Miami, FL

Heat president emotional as Pat Riley Court unveiled

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2024

Heat president emotional as Pat Riley Court unveiled

MIAMI – Pat Riley stood in front of 20,000 people on Wednesday night. And they all seemed to be cheering as the Miami Heat officially dedicated their home court in his honor during halftime of the season opener against the Orlando Magic.

But when it was time to end his remarks and close the halftime celebration of “Pat Riley Court,” the Basketball Hall of Famer and team president was speaking to just one person — his wife, Chris.

“It will end here one day. And that stamp here and that stamp over there, that’s what it’s all about, sweetie,” Riley said, pointing to the two spots on the court that now bear his signature and name. “We made it. We made it. I love you. Thank you.”

Plenty of former players — Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Mike Miller and Jamal Mashburn among them — came back for the celebration, and many others sent acknowledgements to Riley. Getting the court named for him was not his idea; Heat managing general partner Micky Arison told Riley of the move on Sept. 22, catching him completely by surprise.

“This is beyond even my imagination of a reward for a man’s life’s work,” Riley said. “We are huge dreamers and Micky has made mine. It wasn’t something I wanted or pursued, but I’m going to take it.”

Riley came to Miami in 1995 to become coach and team president. He stepped down from coaching twice — first in 2003, then again and for good in 2008 — but not before leading Miami to its first title in 2006.

When he gave up coaching for the final time, he promoted Erik Spoelstra to be his replacement. Spoelstra is entering Year 17 in the role.

“I just think it’s a really special moment, not only for myself but for so many of us in the building,” said Spoelstra, who — along with the rest of his coaches — wore Nike Cortez sneakers Wednesday as a tribute to Riley, who preferred them when he coached. “These years are going by fast; 30 years is just like a blink of an eye. He’s brought us all along on the ride and we’re forever grateful for that. He’s given us a blueprint to follow that leads to winning.”

The piece of the court that Riley got as a commemorative plaque read “On September 1, 1995, the future of the Miami Heat changed forever.” Alonzo Mourning, now a Heat vice president, was the first big-name player that Riley brought to South Florida.

“Coach, 30 years ago you welcomed me to this franchise with an open heart and a singular vision to host a championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard,” Mourning said. “And since our very first season here in Miami, you’ve done nothing but deliver on that vision again and again and again — with a blend of class and competitiveness that this game has never and will never witness again.”

Riley pointed out that he coached 188 players in his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York and Miami — more than 100 of them in his Heat days alone. He thanked them, thanked his staff, other executives, his family and more.

But it was his wife, who helped organize Wednesday’s event, who was the centerpiece of his remarks over and over again. Riley even detailed how they met.

“I want to get this one right,” Riley said. “It was one summer night on a crowded mezzanine in San Diego and I saw perfect. The most beautiful woman ever, her flowered summer dress swaying softly as she walked towards me. Saw those hazel eyes and my heart leapt. … I went for her like Udonis Haslem is going to go for a loose ball on that court right there.”

The Heat even aired the clip of the private meeting where Arison told Riley that he and his son Nick, the team’s CEO, decided that the court would bear his name. Riley looked shocked.

“Enjoy it,” Arison told Riley. “It’s going to be there forever.”

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Miami, FL

Bengals Dismantle Dolphins 45-21 | POSTGAME RECAP, NOTES & QUOTES

Published

4 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Bengals Dismantle Dolphins 45-21 | POSTGAME RECAP, NOTES & QUOTES

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Bengals’ defense shut down the Dolphins’ vaunted running game and then set it sights on rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers with four straight turnovers (one a fourth-and-one stop) to begin the second half in Sunday’s 45-21 victory over Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.

Quarterback Joe Burrow’s offense turned the four turnovers into four touchdowns, three of them for running back Chase Brown in a stunning third quarter that included the first career interceptions for rookie linebacker Barrett Carter and fifth-year cornerback Jalen Davis.

In leading the Bengals to their most points in a dozen years, Burrow sifted his second-best passer rating of his career at 146.5 on four touchdowns and 309 yards generated by 25 of 32 passing. And that was with 11:22 to go in the game, when he was relieved by Joe Flacco.

The turning point came on the first drive of the second half when Dolphins running back De’Von Achane’s 31-yard screen pass on third-and four was negated by an offensive pass interference call. On the next play, Bengals safety Jordan Battle put his helmet on the ball after tight end Greg Dulicich caught a 10-yarder. The ball popped out and defensive end Myles Murphy recovered at the Dolphins’ 34-yard line.

The offense delivered in six plays, capped by a Burrow flip to Chase Brown for a nine-yard touchdown pass that made it 24-14 less than six minutes into the half.

Brown caught it at the five-yard line and spun inside to leave Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the NFL’s leading tackler, in the lurch on his way to scoring both through the air and ground in the same game for the third time this season.

The Bengals took a 17-14 lead late in the first half when Burrow engineered a one-minute touchdown drive, keeping it alive on third-and-10 from the Miami 38 when he escaped Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler and then flung it short across his body to tight end Drew Sample for a 27-yard gain.

Halfback Samaje Perine hammered home a four-yard touchdown run with 1:24 left in the half, and the Bengals’ defense snuffed out any hope of Miami doubling up when they received the second-half kickoff.

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Miami, FL

Texas A&M takeaways: Aggies offense sputters in playoff loss to Miami

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1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Texas A&M takeaways: Aggies offense sputters in playoff loss to Miami

Battered Aggie Syndrome strikes again.

Texas A&M football’s season ended in the first round of the College Football Playoff, falling Saturday to Miami 10-3. The Aggies’ offense stood on the 5-yard line with 24 seconds left and a chance to tie the game when Hurricanes defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted quarterback Marcel Reed, ending the dream of a CFP quarterfinal against Ohio State.

MORE: Recap from Texas A&M’s College Football Playoff loss to Miami

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Texas A&M outgained Miami 326-278 in total yards of offense and ran 26 more plays. However, the Aggies lost the turnover battle three to one and failed to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

Here are some takeaways from Texas A&M’s loss:

Texas A&M’s inability to capitalize

After tying the game 3-3 to start the fourth quarter, Texas A&M found momentum when safety Dalton Brooks ripped the ball out of Malachi Toney’s hands with 7 minutes, 11 seconds left. The Aggies recovered the fumble at their own 47-yard line, but were unable to make anything of the field position, punting after a single first down.

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The defense had held firm for all of three quarters, allowing a field goal and holding Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck to 80 passing yards. But the offense was a different story, as untimely turnovers and inaccurate passes from Reed kept the unit from ever finding a rhythm.

Reed’s best drive of the day came after Miami went up 10-3. With just under two minutes remaining, he led the Aggies 70 yards in 10 plays. He made quick decisions, used his legs effectively and connected with wide receiver KC Concepcion for a 14-yard completion to set up first-and-goal. But the Aggies couldn’t close out the drive.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) is tackled during the round one College Football Playoff game against Miami at Kyle Field on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman

Aggies’ run defense collapses

The Aggies allowed 38 yards rushing in the first half, stonewalling the Hurricanes’ offensive line and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. But Miami began to get its run game churning in the third quarter, rushing for 47 yards on nine attempts. An injury at the end of the period to Aggies defensive lineman Albert Regis — one of their best run defenders — exacerbated the issue. Fletcher proceeded to rip off a 56-yard run with 4:01 remaining, which set up the game-winning 11-yard jet sweep pass to Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney.

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The Aggies allowed 91 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, despite holding the Hurricanes to 85 yards for the rest of the game.

A special teams spectacle

With winds gusting up to about 30 mph, each team’s kickers struggled to find the uprights in Kyle Field.

Aggies kicker Jared Zirkel began the day by mis-hitting a 22-yard attempt, allowing Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain to block the low-driven kick. Miami’s Carter Davis, who’d missed only two kicks all season, saw his 47-yard field goal in the second quarter fly wide right of the post. He missed attempts from 40 and 35 yards as well.

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Instead of sticking with Zirkel, A&M head coach Mike Elko turned to former starter Randy Bond, who was 11-for-18 entering the game. The kicker took advantage of his opportunity, tying the game on a 35-yard field goal despite a bad hold.

Elko dug into his bag of tricks toward the end of the second half. Aggies punter Tyler White faked a punt with less than two minutes remaining in the half, but defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe failed to bring in White’s pass.

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Miami, FL

Why did Carson Beck transfer to Miami? Revisiting ex-Georgia QB’s move

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Why did Carson Beck transfer to Miami? Revisiting ex-Georgia QB’s move

This time last year, Carson Beck had his first College Football Playoff start taken away from him due to a season-ending elbow injury in the SEC Championship game.

Fast forward a year and the veteran quarterback is set to make that long-awaited start against No. 7 Texas A&M at noon ET inside Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

Only, it isn’t happening with the team he led to the CFP last season.

Instead, it comes with No. 10 Miami, which, just like Beck, is making its debut in college football’s biggest stage.

“It’s honestly unreal to just kind of step back and look at the whole of everything that’s happened,” Beck said in a Dec. 17 interview. “And it’s surreal to get to this point, honestly and to realize everything I’ve been through and realize the adversity that I’ve had to face and overcome.”

Beck has led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record this season and is looking to lead the program to its first CFP win. Should Miami pull off the upset against Texas A&M, the Hurricanes will advance to the Cotton Bowl CFP quarterfinal against No. 2 Ohio State on New Year’s Eve.

Here’s a look back at why Beck transferred to Miami:

Where did Carson Beck transfer from?

Beck transferred from Georgia. He spent five seasons with the Bulldogs, with his final years coming as the starting quarterback.

Why did Carson Beck transfer to Miami?

The decision by the ex-Georgia quarterback to enter the portal was a head-scratching one to an extent, largely because he announced on Dec. 28 on his social media he was declaring for the NFL draft.

“I will forever cherish the memories that have been made,” Beck wrote in that initial NFL declaration post. “Thank you Dawg Nation for the time I’ve been here and to those who’ve supported and believed in me, thank you. It’s been an incredible journey and all these moments have ultimately led me to take the next step in my football career.”

He officially announced on Jan. 9 he was entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal. He announced his decision to return home to the state of Florida to play for the Hurricanes on Jan. 10. As noted by USA TODAY Sports’ Matt Hayes, Georgia wanted to keep Beck in Athens. One of the Bulldogs’ SEC rivals, Alabama, also showed an interest in Beck before he committed to Miami.

As for the reason behind Beck’s decision to transfer, that can likely be pointed to his season-ending elbow injury that he sustained during the SEC championship. Since he needed surgery to repair his UCL in his throwing arm, Beck wouldn’t have been able to throw during the heart of the NFL draft workout schedule with teams.

“This is my future, and I think that this decision is one of the better decisions I’ve made,” Beck said at ACC Kickoff in July. “Just trying to develop those relationships and that camaraderie, it’s just reinforced my decision in a positive way.”

Carson Beck stats

Here’s a look at Beck’s career stats at Georgia and Miami:

2021 (Georgia): 10 of 23 passing (43.5%) for 176 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions
2022 (Georgia): 26 of 35 passing (74.3%) for 310 yards with four touchdowns
2023 (Georgia): 302 of 417 passing (72.4%) for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions; 116 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 60 carries
2024 (Georgia): 290 of 448 passing (64.7%) for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions; 71 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 55 carries
2025 (Miami): 263 of 353 passing (74.7%) for 3,072 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions; 39 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on 38 carries

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