miami’s season, it’s always good to be better than Florida State, right? Those annoying Seminoles fans you work with or are friends with don’t have a heck of a lot of gloating to do anymore, do they. The Canes are the king of the State of Florida this year, so let’s enjoy that today. And maybe send your FSU fans a little Happy Thanksgiving message with some Cane flavor to it. Like hey, maybe they should consider switching and rooting for a team that actually wins some games?

3. CAM WARD

Sure we can single out a bunch of players on the team we’re thankful for, if not all of them. But can you remember any player that’s been more fun to watch in recent years – for Miami or really any Hurricanes opponent – than Ward? He’s brought the Heisman race back to Miami for the first time in forever and used his Superman ability to help the Canes overcome a couple of big holes earlier in the season that with a normal human behind center would have been losses. So yeah, we here at CaneSport will speak for all of you when we say we are very, very, very thankful Ward passed up on the NFL at the last minute to head to Coral Gables.

2. A SEASON THAT STILL MEANS SOMETHING ON THANKSGIVING

Let’s not forget where we came from, right? Because Miami’s only enjoyed one 10-win season since 2002 – in 2017. Now this is a team that doesn’t just have 10 wins but also controls its own destiny. Beat Syracuse on Saturday and Miami’s in the ACC title game. Win that and the Canes have a playoff bye. So today let’s not worry about defensive lapses or offensive inconsistencies that have popped up the last couple of games. Reflect on those brutal losing seasons in 2007, 2014, 2019 and 2022 and appreciate where the program sits today at No. 7/8 in the national polls.

1. THE FANS

How can we not put you all at the top of this list? Without fans and your passion for this program … and for CaneSport … we’d just be a quiet little place in the corner of the Internet universe. Keep showing your green and orange love on our message boards, telling us what a great job we’re doing covering the team … for the one or two of you that do that 🙂 … and just enjoy this season and what promises to be a very, very bright future for these Miami Hurricanes.