To the University of Miami Community,

We are thrilled to announce that earlier today, the Board of Trustees, in consultation with our deans, faculty representatives, and student leaders, unanimously appointed Joe Echevarria as the seventh president of the University of Miami. This decision, shaped by input from stakeholders across our campuses and community over the past four months, comes at a pivotal moment for higher education, our nation, Miami, and our University.

Nearly a century ago, our founders envisioned an institution that would not only nurture intellectual and cultural growth but also contribute to the rise of a world-class city. The University of Miami has consistently fulfilled this vision. As we prepare to welcome thousands of alumni back to campus for Homecoming next week, it is only fitting that the person chosen to lead us into our next chapter embodies our mission—a life transformed by the U.

Fifty years ago, Joe began his journey here as an aspiring young student from the Bronx, and as he often emphasizes, his path to leadership would not have been possible without the profound influence the University has had on his life.

Joe Echevarria is a seasoned and proven leader. His remarkable achievements as a chief executive, first in the private sector and over the past six years in service to our mission, speak for themselves. His deep commitment to his alma mater and his unwavering passion for the work our dedicated faculty and staff perform every day are unparalleled.

Joe knows and understands complex institutions. Joe’s vast experience in managing complexity is evident from his 36 years at Deloitte LLP, a global provider of professional services, where he led tens of thousands of professionals in more than 100 cities across five continents and multiple industries. Here at the U, he has immersed himself in our academic environment, working closely with faculty and academic leaders, diving deep into our processes, and empowering the teams closest to our mission to strive for excellence.

Joe’s unwavering dedication to advancing our academic excellence is unmistakable. In his role as CEO of UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, he swiftly recognized the critical need to prioritize and empower the professionals who care for our patients, fuel innovation, and shape the next generation of healthcare leaders. As both CEO and Acting President, Joe has been a steadfast advocate for transparency and a strong champion of honoring and supporting our academic faculty. By implementing a forward-thinking model that optimizes resources, he ensures that initiatives and faculty are empowered to continue delivering the exceptional education and research worthy of our standing in the prestigious Association of American Universities.

Joe is a ’Cane through and through. He embodies our mission and stands with our teams—in classrooms, clinics, labs, and on fields of competition worldwide. His personal journey has been intertwined with the U since the day he first stepped foot on campus 50 years ago.

The decision to appoint Joe was unanimously endorsed by the Board of Trustees, with strong support from our faculty leadership and the broader University community. In an era where the value of higher education is frequently challenged, we are confident that the University of Miami is uniquely positioned to continue its leadership.

The role of a university president has never been more critical. Leadership matters, and it requires unwavering dedication to the institution, the ability to ask tough questions, make difficult decisions, navigate uncertainty, attract and retain top talent, and relentlessly pursue operational and academic excellence.

Joe embodies these qualities in abundance. He is a proven leader, and we are fortunate that he has agreed to serve his alma mater with clarity, conviction, and a deep sense of commitment.

Please join me in extending our gratitude to the consultative committee for their outstanding work and guidance during this transition. Let us also congratulate Joe on his new role. We are confident that, under his steady leadership, the U will continue its journey toward excellence and continuous improvement.

With confidence in our shared future,

Manny Kadre
Chair, Board of Trustees
University of Miami

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Comment here before during and after the game.

Kickoff is set for noon on Saturday October 19th.

What are your takeaways of the Hurricanes at the mid-season mark?

Pro Football Focus released its mid-season All American Team​

• Cam Ward is PFF's All-American quarterback: The Miami passer boasts the highest PFF passing grade in college football this year.​

Quarterback: Cam Ward, Miami (FL)​

No. 6 Miami has its highest AP poll ranking in seven years, thanks to its superstar transfer from Washington State. Ward’s 91.3 PFF passing grade this season leads all quarterbacks, while his 20 passing touchdowns are tied for the most. He ranks second in the FBS in passing yards (2,219) and tied for third in big-time throws (17).

Ward was the only Hurricane named to the team.

Cam Ward's touchdown celebration is sweeping the nation and many wondered how it originated and what it all means.

ESPN's Andrea Adelson with the story.

For weeks, the touchdown celebration that Cam Ward ushered into the national spotlight was surrounded with so much mystery, even he demurred when asked for a deeper meaning.

"I don't know if the world's ready for that right now," he said with a laugh a few weeks ago.

After some gentle prodding, though, he relented.

"You have to ask my old OC, Ben Arbuckle, Washington State," Ward explained.

Challenge accepted.

Arbuckle chuckles when asked about the celebration that Ward has brought to life -- across college football and into the NFL.

"The Zombieland," Arbuckle says. "It's a national treasure now."

Arbuckle arrived as the offensive coordinator at Washington State in 2023 after serving as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky. In order to familiarize Ward with the offense he wanted to run, Arbuckle showed him cut-ups from his time with the Hilltoppers.

It was during one of those sessions that Ward noticed a player doing a unique celebration after scoring a touchdown. He placed his left hand over his face mask and flopped his right arm straight in front of him. Intrigued, Ward asked Arbuckle, "What is he doing?"

Arbuckle told him about Zombieland. Ward said simply, "I'm going to start doing it."

That player Ward noticed? Western Kentucky receiver Daewood Davis. But what exactly does Zombieland mean? Arbuckle said his players told him it meant they were telling their opponents, "You stink like a zombie."

In a phone interview with ESPN, Davis explained the original meaning. During fall camp in 2022, Davis said one of his teammates, a defensive back named Upton Stout, first did the celebration after a pass breakup. "It came out of nowhere," Davis said. Then he decided to do it after scoring a touchdown. He remembers defensive back Kahlef Hailassie doing it, too. Before long, the entire team used it as its signature celebration.

Now it needed a name. The players came up with "Zombieland" because zombies are unstoppable and hard to kill. Davis proudly proclaimed he was the first player to do the celebration on national television when he did it following a touchdown catch against Indiana in 2022.

Soon, the Hilltoppers started attaching different meanings to Zombieland, including a jab at their opponents for well, stinking like a zombie. Davis said they tried hard to make the celebration go viral in 2022 but had no luck. The first time he saw Ward do it, he was so shocked, he turned to his wife and said, "He's doing our celebration!"

"I didn't even know how he knew about it," Davis said. "I forgot our old OC went to Wazzu."

Ward actually started doing it at Washington State in 2023, as he promised Arbuckle he would. The first time he did it in a game was against Oregon State last September. Ward threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams on the second play of the game.

"Cam got hit when he threw it, but he stayed on his feet. So he drifted over to the far sideline and he gave [then-Oregon State coach] Jonathan Smith the Zombieland right in his face," Arbuckle said. "And I was like, 'Oh my god.'"

Ward knew he would continue doing the celebration once he transferred to Miami. "I didn't invent it, but I'm going to blow it up. The whole country is doing it now."

Earlier this season, Washington State faced San Jose State and former Wazzu quarterback Emmett Brown. "He threw like four touchdowns and he hit the celebration every single time," Arbuckle said. "I was like, 'Oh, we're getting Zombied right now.'"

Davis was watching when Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco 49ers hit the celebration a few weeks ago against Seattle, and he made sure to let the world know on social media where it all began.

"It's surreal," Davis said. "To see NFL players hitting it, Cam hitting it, there's some other college players hitting it, man, it's like we really set a trend. We left our piece of us in football. When I see someone do it, I can be like, 'That's me right there.'" -- ESPN's Andrea Adelson

ESPN's Jordan Reid provides his take on where Cam Ward is projected to be selected after week 7

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ESPN ranked the unbeaten teams after week 7

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After week seven of the college football season, Miami is projected to make the playoffs once again.

According to Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura, ESPN projects Miami to win the ACC and get a first-round bye in the inaugural 12-team playoff.


Wednesday, Jan. 1

CFP quarterfinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Miami
Schlabach: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 1 Texas

CFP quarterfinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Boise State
Schlabach: No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 3 Miami

Both Bonagura and Schlabach predict Miami will be eliminated in the quarterfinals. For the second consecutive week Bonagura predicts Penn State will beat Miami, while Schlabach believes the Hurricanes will lose to the Georgia Bulldogs.


Athlon Sports projects the Canes to make the quarters and be eliminated by Georgia.

College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

Peach Bowl (Jan. 1)
Projection: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Georgia

Action Network predicts Miami will get a first-round bye as well and be eliminated by Georgia.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Jan. 1 •
Atlanta, GA

Georgia (-7) vs. Miami

Hurricanes are a four and a half point favorite (-4.5) against Louisville. Cards didn't look very convincing against Virginia, but they have playmakers at WR and a good QB that can challenge our secondary. I hope we benefit from the extra week of prep!

ESPN's draft expert Mel Kiper released an updated draft board for the 2025 NFL Draft

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Miami did well in flipping local four-star wide receiver Josh Moore; the Hurricanes could have more on the way.

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