The Beast : Frustrating

For as long a I can remember, Tuesdays have been my favorite day of the week during fall (besides Saturdays, obviously).

Why? Because on Tuesdays the head coach of the University of Miami football team has his weekly press conference and we in the media get a chance to talk t the players.

While there’s some other availability after practice on both Tuesday and Wednesday, our weekly media avail on Tuesday has always been the best way to get our grasp regarding what’s going on with this team.

In all the years I’ve covered this program – sixteen now – today was an all time low. Never before have I seen a Tuesday media day attended by only three players.

The Randy Shannon press conference runs from about 11:30am until noon and from noon until 1:30pm is when we normally have player availability.

I left the Edgerrin James Conference Room around 1:30pm and as of that time only LaRon Byrd, Ryan Hill and Micanor Regis had shown up to meet the press. I applaud those guys for coming out to speak with us, but only three of eighty-five is absolutely unacceptable.

There was a chance of Eduardo Clements and Allen Bailey dropping by after I was slated to leave, but I was skeptical as practice wasn’t too far off.

(Editor’s Note: Clements and Brandon Washington did show up after I left. Still, five out of eighty-five is unacceptable.)

In the past we were inundated with players. It honestly wouldn’t be uncommon for over a dozen guys to be available on any given Tuesday.

More disheartening than the lack of numbers today, a statement from No. 13.

As Ryan stopped in to talk with us, we thanked him for doing so and he said something to the effect of, “I figured I’d do it since my teammates don’t want to”.

Seriously?

I remember covering this team in 1999 after Miami lost a heartbreaker to No. 2 Penn State. Mike Rumph was up there answering every question we had about getting burned by Chafie Fields on the game-winning score.

Did we chew the kid out for getting torched? Of course not. If anything, we felt bad for him and had our kid gloves on, cutting him some slack as he was obviously reeling.

Hearing today that guys didn’t want to face the music after a loss; that really upset me.

Coach Shannon claims he doesn’t read the newspaper, the blogs or listen to sports talk radio, but I have a message here that I’m hoping he’ll see.

Randy, I can help you – as can fellow members of the media. If you don’t encourage your kids to talk. If you put a gag order on your quarterback. If you silence your assistants and coordinators … how ARE we supposed to help fight for the cause?

How am I personally supposed to defend you and this beloved program if I have zero information to pull from?

This isn’t a rant from an angry media member. This is a plea from an alumni and a self-proclaimed homer. I am rooting for you and I want to have your back.

Somewhere there has to be a direct correlation between toughness both on and off the field.

Being allowed to sit in the locker room while three of your teammates go and face the music with the media? Doesn’t seem tough to me.

There’s been a lot of talk about this team’s offensive identity and I for one would love to go to the source, talking to Mark Whipple about it – but you won’t let that happen.

Coach Whipple is a grown man. He’s won a national championship and he’s coached in the NFL. If he can’t handle a few softball questions from me, this program has bigger problems than originally thought.

I know there are other college football programs that have a restrictive media policy, but last time I checked there wasn’t much by way of competition for headlines in Tuscaloosa or Gainesville.

The Canes are competing with four professional sports teams and a handful of other local and statewide college teams. There’s a reason that up until a few years ago, UM had one of the most open media policies in the country. “The U” needs coverage to compete.

Your approach of locking everything down isn’t working. We in the media would love to be on your side, but you have to help us help you. This fan base wants to hear from your players. The people that buy merchandise, season tickets, watch on TV and donate to this program – they want the story.

The more you lock us (the media) out, the more you lock the fans out and in the end, aren’t you playing for the fans?

At the end of the day we know that wins and losses are all that really matter, but putting up blinders to the other stuff is a gross miscalculation.

I’ve been hoping there’d be some adapting on the fly, but it’s yet to happen. With four games remaining things need to change. The media doesn’t deserve another Tuesday spent waiting for players to no show it absolutely unacceptable.

You’re trying to mold men, aren’t you? Days like today it’s not so obvious.

IN OTHER NEWS: Wednesday’s night’s edition of allCanes Radio will broadcast live from allCanes from 7-9pm ET and will be action-packed. We have the following guests on deck – Santana Moss, Rocky McIntosh and Bobby Hill. We’ll also hear from Micanor Regis, basketball coach Frank Haith and Coach Shannon.

Don’t forget that if you drop by allCanes while we’re broadcasting live you’ll save 20% off all merchandise.

If you can’t make it down, listen online or stream live through the allCanes iPhone App!

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