Spring football is underway and new head coach Al Golden continues putting his fingerprints on a program seeking both a new-yet-old identity and some lost toughness.
Last week Coach Golden stated the message loud and clear; “There’s going to be a wake-up call when the depth chart comes out”. Friday morning, he delivered.
The biggest standout; Spencer Whipple earning top-dog honors at quarterback, with Jacory Harris listed as the number two guy and highly-touted true sophomore Stephen Morris trailing both.
Aldarius Johnson got the nod over LaRon Byrd at receiver – as did Kendal Thompkins, who beat out long-time starter Travis Benjamin.
Malcolm Bunche overtook five-star behemoth Seantrel Henderson at left tackle.
John Calhoun is your number one tight end, ahead of Chase Ford, Blake Ayles, Clive Walford and Cory White – and for those keeping score, Calhoun is a converted fullback yet to suit up at his new position for ‘The U’.
James Gaines edged out Jordan Futch at middle linebacker, true freshman Thomas Finnie is listed ahead of Brandon McGee at corner – as did JoJo Nicolas, beating out Keion Payne, despite just making the switch over from safety weeks back.
At running back, Mike James proved to be ‘the man’, with Storm Johnson at two and the Canes’ leading returning rusher, Lamar Miller at the back of the pack.
It’s March and a safe bet you won’t hear too many ‘Whipple to Calhoun’ completions come fall. Same with any chatter regarding ‘Gaines plugging up the middle’ as the quarterback of the defense. Coach Golden simply took this opportunity to implement a little ‘Psychology : 101’ – looking to kick a recently-stagnant program and in its collective ass.
No one’s job is safe. The sense of entitlement era is over. Everything will be earned from this day forward.
In other words, welcome to ‘The New U’, gentlemen. Get on board or get out of the way.
After more than half a decade of mediocrity, the new Golden phrase is ‘meritocracy’; defined as, “an elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than privilege”. While that mindset should’ve always been obvious, like a cancer, that sense of entitlement set in and the Miami attitude, dominance and passion of a decade ago slowly eroded from within.
The only good thing to come from complacency and bottoming out; the fact that a rebuilding process done the right way will yield positive results. The hunger doesn’t need to be fabricated and cutesy tactics won’t be required to get guys buying into to Golden and staff’s blueprint for success.
Still, motivation is needed as old ways are being flushed out, clearing a path for a more disciplined, logical approach. The point of this recent depth chart was three-fold; to reward those who worked hard, to send a message to any lackadaisical former starters and to simply let guys know that it’s the Golden way or the highway.
There’s no doubt that Harris or Morris will be under center come fall, but there was no reason to reward either or to create controversy week one of spring football. Whipple put in the work and earned the nod, on paper – which made headlines and took the focus off any quarterback controversy in March.
Had Harris or Morris taken the top spot, media folk and conspiracy theorist-types would’ve created a storyline. Golden’s favoring one over the other. Morris got complacent feeling he earned the job when Harris stumbled late. Harris looks good in spring, but will fall apart by fall.
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Eliminate the idle chatter while sending a message to both potential starting quarterbacks, that more is expected from both. Turn up the competition on the practice field; not through newspaper headlines and message board posts. No. 12 and No. 17 have exactly half a year to go balls-out, working tireless to earn the starting job and a safe bet that whoever is eventually named ‘the guy’ will have more than earned the nod.
Jimmy Johnson and his methodology was questioned early on as the once-green UM head coach didn’t win out the gate. Despite taking over the defending national champions after the 1983 season, JJ went 8-5 year one but in time, proved he had the mettle to build title-worthy squads – both in Coral Gables and with Dallas years later.
Battles were won through intense competition on the practice field and Johnson made a name with the psychological approach he took to the game of football. He treated players accordingly, knew how to push their buttons and his efforts yielded positive results.
No one is saying that Golden is the next Johnson – but the approach to the game, the air of confidence, the no-nonsense attitude and promotion of competition are all Jimmy-esque.
Spring football is underway with the first depth chart and practice in the books, but the story has only begun regarding the Golden Era and the psychological warfare AG will bring at his players between now and September.