When interviewed by Don Bailey Jr. in the post game, Golden made a few things clear. While praising the play of quarterback Jacory Harris and wide receiver Tommy Streeter, the first-year head coach had some harsh words for the rest of his team.
Golden stated that he’d “evaluate” the running game, an obvious dig as subpar offensive line play, tight ends (and their lack of blocking) as well as sophomore Lamar Miller, who has fallen off as of late.
Miller started the season with five 100-yard games – his best efforts against Ohio State (184 yards) and Virginia Tech (166 yards). Since the loss to the Hokies, 29 yards at North Carolina, 93 against Georgia Tech and 70 last week versus Virginia.
Mike James hasn’t set the world on fire either, amassing 35 yards on 15 carries the past three outings.
Golden was disturbed by embarrassing, unacceptable, game-changing penalties. Miami was only dinged five times for 51 yards against Virginia, but it was the timing more than the penalty itself. A roughing the passer (Olivier Vernon) on a third down play, resulting in a fresh set of downs and an eventual touchdown, as well as a roughing the kicker on a fourth down, which hurt from a field position standpoint.
When pressed, Golden went even further into the “why” regarding the mistakes, sloppy play and poor execution. In Golden’s opinion, there are still come “clock punchers” on this squad. Too many guys half-assing it. Guys putting in the bare minimum instead of working overtime.
Basically the exact opposite of the type of player Golden and staff are looking for as they work to restore the Hurricanes’ legacy.
Golden again shoulders all blame, vowed to get it fixed and let it be know that players have to “take ownership”, spending all and any free time doing whatever they must to improve. Watch more film. Spend more time with position coaches. Work on their own to better learn and understand the game plan.
There was also another dig at guys seeking “external affirmation”. Weeks back Golden mentioned players searching the Internet and looking for headlines or blogs that praised their play. Golden instead calls for “internal peer pressure”, stating that nothing from outside the program should motivate or demotivate his players.
Duke is on the horizon and the Blue Devils held the Hokies in check last week during a 14-10 loss. Usually thought of as a conference doormat, Duke has given Miami some trouble the past few seasons and is obviously headed south looking to make a statement.
Golden stated that coaches will change plays in all three phases of the game this week, as well as practice.
“You can’t play like that on Thursday night and not do something about it,” said Golden.
As refreshing as it is to know that Coach Golden won’t rest a minute until these problems are solved, it’s still disheartening on two levels.
For starters, you hate to hear that so many still don’t get it. The fact that there are kids with the “U” on their helmet who underachieve — it’s nauseating.
I keep flashing back to ESPN cutting to Michael Irvin in a luxury suite last Thursday night, whooping it up in his Golden Tie tee during big plays, yet complete shell-shocked and disgusted when his U gave up touchdowns of 57, 38 and 73 yards.
It’s bad enough to hear those words as a fan, but for former players and legends like Irvin – the backbone of this program – there can’t be a worse insult to lay on a Hurricane.
Disheartening on a second level is the fact that until some players from the old regime are completely flushed out, this will remain the case. There are some kids on this UM squad who are broken beyond repair, with a sense of entitlement and a sub par work ethic and until they’re gone, replaced by kids that Golden and his staff recruit and coach up, there will continue being letdowns like last Thursday’s loss to Virginia.
The faith in the future is completely in tact, but as a fan, a true belief in the current squad and the next four games isn’t what it was the Sunday after Georgia Tech.
You hoped the old Miami was in the rearview, but unfortunately it will remain until the roster is completely Goldenized and the clock punchers are long gone. – C.B.
comments
The constant re-litigating of the winning-cures-all-while-losing-exposes-warts sentiment rolls on as Miami faithful continue flailing in…
Josh Pate gets it... and I'm not just saying that because he dedicated an entire…
Tyler Van Dyke may very well have thrown his last meaningful pass for the Miami…
We can debate the merits of winning-curing-all and losses-killing-perspective at another time. For now, focus…
Winning might not cure everything, but it certainly can shift a narrative overnight—immediately lightening…
The only remedy for a gut-wrenching loss to Georgia Tech would've been the Miami Hurricanes…
View Comments
ITS ALL ABOUT THA "U" AND KNOWONE ELSE MATTERS! 305ALLDAY EVERYDAY.
I'm just doing you a little favor here brother, stop using the "old regime" "Shannon era" excuse in your write ups, it's getting old fast. You are just setting yourself up for some good ole humble pie. You know those four losses this season and the few to come, those go on Golden's record, forever. Here's a tip, keep to the facts because we all know you are a homer like the rest of us, but you sound like a homer of the jock hanging kind. Get off that thing, it's only for your own good self respect. Why is it you forget to mention that J12 and Streeter aka "TT" and Spence and Benjamin and etc, etc, etc are part of the "old regime". You always prefer to say they've just been coached up better this year, sure bud. We should have taken that stadium for ourselves and this football starved city back on Thursday night, yet all it amounted to was a "Golden" opportunity lost. Nuff said, GO CANES!
Great story. I hope Coach Golden will stay with the program for quite a while implementing a great work ethic. Entitlement seems to be the theme, do you think LSU or Alabama players don't have to work hard? (young Canes) You better believe it!!
For the future, I think Miami will be in the BCS championship game before VT or FSU makes it.
In Al Golden We Trust, Go CANES!!
i just wonder how Howard Schnellenberger would look in the media back in his day with all the media coverage Al Golden is getting today with regards to all the details of win/loss coverage, especially with all various news outlets. it probably would look almost the same and we can see what happened .GO CANES.
Chris - "clock punchers" is an apt description. You often alluded to the "it" factor that players like Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Michael Irvin and others had. They could take control of the team in the locker room and demand excellence from others.
You're right about the need to flush out the bad seeds. No doubt looming sanctions may make this even more difficult, along with tempting coaching offers sure to come Golden's way.
Unfortunately, change will take time - probably more than we would want. There's just no way around that. It will also mean that coaching schemes will have to fit the talent level on the team. I notice a lot of fans want to fire defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, which is a shame. The fact is these coaches have to design schemes and call plays that fit the talent level, and on defense, we just don't have the talent that we're used to. Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka could be coaching the defense and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. Blown coverages, missed tackles and bad angles are not part of the game plan. Those things reflect a lack of discipline and poor work ethic.
Good luck to Coach Golden. He's on the right track and just needs to recruit the players who buy into his system.
Go Canes!
Chris, I don't know why any member of this team would or should feel entitled when you look at a barely over .500 record but maybe that's more of the college player mentality in general. Some players come from being Mr Johnny High School and never put in the work to make it at the college levels. It seems we may have a few too many of these guys.
It really sucks to have to hit the reset buttom yet again for another regime, but it is what it is. A new coach needs time to implement his style with his players and unfortunately Miami seems to repeatedly go through this the last decade. Stability is the one huge thing that has killed The U recently between coaches, assistants and even AD's. I'm a Golden backer and love his tenacity, and can't wait for him to push The U to the next step and become a consistent, tough, nasty team that we need to be. We're overdue to be a perennial power again. Golden can get us back. I'm convinced.