The ad almost reeks of an April Fools Day joke that went over someone’s head, but in all actuality it’s a real plea from University of Miami football coaches, issued late last week.
Seems the Canes are looking for some walk-ons and due to the nature of the flyer, as well as UM’s rough run this past half decade (41-35 since the 2005 Peach Bowl loss to LSU), ‘The U’ is taking a national ribbing for what many see as a desperate plea. Many cutesy articles about “how the mighty have fallen”, as if a private school seeking walk-on help is something that should stop the presses.
Head coach Al Golden, never one to shy from chiming in, had some thoughts on the public’s reaction.
“I think it’s laughable that people are making a big deal about that,” Golden said. “Every football program in the country looks for walk-ons from the student body. The hope is that you find one or two that help us. It’s an easy target, and people want to make fun of it, that’s fine.”
ESPN analyst and Denver Post columnist Woody Paige took his shots on ‘Around The Horn’ last week, stating that the Hurricanes were in “deep trouble” and making it clear that if he were on the roster at quarterback he would transfer out “as quickly as possible”.
For folks like Paige, a fitting punchline for a program they’re not a fan of. Big, bad, swagger-filled Miami – NFL U and a program that dominated for decades – is now scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for players. That’s how it’s being packaged, but nothing could be further from the truth.
There is nothing Miami is doing here that Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Texas or LSU hasn’t done and won’t do. A flyer of this nature is posted so that a program can stock itself with third and fourth string guys. Scout team tackling dummies that can take a beating while tomorrow’s starters hone their craft.
Think about one of the larger, aforementioned programs. Large state schools in towns where college football players are real-life rock stars. Upwards of 50,000 undergrads in some cases, too, meaning that hundreds of red blooded males at each respective university are contacting coaches in effort to earn a spot as a walk-on.
Coaches in Tuscaloosa, Columbus, Gainesville, Austin and Baton Rouge aren’t soliciting scout team players. If anything, they’re turning kids away as they have enough bodies.
Compare that to Miami, where a recent practice was opened to students and only a handful showed up. A private school with under 10,000 undergrads, UM’s campus isn’t crawling with thousands of meathead athletes whose life goal was to play for the the Canes.
Conversely, you can throw a rock anywhere on Ohio State’s campus and find a kid who grew up playing football and dreams of sporting the scarlet and gray. Coaches don’t need to market to or find that kid. He’s already found them.
Anyone paying attention to Miami’s depth chart sees that a few offensive lineman have missed some playing time this spring. Seantrel Henderson was suspended for the first practice and is still working his way back into the mix, while Jonathan Feliciano looks to be sidelined the rest of spring with injury, courtesy of running back Eduardo Clements rolling up on him while blocking.
For Golden, his staff and his kids, it’s time to keep the head down, eyes focused and to keep grinding. It’s not about winning over the masses. It’s about doing whatever it takes to win football games.
“I’m not a politician,” Golden continued. “I’m not really looking for public approval. We’re trying to find people in the student body that can help us.”
That’s the present goal and always has to remain job number one with Golden at the helm. It’s about building a proper football team and making kids better. It’s not about pandering to those who don’t even care about you in the first place. Coach on, Coach. – C.B.