Randy continues laying down the law…

“Put is this way, guys fear Shannon.”

I love that quote. It embodies everything Miami Football lacked the past few years. A new coach with a “my way or the highway” mentality, which is what I think all 18 to 21 year old kids need in this day and age.

No disrespect to Larry Coker, but the laid back approach to coaching and teaching proved disastrous at The U in 2006. It’s time for some tough love and for heads to roll. Everyone is accountable. No more free rides.

A few days back it was reported that Miami head coach Randy Shannon has implemented a zero tolerance policy regarding players owning guns. Call it part of the ‘Do Right’ way of running a tight ship at The U. Another aspect of the crackdown? All players must maintain a 2.5 GPA to live off campus and play football.

Spring practice started last week and players and coaches have been on cloud nine. There’s an air of newness surrounding Miami Football right now. 7-6 is yesteryear, as is all the drama which surrounded last season. Coach Shannon is laying down the law, as witnessed by Rashaun Jones and Rhyan Anderson being booted from the team. Gone is the country club atmosphere and third or fourth chances. Randy’s way or the highway. Get used to it.

Some fans are unsure what to think of all this. I’ve seen the posts on the message boards. I saw a real gem yesterday titled, “Anyone Else Think RS’s Bullying Bravado is Getting Old B4 He Has Won An ACC Game?”

And people wonder why our fanbase is shredded by the media and other fans. Nothing like trashing a new coach his third month on the job when all he’s done is start cleaning house, brought in a 9th rated recruiting class (according to Scout.com), landed a stud quarterback (something the past admin hadn’t done in four years) and hired a slew of hungry, up and coming assistant coaches.

The fact this class was landed without a staff in place, Shannon deserves even more credit. He could’ve assembled a bunch of coaches in an attempt to save recruiting season, but that’s not his philosophy. He waited it out and got some quality guys. Some quality assistants who headed up recruiting for their respective universities. Offensive guys who gave Shannon fits as a defensive coordinator are now working side by side with him. His mindset? If they’re good enough to score on my defense and confuse me, they must be doing something right.

As bad as the Canes’ record has been the past few seasons, little of that blame falls on the defense.

What I fail to understand is all this negativity. Be negative about last season. Remain bitter over a few games which got away. Curse the fact that the program has slowly eroded these past few seasons under Coach Coker. I can understand that, but trashing the new coach and the direction the program looks to be headed? That’s absolutely moronic.

What’s wrong with a little optimism here? What’s wrong with believing in Coach Shannon and being fired up about his philosophy? He hasn’t let us down yet, so why are some treating him as a ‘failure until proven successful’? It’s bogus.

It seems Canes fans have forgotten what it’s like to be optimistic. Shannon has talked about weeding out bad seeds and ridding this program of a loser’s mentality. Too bad he can’t have a sit down with a majority of our fans. It’s time to start thinking and acting like winners again. There is reason to optimistic about the future and Coach Shannon deserves the benefit of the doubt.

If he falls flat on his face, criticize away. But this guy is one of our own and he has three National Championship rings – one as a player (1987), one as an assistant (1991) and one as a coordinator (2001), the same season he won the Broyles Award for coordinator of the year.

I like the State of Miami right now and you should too. Truth be told, the Canes are not that far off. 7-6 last season was a result of an inept coaching staff and a loser’s mentality. There’s no reason Miami should’ve lost to Florida State, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Virgina. I’ll concede Louisville and Georgia Tech, but the other four losses were a result of a team that didn’t believe in themselves and a piss-poor offensive game plan.

Up 10-3 at the half and unable to score from the redzone twice late in the second quarter against FSU? A 10-10 tie late in the game against the Hokies and possession late in the game? A dropped sure-touchdown against Maryland, setting for three and losing by one? Physically drained the week of Bryan Pata’s funeral and losing 17-7 at Virginia? This program was mentally whooped and drained the minute Florida State stole the opener in the Orange Bowl.

Miami oft failed to recover after a loss in the Coker era. While the Canes cruised through 2001 and 2002 with relative ease, this disappointing trend began in 2003 and continued for four seasons.

The Canes lost their first regular season game in three seasons midway through 2003. A 31-7 beatdown at Virginia Tech ended Miami’s 39-game regular season win streak. A week later, a horrendous and lackluster 10-6 loss to Tennessee. It was the first time in over two decades that the Canes didn’t score a touchdown in the Orange Bowl. A week after a sickening loss, no less.

It was the first time the Canes had lost back-to-back games since 1999.

A year later Miami falls to North Carolina, 31-28. The Heels were a three touchdown underdog. The following week Miami blew a 17-0 halftime lead against Clemson in the Orange Bowl, losing 24-17 in OT.

2005 had Miami losing to Georgia Tech late in the season, ending all hopes of playing for the ACC title. The Canes limped through regular season games against Wake Forest and Virginia before getting throttled 40-3 by LSU in the Peach Bowl.

The play, attitude and inability to respond to adversity these past few years – that’s not Miami Football. It was a direct reflection of the then coaching staff and it doesn’t fit into Coach Shannon’s game plan for how the Canes will be a winner again.

Accountability. Discipline. Attitude. Competition. Self-respect. Respect for your fellow man. Coach Shannon is molding strong young men and better football players. He’s preaching a ‘team’ mentality and feels better student athletes will make more responsible football players.

Everything about this guy just feels right to me. He’s bringing in kids who want to be Canes and he’s taken over a program that was in no way as down as its 7-6 record last season. If you want to keep hating, hate away but I’m on board with everything related to this new regime.

.:Canes305:.

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