1988 Miami was a band reunion. Was the point more recently always to treat it like other schools treat "homecoming?" (Otherwise unattractive matchup...)

"Parent games" when I was a student were definitely treated the way you describe homecomings. They were always the two biggest snoozer home games.

Miami 88 is a little surprising. They were a Johnny-come-lately that decade, but certainly by around '86 the planners should have known that would be a big game. The 88 schedule was mostly a gauntlet though.

All the other home games that year had the visiting band in the stands.

Miami had a small band that didn't travel.