2010 Miami Football media guide is telling…

Media guides. They have a shelf life of a year and about 96% of the information inside is the same as last year – outside some new players / coaches, last year’s game recaps, this year’s schedule and a few new stats.

The most exciting part is the crispness (any of us who actually ‘use’ the media guides know how tattered and torn they are by year’s end), the new layout and the fancy fresh cover every year.

Looking at the Miami Hurricanes football 2010 media guide, something immediately jumped out me this year; the accolades. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a UM football media guide chock full of big name players and breakout guys.

In 2007, the focus was Randy Shannon. (Seriously, what else was there after Coker bottomed out?) Up front, an image of the new coach posing on a helmet. In the background, shots of his playing days, grad assistant days and as defensive coordinator as well as the reminder – 1987 national champion linebacker, 1991 national champion graduate assistant and 2001 national champion defensive coordinator. Without the talent on the field, UM was letting fans know that at least the guy in charge knew how to win.

In 2008, a white cover with an outstretched arm holding up a Miami helmet – which is usually done after a victory, of which there were only five the previous year. On the back, an artist rendition of what then Dolphin Stadium could look like someday … if millions of dollars were poured into it. The underlying theme; building for the future. Especially with the artist pic, as fans needed home months after the beloved Orange Bowl was torn down, going out with that 48-0 thud at the hands of Virginia.

For 2009, the athletic department tried to distract you with a media guide that resembled a kids toy – with three-dimensional graphics depending which way you held it or moved it. Up front an oversized “U” and a storm. Underneath, the five national championship rings and reminder that “it’s all about The U”.

On the back, ten players – none of which were from the Shannon era. It was all about past UM greats in their Cane unis … but when turned, they were in their pro uniforms. Another reminder that despite the recent success, this is still NFL U.

With the 2010 opener on the horizon, there’s a sense of hope with the new media guide, crazy as that may sound. It’s the first time in years that current Canes are featured – seven up front and seven on the back.

The cover touts the seven UM guys who have earned pre-season honors and hype. More focus is put on the present, than reveling in the past.

Next to the pic of Jacory Harris, a reminder that he’s a Davey O’Brien Award Candidate and Manning Award Candidate.

Posted next to the menacing glare of Orlando Franklin, Outland Trophy Watch List and Lombardi Award Candidate.

Allen Bailey is touted as a Preseason All America, Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Ted Hendricks Award Candidate and Lombardi Award Candidate.

Brandon Harris is the other UM Preseason All America and is also a Jim Thorpe Award Candidate and made the Nagurski Trophy Watch List.

Colin McCarthy is a Butkus Award Candidate, Leonard Hankerson is a Biletnikoff Award Candidate and Matt Bosher earned both a spot on the Lou Groza Award Watch List and Ray Guy Award Watch List, pulling double duty as both kicker and punter.

The back cover features pics of current and future stars Damien Berry, Sean Spence, Graig Cooper, Travis Benjamin, LaRon Byrd, Marcus Robinson and Joel Figueroa, proving beyond a doubt that this is Shannon’s most talented and loaded roster in the previous three years.

The 2010 Miami Hurricanes football media guide is currently in stock, but in limited quantity as UM only sent over a handful for us. Click here to get yours now while supplies last.

Six more days.

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