MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — One of the few times the N.F.L. lets its hair down is during certain broadcasts, notably NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” when the starters for each team give their names and colleges in quick video introductions.
There is one alma mater whose name is always announced by its alumni with the same words and in the same way, in a businesslike tone mixing seriousness and pride, and with no room for doubt about which team they are referring to. It is the most generic of nicknames: The U.
A reference to the “U” that makes up the University of Miami logo, the moniker reflects the team’s track record of producing exciting stars, its brash affect, and its raucous city.