Happy Thanksgiving, Hurricane Nation

Happy Thanskgiving, fellow Canes. Today is truly a day to slow down, to take a deep breath and to focus on the haves, not the have-nots. It’s a day to realize that life is good – to dwell on blessings and to appreciate quality time with loved ones.

It’s so easy to get caught in the day-to-day. Work. Life. Family. Responsibility. It can grind us down and make us jaded at times, but when we change our perspective and see all the good on a day like today – the world gets right for a minute.

We’re all united in this thing called Miami Hurricanes football, yet in that unity, there’s division. It’s part of following what’s been a losing program over this past half decade.

Ten years ago, when the Canes were dominating the landscape, the biggest arguments between fans had to do with not running up the score enough and a disagreement when the second string should be inserted for some quality in-game experience.

These days arguments range from coaches abilities to the length of players’ pants potentially slowing them down. Welcome to 2011 Miami Football.

The above picture jumped out at me when I saw it on CaneShooter.com days back, snapped by J.C. Ridley, long-time UM photographer. It’s a shot of quarterback Jacory Harris and receiver Tommy Streeter late in a recent blowout of Duke.

In the background, teammates watching the game, as well as a damn-near empty stadium. The Canes moved to 5-4 after beating the Blue Devils that random Saturday in early November, but Harris and Streeter had their own thing going on. Something bigger than football and what could be considered a disappointing career, based on lofty expectations.

Harris and Streeter were national champions at Northwester and stuck around their hometown, becoming Hurricanes with the intent on winning a national title. Instead, 29-21 entering tomorrow’s showdown with Boston College, including an 0-3 bowl record and never sniffing an ACC Championship berth.

The Herald’s Susan Miller Degnan wrote a piece yesterday, touching on the bond between these two Canes and long-time teammate Sean Spence. All Northwestern Bulls, as were their fathers – Rodney Harris, Tommy Streeter Sr. and Sam Spence.

Three fathers who played high school ball together had three sons who played high school ball together – and wound up at college together, playing for the hometown team. Winning a sixth championship for the program would’ve been icing on the cake, but when you talk about the Harris, Streeter and Spence connection, it supersedes the game.

“We wanted the kids to do well. It didn’t matter if they won a national championship, or not. We just wanted them to be productive citizens in their community and enjoy the experience of college,” said the elder Harris.

“The bond those kids have is inseparable. Whether they get to the NFL or not, they’ve created something very special.”

Three families. Parents still together. Kids grew up together, are still friends and for one more game tomorrow, teammates. Not only is there a lot of good going on, but it appears all involved know it’s good. Especially the kids, who gave their all and will take a lifetime of memories – and degrees – from their University of Miami experience.

This is the kind of stuff that matters on Thanksgiving Day. Wins and losses come and go. Programs succeed, fail and succeed again. Save the energy exuded during those down years and put it into something more productive. Especially on a day like today.

Happy Thanksgiving, U Family. Go Canes. Crush Boston College. – C.B.

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