ACC's best game-day traditions: Miami

ACC's best game-day traditions: Miami - Heather Dinich, Espn

There was no shortage of Miami fans in the mailbag (never is), just a shortage of game-day traditions for the Canes. Of course, just about everyone who wrote in nominated "the smoke," and deservedly so. But I refused to believe that was the only tradition for a program with five national titles, and in the end, more Miami fans came through with other suggestions.

Here they are, beginning of course with the fan favorite:

The smoke: It began in the Orange Bowl in the 1950s when university transportation director Bob Nalette had the idea of using fire extinguishers to produce the smoke the Hurricanes run through as they enter the field. Nalette built a pipe that blew the smoke from the entrance tunnel.

Sebastian the Ibis: As legend (and the media guide) has it, the Ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm. The name Ibis was adopted in 1926, and in the late 1950s, Sebastian was added after one of the residence halls, San Sebastian Hall, sponsored an Ibis entry for homecoming.

Lil' Joe and Touchdown Tommy: Joe (the cannon) came first, then Tommy. It's fired by the Sigma Chi fraternity after each Miami touchdown.

The U: You know what it is, and how to "throw up the U," even if you're not a Miami fan.

Four fingers: At the beginning of the fourth quarter of every home football game, Miami fans hold up four fingers to indicate that's when the game is won, and that Miami owns that quarter.

Testimonials:
Chad in Miami writes: Probably my favorite thing about going to Canes games isn't seeing them go through the steam or holding my fours up when the fourth quarter comes around: but leading the 'We Got Some Canes Over Here!' cheer. After a big play there is usually a ten second window to start shouting 'WE GOT SOME CANES OVER HERE!', the crowd surrounding you shouting 'WHOOSH!WHOOSH!' can get you pumped up almost as much as watching FSU botch another field goal.

Spencer in Oviedo, Fl writes: Miami Game Day Traditions. Smoke out of the Tunnel. Its epic; Many try to copy this amazing tradition, but its clear that the original is the best. 4th quarter- When its the fourth quarter, everyone holds up four fingers to signify how we will dominate our opponents. While many teams claim the creation of this tradition, its really the []_[].Touchdown Tommy - T.T. is the cannon that is fired off when the team runs out of the tunnel, after every point that the Hurricanes score, and the conclusion of a victory. The cannon is kept by the Sigma Chi fraternity's Cannon Master and fired off during the games by the senior brothers of Sigma Chi. Winning- Winning is a time honored tradition at the U. While it has been out of practice for a while, it is still what makes the Miami Hurricanes THE Miami Hurricanes. If we didn't do this, we would be as irrelevant as the University of Virginia. =)

Harry in New York, NY writes: Miami - here's a few Gameday TraditionsAs u said, running through the smoke - EVERYONE now copies it!Also the StarWars stormtroopers theme - another thing EVERYONE copies now, but 20 yrs ago it's what spawned "throwing up The U" with your hands! It was invented in 1992 to combat the FSU chop, because our mock-chop was deemed "inappropriate" (picture their chop w/middle-fingers extended)The firing of "Touchdown Tommy" - the Cannon that goes off after ever score, is fired off when the smoke is unleashed.Night games: Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" plays as the players stretch - an homage to the night scenes in Miami Vice...There's more stuff we used to have at the Orange Bowl we can't do anymore. I hope the rest of the ACC pities us, every game for us is now a road game. :-(

Joel in Miami, Florida writes: Miami running out of the smoke. Tons of teams have copied this (Texas and UNC just off of the top of my head), but Miami started it. It is easily one of the most recognized team entrances/traditions in college football right up there with Chief Osceloa and Renegade at FSU, dotting the "I" in Ohio State, and Virginia Tech's Enter Sandman.