How you liking Randy now?

I’m not one to get ahead of myself. I know Signing Day is still over a week away and that nothing is certain until names are scrawled on that dotted line. Still, all those who have ridden Randy Shannon these past few weeks need to start giving credit where credit is due. Nothing is a done deal yet, but all signs are pointing to a solid class for the Canes come February 7th.

The U is a receiver (or two) away from landing the top WR class in the nation. The QB need will be more than addressed if a certain four-star out of Tampa makes thing official a few days from now. Kids that signed last year, didn’t qualify and were wavering? Sheriff Shannon reeled ’em back in.

Shannon was announced as Miami’s new leader back on Friday December 8th. After a two-week process, the top brass at The U handed the reigns over to one of their own. The week leading up to the hiring, I was still pushing for the big name guy, like so many other fans.

I was originally caught up in all this “don’t promote from within” crap – as if Shannon was cut from the same cloth as Larry Coker and his hiring in 2001 should stop this program from ever hiring from within again.

We’re months away from the season opener against Marshall (Sept. 1st) and in all honesty, we won’t know what Shannon can do with this team for at least a season or two… but I’m starting to get that good feeling back again. This coach played for this program when it was a winner and has worked for or with the best coaches in Miami’s history. He learned from some of the best and he has an arsenal of former Hurricane greats who are a phone call away.

Shannon has also done a good job of flying under the radar the past few weeks. I love the lack of chit-chat with the media as it diffuses all the idiotic, “did you read what coach said in the paper today?” posts on the message boards.

Others have told me Shannon doesn’t have that same glad handing skills Coker and others have had. To that I say, who cares? Really. You want to produce revenue for the University of Miami? There’s only one foolproof method. Win football games. It’ll put asses in seats, it’ll sell merchandise and it’ll get the big time donors to open their wallets.

Maybe it’s a little too early to get this fired up, but I’m officially on Shannon’s bandwagon. I know little about what he’s doing behind the scenes and I know even less about the coaches he’s brought in to help him fix this current situation.

What I do know is I like how he’s handled himself this first month on the job. Recruiting is priority #1 and he’ s pounding the pavement looking for the right guys to help rebuild this program.

This has the makings of being a special class, which Miami truly hasn’t had since 1999. That was the class that got us back on the map. Buchanon. Dorsey. Carey. Geathers. Johnson. McKinnie. Portis. A solid quarterback. A solid running back. A few solid wide outs. Some big boys on the offensive line. A solid corner/return man.

2007 looks to have some players with the same type of potential as the true freshman of ’99.

Word is Robert Marve will commit on Wednesday, which is bar none the crown jewel of this class. Miami hasn’t had a superstar quarterback since Ken Dorsey. Brock Berlin and Kyle Wright were highly touted, but neither became that ‘next level’ guy at Quarterback U. Can Marve?

My main man Bruce Feldman thinks so. We traded emails last week and he raved about both Marve and Shawnbrey McNeal. Bruce is in the process of writing a book on recruiting and has been traveling the south for weeks, doing his research.

He’s seen both Marve and McNeal up close and he used adjectives like “tireless worker”, “good character” and “live arm” when describing hopefully the next, great Miami quarterback. Regarding McNeal, he stated that the kid can fly.

Too soon to tell if the next Andre Johnson is in this would-be 2007 class, but Shannon is doing all he can to better the odds. Kayne Farquharson is on board and could soon be joined by Daniel Adderly, Jermaine McKenzie, Leonard Hankerson, Tarus McKinley and hopefully, Deonte Thompson.

The Canes weak at receiver and if this class sticks, the first year coach will have nabbed the #1 crop of wide outs in the nation.

Graig Cooper recommited at running back and Orlando Franklin is back to add some serious depth to the offensive line. Par for the course, some defensive ballers are headed to The U as well, but offense is the focus here. Some big time defenses were wasted (2003 & 2004) where a Miami team with any firepower and ability to score points, would’ve contended for a National Championship.

That’s being addressed pretty damned well by a defensive minded coach.

Come February 7th, Miami is one step closer to being back and and even the skeptics will have to feel better about Shannon. Some guys might get away, but not for lack of effort and making some magic happen at the final hour.

As for this Marve situation. If Shannon pulls that off and Mr. Florida Football commits to The U on Wednesday (as expected), kudos to the Sheriff. Last year Miami lost Pat Deviln to Penn State and the year prior, Derek Shaw to Arizona State (he’s since transferred to Texas Tech). Both were early commits to Coker’s staff; a staff which promised they’d be the only quarterbacks recruited.

The Canes recently lost Nick Fanuzzi to Alabama; another Coker prospect who was promised he’d be the lone QB recruit. If/when Miami lands Marve, no harm no foul on the Fanuzzi situation. The last thing The U needs is another soft quarterback who isn’t afraid to compete. Competition is what Shannon is all about and he’s preached that to recruits since taking over. The best man for the job. Not necessarily the one with the most seniority.

Stay tuned. More commitments are rolling in as we speak…

.:Canes305:.

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