QB1 in Morning, Orientation Speaker in Afternoon?

"Please welcome Brett Gabbert: number five on the field, number one in our hearts!"

With that introduction from assistant athletic director Lindsay Sparks, Miami junior quarterback Brett Gabbert took the microphone on one summer afternoon and began to speak to hundreds of people about the RedHawks' upcoming football season and other exciting opportunities for students around Miami Athletics.

This scene unfolded in the Shriver Center not once, not twice, but literally almost every weekday in the month of June. A variety of Miami Football student-athletes, including Gabbert, punter Dom Dzioban, quarterback Ben Tarpey, offensive lineman Caleb Shaffer and wide receiver Jalen Walker took turns sharing with the 18 different groups of incoming first-year students (and their families) at Orientation.

The RedHawks talked about the excitement of gameday at Yager Stadium. They highlighted Miami's 14-game home winning streak (the fourth-longest active streak in the nation). They spoke about the importance of having students in the crowd at athletic events, no matter the sport. They emphasized important dates on the fall schedule, including the home opener Sept. 10, the game vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 17, and key Saturdays like Homecoming (Oct. 8) and Family Weekend (Oct. 22). They explained how Code Red, Miami Athletics' student loyalty program, works and how new students can get signed up.

There were light-hearted moments mixed into the 10-minute presentation as well. Gabbert never failed to bring up his hometown of St. Louis and seek out students who had attended his former high school (or rival ones). Dzioban consistently drew a laugh when he mentioned that his family members are the only Miami fans on gameday who cheer when the RedHawks punt the ball.

One of the biggest reminders that the contingent of student-athletes pointed out in every session was that all Miami students get into regular-season home athletic events for free. Student attendance at Miami home football games increased 32% from the 2019 season to the 2021 season, and with the RedHawks picked to win the MAC East Division this year, the sense of excitement around Miami Football only continues to build. This fall will also mark the introduction of 'Rogers Rewards' to football games. As during the most recent men's and women's basketball seasons, 10 lucky students will win at least $500 apiece at each home game in 2022 due to generous gifts from donors Jack and Sue Rogers.

It was obvious in listening to Gabbert, Tarpey, Dzioban, and their teammates talk to the approximately 4,200 incoming students that attendance —and especially student attendance— makes a difference at Miami games. On more than one occasion, after they were done sharing at orientation, the players would gather around a table in the athletic communications and marketing offices to brainstorm ways to get Miami students excited about coming to games.

"This was a great opportunity to interact with students and let them know how much their support means to all athletics," Dzioban said later. "They truly make the games more exciting for us and we hope to give them an equally exciting experience in return as we're looking forward to a big season coming up.

"It also gives students more of an incentive to come out and support athletes they have met."

Sparks agreed. "We feel very lucky that our football program is so invested in creating a fun and unique gameday atmosphere for our fans, especially our students, that they would make the commitment every day to come talk with each Orientation session," said Sparks. "It conveys a different message when our student-athletes are inviting their fellow students to attend games, rather than hearing a similar message from a staff member or reading it on social media. All three are important, but the peer-to-peer message is the most meaningful.

"We have a lot to be excited about this upcoming year for not only Miami Football, but Miami Athletics as a whole, and we cannot wait to have the Class of 2026 and their families at games."

Single-game and season tickets are on sale now. One-year and four-year Code Red memberships are also available for all Miami students. Come meet the 2022 RedHawks and watch practice at Kickoff with the Community on Saturday, August 20 in Yager Stadium!

QB1 in Morning, Orientation Speaker in Afternoon?

Players Mentioned

Dom Dzioban

Brett Gabbert

Caleb Shaffer

Ben Tarpey

Jalen Walker

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