This is getting extremely aggravating. It’s Thursday and no one really has a clue what the hell Miami is doing. Other sites, local media, national publications… everyone is lost and has been for weeks. It started almost a month ago when everyone was screaming about Steve Spurrier being next in line for the gig and the chatter hasn’t stopped since.
I see no rhyme or reason here. Some online rumors talk about about a media frenzy at Hecht Athletic Center today regarding Randy Shannon and where he’s at in the interview process. A handful of folks are saying it’s his job to lose. Supposedly he’s killed it in the interview process and has some sort of a game plan for what he’ll do if given the opportunity.
The Mike Leach rumor seems all but dead. I haven’t heard a word about Leach in a few days. The event in NYC is over and with Miami’s top brass back at The U, I assume Leach is back in Lubbock.
Rich Rodriguez’s name has been thrown around non-stop today. Seems Alabama has made him in an offer, but wait, here comes Miami… a few days and several million dollars short. What’s the point of this? All this pissing and moaning about Miami’s athletic department being broke, yet Dee now wants to talk to a coach who will come with a salary just shy of $3M and a hefty $2M buyout?
If Miami had any real interest in Rodriguez, why wait until Thursday? I’ve read stories online for days now stating that he was interested. The Canes are mum on the subject and just when it looks like RR is Bama bound, now Miami wants to talk?
That seems backward, desperate and like some sort of smoke-screen – a faux attempt to go after the “big name” guy, but they’ll settle on someone else. It seems so Mickey Mouse.
According to ESPN, Miami is making their last ditch effort to bring Rodriguez to Coral Gables. RR has asked for Miami to put an offer on the table. He doesn’t want this to drag out. We’ll see if Miami plays ball. To me, it sounds like lip service, but the way this has all played out as of late, I wouldn’t be shocked to wake up Friday and see Rodriguez as our new head coach.
No new news regarding Mike Stoops today, which I find disheartening. What was Chuck Nienas brought on for if Dee and Donna Shalala aren’t seriously looking at and considering the guys he’s bringing to the table? Neinas endorsed the younger Stoops, yet it seems Miami remains fixated on talking to Shannon.
What happened with Steve Kragthope and Gary Patterson? Did they say “thanks, but no thanks” or did Miami fail to even meet with them?
I responded to some message board posts yesterday, reminding our fan base to be patient. The natives were getting restless and I felt everyone needed to calm down.
24 hours later and now I’m ready to strangle someone. Why does it seem everyone else landed their guys in such a pain-free manner? Butch Davis to UNC. Mark Dantonio to Michigan State. Gene Chizik to Iowa State. Tom O’Brien to NC State. Alabama jumped all over Rodriguez with a quickness and though they entered the game the latest, I wouldn’t be shocked if Stanford replaces Walt Harris in under a week.
Why has Miami backed off Leach? Why am I the only guy on the younger Stoops bandwagon? What’s the point of talking to Rodriguez this late in the game? Is it really Shannon’s job to lose? Did anyone else really stand a chance anyways?
Unless the Canes pull something out of their hat here, it looks like this hiring will be one based on fear and Shannon will get the gig. Fear of losing a long-time assistant with South Florida recruiting ties. Fear of passing over a minority candidate. Fear of losing other big time assistants like Mario Cristobal if Shannon flies the coup. Fear to pay a big name guy the big bucks. Fear regarding trusting Neinas and his findings.
The Miami athletic department again looks like their in disarray.
It’s your move, Dee. Your track record has been spotty these past few years. This hire needs to be something special. Don’t take the easy way out. Come on now. This program has wasted more money the past few years than you’ll pay any candidate on the radar. Get the right guy. Miami just suffered through the Larry Coker era. Make a big time hire not based on money or seniority. Look at all the guys before you and make something special happen already.
I won’t even begin to dwell on where Miami is at with a sub par hire. Why even go there now when I’ll have the early part of 2007 to do nothing more than piss and moan?
.:Canes305:.
This might seem like an odd thing to say, but I’m not worried about Shannon being the HC. He was a student at the U, he was a player at the U, he built his career on the grass in Coral Gables. I’m sure to see his team lose not only affects him as a coach, but also as an alum who knows the pain of watching one’s own team lose.
I think we tend to miscategorize Shannon in the same field as Coker…but I find it hardpressed to believe that any outside coach could possibly care more about this team than Shannon. Shannon WILL hire the right people to get this going and we WILL be fine.
Have faith 🙂
Yes, I agree with this person’s comment too. And whats up with the “minority hire” part. I think it is unfair to even bring race into this equation bc of Shannon’s status as a senior level assistant. Come on, you know his stats, if you werent so caught up on the fact that he reminds of Larry Coker 6 year’s ago, then u probably would go for him.
But, I think you are right that Miami needs to just decide. We are taking a little too long.
And whats up with the “minority hire” part. I think it is unfair to even bring race into this equation bc of Shannon’s status as a senior level assistant. Come on, you know his stats, if you werent so caught up on the fact that he reminds of Larry Coker 6 year’s ago, then u probably would go for him.
Dude, I could care less if Randy Shannon was orange. Color means nothing to me. I just mentioned a litany of comments which surround the hire. That’s what people talk about, so it deserved mention.
What I DON’T like about the Shannon hiring is that we SHOULD’VE had a chance to see him in action as interim coach this season anytime after 1-2. We didn’t. They stuck by Coker until the end and even the bowl game.
To hire Shannon now over the likes of a Leach, Stoops, Rodriguez, etc. – it makes it seem 1) like Miami flat out doesn’t want to pay a big name guy and 2)it makes it look like this was Miami’s plan all along and the whole deal with a consultant and nationwide search was a farce.
We just need to hire somebody. At this point anybody. It’s been almost a month since Coker was let go…All these schools are hiring coaches.. We gotta go out and recruit. Like you said Chris, it’s very frustrating. Let’s put this in 5th gear and get the right guy! come on Dee make your move.
I think we need to take or time and get the right man for the job because if we rush in to it we might pay for it like we did Coker.I think shannon is a good DC but i think we need someone to be a good HC.Right now i think Liach or Rodrigues would be best for the U and keep shannon as DC.
Patience. I like the Shannon hire. I stated earlier in another post, i think it’s the right thing to do, the best thing to do. Just because you bring in a consultant doesn’t mean you go with what they say. Sometimes you just got to trust yourself. I like shannon as coach bring in a good qb coach and a good offensive coordinator and keep the assistants you have. If we lose Shannon we will lose more assistants. The U job hasn’t lost its luster, it just opens up at a time when there aren’t that many good candidates. i still believe in the U and what we are trying to achieve. i think that we are not close to championship levels with the players we have now. i think that is still a few recruting classes away. i think we will still be looking for a coach in 1 week if not 2. we are going to have to ride this out. to hire someone just to make a hire is a bad decision. i say let rodriguez go to bama, he isn’t as great as people think.
DOC in Cali
I don’t understand why Miami would get in a bidding war for RR. The guy is good, but come on. What has he won? He’s certainly not worth Alabama’s $3 million per year. Don’t pick the seemingly hot guy just because another high profile school is pursuing him. Don’t mortgage away the school and overpay for a coach. I agree that I don’t know why there has not been a decision by now. Precious time is wasting.
Great search Miami. More Florida kids will be going east to the Banks of the Raritan!
Shannon is the new COACH!!!
Look slike Randy is the man, according to ESPN last night at about midnight. I was excited to hear a decision was finally made and I like the hire – depending on who he now hires as OC. We need some fresh ideas and get as far away from the last 4 years offensively as possible. So now that we have a coach, he needs to bust his butt on the recruiting trail and find an OC.
Look at it like this, all those coaches going to other schools, are all recycled and will all be out of a job in 4 or 5 years and those schools will be searching again. I think Shannon now has a chance for something new, no one knows how the offense will look but we know the defense will still be tops. This is the opportunity a top flight Offensive Coordinator is looking for, the talent at The U, and a chance to have full control over the offense. We can get a big name OC easier and cheaper than a big name HC.
You will find a lot of these head coaches are only as good as their assistant coaches. Look at FSU when Mark Richt left, the offense went to one of the worst in the country and it’s still there.
Very well said.
I think Shannon will make a fine coach, just as Richt did at UGA. I always see parallels between FSU and the U. Shannon is a no Bullshit guy who’s players are disciplined on the field. Our D still finished 6th this year despite being on the field all the time. The question is who will step in as O.C.? With Shannon’s attention to detail and the right offensive gameplan we’ll be right back on top.