I oft marvel when supposed fans take the to streets, bitching that Miami’s top brass “doesn’t care about winning”.
Talk that athletic director Kirby Hocutt or president Donna Shalala are happy with a mediocre football program and are simply keeping Randy Shannon on board because of graduation rates, running a tight ship and a discounted price tag.
One more time for the record, in case you missed it, everyone associated with this program is about winning. Miami football helps drive revenue. BCS games bring in bigger pay days. Merchandise sales directly impact the University of Miami’s bottom line and winning football games puts asses in seats and gets fans hopped up to donate more to the program.
Simply put, you’re an idiot if you feel that you, the armchair quarterback superfan, care more about winning than the coaches or administration that spend forty-plus hours a week work at and for The U.
ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich went straight to the source with today’s piece in the ACC blog.
“Success is measured by wins and losses and competition, and success is measured through championships,” said Hocutt. “Randy knows the expectations that are here better than anyone. He’s lived it for practically his entire career. He has the same expectations upon himself that we do as an administration, that we do as a program. It’s nothing new.
“It takes time, but we’re in a period now where it’s our time. I’m confident that the upcoming season and the season that follows, what has been a young team are now upperclassmen who are determined to return the program to where it was before.”
Entering year four, Shannon now has three full classes under his belt and as both he and Hocutt mention in Dinich’s article, the pieces are finally falling into place.
“It’s the first time I’ve finally felt comfortable in three years,” Shannon said. “It’s time to take that next step now.”
While the mantra the first few seasons was ‘youth’, Miami coaches are now using words like ‘older’ and ‘experienced’.
“We’ve finally got an older team,” Shannon said. ” … Everybody has played two years. I was thinking to myself, I’m beating myself up, I just want to win, win, win. Sometimes people have to calm me down about things I always see. I’m going to continuously be that way as a coach, but after the season I evaluate, ‘OK, where are we at?’ I compare us to some teams I’ve been on and played on and things like that. You really don’t get good until you have your guys play a lot of football, in their second and third years.
“I think the team is starting to evolve and change into where we need to be at now,” he said. “It makes it a lot of fun because the team is starting to get my mentality and attitude, and they understand what winning is about and what we have to do. I’m going to continue to stress the point of winning and competing at a high level because of the competition that is here.”
Yeah, good call from the ‘anti’ camp. Randy Shannon is just going through the motions and the higher ups keep him on board simply as an authority figure. Dude isn’t about winning ball games. He just wants to keep those grades up, keep kids out of trouble and is ‘content’ with four-loss seasons.
The past few years Shannon was quick to point out deficiencies, most notably a lack of depth and talent on the offensive line. Entering fall, the Canes will have upwards of fifteen linemen to choose from – most of which were signed over the past two seasons. Miami will be three-deep at every position except the secondary, a far cry from where things were in 2007 when Shannon took over.
A year ago the Canes only had five linebackers and needed to raid the basketball program for a tight end. A few years prior, a punter was listed as the third string wideout. As weak as the ACC might be, you’re not going to dominate a major conference with a lack of depth or talent. I don’t care how much ‘tradition’ and supposed ‘swagger’ a program claims.
This is a five-year rebuild whether you want to swallow that pill or not. Year four is on the horizon and you’re finally seeing the depth and talent returning. Miami has taken one step closer to being a player again. The schedule is daunting, but Shannon finally has the weapons necessary to win ball games without fading down the stretch.
I'm one of those that think Shannon's Canes will be good at best, never great. 9-4 annually. I don't think Canes fans think Randy doesn't care about winning. I believe alot of us question if he can be more than a 9-4 program with high grad rates and good kids who stay outta trouble. Don't get me wrong, that's not bad to have a program like that, i just don't think we will see championship caliber teams under Shannon. This years recruiting class and last years decline as the season wore on is what leads me to believe this.
NORM 4
One more time for the record, in case you missed it, everyone associated with this program is about winning. Miami football helps drive revenue. BCS games bring in bigger pay days.
Isn't ACC bowl revenue shared within the conference?
Isn't ACC bowl revenue shared within the conference?
…. it is, but that's not the point. Winning and success sell more seasons tickets, more merchandise and create an overall buzz around the program.
Go back and watch "The U" documentary where it was discussed that the football program's success had a direct impact on admission numbers and students wanting to go to school at Miami.
Bowl revenue is a small part of the equation. Winning and success will bring UM revenue in several other ways.
Well maybe you can give the football team an Ohio State or Florida like schedule now. So we can go to a BCS game. Stop killing us with tough non conference road games. Thats honorable, but not the blueprint in todays college football of big money and big business!
Sorry, I love the rah rah rah from Hocutt but a wise man once told me "Actions speak louder than words."
Offering an extension to someone who is 21-17 overall, 11-13 in the ACC and 2-7 against division teams (UNC, VT, GT) is obviously not because of his success on the field. I honestly believe he is getting the offer because he did what he was hired to do (clean up the program, clean up the image, eliminate on field/ off field problems.)
I live for UM and have since I was a little boy, I'm an alumnus, HC member, and season ticket holder and I have very little faith in Shannon.
Getting rocked to close out the OB I was able to get over after a year or so and remembering he was a 1st yr first time HC.
But the things like blowing timeouts, confusion on the sidelines, not showing up prepared, bringing an unmotivated team to the champs bowl to get stomped by an inferior big 10 team; are still going on in year 3.
You can call this a 5 year rebuild until you are blue in the face but the fans want results and rightfully so.
In 2010 we have a rough schedule (what else is new?!?) but we still have UNC, FSU, and VT at home. GT lost all of its playmakers on both sides of the ball (Dwyer and Thomas on Off and Burnett and Morgan of Def), these 4 games are absolutely winnable and UM should be favored in each.
The excuses are running out. We need to win the ACC this year and at least show up in the BCS game and not got embarrassed.
Amazing how impatient all these Canes "fans" are. Makes you wonder if they're true fans. Plenty of other universities PACK their stadiums for every game, win or lose. South Florida fans are fair-weather fans at best. Give it some time. Still too soon to tell, but definitely a right step in the direction of a respectful and responsible program.
By the way, Canes baseball rocks again….Canes down the S.F. Bulls 15-2. Florida comes into Coral Gables this weekend. I only get to see the Fri. game since I have to be in San Diego for a week at a conference.
I'm one of those that think Shannon's Canes will be good at best, never great. 9-4 annually. I don't think Canes fans think Randy doesn't care about winning. I believe alot of us question if he can be more than a 9-4 program with high grad rates and good kids who stay outta trouble. Don't get me wrong, that's not bad to have a program like that, i just don't think we will see championship caliber teams under Shannon. This years recruiting class and last years decline as the season wore on is what leads me to believe this.
Norm, everyone is entitled to an opinion.
As for the 'decline' last season, Miami went 3-1 in the final month – compared to 2-2 Randy's second year and 0-4 his first. I don't really think there was as much a 'decline' as some have said.
Losses to Clemson and North Carolina could've absolutely gone either way. Neither took it to Miami and in both games, J12 combined for seven interceptions and three pick sixes.
As the year rolled on, we heard more about Harris' injury and that combined with the lack of a capable back up and a lack of depth/experience across the board – safe to say that was the difference in those two final regular season games the Canes lost.
I also don't get your knock on the most recent recruiting class. Way too early to tell how these kids will pan out. Judge this class in 2012, not before any of these kids have taken a snap. Definitely could be some OL, RB and CB talent in this class that doesn't deserve to be overlooked because some supposed 'gurus' weren't stroking this class.
Let's Get Six. I hear your points. Allow me to retort:
Sorry, I love the rah rah rah from Hocutt but a wise man once told me "Actions speak louder than words."
Offering an extension to someone who is 21-17 overall, 11-13 in the ACC and 2-7 against division teams (UNC, VT, GT) is obviously not because of his success on the field. I honestly believe he is getting the offer because he did what he was hired to do (clean up the program, clean up the image, eliminate on field/ off field problems.)
Disagree. Randy is getting the offer because (1) his contract is up and it's time to renew and (2) because there's been PROGRESS. 5-7 to 7-6 to 9-4.
The talent/depth is returning and while things aren't where some want it to be, this is a process and it takes time to rebuild. Larry's squad bottomed out entering 2007 and Randy had his work cut out for him.
I live for UM and have since I was a little boy, I'm an alumnus, HC member, and season ticket holder and I have very little faith in Shannon.
Getting rocked to close out the OB I was able to get over after a year or so and remembering he was a 1st yr first time HC.
But the things like blowing timeouts, confusion on the sidelines, not showing up prepared, bringing an unmotivated team to the champs bowl to get stomped by an inferior big 10 team; are still going on in year 3.
Your lack of faith is Randy is your prerogative, but has nothing to do with your longevity as a Cane. I too have loved this program since I was knee-high, am a Miami native, went to games my whole life, et al and I believe in Shannon… for now.
If this program isn't fully back by 2011, I'll begin losing faith – but 9-4 based on the team he inherited; I can live with that.
As for this 'inferior Big Ten team' crap, that needs to go. The Big Ten took a HUGE step forward this year, especially in bowl season. Ohio State whooped Oregon. Penn State bested speedy SEC power LSU. Iowa worked ACC champ Georgia Tech.
Wisky was 9-3 and Miami was 9-3. Furthermore, the Badgers WHOOPED the Canes in the trenches, protected their quarterback and sacked Harris FIVE times. What is 'inferior' about Wisconsin? All this "slow Big Ten team" crap is played out. Re-read my articles after the game. UW had a lot of talent from Florida, Texas and other states that produce fast athletes.
UW outmuscled UM… and the Canes STILL had the ball in the final minutes, after playing a terrible game, and had a chance to win.
You can call this a 5 year rebuild until you are blue in the face but the fans want results and rightfully so.
Difference is, my calling it a five-year rebuild is an attempt at logic. Fans clamoring for 'results' and just expecting to be The U; that's an overemotional reaction.
I can back my argument as to the five-year rebuild. Anyone who simply wants the issues fixed now for no other reason than wanting 'results' – what's that mean?
In 2010 we have a rough schedule (what else is new?!?) but we still have UNC, FSU, and VT at home. GT lost all of its playmakers on both sides of the ball (Dwyer and Thomas on Off and Burnett and Morgan of Def), these 4 games are absolutely winnable and UM should be favored in each.
Miami absolutely should do better in the ACC this year, thanks to the home schedule and some lost talent for Hurricane foes. I don't debate that.
My issue comes from the ignorant attitude that an x-amount of games needs to be won for Shannon to keep his job.
When I read bullshit like, "we need to win the ACC this year or Randy needs to be fired", I shudder that some folks could be some narrow minded.
Winning the ACC is doable… but it's not how you measure or determine if a coach should be retained. Miami could go 12-1 this year, losing to Virginia Tech and if the Hokies roll, they win the ACC — so Shannon deserves to be fired?
What if Harris goes down game one and Miami relies on a back up QB all season? Does Randy still deserve a pink slip?
You measure success by improvement and the product on the field. You can look at this team and SEE that Miami is getting better and that the talent is returning… or you can bitch to bitch.
Miami beat #8 Oklahoma this year… two years after getting their ass kicked off them, outclassed and outtalented in Norman in 2007. That shows HUGE improvement… and while people believed at the time, they lost that faith after losses to Clemson and North Carolina.
The excuses are running out. We need to win the ACC this year and at least show up in the BCS game and not got embarrassed.
What you call and 'excuse' I call and 'explanation'. That's one of many places where we differ.
We NEED to win the ACC and get to the BCS for this season to be a success? No offense, but BASED ON WHAT?
There are ten BCS slots and a slew of worthy teams. Why does Miami "deserve" to be there? Why is this season a bust if they DON'T get there?
Bottom line, Miami needs to IMPROVE. Better offensive line play. More pressure with the d-line. Better linebacker play. More turnovers via the secondary. A consistent ground game with some new backs. Better special teams play.
The Canes need to get better and tougher. Do that and the wins will come. Measure the progress, not just the win/loss record. It's bigger than that.
…. and like I ask all the anti-Randy folk, enlighten me as to what you'd like to see happen. All this "I'm giving Randy one more year" stuff — and then what? You're turning in your 'fan card' and will root for someone else?
This is the situation in 2010. It's not 1987 anymore. The landscape has changed and UM isn't a big money school. It'll have to get crafty if it wants to compete with big money schools like Florida, Texas, Ohio State, et al. Sell the brand, play up past history recruit/develop local talent and prove that the program is on the mend.
allexcusesforrandyblog.com coming through in the clutch yet again..
give hocutt some pom poms if it makes you feel better, but talk is cheap.. we need to start getting tangible results.. not "well he started with 5 wins and now he's at 9".. win the coastal win the acc.. and win the damn bowl game.. if randy can't do that in year 4 then i don't see why we bring him back for year 5.
If this has been your attitude for the past 3 seasons, you must have enough excuses to write a book
Bottom line, Miami needs to IMPROVE. Better offensive line play. More pressure with the d-line. Better linebacker play. More turnovers via the secondary. A consistent ground game with some new backs. Better special teams play.
So your saying Miami needs to get better everywhere. Lol.
AllCanes I have to agree with a lot of your points. I think its simply frustration on my part because I saw how this team performed against GT, OU, and UVA this year and looked like a top 10 team.
Then I remember seeing them look pedestrian against FAMU, UCF, Duke and downright awful against VT, UNC (Jacory at least but thats expected from a SO QB), and Wisconson.
I shouldn't have said I have no faith because that isn't true, I am losing faith. I had big hopes for the bowl game this year and thought we would see this team turn the corner and solidify a top 15 ranking going into 2010, unfortunately it didn't happen.
2010 is the year. Barring a major injury to J Harris we should win 10 of the games on our schedule. The ones I'm concerned with are O$U of course and GT because its in ATL and its late in the year.
Other than those 2 I believe we will be the favorite in every game.
If Shannon can prove that the team has made that jump from 7-6, 9-4 to 10-2, we stop playing down to competition, and we come out motivated every game I believe he will deserve an extension.
The young pups are in their 3rd year, its time for them to take over and get back to Miami football. This year is make or break for Randy, heres hoping he gets it done!
For all the shannon haters saying the excuses are running out for him, but he and the program keep getting better and the excuses are starting to run out for the shannon haters. stay tooned…
The reason all our hopes ride on Harris is because Shannon has failed to recruit/or keep good qb's at the U! If Harris was too hurt to play effectively last year, a good school has a capable backup. 2 years in a row now that our season rides on Harris's thin frame. I may be wrong, but couldn't Shannon have blocked the transfer request of at least one of the 3 qb's who transferred?? I was not trying to prejudge this years recruiting class, but it was alarming that with as much top-rated talent that there was in florida last year, we got little-to-none of those players. Not even from our backyard school, Miami Northwestern.
NORM 4
"Winning the ACC is doable… but it's not how you measure or determine if a coach should be retained. Miami could go 12-1 this year, losing to Virginia Tech and if the Hokies roll, they win the ACC — so Shannon deserves to be fired?"
"What if Harris goes down game one and Miami relies on a back up QB all season? Does Randy still deserve a pink slip?"
I don't think a pink slip is in order, however I want to see Shannon show some real emotion on the sidelines. If he is fired up, how could the kids not follow suit.
This year I also want to see Jacory be able to make some plays on the run or with his legs. Last season he knew he had nobody behind him and if he went down the team was done.
One last point, will Marve play this year? If yes, do you think he will shine?
I personally am a big fan of Shannon. He inherited the program at one of its lowest points in school history. He has improved the win to lose ratio every year, also brought in two amazing recruiting class and even though this years class is not the best its still a good class, he recruited depth and position we needed which is smart because most of these kid will not play for about two years…because we already HAVE AMAZING TALENT. Everyone just need to chill…the U will be back and sooner then people think. Shannon has what it takes to be great just give him time he is still learning a little too.
Well maybe you can give the football team an Ohio State or Florida like schedule now. So we can go to a BCS game. Stop killing us with tough non conference road games. Thats honorable, but not the blueprint in todays college football of big money and big business!
It's not the blueprint, but it's something Miami has to do – and is somewhat expected to do, after the whole "anywhere, anytime, anyplace" mantra of yesteryear.
Labor Day games against Florida State get Miami national coverage. As did a big road game at Florida two years back (one of ESPN's most-viewed games of all time – with the Gators #3 and the Canes unranked.)
A road trip to Ohio State will be brutal, but it's high risk/high rewards. Win and it puts a climbing Miami team on the map. Lose and it's a a non-conference setback.
Games like that are brutal if you start the season the top five and lose, but when you're starting outside the top fifteen you need to take out a top ten team to climb, a la last year's win over No. 8 Oklahoma.
I personally am a big fan of Shannon. He inherited the program at one of its lowest points in school history. He has improved the win to lose ratio every year, also brought in two amazing recruiting class and even though this years class is not the best its still a good class, he recruited depth and position we needed which is smart because most of these kid will not play for about two years…because we already HAVE AMAZING TALENT. Everyone just need to chill…the U will be back and sooner then people think. Shannon has what it takes to be great just give him time he is still learning a little too.
… slow down there, Anonymous. You're using logic and you're making sense, which isn't going to resonate with some of this board's readers and the anti-Randy contingent.
The reason all our hopes ride on Harris is because Shannon has failed to recruit/or keep good qb's at the U! If Harris was too hurt to play effectively last year, a good school has a capable backup. 2 years in a row now that our season rides on Harris's thin frame. I may be wrong, but couldn't Shannon have blocked the transfer request of at least one of the 3 qb's who transferred?? I was not trying to prejudge this years recruiting class, but it was alarming that with as much top-rated talent that there was in florida last year, we got little-to-none of those players. Not even from our backyard school, Miami Northwestern.
A few things, Norm…
First off, Miami was in a QB lurch because of Larry Coker, not Randy Shannon. Coker was a horrible evaluator of quarterback talent.
Outside of the supposed "can't miss" Kyle Wright and Brock Berlin transfer, Coker's legacy is brutal.
Pat Deviln, Nick Fanuzzi, Derek Shaw and Daniel Stegall were all guys Coker was going after and failed to sign. To date, none had done a thing at the next level. Deviln is a PSU back up who's taken meaningless snaps, Fanuzzi transferred back to Nowheresville, TX after not cutting it at Bama. Shaw was a head case and Stegall chose baseball.
Kirby Freeman was a Coker guy, chosen over hometown star Thad Lewis, who never heard back from Miami and chose Duke.
Shannon took over a depleted Miami squad with nothing at QB, except a damaged Wright and sub par Freeman — which is why Miami had FOUR underclassmen at QB entering 2009 and they all left.
Marve, Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith all felt good enough to start elsewhere, so they left. If Harris were a junior or senior, maybe someone stays – but entering his sophomore year, those guys didn't feel it was worth their while to play back up for three years, hoping for one year as a starter.
As for blocking their release, that's somewhat childish. If a kid wants out, let him out. He's a kid. He changed his mind. You want someone who's going to fight for a starting job and will be happy waiting in the wings for their shot. You don't want a disgruntled quarterback.
… as for the shot about local talent and Miami Northwestern, if I recall only four MNW kids earned scholarships this year – two to Louisville, one to UCF, Todd Chandler to USF.
When Shannon cleaned house with eight Bulls off their championship squad, there was a lot of talent to go around and over a dozen kids from that team went on to bigger and better.
Simply put, this years MNW class was nothing to write home about, which is why only three lesser schools took kids out of there.
allexcusesforrandyblog.com coming through in the clutch yet again..
I'll take that over EmotionOverLogic.com or IllogicallyPissingAndMoaning.com all day long.
I simply love when folks like you consider an 'explanation' an 'excuse' simply because you don't like what you're hearing/seeing.
give hocutt some pom poms if it makes you feel better, but talk is cheap.. we need to start getting tangible results.. not "well he started with 5 wins and now he's at 9"..
Typical. You ask for tangible results — but then discount legitimate improvement. How can you discount going 5-7 with a dog of a team, rebuilding and recruiting for three years and eventually getting to 9-4, with some signature wins last season?
I love how everyone 'discounts' the Florida State win because they stumbled down the stretch. When they had Ponder behind center – in a home opener, nighttime, nationally televised game – the Noles were ready to play and would've given a lot of teams a fit.
Miami beat eventual ACC champs Georgia Tech and an Oklahoma team who at the time was still good.
win the coastal win the acc.. and win the damn bowl game.. if randy can't do that in year 4 then i don't see why we bring him back for year 5.
I'm sorry, but it's ignorant to base a man's career on one game.
You're telling me that IF Harris marches Miami down the field against Wisconsin and pulls out the 21-20 win that all is good and you're OK with Randy because he "won a damn bowl game"? Please. You'd have a million other reasons to bitch even had the Canes won that game.
As for winning the Coastal, Miami wouldn't have even done that this year if they went 10-2 in the regular season. GT lost one conference game and even had Miami lost two they were out of the race.
The Canes could've gone 11-2 this season and STILL not reached the ACC title game… so if that's the case next year, Shannon STILL deserves to be fired?
Sorry, but that's lame logic.