Coaching search continues; get a grip

The Miami Hurricanes have been coach-less for just over a week and the natives remain restless.

Even worse, folks qualified to give nothing more than an opinion absolutely feel they have the solution, throwing random names at the wall and rattling off how ‘the list’ doesn’t excite them.

Take a breath, people. Think about what’s taking place here. The University of Miami, arguably the most successful football “franchise” the past three decades, is at a program-defining crossroads. The right hire can end seven seasons of mediocrity while bringing the wrong guy on board could do UM in for good. This isn’t something to take lightly.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and a quality hire won’t be made to appease the masses – no matter how many high schoolers choose to ‘decommit’ in the process.

Signing Day is two months out and bet your ass that if Miami reels in a home run hire, those who supposedly ‘walked away’ will come running back – and yes, that’s in quotes because you can’t miss what you never had and a verbal commitment doesn’t mean squat.

As we see every off-season, high schoolers change their mind on a dime and some were bound to flip flop regardless of Miami’s current coaching situation. Exercise some patience, let things play out and let’s see where these “decommits” are come February.

If many knee-jerk folk had their way, the out-of-work, not in demand and self-promoting Mike Leach would’ve been hired late last week. But when the dust settled, fans would eventually realize they settled for Mr. Right Now and not Mr. Right, simply out of fear and a lack of faith in the process.

The reaction is understandable as we live in a ‘now’ society and patience is no longer a virtue. Fans feel left at the altar by Jon Gruden and are sweating out the recruiting process, ready to jump on the next warm body and building a case for the one-dimensional Leach.

Anyone truly on board with The Pirate, check yourself. Yes, there was the impressive, yet uncharacteristic 11-2 season a few years back, but outside of that you’re talking about a coach who hovered between four and six losses a year for over a decade.

You’re quick to cite his upset for top-ranked Texas, but just as soon ignore that he went 1-2 to close his ‘legendary’ season, suffering a 65-21 beatdown at the hands of No. 5 Oklahoma and a 47-34 loss to No. 25 Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.

Leach is more Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde than he is a buccaneer; one week rolling heads and the next, getting rolled.

At day’s end, Leach ran an exciting offense at Texas Tech but headed up a middle of the road Big XII squad that was pass-heavy, run-vacant and focused more on outscoring opponents than playing hard-nosed defense.

What about that recipe is reminiscent of the brand of football that Miami plays? Pounding the rock and playing hard-nosed defense are UM staples and wouldn’t be part of Leach’s blueprint.

In time, this winter fling will prove to be nothing more than puppy love and infatuation, completely forgotten when Miami finds the real thing and again, that takes time.

People forget that Tom Oliviadotti was the fan favorite over Jimmy Johnson and that most wanted Gary Stevens over Dennis Erickson when it came time to make another hire. Johnson was virtually unknown, coming from Oklahoma State and Erickson, a product of the pacific northwest, heading to Miami from Washington State.

As quick as folks are to ask athletic director Kirby Hocutt to channel his inner Sam Jankovich, the need to remember that the former AD wasn’t making the popular choices a few decades back and that it took time before his decisions were viewed as brilliant; especially going outside the University of Miami family at a time when logic said to stick with what was working.

More frustrating than the illogical groundswell for Leach, the quick-to-judge and fast-to-bury mindset by fans, friends and foes alike.

In the wake of the Shannon firing, many in the media were quick to lash out at Hocutt, president Donna Shalala and the Miami program, for both it’s demands, as well as the perception it has of itself.

ESPN’s Mark May was the first idiot to the bash party, quickly ripping UM for firing a coach that ‘reached three straight bowl games’ and quick to remind everyone that it’s 2010 and not 2001 and that expectations should be lowered, not raised.

May claims that Shannon ‘turned the program around’, yet went 7-5 this season after the team he took over entering 2007 went 7-6 the year prior and could match that in a few weeks if falling to Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl.

Next on the hate train, CBS national writer Gregg Doyel, who decided a mere four days after the firing that Hocutt “doesn’t know what he’s doing”, also citing making the postseason and classroom / community excellence as reasons for keeping Shannon on board.

The Miami Herald’s Joseph Goodman chose Shalala as his target of choice, questioning the president’s integrity and implying she sold out to the boosters and went “soft” for firing a coach who “did is the right way, fought for everything he ever had” and “never compromised”.

Doyel and Goodman aren’t looking at the situation logically; they’re making it personal and there’s no other explanation than an anti-Miami agenda. Some will label that statement conspiracy theorist-y, but before doing so l should point out that Doyel is a Florida grad and while Goodman graduated from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, he’s covered the Gators for the Herald and is a Gainesville resident.

Yeah, zero agenda there. No desire to see Miami wallowing in mediocrity or reason behind the personal shots.

Nowhere did Doyel or Goodman mention football facts and Shannon’s 28-22 overall record, 16-16 conference run and two straight bowl losses – or the fact that their beloved Florida program ran Ron Zook out of town for a better winning percentage; 23-14 in three years and a 16-8 run in the SEC, turning him into a Gator footnote once Urban Meyer waltzed into town, winning two titles and allowing almost three dozen arrests in half a decade.

Hocutt hasn’t even hit the two-week mark and want to act as judge, jury and executioner – throwing dirt on his career casket and assuming it’s fait accompli that Miami will again have to settle on a fourth or fifth-tier guy, with no shot at a top flight coach.

Where this search winds up, time will tell – but again, give it time and don’t believe they hype. Miami is talking to more people than ‘the list’ mentions and for obvious reasons, many of these conversations never surface with the general public.

Again people, this is big business and you’re hearing what you’re supposed to hear. Some secrets stay in-house and for the respect of those involved, some conversations never escape the office or phone line where they took place.

Should ‘The U’ not reel in quality coach or settle, save your criticism for then. If Hocutt drops the ball and screws things up, then give him grief for doing so – but not now. Not just over a week in. Not when all the lists being compiled are coming from media members without a clue. Not when the process is underway. Don’t let ignorance and impatience get the better of you.

There are more names on UM’s radar than what you’re hearing and realize there’s a great chance the coach hired won’t come from that list and could come straight out of left field.

Whatever you personally feel about Miami’s administration, give them more credit than you currently are. They’re professionals looking to make a home run hire and have made it clear that money isn’t an option. While fans and media members have speculated, both Shalala and Hocutt have been off the grid, working tirelessly to find the right man for job.

Give it time to play out instead of casting stones at this point of the game. It’s halftime and by simply firing Shannon and taking this step forward, the Canes hold the lead with two to play. Relax.

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