Author: C. Bello

Sometimes it feels like the shit-storm surrounding the Miami Hurricanes this past decade is never going to end. In some way, shape or form—every preseason is marred with some type of garbage.

Five years back it was Shapirogate; with that awful stench and crap-cloud hovering over the program for over the next 26 months.

In the years that followed, some type of departure or injury accompanied the fact that the Canes’ stubborn, inept coaching staff was going to limp-dick their way through another season—losing five or six games, while coming up with five- or six-hundred different excuses as to why.

Miami seemed primed to reverse the curse this season, by way of a fortuitous bounce when Georgia fired long-time head coach Mark Richt last December. Within days, the Canes brought home an alum capable of righting the ship and everything seemed to be trending upwards since … until this bullshit about improper use of luxury rental cars became this summer’s distraction and headline in Coral Gables.

At first it looked like linebacker Juwon Young would be the lone casualty—the junior sent packing back in June. No harm, no foul in the sense that several incoming freshmen were ready to compete at the position.Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, linebacker Jermaine Grace and wide receiver Stacy Coley were mentioned at the time—with insiders stating that the Canes were preparing for all three to sit the first three games of the season.

Again, no big deal when suiting up against Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic and Appalachian State.

Instead, word broke on Saturday that Muhammad and Grace were gone, while folks wait with baited breath, hoping Coley is in the clear. After launching an internal investigation, the University of Miami released the following statement:

“The University of Miami announced today that redshirt junior Al-Quadin Muhammad and senior Jermaine Grace have been permanently dismissed from the Hurricanes football program for violating NCAA rules. The University will, however, continue their financial aid through graduation. The decision was made in consultation with outside counsel and after discussions with the NCAA enforcement staff. As no staff members or boosters were involved in the violations, the program will not be subject to sanctions and, at this time, the University deems this matter closed.”

Welcome to Damage Control: 101 when you’re a program on probation—one that made matters even worse by cheapening out on back-to-back coaching hires, fueling a decade-long drought. Two years in the NCAA’s crosshairs results in slap-on-the-wrist offenses being treated like capital crimes, in order to remain sanction-free and rebuilding without extra roadblocks.

Harsh, but necessary as Miami needs to stay out of trouble, while rebuilding proper. Eliminate those who aren’t in line with the changes being made and recruit like-minded kids moving forward. While the word “process” was overused the past five years, it actually makes sense when used in this case.

SELFISHNESS COMES WITH A STEEP PRICE

Boys will be boys and college athletes will be college athletes. That goes without saying—and as far as the punishment fitting the crime here; it absolutely doesn’t. Still, any of these players lurking around a luxury dealership looking for a flashy whip to push around town—it’s simply not wise. You have absolutely zero chance staying off-the-grid or inconspicuous rolling around town in a bright, six-figure ride that looks straight off the set of HBO’s “Ballers”.

Honestly, what the hell did everything really think was going to happen? You’re moving targets when you do something out in the open like this—especially in the era of social media and on a small campus at a private school where it’s impossible to blend in.

South Beach Exotic Rentals is denying any improprieties took place; valid explanations in place as to family members of the players renting the cars and what not. Maybe so, but why did Young, Muhammad and Grace lie to UM’s compliance office if there was nothing to hide?

Furthermore, why was Muhammad posting the images to Instagram and raising red flags for short lived gains and meaningless “likes”? This is a flashback to former defense back Ray-Ray Armstrong flaunting shots of him dining at Prime 112 on South Beach a week before the annual showdown against Florida State.

Even with the most-logical explanation, these are still bad ideas for college athletes in a major market and at a program like Miami that oft gets pinched on reputation alone.

As much of a brain-fart as the borrowing of cars itself, it was the dishonesty that would up doing these players in. Fess up and it’s a three-game suspension. Keep the ruse going and the result was three careers ending prematurely at “The U”. Was it worth it, boys?

SHOULD’VE KNOWN BETTER

This rant may be coming off a bit harsh, but here’s a quick tip—life is harsh and present day college football is damn near the big boy league. You want to succeed at this level; you need to start thinking like a pro the minute you set foot on campus as all eyes are on you. Redshirting, flying under the radar and bursting onto the scene as an upperclassmen? No mas. A kid can become overnight sensations game one of his freshman year.

Muhammad, Grace and Coley all signed with Miami in February 2013. The NCAA’s investigation on the Canes ended the following October. “The U” was in hot water during their entire recruitment and all players heard the negative tactics other programs were saying about UM; “death penalty” chatter and what not. They saw this program at it’s most-recent worst, yet a few short years later these guys are pulling the same kind of crap as the kids in the Yahoo! Sports report? Not to mention doing it while they all have one foot out the door and are NFL-bound next year. So boneheaded.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it—and shockingly in this case, the “past” was literally a few years prior. This especially applies to Muhammad, who sat out the entire 2014 season after a physical altercation with his roommate. He then missed the 2015 season opener for a “violation of team rules”, which doesn’t bode well for a guy said to have learned his lesson. Now, this?

What ever happened to upperclassmen leading by example, leaving the program in better shape than they found it, staying focused and going out with a bang. One solid season from all these guys and they’d have had their own fleet of luxury cars in their driveways this time next year, by way of big-time NFL dollars.

Instead it’s full-blown damage control for Young, Muhammad and Grace, while Coley best hope he’s not the next causality.

WHERE DO “U” GO FROM HERE

Miami’s defensive struggles have been a sore spot for years and while things looked to improve year one under new coordinator Manny Diaz, this depth-related setback is going to hurt.

Sure, the first-year DC will attempt to make some tweaks and hope that a next-man-in mentality can minimize the damage—but for a Canes’ defense looking to take a big step forward this season, losing two of its best players is a huge blow however you slice and dice it.

Muhammad’s aggressiveness and experience will result in defense end Chad Thomas seeing more double teams, while Grace’s speed will sorely be missed in and the middle of the field. Younger players will look to pick up the slack, but truth be told, the onus is going to be on Miami’s new coordinator to out-scheme opposing offenses—something recent Canes’ defensive minds haven’t done in years.

Diaz is now in the spotlight while true freshman will be thrown into the fire immediately. Neither are the end of the world, but it certainly didn’t have to come to this—yet it did as Miami continues to feel the effects of a broken culture.

Former cornerback Ryan Hill called out the program after the 2010 season that cost Randy Shannon his job—citing insubordination and a full-blown lack of respect by players for their head coach. Instead of Miami bringing in a proven veteran leader to get things back on track, Miami rolled the dice on another supposed up-and-comer type in Al Golden, who proved to be an even bigger dumpster fire.

Nine years of having incompetent leadership, on the heels of six years with Larry Coker playing a substitute teacher-type role—it’s pretty easy to do the math on how UM wound up in this predicament.

Richt has the resume, process, track record and abilities to make Miami a contender again—but that will take a few years, a handful of recruiting classes and the purging of me-first players that have held this program down for way too long.

The Miami Hurricanes are just under four weeks out regarding their September 1st home opener against Florida A&M and thumbing through some preseason rags to get the juices flowing for another season in Coral Gables.

The Sporting News ranks the Canes second in the ACC’s Coastal Division this upcoming season, behind last year’s champs—the North Carolina Tar Heels. Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Duke and Virginia round out the division, while Clemson sits atop the Atlantic and is predicted to win the conference.

Miami’s archival Florida State is second in the Atlantic, followed by Louisville, North Carolina State, Boston College, Wake Forest and Syracuse. The Atlantic Coast Conference’s game-of-the-year is the late October showdown between the Tigers and the Seminoles, taking place in Tallahassee this year.

When perusing TSN’s ACC storylines, Miami remains a footnote—completely understandable after five years of Goldenization, preceded by four years of getting Shannoned. The Hurricanes have recruited well here or there and occasionally won a semi-meaningful game over that process—but there’s zero debating that “The U” became a second-rate program in need of a world class facelift.

Enter former Georgia head coach UM alum Mark Richt to clean up the shit-storm.

Richt fell into the Hurricanes’ lap when the Bulldogs cut ties with him in search of a fresh start. The somewhat out-of-nowhere departure paved the way for Miami to land the “home run hire” it’s never really had.

“The U” has birthed it’s fair share of up-and-comers who more than made a name for themselves, but hasn’t plucked an established name in the modern era of the game. Richt checks off that box and many more.

Still, TSN is quick to label the Canes their most overrated team in the ACC this year stating that, “The Hurricanes made a blockbuster hire in Mark Richt, but they’ve been oversold for the last decade. It’s best to believe it when you see it from The U.”

Sort of, but not really.

It’s magazines like the The Sporting News and others who have lumped undue praise on the Canes the past several years—the same publications who praised Al Golden as a head coach, based on his polished speeches early on, hard-working demeanor and loyalty in sticking with Miami when Shapirogate reared its ugly head.

The only ones “overselling” UM were the sportswriters who refused to see through Golden’s facade, broke-ass schemes awful cultural fit, never letting Miami be “Miami” on his watch—talking style of play here, not swag.

The Canes didn’t place one player on TSN’s All-ACC team—and it’s been a lifetime since Miami was putting several future NFLers on that list. If your players can’t scratch the best-in-conference surface, you sure-as-shit aren’t going to make a dent nationally.

Translation; five- or six-loss seasons became the new norm.

An equally as bitter pill to swallow; seeing those recruits who got away over the years shining in this recent ACC’s best poll. Kermit Whitfield was named Fastest Receiver while Dalvin Cook earned Best Athlete and Most Elusive Running Back. Both headed to UM at one point, Whitfield and Cook took their talents to Tallahassee and won a national title a few years back.

Areas where Miami also used to shine; Hardest Hitter (going to Virginia safety Quin Blanding) and Top NFL Prospect (Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.) The Canes earned Top Transfer—former Florida defensive lineman Gerald Willis—another indication that things are out of whack and in need of an overall kick-in-the-ass for the Canes.

Watson’s recent success stole the spotlight for UM quarterback Brad Kaaya, who is primed for a solid junior campaign and should top all these polls for 2017—though TSN was quick to tag him as Miami’s “Difference-Maker” this season.

After mentioning that the Canes haven’t seen a quarterback drafted since Ken Dorsey departed after the 2002 season, they quickly mention Kaaya in the same breath as Watson and drop some his stats last season. Most-impressive; his leading the ACC in passing efficiency as a freshman in 2014, as well as a balls-out performance against Florida State last fall.

Despite losing to the Noles for an unthinkable sixth-consecutive time, Kaaya set career marks in completions (29) and attempts (49) while throwing for 400 yards against the Sunshine State rival.

Citing 247Sports rankings, TSN praised a few big names Miami hauled in on recruiting day back in February—wide receiver Sam Bruce, linebacker Shaq Quarterman and wide receiver Ahmmon Richards.

All 4-star prospects are expected to make an impact this fall—especially at the receiver spot due to the departures of Rashawn Scott and Herb Waters, as well as this recent season-ending injury to sophomore Lawrence Cager, who was expected to make some big noise this year.

TSN’s actual write-up on the Canes was par for the course regarding a national publication what doesn’t have its thumb on the program’s pulse.

The humiliation 58-0 beatdown by eventual national title runner-up Clemson, letting too much local talent get out of it’s backyard and the hiring of Richt were all front and center. From there, a little blah-blah-blah on the offense line needing to come together, as well as a troubled defense that ranked 69th overall last season.

First-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and the move to a more U-like 4-3 scheme was explained with a, “Perhaps that will make the Hurricanes more disruptive after they finished 105th nationally (and 12th in the ACC) in tackles-for-loss last season.”

A 3-4 in Coral Gables for five seasons and the Canes 12th in tackles-for-loss last year. Ain’t that some shit? Former coordinator Mark D’Onofrio better never cross the Dade County line again after that dumpster fire he and Golden Al trotted out since 2010.

For those who’ve tried to put this ugly era out of recent memory, TSN came correct with one final graphic showing Miami’s 36-27 run the past five seasons. Reconfigure that 8-5 run last season to 4-3 on Golden’s watch as interim head coach Larry Scott went 4-2 down the stretch and it was an even uglier 32-25 era-of-stank.

TSN takes the safe route and doesn’t make a win-loss prediction on where Miami will wind up in 2016, but believes that the Canes are definitely trending upwards thank to swapping out a schmo for a pro.

“Richt, unlike his predecessor, has a good idea what he’s getting into and is about as good a blend of fit and ability as the Hurricanes could have hoped for. He knows the terrain, understands what it’s like to recruit in a crucible and could be reinvigorated by a new challenge at this stage in his career. Whether that’s enough to justify considerable optimism for this year is unknown, but there is reason to believe that Miami will be on the upswing soon enough.”

Based on where this program has been the past decade-plus, that’ll work for now.

(Disclaimer; yes this is a Miami Hurricanes-themed site—but this story, the subjects being discussed, the championships and history are straight-up 305 and deserve mention here. It’s been dubbed Miami Wade-County for a reason.) 

Once the dust settles and the emotions are back in check, two things will come into focus.

First and foremost, this was the ideal time for the Miami Heat and three-time champion Dwyane Wade to part ways. As that is eventually accepted, the genius and process of Pat Riley will be revalidated and appreciated; a firm reminding that the coaching legend and masterful general manager knows exactly what the fuck he’s doing.

For the average adult-baby who still wears a No. 3 jersey to games and posts rants on message boards—expect knee-jerk reactions about paying Wade “anything he wants” and “rewarding his loyalty”. Those and other typical throwaway sentiments forever spewed by folks who aren’t in a position of power and haven’t achieved next-level success by making gut-wrenching decisions that legends are faced with.

The more-evolved individual will take a step back and realize there’s no room in the business of professional sports for pointless nostalgia or hanging on to the glory years.

Appreciate what was accomplished. Give thanks for the journey. Accept what lies ahead. Don’t overcomplicate things.

The news of Wade heading back home to Chicago and ultimately ending a Hall of Fame career in the house that MJ built. momentarily came off as a gut-punch. Soon after, the realization washed over that it was the best-case scenario for all parties involved—especially Miami.

The NBA is currently a two-team race for the NBA title in 2017—Golden State having the leg-up with the addition of Kevin Durant, while LeBron James and Cleveland look to defend a title. The same could be said for 2018, based on where things go with free agency next summer.

Translation; the Miami Heat would be playing for second-best even in a perfect world. Survive the Eastern Conference and it’s James and the Cavaliers waiting wings. Miraculously negotiate that rugged terrain and it’s a cross-country best-of-seven with the Warriors. MVPs and loaded squads at every turn. Good luck with all that noise.

QUOTING JOE DIRT; “IT’S A BUSINESS, IT AIN’T UNICEF”

“What better place than here, what better time than now?” The chorus of “Guerrilla Radio” by Rage Against The Machine continues coming into focus.

Riley and Heat owner Mickey Arison knew good-and-hell-well what they were doing this off-season; locking down Hassan Whiteside as the ultimate priority, while chasing Durant like everyone else in the league. From there, it’s all about the health of Chris Bosh—who Riley and Miami are obviously looking to unload or force into medical retirement; made clear by shutting down the forward’s season in 2016.

Unfortunately, this is where the business side of sports hurts and while it’s hard to admit, fact is Wade was never a priority this off-season. Every decision being made is in the best interest of the franchise and putting the Heat in position to contend in 2018.

Riley didn’t lowball Wade as a sign of disrespect; it was a clear-cut message that it was in everyones best interest to move on. Miami needs flexibility a year from now; something it wouldn’t have if giving it’s biggest, aging name a max deal for minimum play and an eventual farewell tour.

Any who might disagree, look no further than the end of the regular season and the Kobe Bryant long-winded retirement run as a blueprint for how not to handle a relationship an over-the-hill superstar and one-time franchise cornerstone.

BLACK MAMBA RE-UP SET LAKERS BACK A DECADE

Los Angeles signed Bryant to a two-year extension in November 2013—paying the hobbled, then-35-year old $48.5M for his swan song in the purple and gold.

For those caught up in the emotion and paying attention to the facts, the Lakers went 27-55 the year the extension was signed, 21-61 in year one of the new contract and 17-65 this season as the Bryant era came to a close. Regardless of that lack of success and internal turmoil, in-over-his-head executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss defended the boneheaded decision.

“You give Kobe Bryant $50 million for two years,” Buss told USA TODAY Sports in 2013. “Are you kidding me? What did he bring us? In this day and age, what did he bring us, for 20 years? And if that isn’t what you’re supposed to do, then I have no idea what life is all about.

“You pay the guy. You believe in the guy. If he ends up (staying healthy), that’s fantastic. Well everybody (in the media) cut me up for that, but I’d say over 200 fans have come up to me and said, ‘Thank you so much for letting my kid see Kobe Bryant for two more years.’ And I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m glad I can see him for two more years.’ ”

Welcome to what happens when one chooses short-term pleasure in lieu of making tough decisions that ensure long-term success. As feel-good as that may sound, the play couldn’t have been a worse business move.

This is also why a once-proud Los Angeles franchise is no longer the biggest draw in California. Hell, the Lakers are even playing second-fiddle in their own backyard as the once-lowly Clippers have stolen the show.

But hey, fans and parents are thanking Buss for keeping a broken down legend on the roster a few extra years—at a hefty price tag—so their kids can see a watered-down No. 8; injured and usually holding down the bench.

Buss—proudly and brashly—defended overpaying Bryant an admitted $50M gold watch for 20 years of service. Faulty logic in an emotional moment for someone paid to make tough decisions for a franchise.

While the “Black Mamba” farewell was punctuated with an epic final night at the Staples Center, it didn’t erase the 94-181 run the three years prior to that comeback victory and 60-point closeout.

The Lakers are six years removed from a championship, have a roster full of scrubs, missed the Playoffs three seasons in a row and are banking on a former player and assistant from Golden State to lead them back to the promised land—with virtually zero to sell outside of nostalgia.

Bryant retired with over $680M in career earnings from Los Angeles. Who really needed that extra $48M two years back—Bryant, in the form of a “lifetime achievement” award, or a Lakers’ franchise in need of a full-blown overhaul?

YOU. PLAY. THE. GAME. TO. WIN.

Professional sports is a cutthroat business in the modern era—and Miami severing ties with Wade is nothing more than a line item. That takes nothing away from a stellar career in South Florida, three championships and a decorated career—but in the end, it’s the past. It’s in the rear-view. It’s over. Where to the Heat go from here? How do Riley and Arison rebuild a contender?

It starts with a move like this; low-balling Wade, striking an emotional chord—the immediate feeling of being disrespected setting the tone. By the time Miami upped the offer from $10M-per-year to $20M, No. 3 was already rattled; his representatives reaching out to Denver, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Chicago to see what was available.

In the end, a two-team race—home and second home—despite the Nuggets rolling in the fattest offer. Wade chose home, leaving second home for what will equate to roughly $1M annually, due to no state income tax in Florida. Seems like a pretty big life and career move for pennies when one’s net worth topples the $100M mark.

As the dust settles, it’s clear that Miami made a decision with its head and Wade’s was a mix of heart and ego.

Fans will get caught up in the false narratives being pushed—a direct result of watching the talking heads on four-letter networks or listening to sports talk radio, instead of doing something more productive.

Riley, Arison and the Heat organization didn’t do Wade “wrong”, anymore than the superstar “sacrificed” for the franchise and took less the last two times his contracts were being negotiated. Call it what it is. Wade took less money so the team he played for could land a few big fish, putting him in position to add a few more rings to his collection.

Guess what? It worked. Four straight NBA Finals appearances and two victories made him a three-time champ instead of a one-and-done.

Beyond that, Wade was an integral part of The Big Three; revolutionary and shit-on at the time—but becoming the new norm, as seen with the talent the Cavaliers brought in to surround James, or Durant’s recent departure for Northern California.

Wade played alongside James for years—which upped his personal brand; as did those all those Finals’ appearances and championships. According to Forbes, Wade earned $12M in endorsements last year. Why? Because being a part of a winning franchise immediately makes you a household name. Gatorade. Naked. Nike, before moving on to Li-Ning, where Wade has an equity stake.

Wade taking less money on two occasions years back wasn’t some altruistic move, or was it for the good of the franchise. They were calculated and in the best interest of a star becoming a legend and shooting his brand value through the roof. All those Christmas Day nationally televised showdowns and deep runs in The Playoffs—the direct result of Miami’s success and a Riley-built dynasty.

Athletes have every right to look out for their best interest—but attempting to turn that act into something out of the comic book with some superhero narrative attached—stop it already.

D-Wade was Miami Heat basketball. The face of a franchise and city’s most-beloved sports figure. That title won’t be taken away anytime soon, considering Dan Marino owned it for decades before the torch was passed.  That said, this was the time to put that era to bed—as much as it hurts.

Three years removed from its last championship and nowhere near the hunt for another three, the Miami Heat need to resume their chase for greatness.

Living in the past, getting caught up in nostalgia or prolonging the inevitable—it’s simply not what champions do. Not players and not franchises.

I’m thinking of the line Jeff Daniels dropped on Jim Carrey after; Harry sharing his opinions with Lloyd, who traded the “shaggin’ wagon” for the busted scooter, “straight-up”.

“Just when I thought you couldn’t be any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!”

Leave off the redemption part regarding a few select members of the Miami Hurricanes’ football program and we’ve captured the moment—misappropriation of luxury cars the latest mini-scandal to plague “The U”.

Junior linebacker Juwon Young has been suspended—his future eligibility in serious doubt—while redshirt-junior defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad is seeing his name tossed around. Some Canes’ basketball players are rumored to be involved, though head coach Jim Larranaga vehemently denies that’s the case.

In Young’s case, multiple sources inside UM’s athletic department expect the linebacker to be removed permanently. Muhammad is expected to be disciplined at some point this fall—his cooperation opposed to Young’s misdirection the ultimate difference in how the two were punished.

The degree of selfishness and stupidity in moments like this; it’s truly off the charts.

MIAMI CAN’T GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY

That whole risk versus rewards thing—not even close to playing in one’s favor. At best, you go uncaught and roll around Miami in a car fancier than you could afford as a college athlete. At worst, you get caught, lose your eligibility, have to transfer out of your dream school and rebuild from the ground up.

Godforbid a kid keeps his head down for a few years, his nose in the books, busts his ass on the practice field, shines on game day and sets himself up for a multi-million dollar career in the NFL down the road—where he could go on to own any damn expensive car he wants, because he earned it.

Instead, another shortcut. More amateur athlete posturing in a sports culture where image is everything.

On one hand, it’d be easy to define this as a meaningless, small-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things infraction. “Miami kids are getting in trouble for driving around in a fancy car, while big-money SEC boosters are buying kids from their program loaded SUVs!”

Probably true—but that still doesn’t make it right.

CAN’T REMEMBER THE PAST? CONDEMNED TO REPEAT

Where the actions of a Young, a Muhammad or anyone from Larranaga’s squad (if the latter were involved) become unforgivable—”Shapirogate” and the bomb that dropped on the Miami program five summers ago.

Nevin Shapiro became a household name, as did Yahoo! Sports reporter Charles Robinson—though we haven’t heard much from either of them since.

A messy, slanderous two-year NCAA investigation followed regarding that “renegade booster”—and the University of Miami paid dearly. Hell, it’s still paying when you look at the product on the field, the drop-off in talent and a broken culture.

Former head coach Al Golden was given an extension the final week of his first regular season—not for his on-the-field efforts, but out of loyalty and fear.

The Canes finished 6-6 in 2011 and as a sub par Boston College team was slugging out a victory in South Florida, ESPN commentators explained the Miami had doubled-down on ol’ Fear The Tie. Why? Because with the investigation looming, no one was going to touch the job with a ten-foot pole—outside of the guy who backed his way in ten months prior; due to up-and-comer status and a 300-page binder full of bad Successories quotes.

Golden proved a suitable fall guy who could rah-rah the program in the midst of its’ downward spiral—even leading the Canes to a paper-champion 7-0 start two years later, just as the NCAA was pulling up its stakes.

Miami went on to lose three-straight from there—rolled 41-14 by a good Florida State squad in Tallahassee, crushed 42-24 by a bad Virginia Tech team in South Florida and running out of gas in a 48-20 loss at Duke. The Canes took out Virginia and Pittsburgh before getting thumped by Louisville in a bowl game—a 2-4 finish just as the dark cloud was lifted.

A NEW COACH TRYING TO SQUASH OUT BROKEN WAYS

Timing-wise, Golden’s firing gave former tight ends coach Larry Scott a chance to tread water with the Canes and get back to football basics—and in even more serendipitous fashion, Georgia decided to part ways with Mark Richt, paving the way for an unexpected homecoming for the former Canes quarterback.

Richt has his work cut out for him in Coral Gables—which is fine for a seasoned veteran making one last tour stop and going all-in before he calls it a career.

What isn’t fine; continuing to play Whack-A-Mole and smacking down lame-brained off-the-field problems, when the focus should be on getting this program ready for some tough games this fall.

Young will most-likely be the sacrificial lamb here as he’s become mildly disposable due to a trio of freshman linebackers who have shown up ready to play. Meanwhile, Muhammad will get another chance—because let’s face it, the defensive line needs his help with the pass rush.

Suspended the entire 2014 season for knocking the block off a classmate, Muhammad put that down time to good use and earned himself another sit-down for the 2015 season-opener thanks to a “violation of team rules”.

May these frustrating situations no longer arise on Richt’s watch.

May this program get to a point where it can cut bait with a kid who isn’t in line with the team’s core values—opposed to having to look away as he’s needed for depth-sake.

May the Miami Hurricanes simply find their way back after a treacherous ten-year journey—one that seems destined to remain off-track for another couple of years, at least.

The post-season failures have become flat-out embarrassing. No other way to put it.

That sentiment isn’t rooted in the entitlement of a longtime Miami Hurricanes baseball supporter waxing poetic about the old days—when Omaha was a gimme and “The U” was in the thick of things at Rosenblatt every summer.

Some great Canes teams were humbled on that hallowed field in corn country. Welcome to college baseball.

No, this is a full-blown knock regarding a true lack of grit and absence of clutch play that once embodied a one-time baseball powerhouse. Big bats. Lights out pitching. Iconic moments that brought home four championships and earned Miami some bonafide swag.

The Canes barreled through regular season after regular season—but was built post-season tough for championship runs.

The opposite has become the new norm in Coral Gables this past decade; a program seemingly content with winning three-game series, half-ass mid-week performances against lesser local foes and spouting loser-mentality gibberish after leaving a conference title on the field weeks back; stating that it was all about Omaha and a national title being the ultimate goal.

Instead, the Canes were the first team run out of the College World Series—in limp, lifeless, amateur-hour fashion, no less.

OVER BEFORE IT EVEN GOT STARTED

Half an inning into this year’s College World Series, Miami was already reeling.

Starting pitcher Michael Mediavilla plunked two batters and walked two more. The burly left-hander only gave up one hit, but the damage was done and Arizona led, 3-0 in a game they’d eventually take, 5-1.

Back to the loser’s bracket in Omaha for the third time in three tries—the Canes were still lifeless and urgency-free against a spirited UC Santa Barbara team coming off a two-game sweep of second-seeded Louisville at home last weekend.

Danny Garcia was serviceable on the mound; a 1-1 ball game before a rain delay in the bottom of the sixth—but Miami’s big bats and stout defense were nowhere to be found.

Action resumed ninety minutes later, Garcia trotted back out and got back to work—nobody out and a runner on first.

A pop-up for the inning’s first out was followed by a double down the right field line. Frankie Bartow immediately entered in relief—begging the question as to why Garcia was even on the mound after the long delay.

Bartow intentionally walked his first batter before giving up a single. A throwing error on a sacrifice bund kept things rolling and another sacrifice resulted in a second out, before a grounder ending the inning. Still, the damage was done—the Gauchos tacked on four runs and the Canes had nine outs to get hot and keep their season alive.

Miami got two back in the eight, but stranded two more runners while training by two. Coupled with the three left on base earlier and the 10 that were left hanging in the opener to Arizona—the Canes remained consistently inconsistent with everything on the line.

Days back Miami picked up a fourth inning run against the Wildcats, cutting the lead to two—but immediately gave up two runs in the top of the fifth, handing momentum directly back to the guys in the other dugout. The Canes wound up limp-dicking their way to the opening round loss by going scoreless the game’s final five innings.

Even worse, the acceptance of their loser’s bracket fate—which has become commonplace. Miami seemed void of any true frustration or emotion; which leads to a much deeper-rooted issue within this once-dominant program.

CLOCK KEEPS TICKING; TIME FOR CHANGE

Modern day fans have gotten very knee-jerk when attempt to play the role of athletic director or general manager. Fire this clown. Hire that guy. Recruit kids from this school. Break the bank and throw everything at this superstar in free agency.

It’s easy to have all the answers when everything is supremely hypothetical and there’s zero accountability tied to the decision-making.

All that disclaimer stuff out of the way—it shouldn’t be hard to collectively agree that the Jim Morris era in Coral Gables has more than run it’s course. In all reality, change should’ve been made half a decade ago—but loyalty and overall body of work have a tendency of getting over-rewarded in college sports.

Miami dealt with it on the gridiron over a decade ago—sticking by bad-longterm-fit football coach Larry Coker, who bought himself a lot of time with a national title, two championship game appearances, three consecutive BCS games and a 35-3 start.

Coker won with the super-squad assembled by the great Butch Davis, but once those greats departed—the Canes were quickly humbled. 25-12 over the next three seasons. No BCS games. Miami’s first six-loss season in a decade and a lopsided 40-3 ass-kicking at the hands of LSU in a second-tier bowl.

Where Coker rode coattails to success, Morris certainly built his legacy at Miami—taking over for the legendary Ron Fraser, maintaining a high level of success and winning his first title six years in (and his second two years later.) Morris rolled into Coral Gables a 44-year old former Georgia Tech head coach in his prime and ready to go all-in. He did, and the results were undeniable.

Miami re-upped with Morris in 2009 and at the time his body of work supported it. The Canes had made it to Omaha 11-of-16 tries in his time at “The U”—a top-seed the previous season, before dropping the College World Series opener on a fluke ninth-inning throwing error.

Morris was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2008 and had earned national honors three times prior. His winning percentage at Miami was .724 by way of a 733-278-3 record. The Canes made it to Omaha his first six seasons as skipper.

As quick as supporters may be to hype those successful early years—one has to be realistic about the State of The U since. Over the past seven seasons, the Canes are 288-136 under Morris; a .679 winning percentage.

Omaha? More of a fluke than a trend. Miami experienced a five-year drought after that 2009 extension and despite making it to the College World Series the past two seasons, sport a lackluster 1-4 record in those appearances.

In rolling out this narrative on Morris’ past decade at the University of Miami, it has to be acknowledged that the move from a baseball independent to member of the Atlantic Coast Conference definitely ratcheted up the level of competition for the Canes.

On the cold-hard-facts side of things; UM also deals with things that state schools don’t face—namely, partial scholarships and the fallout that comes from being an expensive private university. Morris and Miami have lost a boatload of talent these past few years, either to more-affordable state powerhouses, or to the big money phenoms can make via the MLB Draft.

All of that is real. All of that has impacted the Miami program. All of that has changed college baseball from what it was, to what it is today. Still, none of that excuses what looks like some blatant going-through-the-motions for a head coach whose heart no longer seems in it.

REAL LIFE VERSUS SPORTS LIFE

Age is something we all battle and at 66 years old—having been a head coach for 34 seasons—Morris has every reason to feel a bit tired or run down. There was a health scare back in 2013 that left him hospitalized in Durham, North Carolina during the ACC Championship for upwards of two weeks.

The health scare came two years after some real life moments as well; getting married for a second time and soon after, becoming a late-in-life father. Five years remarried with a four year old son—as well as the baggage of an ex-wife, alimony payments and all the other heaviness that comes from ending one chapter and starting anew.

As much love Morris still has for the game, or the amount of fire he claims still burns within regarding winning—it all has to be measured against his world outside of baseball, as well as the body of work since the noticeable backsliding began. The Canes look all the part of a completely disinterested bunch in the post-season and going-through-the-motions has become the new norm.

ALL DOWNHILL AFTER ANOTHER EXTENSION

Had extensions not been thrown around so liberally over the years by Miami’s athletic department—in all sports—a logical time for change would’ve been after the 2012 season came to an abrupt, unexpected had. The Canes weren’t a national seed, but were picked to host the Coral Gables Regional against a beatable field.

Instead, Miami opened with fourth-seeded Stony Brook and got waxed, 10-2. Once in the loser’s bracket, the Canes got stomped, 12-1 by third-seeded Missouri State, who fell to Central Florida, 2-1 in their opener.

Stony Brook wound up taking down LSU in Baton Rouge in the Super Regionals, punched their ticket to Omaha and were run out of town two games later—somewhat excusing the Canes’ loss to the Seawolves—but getting rolled by the Bears and losing by a combined score of 22-4 over two games at home?

The following season the Canes put together a 35-21 regular season, got pounded 17-1 in the opening two rounds of the ACC Championship—courtesy of North Carolina and North Carolina State—but found a little magic in game three against Clemson.

Morris fell ill that morning and was hospitalized with pneumonia. Long-time assistant Gino DiMare was handed the keys and the Canes played some inspired baseball in a “meaningless” 7-o win over the Tigers. DiMare remained at the helm through the Louisville Regional—where Miami topped Oklahoma State in the opener, fell to the hometown Cardinals and got worked in a rematch with the Cowboys, ending the 2013 season.

The Canes put together an impressive 40-15 regular season in 2014, earning the regular season ACC title—but the post-season setbacks continues. Georgia Tech and Clemson waxed the Canes in Greensboro in the first two rounds of the championship, before Miami responded with an extra-innings win over Duke.

Another Coral Gables Regional followed, with the Canes falling to Texas Tech in the winner’s bracket. Miami got another shot at the Red Raiders and forced a win-or-go-home showdown with Omaha on the line. The second-seeded squad from Lubbock shut out the home team, 4-0 and ended the Canes’ most-promising season since 2008.

INSULT TO INJURY; MEASURED BY RIVAL GAMES

Another large component regarding Miami’s failures over the past decades; a shift in power and getting owned by Florida—often in the regular season, but especially in roadblock-fashion in regards to Omaha.

After a six-year College World Series drought, the Canes were back in action in 2015—but promptly run out of town by the Gators, falling 15-3 in the opener and 10-2 in a loser’s bracket situation days later.

In 2011 the Gators topped the Canes in the Gainesville Regional—5-4 in a winner’s bracket game and 11-4 the next day, ending Miami’s season. The year prior, Florida rolled at home in the Super Regionals—ousting the Canes in back-to-back games; 7-2 and 4-3. Another abrupt ending to a positive run.

In 2009 another Gainesville Regional showdown—Florida rolling 8-2 in a winner’s bracket game and putting Miami out of it’s misery, 16-5 in the loser’s bracket, on the heels of two meaningless wins over lowly Jacksonville to stay alive.

Like Miami, Florida went winless in Omaha this June—their quest for that first title again snuffed out, with that bringing some type of pointless solace to Canes Nation. Rooting against the Gators is a national pastime for supporters of “The U”—but Florida’s lack of next-level success doesn’t diminish their dominance over Miami in the Canes’ decade-long backslide.

In short, if the Gators remain that beatable in Omaha—how come they continue owning the Canes’ in both the regular- and post-season? It’s less about overall talent and has everything to do with mental edge, attitude and confidence level that should all trickle down from the head coach, but simply do not.

In the wake of another disappointing end to a season, the apologists again cite Morris’ overall body of work, celebrate getting to Omaha, ramble on about the competition and parity in today’s game and chalk this year up to a success, statistically.

If that contingent wants to beat the 11-of-16 drum in Morris’ favor regarding treks to Omaha early on—they better be equally as quick to answer questions about 2-of-8 since and a a 1-4 record in the College World Series since; as well as that five-year drought since that extension was signed in 2009.

While 2016’s body of work won’t be chalked up as an epic fail—winning the ACC’s regular season and getting back to Omaha a second consecutive season—the heartless showing and lack of competition was unforgivable. Miami ran into a buzzsaw last year when having to take on Florida twice. Those lopsided beatdowns were ugly, but the Gators were that good and arguably should’ve won it all.

Neither Arizona or UC Santa Barbara are anywhere near comparable to last year’s Florida squad. These were simply two spunky teams that brought some fight, energy, looseness and fun to their post-season and then fed off it against a tight, cold, lifeless Canes squad.

Miami hasn’t won an opener in Omaha since rolling Oregon State, 11-1 in 2006. The Canes were out two games later, eventually losing to the Beavers in the loser’s bracket—while OSU scrapped their way to a national championship.

Six trips to Omaha since the Canes last ring in 2001—with a 5-12 record and never once making it past the third game or a loser’s bracket victory. Once a gimme to be one of those elite eight final teams—Miami is now a crap shoot to make it, and once there has proven post-season week, reinventing new ways to squander opportunities.

TOSS THE KEYS TO THE GUY AT THIRD BASE

All of this to go Shawshank-style, advising the Miami program to get busy living, or get busy dying. Morris’ extension in 2009 was understandable, but what logic was there in another three-year re-up after a post-season fail in 2014?

No conference championship, no home regional success, no Supers and no Omaha for a sixth-straight season—yet the Canes’ top brass deemed this the ideal tie to reward a veteran coach in the twilight of his career.

Morris had one year left on his contract, which would’ve set up a logical swan song in 2015—and the transition to DiMare this season. Instead it’s Morris’ show through 2018, where he’ll finally retire at 68 years old and 25 seasons at “The U”. DiMare will then take his first stab at college head coach at 48 years old—when in all reality he should be entering his seventh season, had change been made after 2012.

At minimum, DiMare would be entering year four in 2018 had the last extension never happened and Miami would either be well on their way back, or would be in the market for a new leader if the promoting-from-within experiment failed.

Is DiMare the answer? Zero clue—but he’s next in line and is being given a shot, so why tack more time onto the Morris farewell tour at the expense of Hurricanes baseball getting back on the right track? The program has to be bigger than the individual—no matter what he’s done for the program or where his heart is at regarding the game.

“I love coaching,” Morris told the Miami Herald in mid-May of 2014, when asked about his future status and what he would say to critics that wanted him ousted after seeing UM go three consecutive seasons without winning a regional—one of those, in 2012, as the host. “I’m not doing things a lot differently than I did 10 years ago. We have better players this year. We had a great recruiting class.

“You know what? I drive a Cadillac. And these guys are Cadillacs.”

Yes that was a high-performance bunch—but as any racing enthusiast will tell you, a car is only as good as it’s driver.

Morris’ Canes came up short of ACC titles the past two seasons, despite all was under the hood and accomplished nothing in Omaha, outside of the challenge of getting there.

Welcome to where the current bar is set baseball-wise at “The U”—and will remain for another two seasons, unfortunately.