This weekend marks the final time that the Miami Hurricanes will play a home game in the Orange Bowl, as the struggling ‘Canes take on the Virginia Cavaliers. It’s sure to be an interesting evening, with 60-some years of tradition coming to a close.

However, if Miami students are planning on rushing the field after the game, the Miami police may have a surprise waiting for them.

An email arrived from the Miami administration on Wednesday, informing anyone who’s thinking of hopping over the railing and onto the field that bad things will happen. Here’s an excerpt from the email, signed by university president Donna Shalala and the head football coach, Randy Shannon:

We hope you’ll join us for the game, which will be broadcast on national television and will feature an exciting halftime show as well as other special activities to mark the historic occasion. We are counting on all our fans to make the University proud in front of millions of viewers by displaying the highest level of spirit, sportsmanship, and decorum. We certainly don’t want to leave the Orange Bowl on a down note.

We raise this matter because it has come to our attention that some fans wish to rush the field at the end of the game—a move that would have serious consequences indeed. Security will be in full force, with at least 300 City of Miami law enforcement officers assigned to the field at the conclusion of the game. They plan to arrest any fans who rush the field or vandalize the stadium in an attempt to secure a memento.

The University will also enforce its own disciplinary code, and any UM students who rush the field may face major discipline charges. Please note that ACC rules clearly prohibit rushing the field at any time, and FIU is scheduled to play three more games at the Orange Bowl after November 10.

Something tells me the end of this game might not go too well, particularly if the Hurricanes pull out the victory. I mean, geez…300 cops versus about 35,000 fans in the lower bowl? And of those, probably three to four thousand are students.

I get the feeling that it’s gonna be messy. We’ll try to have some pictures of the after-party from the O.B. following the game.