>>> Fans have been discussing Larry Coker’s recent comments to the media as practice for the Smurf Turf Bowl is underway. When asked if it was important for Miami to retain Mario Cristobal, Coker quipped, “Not from my standpoint it’s not. I’m not here. Maybe to the players and the new head coach, but it has no effect on me.”
When asked about the hiring of Randy Shannon, Coker retorted with, “Obviously they felt good about the direction we were going or they wouldn’t have hired someone from my staff that I hired.”
I feel for Coker, who seems to be backpedaling here. I read a comment online where someone perfectly described the situation. It was compared to getting dumped by your girl, a new guy moving in and you asking if you can still sleep on the couch.
In theory, I like that Coker gets one last hurrah in coaching the bowl game. Honestly, that’s my lone reason for believing Miami will upend Nevada on New Years Eve. The kids will rally one last time around the coach they know and love. A day later the Shannon Era officially starts. It isn’t fair to hand the new coach a 6-6 team and put a potential bowl loss on his shoulders. Randy has an uphill battle as it is. He doesn’t deserve an 0-1 record with Coker’s team.
That said, the minute Miami stayed in house with the Shannon hiring, that should’ve been the end for Coker. This seeming uncomfortable sitaution of having the new coach on the field in his old role, working in tandem with a guy who was fired and is in his final days? It’s not professional.
There is a hiring and firing process adhered to in corporate America and keeping the canned guy on board to work with the assistant who just took his job? That’s pretty much the exact opposite of how it’d go in the real world. Coker would’ve signed his papers, said his goodbyes, been escorted out by security and that’d have been it. I should know. LC isn’t the only one around here who’s been canned in his life. At least I got out with a boat load of Post-It notes and pens.
>>> Speaking of Cristobal, the FIU heat is on and it’s nearing decision time. The 36-year old Miami assistant can have the keys to the Golden Panters’ program if he wants it. Former Miami AD Pete Garcia has rolled out the blue and gold carpet. The hefty pay raise is there and all Cristobal has to do is give the yay or nay.
Some have criticized the current Miami OL coach for dragging out the process and that’s dead wrong. Cristobal is faced with a major fork in the road here. “Head Coach” looks great on the resume and can open doors in the future, but not if he fails miserably with a program that went 0-12 in 2006.
Turn FIU around and Cristobal will prove his mettle. No other Division-I program will take a chance on an unknown like him. It’s either FIU or remain at The U, do a good job and get that call in the next 2-3 years for a more prestegious position.
Cristobal has a lot to mull over here and for the media to call him “evasive” for not discussing the FIU interview on Friday, that’s low brow. He’s got a lot to mull over here. Give the guy some breathing room. A lesser position at a program he played for and adores, which will be a stepping stone to a better gig down the road? Or the lesser head coaching opportunity now with likely four times the salary and a hundred times the headache?
Good luck whichever way you choose, Mario. Both are a risk and both can yield great rewards.
>>> James Bryant has been suspended for the bowl game for violating team policy. Seems Bryant rents space in Coker’s doghouse. Will that continue with Shannon as the head coach? Bryant rarely saw the field as a linebacker for Shannon’s defense. Curious to see how this plays out being that transfer rumors have surrounded the Pennsylvania native since he first stepped foot on campus in 2004.
>>> RB Andrew Johnson wasn’t at practice on Friday, fueling transfer rumors. Johnson has been buried on the depth chart since 2004 and suffered a torn ACL before the 2005 season. Tyrone Moss is gone next season, but Javarris James and Charlie Jones return. Miami is still in the running for Graig Cooper come signing day and Kylan Robinson is expected to contribute next season, making Johnson the odd man out.
>>> Kevin Rogers, quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings, looks to be the lead candidate for the vacant offensive coaching position at Miami. Word is that Shannon contacted the Vikings in regards to Rogers but nothing can be accomplished until after their final regular season game on December 31st.
The Rogers chatter has drown out any rumors regarding recently fired Arizona State coach, Dirk Koetter. There hasn’t been any commentary regarding Koetter being interested in Miami. The only talk is that he and Shannon met in the offseason and have a professional relationship. Conventional wisdom says Koetter is waiting to see if any other head coaching gigs come calling before taking a demotion, but you have to believer offensive coordinator for The U has a little more presteige than a head coaching opportunity at a lesser program.
>>> Greg Olsen is still mum regarding entering the 2007 NFL Draft. He’s stated in the past that he’s 50/50 but did mentioned he hasn’t yet requested his draft status from the NFL Advisory Committee. No new news regarding LB Jon Beason and his decision to leave early for the League. Beason sure looked jazzed in his photo with the newly appointed head coach when Shannon got the promotion.
Here’s hoping the new coach lands his biggest “recruit” between now and 2007, which is getting his most productive linebacker to return for one more year.
>>> Congrats to Kareem Brown who was invited to the Senior Bowl. It’ll take place January 27th, 2007 in Mobile, AL.
>>> On a side note, it’s really hit me how bizarre this whole season was and it’s helping me put things in perspective for 2007. I was in Miami for Labor Day weekend and waited for that opener against Florida State with baited breath.
I liked this year’s schedule and felt it was tailor made for the Canes to win the ACC and make a run this year. I figured 1-2 losses as most with the likes of FAMU, Houston, FIU and Duke on board. Not to mention, Florida State and Virginia Tech heading to the Orange Bowl. If the Canes could beat the Noles on Labor Day Monday, confidence would build and this team could gain momentum.
To say the exact opposite happened is beyond an understatement. 0-1 became 1-2 weeks later after the Louisville loss, preceded by the logo stomp. Miami barely survived Houston, had a snoozer against North Carolina and got in an on the field brawl with FIU, making the 35-0 win inconsequential. Suspensions from the brawl fallout had an undermanned Miami bunch almost losing at Duke and limping into the meat of the ACC schedule.
Four straight losses ensued for the first time since 1997 and during that span, the beloved Bryan Pata was murdered. Miami limped into the finale against Boston College at 5-6 and brought an ounce of joy to this morbid season with a perfectly timed, 17-14 win on Thanksgiving night.
A week later, Miami sat home while Wake Forest and Georgia Tech slugged it out for the ACC title and hours later, an exciting upset of #2 USC opened the door for the most disgusting BCS title game scenario – Ohio State versus Florida.
Last New Years Eve, Miami fans suffered through an embarrassing 40-3 loss to LSU. Days later, four assistant coaches were fired and as the new hires were made, most of us went into 2006 stating that 2006 “couldn’t get any worse.” How wrong we all were and what we wouldn’t have given for 9-3 and a Peach Bowl berth this year.
That said, 6-6 ensured a new regime and staff in 2007, so there’s your silver lining.
Entering 2007, I’m hoping this fan base – all of us – can have a little more perspective regarding this program we all love and stand behind. Things will get better, so let’s appreciate the ride on the way up this time. It’s easy to take things for granted after four straight BCS games, two straight title game berths, one championship, a slew of first round draft picks and a 34-game win streak between 2000-2003.
Will Miami reach that level of dominance again? Who knows? No one was predicting it after the probation era, but look how that worked out. Either way, we’re about to find out and this time around, let’s all have a little more fun enjoying the process.
And that’s one to grow on.
.:Canes305:.
Andrew Johnson is no great loss. Much like Derron Thomas he has proven little and should tahnk Coker for his few carries in the Duke game last year which allowed him to tranfer this year since he had never been redshirted.
Kylan Robinson should be a good one. He’s a bit bigger than Baby J and could provide a nice change of pace.