It’s gameday! The interminable wait to the start of the 2019 college football season is over, and there are four games to satiate your appetite today. The game of the day is the renewal of the rivalry between Florida and Miami, and former Hurricane Michael Irvin is ready.
Michael Irvin is totally chill about tomorrow’s #Canes game. More from the Play Maker at 11pm. pic.twitter.com/pRr3SZiC2I
— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4) August 24, 2019
Miami made the trip up to Orlando for tonight’s game yesterday afternoon, and Irvin brought his trademark animated style to the rally to hype up the fans last night. He was anything but shy in his description of what he hoped the Hurricanes would do to the Gators.
Since retiring from the NFL, Michael Irvin has been Miami’s most vocal cheerleader. When the Hurricanes finally knocked off Florida State after years of agonizing losses in 2017, he immediately took to Twitter to celebrate.
long time coming but it's here now. @canesfootball beats @fsufootball we r really on r way back. my reaction in my suite when we scored🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/rnxEtjypEG
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) October 7, 2017
Irvin was a major figure in Miami’s rise to prominence in the late 1980s, and he is one of the best receivers in school history. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his retirement, and Irvin was also on College Gameday this morning as the guest picker for today’s games.
The Canes and Gators rivalry is real … @michaelirvin88 and @TimTebow are proof 😂(via @CollegeGameDay) pic.twitter.com/AMPaLVGF1j
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2019
Irvin continued to champion the Canes, calling on them to not only win tonight’s game, but win the ACC and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff too.
Others have been more temperate on the Hurricanes. New Miami head coach Manny Diaz was predictably diplomatic when asked about the game saying:
“We are honored to be able to open up the 150th season of college football a week ahead of everybody else. It is Miami and Florida and when you think about the history of college football, the sport was revolutionized in this state. That is a pretty cool thing that we are excited to be a part of.”
The Hurricanes and the Gators will square off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN tonight. If you’re craving football before that, Colgate hosts Villanova at 12 p.m ET and Samford and Youngstown State meet at 3 p.m. ET. After Miami and Florida face off tonight, Arizona heads to the island to take on Hawaii.
H/T 247 Sports and ESPN
