Dear Miami Hurricanes Family,
There are so many experiences and memories I will treasure of my 14 years at the U. Just a couple of weeks ago, we held one of my very favorite annual celebrations—the May commencement ceremonies—where some 3,500 students fulfilled their hard-earned dreams by graduating from the University of Miami. This year’s festivities were especially bittersweet because I knew they were my last as president, and I was deeply touched by the heartfelt good wishes of the Class of 2015, including the hugs from each and every Miller School of Medicine graduate! I’m so proud of all of you.
I also want to thank everyone for the amazing tribute of renaming the Student Activities Center in my honor—I was humbled and overwhelmed by everyone’s outpouring of love, and it was done with the customary Hurricanes’ flair and fun. It’s wonderful to know that generations of future UM students will work, play, and just chill at “Shalala’s.” I am equally thrilled with the planned Miller School medical education building.
The faculty and staff from the Rosenstiel, UHealth and Miller, and Coral Gables campuses have been gifted, inspiring, and dedicated. I thank you all for “teaching” The Prez all these years.
As I prepare to step down, I realize that saying goodbye to my U family isn’t easy—this institution and this community are an indelible part of my DNA. So instead of leaving with a sense of absence or loss, I want to express the greater sense of abundant gratitude I feel for all of you. With excuses to Rodgers and Hammerstein, here are a few of “My Favorite Things” I will always cherish…
Students at study and faculty teaching
Patients in mending and researchers reaching
Diners on gliders for lakeside swings
These are a few of my favorite things
Hammocks on palm trees, alumni a-many
Touchdowns and homeruns and three-pointers plenty
Orange and green and Sebastian’s white wings
These are a few of my favorite things
When the mood slumps
When the road bumps
When I’m feeling sad
I’ll simply remember my favorite things
And then I won’t feel so bad.
Finally, I want to thank my best friend Sebastian the Ibis for always being such a good sport. Here’s a link to his farewell video message to me, in case you haven’t had a chance to see it—I love that bird!
Thank you for the fellowship, for always rising to the occasion, for making me a part of the one and only U family. I’m sure you will give President-elect Frenk and his family a warm and gracious ’Canes welcome when they arrive in Miami. It’s great to be a Miami Hurricane!
I intend to return to the faculty when my leave is over. Until then, my thanks and best wishes.
Boom Baby. Go Canes. Thank you Donna. Canes also beat FIU at the Light.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | May 29, 2015 at 11:02 PM
Oh Donna, Oh Donna...we will miss U when you are gone!
Posted by: 86Cane | May 29, 2015 at 11:02 PM
Fine lady.
Great President.
Yes she had her flaws, but in moments of real crisis she was a pitbull defending and protecting the school she presided over and truly loved.
That's what you want in any leader.
Posted by: Go Canes | May 29, 2015 at 11:10 PM
One time for President Shalala...She was good for the University.
Posted by: CaneRock | May 29, 2015 at 11:35 PM
1pm ECU vs. FIU and 7pm scheduled start of Columbia vs. UM in Coral Gables.
Winners bracket in our opposing region is Oregon State vs. VCU (#2 vs. #4 seed). Texas-Dallas Bapt. loser goes home.
FU easily beat up on FAMU tonight, and USF won their game vs. FAU. Here's hoping the Bulls trample the Gators manana.
FSU and their #2 seed, Coll. of Charleston, both won today in extra innings to advance to their winner's bracket matchup.
All ACC teams won today, other than Clemson. Winners included UM, FSU, NDU, UVa, NCState and Louisville. I'd have to say that 7 of 64 teams being from the ACC is impressive to begin with, let alone knowing that at least 6 will still be around when down to the last 48.
Okay...college baseball geek out for the night.
Posted by: JCane | May 30, 2015 at 12:21 AM
JCane outstanding work. Gold Star 4 U.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | May 30, 2015 at 12:37 AM
JCane, thanks a lot for the overview. Saved me a lot of work trying to catch up with baseball action from last night.
Keep it up, even if this blog turns out to be dominated by the "Donna - saviour or angel of doom?" debate.
Posted by: VfB_Cane | May 30, 2015 at 04:01 AM
@smillerdegnan: Here's my story on @CanesBaseball win: Andy Suarez masterful as UM beats @FIUBaseball in NCAA tourney #RoadToOmaha http://t.co/dw6dSHGyZ0
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 07:54 AM
And thanks J cane!
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 07:55 AM
Posted by: Go Canes | May 27, 2015 at 10:26 PM
"Record season ticket sales"...Citation please.
"Need top to bottom talent to compete".... Our talent was superior, top to bottom, against all but 2 opponents last year. Talent is not our problem.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | May 30, 2015 at 09:36 AM
Hurricanes have sold more than 31,000 season tickets this season – “more than we’ve ever sold since we moved to Sun Life Stadium in 2008,’’ said Chris Freet, UM’s senior associate athletic director for communications, marketing and sales. "We're really pleased, really excited."
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 09:55 AM
And the rest of that sentence said to compete for the final four.
I said we underachieved, but we we're never going to be a playoff team, I don't care who's coaching that team.
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 10:05 AM
P.O.P Pimp squad baby...momma I love ya...hold it down!!!
Posted by: WWIN | May 30, 2015 at 11:20 AM
^^^^^^^^^^
oh my bad...wrong Donna! I thought we was talking about Donna Goudeau!!!
Posted by: WWIN | May 30, 2015 at 11:24 AM
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2014/08/the-hurricanes-have-sold-more-than-31000-season-tickets-this-season-more-than-weve-ever-sold-since-we-moved-to-su.html
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 12:16 PM
@CanesInSight: 2016 QB Allison Ready for Elite 11 Experience: 2016 Palmetto (Fla.) quarterback and Miami… http://t.co/c8yciNhZXk
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 12:17 PM
If you don't know we've had increasing season ticket sales the last few years, you haven't been paying attention.
If you don't know ticket sales were actually worse during our last championship, you haven't been going to games.
GoCanes, from everything I've seen, doesn't make stuff up.
Posted by: Lur-ker | May 30, 2015 at 01:20 PM
In today's politically correct environment, Tad Foote would have give the football team the death penalty himself in late 2011. That would have been the politically correct thing to do, and he would have been LAUDED for it. Joe Theisman and the entire national media would have applauded him. So would Shalala had she done it. That's why it was courageous of her to go against type and defend the school with the vigor that she did. It's very rare to see.
Posted by: TonyCane | May 30, 2015 at 02:37 PM
TonyCane...people hated UM more then, than they do now.
It would've been easier for Foote to drop the program then, than it is now...
but He didn't.
#TBE!
Posted by: CaneRock | May 30, 2015 at 02:55 PM
Refreshing truthfulness
It's been said before, let's not forget her incredible leadership versus the NCAA
Posted by: Lur-ker | May 30, 2015 at 02:55 PM
I was referring to TonyCane
Posted by: Lur-ker | May 30, 2015 at 02:56 PM
For those following baseball, we have the #2 seed formally eliminated. ECU goes home, having been shut out, 2-0, by FIU. FIU scored 2 in the 8th for the second straight game, but this time it was the difference. They move on to face the loser of tonight's game, with that winner then earning the right to have to defeat tonight's winner twice to advance to the superregional. That's why tonight's game means everything. Assuming the U wins, they'd only have to win once more to advance and be a superregional host.
In other regional action, Mercer was eliminated after their heartbreaking loss to FSU last night in a 1-0 loss to Auburn.
FAMU is getting thumped by FAU in the Gainesville regional.
Posted by: JCane | May 30, 2015 at 03:54 PM
Thx for the nice thoughts earlier all. I'll try to update later as time allows if folks are still interested.
Posted by: JCane | May 30, 2015 at 04:27 PM
Thanks Jcane. I'm sure everybody appreciates it.
The atmosphere at the Light last night was incredible. Can't wait to get back there tonight.
Two more wins by any means necessary.
Survive and advance.
Posted by: Lur-ker | May 30, 2015 at 04:39 PM
JCane definitely interested. Lurker have a blast and Go Canes.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | May 30, 2015 at 05:18 PM
TonyCane...people hated UM more then, than they do now.
It would've been easier for Foote to drop the program then, than it is now...
but He didn't.
#TBE!
Posted by: CaneRock | May 30, 2015 at 02:55 PM
It's just my opinion, and you're right, it would have been easier in some respects for Foote to drop it in the 80s. But a few factors:
1) Less politically correct time period.
2) Miami was only just upsetting the "good ol boy" college football establishment, but lacked the reputation that it would unfairly garner of representing the worst of sports.
3) Football was a revenue driver for a smaller school.
4) Football was putting Miami on the map of the nation, with students coming to Coral Gables because of the program.
As much as Foote might have looked at the program with distaste in the 1980s (like former University of Florida president John Lombardi, who in 1990 floated the idea of de-emphasizing Gators football), he had too many reasons to stick with it.
Transplant Tad Foote to 2006 and those factors would have changed. I think (in my opinion) that he would bow to political and academic pressure. At the very least Brandon Merriweather, Anthony Reddick and others would have been kicked off the team and held up as sacrifices to placate national media. And in 2011, I think he would have likely shut the program down for the duration of the NCAA investigation.
Posted by: TonyCane | May 30, 2015 at 05:53 PM
TonyCane...good points, but I have to take exception with #2. IIRC, UM had already won 4 NCs...had already had the bench clearing brawls with Colorado,South Carolina, & SDSU...we had already influenced the penalties for on field celebrations..the fatigues,Camp Outlaw, and telling crappy valley to kiss our a$$e$ at that racist @$$ banquet...so yeah, by the time the last investigation & sanctions came around, we had already upset the "good ole' boy college football establishment.
Posted by: CaneRock | May 30, 2015 at 06:17 PM
@DavidJNeal: #FIU Dopico strikes out Harman looking for a 2-0 win. FIU will play at 1 p.m. against the loser of #Canes-Columbia. #NCAABaseball
Posted by: Go Canes | May 30, 2015 at 06:22 PM
Miami 0
Columbia 0
Heading to top of 2nd. Miami's the visiting team tonight.
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:26 PM
David Thompson singles. 1 on with 0 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:30 PM
Kennedy walks....guys on 1st and 2nd with 0 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:33 PM
Lopez singles up the middle...Thompson stops at 3rd. Bases loaded with 0 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:37 PM
Boom! Abreu doubles scoring 2 runs!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:38 PM
Heyward singles scoring 1 run. Runners on 1st and 3rd still 0 outs. Canes lead 3-0
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:43 PM
Eusabio walks. Bases loaded with 0 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:44 PM
There's action starting in the Columbia bullpen
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:45 PM
Barr grounds into fielders choice....Runner scores! Canes lead 4-0 with 1 out
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:47 PM
Canes 4
Columbia 0
Heading to bottom 2
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:48 PM
Columbia homers, making the score 4-1
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:51 PM
Canes get 1 out
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:53 PM
Columbia has runner on 1st with 1 out
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:55 PM
Double Boom! Miami turns 2
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:57 PM
Miami 4
Columbia 1
Heading to top 3
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 07:58 PM
Kennedy flies out to right....1 out
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:00 PM
Thompson flues out to deep right....2 out
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:02 PM
Collins singles....still 2 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:03 PM
Miami 4
Columbia 1
Heading to bottom 3
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:04 PM
1 down
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:09 PM
2 outs
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:10 PM
1-2-3 inning.
Miami 4
Columbia 1
Heading to top 4
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | May 30, 2015 at 08:12 PM