Michael Irvin has always worn his emotions on his sleeve, going all the way back to his glorious days as a Miami Hurricane.
He was the quintessential Cane back in the 1980s, when the Miami football dynasty was king. Irvin was a phenomenal wide receiver, but that was only half the story. That was only on the field, because off the field he was a show in itself. Irvin could celebrate a touchdown or a victory with the best of them back then, and that was the element he found himself in on Saturday in College Station.
Because there was definitely something to celebrate for Irvin’s Hurricanes, who outlasted Texas A&M in a 10-3 defensive slugfest to advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Naturally, Irvin was on hand for the grand occasion, and he let loose as only he can, kissing head coach Mario Cristobal during his victorious postgame interview.
But that wasn’t the end of it all for Irvin, because of course there had to be more. Irvin just happened to have a belt with him, and after the Canes big win he unleashed a whipping frenzy on an Aggies jersey as a group of Miami fans loved every second of it. It was something to see, unless you’re a Texas A&M fan, as Irvin was right in that familiar celebration element.
Next up for Miami will be that quarterfinal collision with defending national champion Ohio State on New Year’s Eve night. One would bet the house that Irvin will be in the house for that matchup in Arlington, Texas.
And what if the Hurricanes pull off another upset? The Irvin celebration meter if that happens would be another must-see moment, like he’s always been famous for.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
