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Randy Shannon spent his first few years muzzling his players but entering year four, there’s a different air around the program.

The first time coach’s initial approach was valid. It was time for change after that 7-6 skid in 2006, which eventually did Larry Coker in. Shannon needed to clean house, putting things on lockdown until further notice.

Three years of being a hard-ass has paid off. Especially when you see such chaos amongst other big time programs. For some, it might seem like ‘bizzaro world’ where Miami walks the straight and narrow while North Carolina is run through the ringer. To Shannon, it’s all part of a calculated plan and the way things should be at The U.

Miami didn’t fall apart overnight, though in many ways it felt like it. One win away from an ACC title game berth in 2005, the wheels came off in 2006 as years as Larry’s laid back coaching style took its toll.

You can let kids police themselves when there’s veteran leadership and the program has been built the right way, three deep, bred out of competition and heavy on both focus and discipline.

A downside of winning and dominating is the type of players you eventually attract. Hangers on. Guys who want to ride the gravy train. Players with dreams of NFL dollars instead of national championships, lacking that pride which comes from being a part of “it” from the beginning; part of the foundation.

7-6 in 2006 was that imperfect storm which happens when you ignore the writing on the wall for way too long.

A second straight season opening loss to Florida State, on the heels of that embarrassing season-ending, 40-3 bowl loss to LSU, which had several long-time assistant coaches thrown under the bus.

The 31-7 ass beating at Louisville after an immature pre-game logo stomp.

Needing a come from behind 14-13 win over a Houston team any good Miami team would’ve thrashed.

The ugly as sin mid-field brawl with crosstown “rival” Florida International, causing a handful of suspensions which almost resulted in an unthinkable upset at the hands of Duke a week later.

Four straight losses ensued and in the middle, the brutal murder of a beloved player.

A miracle win over Boston College closed out the season and made Miami bowl eligible (Bryan Pata was obviously looking down that night) and the reward, New Years Eve in Boise and a nail biter against a nobody Nevada team.

The Canes had their first six-loss season in almost a decade – and no one could blame probation this time. Coker simply got away from the proven recipe that made UM an absolute force for decades.

Much like Andy Dufrane plotting his escape from Shawshank, Shannon spent the past three seasons under the radar, biding his time and waiting to make his move – and while he’s not necessarily the one doing the talking, he’s loosened the leash on his players because he knows now is the time.

Shannon didn’t jump at a lesser contract extension a year ago, believing that better days (and a bigger payday) were ahead. This off-season he’s giving his players the freedom many have been asking for. They’ve paid their dues, earned his trust and have the experience (and depth) to back up their summertime chatter.

The quotes out of Coral Gables this summer sound more like something out of the Jimmy Johnson/Dennis Erickson decade than the all business, modern era. For those who don’t peruse every article, hang on every word of a press conference or follow social networking, a quick refresher:

– On media day last week safety Vaughn Telemaque issued a statement to opposing quarterbacks; “try me”. No disrespect was meant. Telemaque is simply getting back to his roots and has the confidence to “talk to” the opposition. Get inside their head, Play mind games.

– Soft spoken running back Damien Berry also chimed in, boasting that Miami’s inexperienced offensive line was “the best in the country”, in his opinion.

– When LaRon Byrd was called on, he thoughts on the 2010 Canes? “I think we can be great. The only thing that can stop us is us.”

– Senior wideout Leonard Hankerson recently quipped, “I think we can be the No. 1 offense in the country.”

– Though he’s never played a down, incoming freshman linebacker Kevin Nelson hasn’t been afraid to share his thoughts since signing with UM. Nelson has referred to Florida coaches as “grimy, two-faced and disrespectful” and has let Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor know that he’ll be gunning for him on 9/11. Nelson has welcomed the challenge of wearing Ray Lewis’ No. 52 jersey and has spent his off-season studying game film of Jon Beason, Jon Vilma and D.J. Williams – the last three UM linebackers to go in the first round.

– Shannon has praised Colin McCarthy for being a vocal leader and the senior linebacker has taken to the social networking airwaves to share his thoughts, recently posting “This year we gonna silence the haters. Stay tuned.” on his Facebook page.

We can all agree that talk is cheap, but in this case it’s not the player-speak that has everyone taking notice; it’s the fact that Shannon isn’t shutting any of it down. Entering year four, he has this team right where he wants it – whether the critics believe, or not.

J.J. was a master of mind games and using psychology to his advantage as a head coach; Shannon’s head coach. Anyone who doesn’t believe all those years under Johnson didn’t have an impact on Shannon – you’re higher than half the Gators’ current squad.

Overzealous Miami fans were the ones screaming that the ACC crown should’ve been won out the gate; not Randy. He knew the task at hand and what it would take to rebuild this depleted program. The Canes had some bright spots each of the past three seasons, but a lack of depth and maturity was often cited when reporters or fans started talking about where UM would wind up come December.

Over the past three seasons, neither Shannon or his players were talking. Times have since changed.

No one is talking ACC crown or national title. A one-game-at-a-time mentality remains in place. Even when Ohio State is mentioned, players are quick to remind everyone that Florida A&M is up first.

Citing “youth” wasn’t an excuse the past few years; it was fact and a logical explanation. Entering this year, no one is talking youth and everyone is talking “experience”. The stellar, top-ranked class of 2008 are no longer green freshmen. They’re ready-to-go juniors and it’s time to go next level.

“Now there are no excuses,” Byrd reminded everyone on media day. “What can you say now if we don’t win. You can’t go, ‘Oh, we’re young.’ “

The message is loud and clear. The bar has been raised and expectations are high – not just with over-the-top fans, but with coaches and players, as well.

It’s finally time to take that next step forward.

37 days.

IN OTHER ‘U’ NEWS: There have been some cheap shots this week by rival fans ripping Miami for scheduling a home/home with Toledo and while it’s hardly a premier match up, the Hurricanes don’t deserve the ribbing.

The Canes and Rockets will meet up in Ohio in 2015 and South Florida in 2016. The games are slated to be played in early September.

Should you run into opposing fans quick to chime in on this latest “foe”, shoot them a quick reminder who the Canes have taken on as of late and who this program will face in the coming years.

A home/home with Oklahoma was completed last year and Miami heads to Ohio State and Pittsburgh this season (with the Buckeyes coming to Miami in 2011.) Kansas State is on the schedule for 2011 and 2012. A three-game series with Notre Dame was just added (2012, 2016 and 2017). Nebraska is on the schedule in 2014 and 2015 and a series was inked with Rutgers for 2018 and 2019. Memphis is also on a future schedule, as well.

As for why Toledo was added, outside of being an early season warm-up game, it doesn’t hurt to play in the Midwest and to tap into some of those Ohio recruits.

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