Ryan Hill calls out elephant in the room

You wish that it’d have come out sooner and that something would’ve been done in the moment, but it didn’t play that way. The erosion was underway and like so many times in life, it takes bottoming out before change is made.

Maybe had something been done sooner the Miami Hurricanes don’t go 7-6 on the season and Randy Shannon isn’t fired. Maybe 9-4 saved his job and Al Golden isn’t the present and future face of this program.

Either way, former safety and wide receiver Ryan Hill spoke up regarding the recent culture at ‘The U’ and it wasn’t pretty. A few highlights: immaturity, complacency and an affinity for the dank.

Insult to injury? Hill expressed frustration in a few nameless receivers having a snowball fight on the sidelines of the Sun Bowl, down 21-0.

“I don’t want to name names, but there were a couple of receivers having a snowball fight on the sideline when we’re down 21-0,” Hill said. “Brandon Harris and I got upset. We were already upset because we’re losing, and now we’ve got to go over and break up a fight. These guys have to grow up. I hope Coach Golden is instilling that. Without growing up, you will never be successful.”

I hope names were named to Coach Golden and wish Hill would’ve spoken his mind more as a senior last year, but we do what we’re comfortable doing and for whatever reason this came out now instead of then. Regardless, at least it’s coming out now.

Most disturbing, even more than lethargy and entitlement – the fact that Shannon had no control over these players, even as a disciplinarian.

It’s one thing to be well-intentioned and to want the best for people, but if you’re communication skills are putrid, that message isn’t going to get across. You have to know how to speak, how to listen and how to read a situation. You can’t have blanket coverage for all kids. You’re dealing with different personalities and attitudes. Some guys will respond one way and some will respond another, so find a way to reach everyone, whatever it takes.

Hill talks about guys coming late to meetings, scheduling meetings and not showing up. They’d listen to iPods in class and according to Hill, were “purposefully” doing stuff to mock Shannon.

“Coach Shannon tried to make sure guys went to class and presented themselves well. But as soon as he turned his back, they would do what they wanted,” said Hill. “There are a lot of guys who didn’t produce, and how they act off the field has a lot to do with it. That has to change.”

Guys who weren’t atop the depth chart; Hill said they checked out and stopped working. Guys were literally “pouting” because of the lack of playing time and again, with Shannon unable to manage or motivate, a safe assumption that his hard-ass attitude and ‘tough love’ approach had him tuning those guys out and ignoring them instead of promoting competition and motivating.

Hill also stated that Shannon put fear in players regarding smoking pot during the season. (Is this an implication that it was alright in the off-season?) Still, guys smoked and got away with it and Hill feels that Golden has a real issue on his hands. The current suspensions for the beginning of the 2011 season are rumored to be weed-related.

Hill suggests Golden issues a zero tolerance policy and makes an example out of somebody – which might’ve been the case with some of the recent transfers.There was talk that marijuana might’ve been an issue with Storm Johnson, but again, no one knows as UM has remained hush-hush about suspensions and transfers.

All of this shows us the difference between a coach with a plan and a coach flying by the seat of his pants. The difference between a professional and a guy in over his head. The difference between preaching discipline and getting through, truly loving your players enough to do everything it takes to find that common ground where respect is earned and shown.

I think back to Golden’s hiring and the talk that he showed up with a game plan several hundred pages long regarding returning Miami to prominence. A guy who promotes competition and hard work. Someone who isn’t going to hand anybody anything unearned.

Golden reached out to former Cane players at his press conference, begging them to come back and be a part of the program again — something Shannon didn’t do. Golden has also spent the past several months mending fences with high school coaches over bridges Shannon burned over time.

You hate to kick a man already down, but after this latest rant from Hill, how can you do anything else regarding the stories that continue coming out regarding the Shannon era Canes?

Even more thankful the Golden era is underway.

IN OTHER NEWS : There’s been a lot of baseball talk since the Florida Gators again punked the Canes in the post-season (three straight) and are moving on while Miami goes a third straight season without sniffing Omaha.

There’s been a lot of knee-jerk talk about firing Jim Morris, which I don’t agree with at this point. Miami should be a better team next year and Morris has earned the right – again, at this point – to lead this team next year, proving that 2011 was an aberration.

New bats are a cop out, as is any talk of gall bladder surgery, quirky injuries, scholarship limitations and toughness of the ACC. I have to respectfully disagree with my guy The Beast on that.

None of the explains why Miami had four errors last Saturday against Florida, in a game that meant everything. Guys talked about wanting another shot at the Gators and how it was time to step up in the post-season and the Canes folded.

In the end, Miami wasn’t a good ‘team’ this year. Yes there are some talented kids and there were some quality wins, but when it came to putting it together on a game-by-game basis, the Canes failed and when it came to stepping up, Miami often seemed to fold and wasn’t focused or mentally tough when it needed to be. The pitching would show up, but defense would fail, bats would go cold and runners were left on base. It just never seemed this team could pull it all together.

UM closed the regular season going 7-8 and the month of May was a disaster. Losing a home series to Florida State. Getting shut out 5-0 by Hofstra. Dropping two close, winnable games at Virginia. Getting shut out 2-0 by Duke.

Miami showed life against North Carolina in the ACC Tourney and you hoped it’d spark something, but it didn’t. A quirky, rain-delayed effort against Virginia ended in loss and a narrow win over lowly Wake Forest didn’t have anyone feeling good going into the regionals.

To the Canes’ credit, they did show up in Gainesville. A four-run bottom of the eight blew game one open against Jacksonville and there was momentum going into Saturday’s showdown with Florida. The teams traded blows, runs and hits. In the end, the Gators had five runs to the Canes’ four and eleven hits to UM’s ten. The difference was crunch time. Miami pissed away the ninth inning while Florida manufactured the game-winning run – again, the difference between a good team and a team trying to get there – which seemed to be the MO much of the season.

So we’ll see what 2012 brings. Like The Beast, I’d like to see a hitting coach brought on and personally, maybe some other coaching changes. Morris has a young staff and while youth often equates in energy, the lack of experience hurts. It’d be nice to see a veteran join this staff. Someone who can dole out life lessons and baseball advice. Something that can turn boys into men, which is needed when adversity hits and you’re learning how to step up.

A frustrating end to a season that could’ve been promising, but no reason to get rid of 3. The only thing that needs to go are excuses. Time to take a good hard look in the mirror, set the bar higher for next year and take on an, “Omaha or bust” mentality for ’12.

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