College football season is less than a month away and some local writers are piling on, essentially writing the Miami Hurricanes off, as it seems the trendy thing to do in 2008.
The latest critic? Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald. His Friday article, “Hurricanes bordering on irrelevant” hardly gave the hometown team a ringing endorsement and sounds like the same drivel every writer north of Orlando is spewing.
The Canes can’t even get some ‘homefield advantage’ from the local rag. Hardly a shock.
Last year’s losing record was embarrassing to all parties involved. From the coaches and players, right down to the casual fan, everyone associated with the program was feeling the effects of a losing season.
That said, 5-7 was a few plays away from 8-4. North Carolina, Georgia Tech and NC State were all winnable games for Miami, but a losing culture and quitters mentality forced the Canes to break instead of bend.
While “almost” means nothing in regards to the final score, Miami’s potential for 2008 should earn them more than a top fifty ranking when entering the new season. Especially when so many other programs are given the benefit of the doubt.
Gutierrez is quick to point out that the Canes are getting no respect in the coaches poll. Forget the top 25; Miami didn’t even crack the ‘others receiving votes’ category. A top-ranked recruiting class, a new, proven defensive coordinator, a few healthy running backs and a handful of promise mean nothing in this ‘what have you done for me lately?’ era of sports.
Notre Dame is coming off of 3-9, yet gets more love than the Canes. Same to be said for Florida State, putting together back-to-back 7-6 seasons and losing to Miami at home last year – FSU is ranked higher than The U. A Kevin Smith-less UCF bunch even cracked the ‘others receiving votes’ category, while UM was absent.
More insult to injury? Randy Shannon ranked last of the 66 BCS coaches listed. Dead. Freaking. Last. West Virginia’s first-year skipper Bill Stewart garnered more praise, even thought he’s yet to step on the field as the Mountaineers’ head coach and his last previous stint was an 8-25 run at Virginia Military Institute.
Shannon’s mindset? The past is the past. Let it go. Gutierrez’s take? A cheap shot at the Miami skipper’s potential fate should he ‘ignore’ history – with a reference to a famous George Santayana quote (“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”)
Remembering the past and dwelling on it are completely different actions. Learn from your mistakes, but don’t place your focus on the failure. Let it motivate you, while also reminding you where you’ve been.
Gutierrez is a Miami guy and if he were really paying attention, he’d see what was going on.
It doesn’t take a bleeding heart to feel the winds of change in Coral Gables.
The local media knows Shannon’s tale of woe and the adversity he’s overcome. Last year’s Canes may have been losers, but their second-year coach is born winner. Sometimes a step backward is required to take those two steps forward.
5-7 was the story last fall. By year’s end, the dismissal of some players and coaches who contributed to that losing record.
A few weeks later, a top-ranked recruiting class and a shot in the arm for a stagnant, mentally whipped bunch. They’ll make their rookie mistakes, but big time talent is returning to Miami and it’s only a matter of time before they make their presence felt.
These aren’t Uncle Larry’s recruits. Top local talent and a handful of cherry-picked players from across the nation who will have “Shannon: 101” instilled in them for 3-4 years. Larry Coker proved bad management can ruin a “can’t miss” prospect and that cloud hovered over Miami a few years longer than it should.
Any legit Cane will tell you that the past few seasons have been marred with false hope. Any hype or belief entering the new season was faux. As much as anyone wanted to back last year’s quarterbacks and wide outs, it was tough to believe in guys who had failed the program year after year.
You’d pray for a miracle, but always found yourself expecting the worst. The result? A 13-15 run since an upset of Virginia Tech back in November 2005.
The Canes will line up a slew of freshman this season, but there’s reason to believe. Not the false hope this fan base felt the past few years, but a legitimate change in the air. Miami-caliber kids rejoining the program, with a winner’s attitude and desire to right this ship.
Local writers should know better because they’ve seen this before. Butch Davis came to Miami unheralded, but after a few solid recruiting classes and bringing Miami-caliber players back into the fold, the Canes turned things around. The talent returned – as did the right attitude – and before anyone knew it, The U was back on top after being left for dead.
Gutierrez should back the hometown coach, instead of piling on like the rest of the national media is choosing to. Where is his inside scoop? Where is his opinion of Shannon, based on his interaction as a writer for the hometown paper? Gutierrez graduated from North Miami Senior High and grew up with the Canes in his backyard.
Then again, something may have been lost when he trekked north, attended the University of Florida, wrote for the Independent Florida Alligator and let that orange and blue seep into his veins. Yet another dirty Gator writing for the Herald, Gutierrez doesn’t write like a Miami native – unbiasedly covering the hometown team, yet sticking up for the program when he should.
Gutierrez is the anti-Manny Navarro.
Navarro’s blog offers an in-depth look at the Canes. He’s a fan, but also plays the role of an unbiased reporter. He calls out what needs calling out, but also delivers the inside scoop and can provide positive insight on the program, covering the Canes on a daily basis – something the biased folk at ESPN, the Sporting News, SI, Athlon, etc. can’t do.
While Gutierrez chose to rant about Shannon’s low ranking, last year’s decline and the fact that as many as eight freshman might not report for fall camp (it’ll most likely be four, with the other four receiving clearance this week), Navarro, armed with his video camera, got knee-deep in fall practice and chose to offer some positive tidbits regarding Saturday morning scrimmage:
– Playmakers at the wide receiver position. LaRon Byrd was today’s standout and is predicted to have an instant impact this season. Davon Johnson, Kendall Thompkins, Travis Benjamin and Thearon Collier all stepped it up today as well.
– Regarding the quarterbacks, both Robert Marve and Jacory Harris looked sharp today in 7-on-7 drills, on rollouts and with their deep ball. Though it’s only practice, the feeling is that both are ahead of the damaged-beyond-repair Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman.
Irrelevant? Hardly. Unproven? Definitely.
The Canes will have their growing pains this season, but they’re not as far off the radar as some uninformed folks are predicting. For the first time in years, there’s a legitimate reason to be excited. The talent is returning and will continue to do so, with upwards of ten commitments already on board for 2009.
Everything that made Miami “The U” a decade ago – it’s happening all over again. Shannon is following the blUeprint and is doing his best Jimmy Johnson in an effort to resurrect this sacred program.
Ignore Israel. Read Manny. Be patient. Have faith. Hold on.
305, you’re spot on. That Gutierrez is a clown. He sucks on Around The Horn and he’s a friggin’ Gator. It must kill him to have to cover the Canes here and there after being a Heat beat writer for so long.
Like you said, Manny’s stuff is great. He’s a Canes fan, but he also tells it like it is. He points out the good, bad and the ugly.
Things are turning around at Da U and shame on Israel for not commenting on the positives and only focusing on the potentially negative stuff.
I really hope Hardin, Marti, Holton, Smith, Jones, Lewis and whoever else isn’t yet in gets in so Gutz has to eat some crow. All this “as many as 8 might not get in” is such b.s. That’s the worst of worst case scenarios and like you said, it’ll most likely be up to four Canes who have to go to prep school
Damn straight. I just got back from Miami a little while ago after the practice and saw that losers article. Trust me when I say that what I saw down there was cause for excitement not doom and gloom.
Yeah there were some rookie mistakes, but most of them were by, wait for it… freshman! For the most part There seemed to be an entirely better energy surrounding the team. One thing I noted that made me happy was individuals taking responsibility for THEIR mistakes. Personal accountability is something that the team has been lacking the last few years in my opinion. The Coker attitude of everything being “okay” when it clearly wasn’t seems to be gone. The “No Excuses” attitude seems to be taking hold. These kids will not be “okay” with dropping balls they should have caught, with missing routes or missing tackles. THEY know that it isn’t “okay” at this level, not here, not at the U.
I won’t go into a breakdown of what went on but I will say that I am excited about both the receivers and QB’s for the first time in a long time.
Thanks for being a ‘Canes writer and not just someone writing about the Hurricanes.
“U” No Excuses!
One thing I noted that made me happy was individuals taking responsibility for THEIR mistakes. Personal accountability is something that the team has been lacking the last few years in my opinion. The Coker attitude of everything being “okay” when it clearly wasn’t seems to be gone. The “No Excuses” attitude seems to be taking hold.
Great points, WPB Cane. Personal responsibility is everything and the Coker mentality and mindset is continuing to get flushed down the drain. 2007 was the last of it — the holdover players with the wrong attitudes and what not. That doesn’t change overnight.
Shannon got rid of a lot of the dead weight (players and coaches) and has brought the RIGHT kind of players on board. Kids who preach his gospel and believe in his brand of football. A few more classes like that and the Canes will be unstoppable.
This new culture of Miami football athletes is going to take hold. Winners from winning programs is a bigger deal than many are giving credit for. These kids from Northwestern and Booker T. — that’s just like when a kid from The U gets to the NFL and brings his style and swagger to the next level.
These local Miami kids who were playing big time high school football (at winning programs) will bring that winning culture back to Miami and it’ll rub off. Just watch.
The Canes are going to surprise this year. They’ll take their lumps – due to those rookie mistakes – but they’re also going to step up and surprise here and there.
Long gone are 27-0 halftime deficits… 1-of-14 performances from the QB… WRs ducking passes thrown to them on the sidelines (resulting in an INT)… the inability to game plan to stop second half ground attacks (Tashard Choice is still running…)
Between Bill Young’s defensive game planning and the influx of new talent Shannon signed this year, the Canes are on their way back. Time to start believing.
Dearest Canes, as for the non-cane fans and others. Let them talk, let them write and let them report. I want to encourage you to be patient with the changes, the efforts, the commitment from Coach Shannon, position coaches and staff. Their actions are not out of desperation but confidence and faith. Understand the law of attraction. "I attract to my life whatever I give my attention energy and focus to whether positive or negative". I recommend reading "Law of Attraction" by Michael J. Losier. On page 86. He wrote; "Remember, the law of Attraction does not care whether you are REMEMBERING, pretending, complaining or worrying. It simply responds to what's in your Vibrational Bubble. So find proof, rejoice and send out a positive vibration". Remember to respond to the negative vibrations/news with only positive vibrations. Ex: "YES WE CAN" We must promote our beliefs in our team and our faith in our coaches. It is difficult enough to run and organization or play hard yet more difficult when your constantly removing the resistance i.e. doubt & fear; pg. 76, in your own house/fans/alumni/family. I don't know Coach Shannon personally but I've watch many of the press conferences and interviews and he's got a hold on the secret whether through practicing the principles or simply discipline. I am confident that together we can win. So from this moment forward let's go forward as team, ONE! We are ONE. Yes we can win and we will win.
Great! I have to listen to Gutz the Clown ever once in a while on 790, which somehow my radio magically tunes to Big 106 once I hear his voice, and now he’s writing a negative article on the ‘Canes.
This guy is a joke. Always has been and always will be. The Miami Herald seems really good at finding idiotic talent (i.e. Pope, Cote, LeBatard(not his radio show though), Salguero, and Gutz).
Remember people, Cote was the same person who wrote an article that said “Dorsey wasn’t going to amount to anything”, and who’s Kool-Aid was he drinking after ge graduated.
Go ‘Canes!!
“Shannon is following the blUeprint and is doing his best Jimmy Johnson in an effort to resurrect this sacred program.”
Definately not. Randy Shannon is on a sinking ship.
Definately not. Randy Shannon is on a sinking ship.
Brother, you’re entitled to your opinion, but you better back it up better than that. I just gave you over 1,200 words regarding WHY I feel the way I do.
You couldn’t even muster up double digits to explain yourself.
Great, another person who simply thinks “Shannon sucks.”
Elaborate, please. Any idiot can have an opinion. Back it up.
Man your blog is the stuff! Miami haters will be silent by the end of next year, when Marve has established himself as the next great ‘Canes QB and the young talent has shown its mettle under pressure. This is Miami. Simple as that. Southern Florida will always be a recruiting hotbed and Randy Shannon has a way of connecting with these kids and keeping them in their own backyard. He was coaching Coker’s players last year, not his own. I’m being patient, remembering how things were when the Butch Davis era began … and how things looked when he left for the NFL. As FSU continues to decline under Bowden and Florida finds life after Tebow to be tough, Miami will return to the throne in Florida.
‘Canes fan from Pennsylvania
Canes305,
I’ve been reading your blogs, articles, posts on grassy, etc, etc. And I must say you come correct everytime. I love it when people speak the truth and isn’t afraid to hold back. What an excellent read this is. The nail got hit directly on the head. EXCELLENT !!
561CANES – West Palm Beach, Fl.
Allowing is the absence of negative vibration. Doubt is a negative vibration and doubt is often created from limited beliefs. pg 82. Believing is also the absence of doubt as is faith. On three “We believe we will win”
I’ve been reading your blogs, articles, posts on grassy, etc, etc. And I must say you come correct everytime. I love it when people speak the truth and isn’t afraid to hold back. What an excellent read this is. The nail got hit directly on the head. EXCELLENT !!
ricjam – Thanks for the support. Love the Canes, love talking Canes and appreciate hearing from folks on board with me.
I still can’t believe Notre Dame got at least one vote while Miami hasn’t gotten any.
GO GOLDEN DOMES…what were they 3-7?
I’m feeling like a little girl right now acting all pissy.
And I’m ashamed I just admitted that
GO GOLDEN DOMES…what were they 3-7?
Goldenbinders, ND WISHES they only lost 7 games last year.
The Irish were 3-9 in 2007.
nice play on my Handle.
I expect the canes to explode this season. I know many “experts” say we’ll win only 3. but come on.
I can see us winning more than 5.
nice play on my Handle.
I wish I was that crafty of clever. I was typing faster than I was thinking. My bad…
HA!
I’m expecting a big wright up for that September 6th game. Gimme something to get more jacked up about..
Another gameday playlist post? Something just badass dope.
If Gutierrez thinks The Canes are bordering on irrelevant then maybe he should ask his boss for a new assignment. We don’t need a Brutus reporting on the program with this type of angle – ESPN does enough mud slinging already.
3 weeks from today until kickoff and I can’t wait! I am optimistic with this program’s direction and can’t wait for the season to start. We will be one of the great surprises this year! Go Canes!
-Columbus Canes
What did you expect from a &*^%ing Gator?
When I look at Miami’s schedule, honestly, I only see one game where we may be in some definate trouble and probably lose (Florida – only because of our youth, but who knows) and one other likely chance for a loss (V Tech- although they have a lot of holes). Other than that, we have a great shot in every other game. I think 8-9 wins is a good year for this 2008 team. I honestly believe that.
-Columbus Cane