It was reported this week that senior receiver Leonard Hankerson has suggested the theme “No Excuses” regarding the 2010 Miami Hurricanes. If that phrase sounds familiar, it should as UM used it back in 2008 when then-linebacker Glenn Cook made up and passed out bracelets with the saying on them. (Which inspired the since shelved allCanes original design pictured above.)
For those keeping score, the Canes posted a 7-6 season in 2008 … with a slew of excuses. Too young. Not enough depth. Cold weather. Rain. New quarterback. New defensive coordinator. Bad offensive coordinator.
The biggest issue two years back wasn’t the motivational tactic as much as the fact it was premature. Year two of the Randy Shannon era, this team hadn’t earned the right to do something like that. Miami had valid reasons it wasn’t ready to compete for a title – nationally or conference-wise. The pieces weren’t put together yet and the program was still on the mend.
I respect the attitude of the 2010 Canes and when senior kicker Matt Bosher talk about the team unity and leadership, I applaud it. I just prefer this squad flies a little more under the radar and that actions speak louder than words.
If there are “no excuses” this coming season, that let that be an internal thing. Scratch the passe bracelet idea. Don’t give the media – or cynical fans – any reason to knock you off your perch.
Last season many predicted Miami to possibly go 0-4 out the gate, when taking on Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma the opening month of the season,
The Canes won the shootout in Tallahassee and beat up the Yellow Jackets en route to a 2-0 start. While the Miami program stayed quiet, the hype machine started with the media. Jacory Harris was an instant Heisman candidate and some were penciling the Canes into the national title game.
Miami rolled up to Blacksburg and was shellacked 31-7 by Virginia Tech. A day later, the same media talked about how this team was over-hyped, wasn’t all that and still had to prove itself.
UM as a program never played into the hype, but things still take on a life of their own when ESPN needs to sell ad space and message board folk need something to talk about.
Point being; don’t draw any extra attention to yourself or the program. Save the talking for when you’re on top – not when you’re on the way up.
“No Excuses” works when you’re getting the job done. Had Alabama implemented it after losing to Florida in 2008’s SEC title game, it’d have made for a feel good story regarding 2009’s undefeated, national championship season. Unless you win every game, there’s a blemish and that blemish will produce an excuse.
I respect the fact that Hankerson is attempting to lead here. Entering his senior year, the wideout truly only has one solid season under his belt and has battled the dropsies and concentrations issues the majority of his years as a Cane. After working with former Dolphins wideout Mark Duper last off-season, #85 turned it around and with a solid 2010 campaign will work himself into the NFL.
Hankerson, Bosher or whoever else wants to step up, please do so. This program has been void of leadership for years and something has to give if the Canes want to get to that next level.
That being said, there’s a cheeseball Timmy Tebow way of leading and there’s an Ed Reed way to lead.
Less theatrics and more substance. Motivate your teammates – not the fans or critics. Set attainable goals. Hold everybody accountable.
A rubber bracelet is meaningless when facing 3rd and goal from the Clemson five-yard line in overtime and can’t complete a pass. Same to be said for 3rd and 11, allowing freshman quarterback Kyle Parker to find Jacoby Ford for a 26-yard touchdown on a game-winning play that Clemson had never used outside of practice.
Of course ‘rah-rah’ also had nothing to do with Miami’s focus late in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma when Harris found tight end Dedrick Epps for an eight-yard strike on 3rd and 6 from the OU 36, sealing the win.
Motivational tactics are great until the ball is kicked off. In a game-changing, season-defining, do or die moment it’s about stepping up and having the stones to do what you’ve been taught to do. Bracelets might make some fans feel good, but they don’t win ball games.
These 2010 Canes need to continue bonding and working as a collective unit. As a long-time guitarist, there’s something to be said for musician’s timing and knowing the instincts of the other’s you’re playing music with.
Knowing when your drummer or bass player is going to pull back so you can throw in a fill – it’s the same as a quarterback knowing where his receiver will be and putting the ball there or a corner knowing he can take a chance on an interception because his safety is where he’s supposed to be, ready to make the play if the ball isn’t picked.
I applaud the mindset of this 2010 Miami squad. I just prefer more killer and less filler.
Get it done on the field, motivate yourselves and let the marketing department handle all the fluff.
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Another gem of an article, guys. Keep up the great work.
I don't care for all this hype either. Just strap on the helmets and let's get this thing going already.
Talk is cheap.
Lots of irony considering the amount of excuses you make for randy and company. Also, you really need to stop pushing that 0-4 thing.. many people did NOT predict that. Many people did say it was "possible", and honestly it WAS "possible".. But saying something is possible does not equate to predicting they will happen.
Great piece!"There's a cheeseball Tim Tebow way of leading and there's an Ed Reed way to lead" couldn't say it better.
GO CANES!!!!!!
Very well said. I just wish everyone would just keep quiet, work hard, play even harder and just shock the cfb world this coming season, beginning with 9/11/2010
It's nice to have NFL-bound Canes again. Great article, please pump em' out daily as I love allcanes.
Great article, very well put. I think the mentality that hankerson has is not wrong to have, it's the truth, there is no excuses. They have matured, there is depth and they have gotten faster, stronger and better. They've faced tough competition playing teams like florida(2008), oklahoma, Virginia tech, georgia tech, fsu right out of the gate. I agree that there is no need to state the obvious when it comes to that phrase. Sky is the limit for this team but our lines have to be key this season. There is no way in hell we can take the next step with Jacory getting sacked more than 30 times and throwing 17 int's this season. Nor is there a shot at any title with us not producing more than 20 sacks and creating turnovers. The LINES need to play with no excuses, that's the main factor in winning ball games. Just my opinion.
Lots of irony considering the amount of excuses you make for randy and company.
I was waiting for a comment like this.
Big difference between an "excuse" and an "explanation".
I don't make excuses for Shannon and staff - I give reasons for why 9-4 or 7-6 happened. As I wrote above:
The biggest issue two years back wasn't the motivational tactic as much as the fact it was premature. Year two of the Randy Shannon era, this team hadn't earned the right to do something like that. Miami had valid reasons it wasn't ready to compete for a title - nationally or conference-wise. The pieces weren't put together yet and the program was still on the mend.
This team had no business embracing a "no excuses" attitude two years ago. The program was in shambles and there were VALID reasons Miami's wasn't ready to compete.
Same for last year. Is it an "excuse" that a first-year starting quarterback (with no capable back ups) had some struggles - especially after injured?
Is it an "excuse" that the program was breaking in a new OC and DC after fifth-choice Nix was fired and Young bolted home for his dream job?
The only way these are "excuses" are for unrealistic fans who live in denial about the shit-show this program had become in 2006 when Larry Coker was fired.
A team that saw four straight BCS games and two national title games between 2000-2003, fell to this three years later:
- Opening 13-10 loss to Florida State where the offensive was offensive. Second straight loss to Noles after winning six straight.
- Logo stomp at Louisville and embarrassing 31-7 beat down.
- Narrow 14-13 win over lowly Houston and piss-poor performance.
- FIU brawl and suspensions.
- Almost lost at Duke with depleted team.
- 30-23 loss at Georgia Tech, starting a four-game losing streak.
- 17-10 loss to an average Virginia Tech team.
- Bryan Pata murder; while not Coker's fault (obviously), cast a dark shadow over program.
- 14-13 loss at Maryland.
- 17-7 loss at Virginia.
- Eked out a 21-20 win over Nevada in the Blue Turf Bowl.
- Lost three first rounders (Beason, Olson, Meriweather) after season; Miami's last year of sending multiple first rounders to the league.
Anyone who thinks that Miami should've been in the hunt or competing the first three years of the Shannon Era is high and/or delusional.
I still don't understand how some of these Canes "fans" hold on to the belief that Shannon could and should have had this program competing for a title his first two seasons as head coach. Did you not see the shape this program was in when Coker exited? What was expected for Shannon to do? go 12-0, 11-1 comming off a 7-6 campaign that resulted in a 1 point win over NEVADA?! How can you expect that from him taking over a mess of a program littered with lackluster recruiting classes and underachieving rosters? He inherited Coker's recruiting class in 2007, the man wasn't able to recruit his own class until '08. Therefore he was forced to take over a team full of Coker's players his first two seasons. Why can you people not see that fact? Last year was proof of the difference in recruiting as Shannon's first class posted a 9-4 record. He's entering his 4th year as head coach, give the guy a break. If he doesn't have this year's team competing, then some of your criticism might be justified.
I still don't understand how some of these Canes "fans" hold on to the belief that Shannon could and should have had this program competing for a title his first two seasons as head coach. Did you not see the shape this program was in when Coker exited? What was expected for Shannon to do? go 12-0, 11-1 comming off a 7-6 campaign that resulted in a 1 point win over NEVADA?! ... He's entering his 4th year as head coach, give the guy a break. If he doesn't have this year's team competing, then some of your criticism might be justified.
Holy shit, someone who actually GETS IT. Well put.
There is a sense of entitlement among UM fans that is a joke at times. Winning four titles in nine years between '83 and '91 (and leaving at least three on the table) set an impossible bar to reach.
It's not the 80s anymore, so this whole "anything less than at title is a failed year" or "we don't rebuild, we reload" mentality is idiotic.
First off, the landscape of the game has changed. There's much more parity - which is why teams like Boise State and TCU have reached the BCS and are in the hunt the last few years, while powerhouse Miami hasn't sniffed the BCS since the 2003 season and FSU hasn't been there since 2005.
Hell, Nebraska hasn't been there since 2001 --- and the Canes, Noles and Huskers were the teams of the 80s and 90s.
Those same fans are the ones who also play the, "you're still blaming Coker?" card, but again, it's not "blame" as much as it's stating facts. The old man took a program in great shape and through (1) the inability to recruit, (2) the inability to develop/stockpile talent and (3) the inability to keep the players where they mentally needed to be -- this was a depleted program in 2007 when Shannon took over.
Butch Davis needed SIX years to rebuild from probation -- and he took over a 10-2 team that finished No. 3 in the nation. Davis is revered in South Florida these days, but while on the job was lambasted and had to deal with idiot fans flying banners over the OB calling for his job.
If you judge Davis three years out, he was coming off a 5-6 season. From there, 9-3 and 9-4 before finally going 11-1.
Shannon is a few years into the rebuild -- which is much harder in 2010 than it was in 2000. His teams have progressively gotten better, the talent is returning and going into year four we should see another step forward.
I think 2011 is the year the Canes finally make a legit run at a title, but I won't count them out in 2010 if they get off to a good start and guys stay healthy.
Either way, this sense of entitlement that Miami should be dominating "just because" ... it's a joke.
Allcanes, you're fighting an uphill battle with some very stupid and clueless people. I wish you luck.
Spot on with your comments, as always. Keep up the great work.