Can Miami book a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and please win a football national championship next season? I mean, it’s the least the team can do for my senior year, right?

Last night while watching a sneak preview of “The U,” which was directed by UM alumnus Billy Corben, that’s all I could think about. And I’m sure that’s what everyone else in the Bill Cosford Cinema was thinking too.

It was ironic that ESPN Films picked up the documentary before this year’s media coverage began about “swagger” and the “U being back.” It’s almost as if they saw the revitalization of the program before anyone else, even those of us in Coral Gables.

But the thing is, these players aren’t like Randal “Thrill” Hill or Melvin Bratton. They don’t start fights and practice celebration dances that the stiff-shirted NCAA bans (and leads to a record 202 penalty yards in a 46-3 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl).

Head coach Randy Shannon’s group of boys may come from the same neighborhoods as the legendary 80s players did, but luckily there’s not the same political environment taking place in the city.

Oh, and just the other day the program received notice as a recipient of the American Football Coaches Association’s 2009 Academic Achievement Award.

Guess the co-winner. Take one shot. None other than bitter rival (from the film’s focus days), Notre Dame.

As a film, of course there are better. But if you’re a fan or hater of all things orange and green, it’s sure to entertain you.

Wide receiver LaRon Byrd sat behind me at the screening, and being a big fan of Michael Irvin (that’s why he wears No. 47), he seemed moved on his Facebook status afterward…enough to win next year? Inspire his teammates? Hopefully so.

I can guarantee you one thing: As you finish watching the documentary that followed Tim Tebow crying again (Thanks for that line, Corben!), you’ll want to download the U song by Uncle Luke and Honor Roll Music.

Some (semi-SPOILER-filled) highlights from the film are below. For more information on the film, visit: http://30for30.espn.com/film/the-u.html

• Anything Lamar Thomas says is gold, including comments about keeping track of girls after the 1991 national championship and the Florida Gators being too chicken to play UM.
• Bernie Kosar. You will see what I mean on Saturday night.
• Everyone, especially the students, were shocked to hear Shannon’s name mentioned with the scandal that got the program in big trouble and in need of a disciplinarian (Butch Davis).
• Can we revive the 1980s short jerseys that showed the players’ stomachs? Clearly it worked during the decade…And it’s the final year for students born in the decade!
• You thought learning “Single Ladies” dance moves was fun? DVR the film and rewind to some of the unbelievable celebrations the boys came up with.