Randy Shannon Takes Over At “The U”

I’m glad I didn’t write much about the Randy Shannon hiring yesterday. Had I done so, I’d have been all over the map and focused on all the wrong things.

Like the rest of this fan base, this week of courting coaches has been a whirlwind and I’ve been on pins and needles, hanging on every bit of late breaking news. Jumping out of bed, getting online and searching for updates before even drinking a Red Bull or brushing my grill. Time was spent deciphering rumor from truth while attempting to sell myself on whoever seemed to be the flavor of the day.

When I heard Shannon was the guy, I was en route to see Ziggy Marley in concert with friends. I pulled up the ESPN browser on my overrated Motorola Q (they really need an external antenna on those things) and I saw Miami has made one of their own the top dog. My initial reaction? OK. I can live with that. We certainly could’ve done worse.

I woke up Friday and found myself frustrated. Not with Shannon, but with the search process. Had I blogged yesterday, my thoughts on the actual hire would’ve gotten lost in my rant about the search.

The lack of official interviews. Miami not wanting to pony up the money for a big name guy. Questioning why Chuck Neinas was brought it in if the Canes were going to promote from within and not even talk to his top prospect, Mike Stoops. If this was Shannon’s job to lose, why even provide the smoke-screen? Right up to the Wednesday afternoon contact with Rich Rodriguez.

A day later, none of that matters – except to the haters who want to pile on and trash Miami.

I’ve read every newsworthy piece of information out there and I’m yet to find a bad article on this hire or another writer criticizing the process. It’s about the result and the fact the Canes promoted one of their own. Shannon is hungry, balls out and is all about football. Listen to him ramble on and on about the Miami tradition.

This guy was schooled by Jimmy Johnson. He worked under Dennis Erickson and Butch Davis, as well. This rich Hurricanes history Shannon helped build? It oozes out of every aspect of him and like Johnson, it’s football first. Shannon is a “football nerd” and that’ll be his greatest trait taking on this new challenge. He won’t sleep until Miami is a national power again.

Miami didn’t land that sexy, “big name” coach boosters and fans were clamoring for, but they gave one of their own his “dream job” and Hurricane faithful need to respect and support that. If anyone deserves a chance and the benefit of the doubt, it’s Randy.

Last week I was calling for Arizona Stoops to leave his perch in Tucson and head to Coral Gables. Brother of Bob had my blessing to bring that Stoops magic to South Florida and turn this thing around.

Since Shannon’s hiring, I’ve completely changed my tune. Stoops is as big as an unknown as Shannon. He did a pretty good job at Arizona (6-6) this season and the Stoops family name carries some weight in the game of college football, but does that make him a good fit for Miami? No one can really say.

If there’s one thing we do know about Shannon, he is a good fit or The U. He’s a Norland High grad. He fit as a linebacker under JJ. He was an assistant under Erickson in 1991 and stuck around Coral Gables through 1997. 1998-2000 were spent in the NFL, with the Miami Dolphins, of course. Shannon returned to The U in 2001 and took over as defensive coordinator, a position he’s owned the past six seasons.

All this talk about Miami being a family and a football fraternity? The hiring of Randy Shannon only reconfirms that and we’ll see that proven on the field, behind the scenes and in every facet of this program as long as he’s here.

Dan Le Batard hit the nail on the head with his piece yesterday. So well, I didn’t even want to attempt to follow with a blog. I wanted to let his words sink in and a day later, he’s still right as rain. Shannon may lack head coaching experience, but he’s not taking on this challenge alone.

Every player who’s ever worn that “U” on their helmet or run out that tunnel? They’ve got Shannon’s back. One of “their own” made it to the top.

Stoops isn’t a Miami guy. He’s from Youngstown, OH and played his college ball at Iowa. Greg Schiano? He coached in Coral Gables for five minutes before bolting back to the northeast. Mike Leach? Gary Patterson? Steve Kragthorpe? All good coaches, but Shannon has more Miami street cred in his pinkie finger than all the aforementioned coaches combined.

Miami was rolling the dice here no matter what. Look as this fickle fan base. Nothing would please this bunch of yahoos. A divided crew with unrealistic expectations. Shannon saw it firsthand, four years as a player and thirteen years as a Canes coach. He knew good-and-hell-well what he was getting into with this opportunity. He welcomes it with open arms while the rest of the coaching community waltzed in with unrealistic expectations and in the end, ducked and ran.

Shannon is a hard-ass. He’s a disciplinarian and a no-nonsense kind of guy. In all my years watching Miami Football, I’d never seen Shannon smile or show an ounce of wit until Friday’s press conference. This man was beaming up at that podium. It was the first time I’d seen this side of Shannon and it was refreshing. You could tell he’s waited his whole life for this opportunity and when someone wants something that badly, they’re not going to take it lightly.

For those who missed the press conference, click here to watch it. It’s worth the time. Around the halfway point, Shannon talks about Miami’s recruitment of Santana Moss back in the mid-nineties when the Canes were on probation. Carol City’s head coach Walt Frazier told Shannon about Moss and in the end, it was one of Shannon’s teammates who convinced Lloyd Moss to send his son to The U.

You need “It’s a Canes Thing” defined? There you go. The Miami family doesn’t just cover what happens on campus in Coral Gables. It’s city wide. If you’re on Miami’s side, everybody is looking out for everybody. That’s how it is in this gritty, close-knit community and Shannon knows that. He promised to “attack” the state of Florida and he will.

Bobby Bowden has the southern charm, Urban Meyer is the young, fiery guy and Schiano is the up and comer with billboards over South Florida. The worst thing for those three was the hiring of Shannon. Bring in a Leach, Kragthorpe, Stoops or Patterson and those guys aren’t going to have a clue how to lockdown Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Shannon will own them because he’s a Miami guy and because he understands the importance of kids like that coming to a program like Miami. They’re the life’s blood. The fact that he’s African American? That just gives local inner city kids one more thing to connect with him on.

Look at his triumphs over tragedy. Look at the adversity he’s overcome. Any kid who grew up in a troubled environment, Shannon will be able to match them story for story.

Regarding the expectations of the fan base? Shannon says, “bring it on” and he believes that expectations should be high. In his press conference he relives a story of a drunk fan chastising him for 45 minutes after 2003’s comeback against West Virginia, 22-20. Shannon took the criticism, agreed with the fan that the defense was spotty and won the angry drunk over.

Shannon knows he’s walking into the eye of the storm and he welcomes it. Born and raised in the county of Dade, he was truly the only candidate up for the challenge of putting Miami back on top. He’s seen the good and the bad. Won a title as a coach and a player but also suffered through the probation era and some dark years for Miami Football. Shannon has seen it all.

It’s a new regime for Miami Football. To those who pulled for Shannon all along, good call. For those who don’t believe he’s the guy, give him a chance. You owe him that. This is a real-deal a Cane as you’re ever going to come across. If anyone deserves this fan base’s loyalty, respect and support, it’s Randy Shannon.

From player to grad assistant to assistant coach and now head coach, welcome to the top, Coach Shannon. You have my support. Let’s get it done.

Beat Nevada. Hire Dirk Koetter.

.:Canes305:.

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