Kirkland Out; Welcome To Recruiting Game

The Intrawebs and social media sites are ablaze tonight as the Miami Hurricanes no longer have a scholarship available for Booker T. Washington four-star offensive lineman Denver Kirkland.

A ton of “SMH” gibberish and talk of Miami’s pipeline to a local high school being “damaged for years to come”, as if fans have any clue what happened behind the scenes.

Kirkland had an offer on the table. He chose not to commit. Miami has limited scholarships this year and like a college football reality show, he proved to be the weakest link and the first name cut, in order to make room for someone else.

Could there be some silent commits? Might coaches have insight to some kids who might flip late? Whatever the case, enough with the online drama. Welcome to the cold, hard world of college football and recruiting, people.

This is a business decision. Nothing more, nothing less. Harsh as that may sound to a teenager making a collegiate-based choice, there are ramifications for game playing, waiting until the last minute, sowing one’s oats and/or soaking up the courting process.

Fans aren’t the only ones going off. Booker T. Washington coach, and former Miami assistant, Tim “Ice” Harris is defending Kirkland (re: going public to squash rumors about academic issues), while taking shots at ‘The U’ for no longer courting his player.

“Coach Golden visited the school [Thursday] before our parade and told Denver everything he wanted to hear,” Harris told the Miami Herald. “Then, a couple hours later, everything changed. … This isn’t the way UM should be doing business, not with the kids in their own backyard.”

Harris claims to be “stunned” and stated, “I won’t stop anybody from going to UM, but I can tell you I’ll never help them again.”

Seems like Harris is going overboard for his kid, which is understandable, but is illogical. Having been in the game as long as he has, as both the high school and collegiate level, the current BTW head coach knows that business is business.

Miami is operating with limited scholarships with the 2013 class. NCAA sanctions have been looming for over two years, with rival schools recruiting hard against ‘The U’ and using potential sanctions as ammo.

Florida State, Florida, Louisville, LSU, Alabama, etc. – all have been poaching local talent for years and while Al Golden is looking to lock down his second full class (re: he came aboard December 2010 and rallied to save the 2011 bunch), Miami needs kids who are willing to commit, enroll early and never waver.

Players like quarterback Kevin Olsen, who has been an ambassador for the program for months, attempting to recruit and lure in top talent nationwide.

Local defensive backs Artie Burns and Jamal Carter, who committed months back and also never backed off their promise.

Guys like tight end Standish Dobard and offensive lineman Hunter Knighton, both of which already signed letters of intent and are working towards earning starting jobs.

Some might scream ‘double standard’ as Miami is still recruiting Kirkland’s teammate, linebacker Matthew Thomas, who is taking recruiting trips, hasn’t committed and is waiting until Signing Day to announce — and to that point, hell yes there are different rules in this game, just as there are in business and in the real world.

The Canes are desperate for linebackers, but with two offensive linemen already signed, UM simply can’t afford to be left at the altar by Kirkland next Wednesday. Miami coaches were pushing for a commitment, he couldn’t give one and as a result, they decided to move on, with the risk not being worth the reward.

There are many positions to fill and if a kid like Thomas, receiver Stacy Coley or running back Alex Collins stands Miami up next Wednesday, so be it – the juice was worth the squeeze at the potential upside of any of those playmakers signing is a true game changer.

Sadly, that just isn’t the case for Kirkland. Good as he may be, Miami has a veteran offensive line and guys like Ereck Flowers, Taylor Gadbois and Daniel Isidora came aboard a year ago. With two lineman already signed for this year, it’s understood how Kirkland became the odd man out.

One obviously feels bad for the kid if Miami truly was his first choice and he planned to don a “U” ball cap next Wednesday. Still, he’ll learn from this and will be fine.

As for other recruits, a lesson in dragging one’s feet. Harris is standing on some moral high ground, turning this into a case of Miami’s word being no good, but look at recruiting for what it is. Kids string programs along for months on end, flipping at the final house, leaving coaches scrambling to fill a spot.

Years back Miami thought Antone Smith was a done deal. The five-sta running back from Pahokee was known for sporting Hurricane slippers and was considered a slam dunk.

Come Signing Day, Smith shocked the Sunshine State – and his own mother – when he inked with Florida State and sold Miami out.

There’s no honor in recruiting and there’s no room for hurt feelings on either side. Programs and players do what’s in their best interest. It’s the name of the game.

For Harris to rant and rave about Miami selling out his player – let him have his moment, but he certainly needs to get past it and continue doing what’s best for his players. To even threaten to not help out the Hurricanes again – it’s an immature threat. Especially coming from an old schooler who knows how the system works.

Best of luck to Kirkland. Miami, like any player looking out for himself, it simply doing what’s in the best interest of the program. There are no scholies to spare this year. Every signee needs to be a perfect fit, the right kid and a game-changer.

The closer we get to February 6th, the tighter that window gets. For those kids seriously thinking Miami, make it happen sooner than later, gents. Don’t want to be on the outside looking in.

Christian Bello has been covering Miami Hurricanes athletics since the mid-1990s. After spending almost a decade as a columnist for CanesTime, he launched allCanesBlog.com. – the official blog for allCanes.com : The #1 Canes Shop Since 1959. Bello has joined up with XOFan.com and will be a guest columnist at CaneInsider.com this fall. Follow him on Twitter @ChristianRBello.

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