Miami Hurricanes Senior Day

It was bittersweet to photograph the last Miami Hurricanes home game this past weekend and even more for the graduating seniors who participated in Senior Day. Senior Day is typically the last home game of the season and there is a little pageantry that occurs before the pregame introductions with the families of the graduating seniors. The real story from this game wasn’t Senior Day or the Hurricanes victory over the Virginia Cavaliers, but the weather. I always wanted to shoot in the rain, but there is a limit to how much rain.

Like every other game this season, I got to the stadium early to survey the weather and to get my exposures dialed in before the game. This time, I took my time strolling down the tunnel and out onto the field. As I stepped on the field I could see the clouds growing dark and encompassing the skies above the stadium. I was thinking how great it would be to shoot some rain action. You know get the splash the players make on the field etc.

During the pregame warmups, the rain was falling gently and in all honesty I could barely feel it. As the game progressed the rain got heavy and eventually it got to the point it was blinding. I had a poncho and a rain sleeve for my camera and lens, but in this rain it was no match. I got soaked and that was an understatement. Fans ran from the stands and never came back the rain was that bad. Maybe 5 minutes till half time, I couldn’t take the rain anymore. I made my way over to a dugout and sat under there with other photographers who too had enough. During halftime, the rain was still unrelenting; drenching anyone brave enough not to seek cover.

By the middle of the third quarter the skies calmed and the sun shone through as if it had never rained. The field and adjacent sidelines were puddle riddled and it was a mission trying to get a great vantage point of the game since real estate was a luxury given the wet conditions. I took solace in the fact that I found an open spot in the endzone. I stayed there for the last quarter of the game, just shooting from the endzone.

When the game ended I ran onto the field to seek out the seniors. I found them taking a group photo for their Senior Day portraits. Afterwards some seniors just looked around and soaked in the atmosphere once more. I guess you can say I did the same thing.

Miami Hurricanes Head Coach, Al Golden, greets #71, Anthony Chickillo, during warmups
Miami Hurricanes Head Coach, Al Golden, greets #71, Anthony Chickillo, during warmups

#17, Stephen Morris, runs out for Senior Day at the University of Miami vs. University of Virginia game.
#17, Stephen Morris, runs out for Senior Day at the University of Miami vs. University of Virginia game.

#23, Eduardo Clements, runs out for Senior Day at the University of Miami vs. University of Virginia game.
#23, Eduardo Clements, runs out for Senior Day at the University of Miami vs. University of Virginia game.

#51, Shayon Green, poses with family prior to the game for Senior Day
#51, Shayon Green, poses with family prior to the game for Senior Day

University of Miami fans show their team spirit prior to the game
University of Miami fans show their team spirit prior to the game

A young Miami Hurricanes fan wishes the Seniors well
A young Miami Hurricanes fan wishes the Seniors well

Sebastian the Ibis leads the Miami Hurricanes onto the field for the last time in the 2013 season
Sebastian the Ibis leads the Miami Hurricanes onto the field for the last time in the 2013 season

Seniors #51, Shayon Green, and #17 Stephen Morris, have a moment of silence together prior to the kickoff
Seniors #51, Shayon Green, and #17 Stephen Morris, have a moment of silence together prior to the kickoff

Hurricanes DB #3, Tracy Howard, returns an interception for a touchdown
Hurricanes DB #3, Tracy Howard, returns an interception for a touchdown

Hurricanes DB #3, Tracy Howard, celebrates a touchdown
Hurricanes DB #3, Tracy Howard, celebrates a touchdown

Hurricanes DB #26, Rayshawn Jenkins, tries to haul in a tipped pass intended for #20, Tim Smith, of the Cavaliers
Hurricanes DB #26, Rayshawn Jenkins, tries to haul in a tipped pass intended for #20, Tim Smith, of the Cavaliers

#20, Tim Smith, of the Virginia Cavaliers returns a punt against the Miami Hurricanes
#20, Tim Smith, of the Virginia Cavaliers returns a punt against the Miami Hurricanes

Hurricanes QB, #17 Stephen Morris, looks to complete a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers
Hurricanes QB, #17 Stephen Morris, looks to complete a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers

Hurricanes lineman, #90 Ufomba Kamalu, wraps up Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks
Hurricanes lineman, #90 Ufomba Kamalu, wraps up Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks

Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks, eludes the tackle of Hurricanes lineman, #17 Tyriq McCord
Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks, eludes the tackle of Hurricanes lineman, #17 Tyriq McCord

Antonio Crawford, #21 Hurricanes, tackles Cavalier #20 Tim Smith on a punt return
Antonio Crawford, #21 Hurricanes, tackles Cavalier #20 Tim Smith on a punt return

Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks, tries to elude the tackle of Hurricanes #96, Curtis Porter
Virginia RB, #25 Kevin Parks, tries to elude the tackle of Hurricanes #96, Curtis Porter

Virginia QB, #5 David Watford, attempts a pass against Miami in a South Florida downpour
Virginia QB, #5 David Watford, attempts a pass against Miami in a South Florida downpour

Miami QB, #17 Stephen Morris, yells out a play during a rain soaked game against Virginia
Miami QB, #17 Stephen Morris, yells out a play during a rain soaked game against Virginia

Miami RB #25, Dallas Crawford, rushes into the endzone for a touchdown
Miami RB #25, Dallas Crawford, rushes into the endzone for a touchdown

#25, Hurricanes RB Dallas Crawford, celebrates his touchdown with teammates
#25, Hurricanes RB Dallas Crawford, celebrates his touchdown with teammates

Virginia RB #20, Tim Smith, eludes the tackle of Hurricanes #26, Rayshawn Jenkins
Virginia RB #20, Tim Smith, eludes the tackle of Hurricanes #26, Rayshawn Jenkins

Virginia RB #25, Kevin Parks, runs past Miami LB #59, Jimmy Gaines
Virginia RB #25, Kevin Parks, runs past Miami LB #59, Jimmy Gaines

Hurricanes WR #1, Allen Hurns, and #9, Malcolm Lewis, celebrate Hurns touchdown reception
Hurricanes WR #1, Allen Hurns, and #9, Malcolm Lewis, celebrate Hurns touchdown reception

Virginia QB #5, David Watford, hands the ball off to #25, Kevin Parks
Virginia QB #5, David Watford, hands the ball off to #25, Kevin Parks

Hurricanes RB #25, Dallas Crawford, tries to elude tacklers from Virginia
Hurricanes RB #25, Dallas Crawford, tries to elude tacklers from Virginia

Hurricanes defensive player #11, David Gilbert, runs for a touchdown after a fumble recovery
Hurricanes defensive player #11, David Gilbert, runs for a touchdown after a fumble recovery

Hurricanes defensive player #11, David Gilbert, runs for a touchdown after a fumble recovery
Hurricanes defensive player #11, David Gilbert, runs for a touchdown after a fumble recovery

Hurricanes defensive lineman #71, Anthony Chickillo, disrupts the pass attempt of Virginia QB #11, Greyson Lambert
Hurricanes defensive lineman #71, Anthony Chickillo, disrupts the pass attempt of Virginia QB #11, Greyson Lambert

Miami Hurricane seniors enjoy one last photo together after the victory against Virginia
Miami Hurricane seniors enjoy one last photo together after the victory against Virginia

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