The Miami ritual of running through the smoke for pregame introductions was named as one of "Our favorite college football game-day traditions" on Saturday." Miami has run through the smoke far longer than most people realize.
Miami running through the smoke became iconic during the Hurricanes' emergence as a national power in the 1980s. Running through the smoke in pregame was part of the Miami mystique and "It's a Canes thing, you just don't understand."
Although other football teams nationally run through smoke to enter the field in pregame, it is still most closely associated with Miami. ESPN wrote extensively about the smoke-filled entrance in 2010 and credited Miami with being the first program to do that as a pregame ritual.
Running through the smoke is part of what made Miami an iconic, polarizing and trendsetting program. Among the many traditions throughout college football nationally, the smoke is closely associated with Miami. Andrea Adelson summarized Miami running through the smoke for ESPN.
"The Hurricanes have come out of their tunnel onto the field for all their home games through "the smoke" since the 1950s...according to the university, school transportation director Bob Nalette proposed using fire extinguishers to produce smoke for players to run through as a way to drum up fan interest. In his spare time, Nalette welded a pipe together to billow said fire extinguisher smoke. The entrance took on iconic status in the 1980s as the program rose to prominence. "Andrea Adelson, ESPN
ESPN had 37 of their favorite college football traditions. Miami running through the smoke was included in dramatic entrances with rubbing the rock and running down the hill at Clemson, Chief Osceola and Renegade planting the spear at Florida State, Michigan's touching the banner and enter sandman at Virginia Tech.
Florida State and Virginia Tech are Miami's annual rivalry games. Clemson also being included shows the importance of tradition in the ACC. Florida State is the most common opponent in Miami history with 67 meetings and Virginia Tech is fourth with 41 games. Clemson and Miami have played 14 times.
The smoke entrance has added significance in games against Clemson, Florida State, and Virginia Tech in front of sellout crowds. Miami is at Florida State and Virginia Tech in 2025. The Seminoles and Hokies will play at Hard Rock Stadium in 2026.
Mario Cristobal has stated the importance of returning Miami to the elite of college football. Maintaining the traditions that helped raise the profile of the Miami football program is important. Entering through the smoke at Hard Rock Stadium is a part of that tradition.