45 years. First took notice of UM in 1980 when the Hurricanes were ranked and made the Peach Bowl. 9 wins in 1980, 9 wins in 1981, and then the National Championship in 1983. Pretty much sealed where I was going to college.
Plus, at around the same time...Ottis Anderson was tearing **** up for the St. Louis Cardinals, and my entire family was from The Lou and we were all Cardinals fans (baseball and football).