With that, let’s fold up the tent, disband the program, board up Hecht and pledge our allegiance elsewhere. Life as we thought we knew it is over. Hurricane football is d-e-a-d.
While I’m obviously being facetious, my faux rant isn’t all that far off from what some are saying in the wake of Gruden’s, “thanks, but no thanks” response to being offered the head coaching gig recently vacated by Randy Shannon.
With Gruden officially off the radar, this might be a good time for all of us to shut up, take a deep breath, sit back and reflect as it’s been a whirlwind couple of days for UM and we’re all a bit upside down and talking crazy.
A week ago Miami was four days past the loss to Virginia Tech and three days from getting upset by South Florida. Shannon was still in the driver’s seat, excuses were being made regarding the most recent loss and fans were pissing and moaning about a school president who supposedly didn’t care about football, convinced that Randy would get at least one more year to right the ship, if not more.
For many, Christmas came early when Shannon was let go Saturday evening, hours after the overtime loss to the Bulls. Seems in the wake of the non-hire regarding Gruden, most are forgetting what’s taken place recently inside the walls of Hecht and it’s time for some perspective, instead of spewing more venom.
Many of you felt that Donna Shalala and Kirby Hocutt were content with seven or eight seasons, as long as kids stayed out of trouble. You felt Shannon’s job wasn’t just safe this year, but for many years to come, as long as Miami’s APR rating stayed high and number of arrests low.
Instead, Shalala gave Hocutt the green light to move forward, proving that when it comes to term ‘student athlete’, each word is as important as the other.
Shannon was let go hours after Miami’s fifth loss of the season and who was the first phone call to fill the vacancy? Jon Gruden. Arguably the biggest name out there and UM was all but ready to give the man a blank check, proving their commitment to getting this proud football program back where it needs to be.
How interested Gruden may or may not have ever been, it doesn’t matter. Miami meant business and Hocutt trekked to Tampa with the intent of putting a deal together – something most fans wouldn’t have seen coming in a million lifetimes.
That in itself should be your focus today, after taking a few minutes to wallow in some Gruden-imposed sorrow. Remember where you were a week ago and take pride in the fact this university is committed to building a winner and not settling for mediocrity.
Yes, we all got caught up in Grudenmania, which is both understandable and acceptable. Honestly, when was the last time Miami fans really had a reason to feel good about something?
Saturday November 5th back in 2005, if you really want to know.
The then fifth-ranked Canes kicked the ass off the third-ranked Hokies in Blacksburg, 27-7 and Miami rose to No. 3 in the land, nestled right behind top-ranked Southern Cal and second-ranked Texas, who eventually squared off in the last great title game. It was the last time Miami was truly relevant both on or off the field.
Five years of being average took it’s toll, so when a 7-5 regular season was followed with a 48-hour window where Shannon was fired and there was talk of a potential Gruden hire, everyone ran with it because as modern day Miami fans, we all needed something to cling to.
At allCanesBlog.com, we did our best to share what we were hearing, always with the caveat that it came from a source or friend and that until the ink on the contract was dry, everything should be taken with a grain of salt.
If there’s anything we did these past few days to mislead you, we apologize. Like you, we were thrilled at the premise of a fiery Super Bowl winning coach heading to Coral Gables and simply told you what we heard, in an effort to keep you informed.
It’s a fine line between wanting to be first and striving to be right, which is why others who cover the Canes are getting lambasted today, having gone a little too far in their quest to break the story.
Still, if fans weren’t clamoring for it, there wouldn’t have been the need for the media and paid sites to run with the scoop as they have. (Our site traffic was 10x the norm, as inquiring minds wanted to know.)
Those folks tearing CaneSport’s Gary Ferman a new one today are some of the same fanatics that were treating him like the oracle a few days back, hanging on his every word and begging for any morsel thrown their way – proving that those seeking the story are as much to blame as those who reported it. We’re all fans and we’re all guilty of running before we walked. All of us need to take our share of the responsibility here. Own it, don’t cast stones.
Time to get a grip, to employ some logic and to really size up what’s gone on the past few days. It was easy to get caught up in the moment, but too much happened too quickly and the moment has passed, meaning it’s time to re-evaluate and to see the positive in what’s happened since Saturday.
This university cares about football more than you knew and the head coach that many felt was the root of the problem has been let go. Start and end with that premise, instead of lamenting the biggest fish in the pond who got away.
Yes, for the sake of recruiting, the Miami Hurricanes need to get a coach in place sooner than later. That said, Signing Day is over two months out and this is a program-defining hire that cannot be rushed. Shannon was released five days back and some are literally up in arms that UM has hired a new coach “yet” – as if that’s how it’s done with anyone other than a Gruden-type.
Should Miami’s top brass hire a dud, pick up the bitchfest then and complain away.
Five days into the process and having swung for the fences with the first prospect, Hocutt and staff deserve some credit, as well as your patience.
Despite the reports, Gruden was a long shot and his turning down Miami isn’t an indictment on this program. UM is a different breed and it’ll take a special guy to get on board, maximizing with this school, team and city have to offer.
We’ll delve deeper into the Miami “list” and some other options the Canes are looking at.
Until then, focus on the bigger picture, appreciate the fact that UM’s administration cares more about football than you thought and give them the time to get this thing right.
You owe them at least that much after all they’ve done for U since Saturday.
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View Comments
When Jon Gruden went to Tampa Bay, he went to a team that was built to win a Super Bowl.
Just like that, he wins a Super Bowl.
After that, we slowly saw the fall of that Tampa Bay team and Jon Gruden found himself out of coaching.
Jon Gruden wants to coach in the NFL.
As an NFL coach, I don't think he's all that.
If he did Become the U's coach, I have no doubt that he would do a great job.
Too bad.
I guess he can't see the forest for the trees.
I think your being a little harsh on us Canes fans.As a long-time supporter (1980)Canes football has become a passion.
Sometimes this passion overloads & gets the better of us.I do think MOST are on the same page though.
We all have different opinions,that's good,opens up debate,but sometimes this leads to friction.It is what it is.That said,hire T.Tuberville!Peace.
"...those seeking the story are as much to blame as those who reported it."
Are you kidding me? The "reporters" fueled the fire by all the reports that Gruden was coming. The fans were simply reacting to positive news. Had the news NOT suggested Gruden was coming, then the fan reaction would have been tempered.
I admit I got caught up in the whole thing, which of course leads to disappointment when the truth comes out. Never again will I have any faith in the bloggers, reporters, fake reporters, or twitter guys.
Who are these "sources?" I'm starting to think some reporters completely fabricate their "sources" in order to self-promote....which is stupid, since all it does is destroy their own credibility.
The whole media circus the last couple of days reminds me of 14-yr old high school girl gossip. I'm embarassed I got so involved in the speculation. But those who reported all the news should be the most embarassed.
I don't understand your "posted by allCanes.com at..." part of your blog. Everytime you just post a blog it says posted at like 5 hrs before the actual time and I'm in the eastern time zone
I don't think a mea culpa is needed. You guys did well just letting us know what was going on beyond the field. So, the deal didn't get done. Move on and we'll see what the next turn in the road will reveal.
Keep up the good work.
Chard
I give them credit for firing Randy but that's about it. I'll give them credit when they actually fix the mess they created by hiring a young dynamic coach that gets the most out his players unlike Randy & Coker. I don't have confidence in this administration because of its track record, they betta get this one right. Im hoping & wishing they make a good choice.
let's face it
no gruden = short term failure for Miami.
an ugly firing by shannon could have been covered up by a blockbuster hiring, but since the "big name" hiring isn't happening, a short term failure for the Canes.
I can't believe it has only been 5 days since Shannon was given the boot and the rumors have exploded on the next coach. It feels like it's been a month already.
Columbus Cane
Come on Harbaugh! Daddy needs a new pair of shoes
I think in the back of our minds we knew this Gruden thing was a long shot at best. As it moved from long shot to possibilty we revisited that place in our minds when we felt that this program was invincible. I don't think people were upset with news as much as having that feeling taken away and having that feeling of uncertainty take it's place.
I think we need to reexamine ourselves in this whole thing. We have been spoiled because of our previous successes and I think we have accustomed to a certain way of thinking. We have this philosophy that because we are the U ,everybody wants to just coach here or play here and that no other options exist. So people start to make demands and say "get this guy" or "don't get this guy ". It may have been able to work 20 years ago but not now.
We need to get the fire back. The best way to do that I'd get guys that want to be here. Guys that are willing to put the hours in the heat at greentree during the summer becuase it will translate to victories for the U and not because pro scouts are watching. That' short term thinking was the mentality that Gruden wouldve brought here. He wasn't going to be a lifer here no matter how much money we threw at him. It wouldve translated to the players and 3 years from now brought us right back to here. I heard We just lost 2 of our highly rated recruits but I'm ok with that because like gruden it shows they didn't really want to be here. Let's get the 2 or 3 star guys that will play hard and show up instead of 4 star guys that won't give it their all because on paper they think they are already better than everybody else. Mike Leach is campaigning like a mug trying to get a job here. I hope the Kirby and Donna give this guy a fair look. If you talk to TT fans you'll notice the majority of them wished he was still there. Some former player testimonials are positive as well.