I’ve been through a lot of bad days with this team. I was there in Tallahassee when we got blown out 47-0 in 1997.
I was in Blacksburg two years later when Clinton Portis fumbled a dozen times, Kenny Kelly was knocked out of the game and Miami was ransacked by Virginia Tech, 43-10.
I was front and center in Seattle when Miami was overmatched by Washington. I was there in Tempe when Terry Porter threw that infamous flag.
I was on hand for the Tennessee loss, where Kellen Winslow II proclaimed that he was a f’n soldier. I was in Chapel Hill when the Canes fell to the Heels on Connor Barth’s kick.
I was there when Louisville upended Miami on the road and I was in the Orange Bowl when it shut down after that 48-0 shellacking.
I’ve been there for some good times, but also my share of bad ones, obviously. As bad as I felt after all those games, I survived believing there were better days ahead.
As I sit here today, I can’t say I feel the same way. Right now I’m as disheartened today as I’ve ever been since following this team.
I’m so disoriented I don’t even know where to start. I’ve read all the other columns and it seems like we’re all in the same boat. No one can pinpoint what the issue is.
It’s too easy to say that Randy Shannon needs to be fired. For starters, it’s not going to happen unless Miami loses two or three more games – and even THEN, I’m not sure it’d happen.
Second, who are the Canes going to get … and please don’t say Mike Leach. Leach is never going to coach at Miami. He failed miserably in his final interview and he’ll never be the head coach here. Period.
We all know that the University of Miami is not going to pay someone several million dollars to come in here and coach. THat wouldn’t even include the monster salaries that a coach of that caliber would require for his staff.
Third, coaches aren’t coming to Coral Gables if they feel the expectations are too high and the fan base is going to call for his head every year they’re not in contention for a national championship.
While I don’t believe Shannon should be fired (as of today), he desperately needs to make changes. Starting with:
– No more practicing at 6am. This team looks tired when they get to games and waking up at 4:30am as a college student is akin to asking AC/DC to play disco. Bad call.
– Settle on an offensive identity and stick with it. It’s one thing for a NFL team to be able to change its schemes week to week, depending on an opponent’s defense, but this team has show it can’t adapt like that week in, week out.
Feed Damien Berry, Lamar Miller, Mike James and Graig Cooper the rock and go from there. Yes, take some chances downfield, but if you don’t have something to hang your hat on, your offense isn’t going to work.
– Changes absolutely have to be made on defense. If you have to sit some seniors, then sit them. This is not an overcomplicated scheme. If guys are still out of place and missing tackles two thirds of the way through the season, maybe they need to watch the game from the sideline.
Shannon has been criticized in the past for playing favorites. I don’t know whether he does or doesn’t, but whatever he’s doing, it’s not working.
There is no excuse in the world that Virginia’s offense walked all over Miami’s defense and that has zero to do with J-Harris getting knocked out.
– Someone needs to get inside the head of Matt Bosher and figure out what’s going on. You cannot miss extra points. Unacceptable for a Lou Groza Award candidate. Put fliers up on campus and pull in some students who can kick extra points if Bosh can’t. These misses are getting ridiculous.
– Lastly – and this is a big one, so I’ll say it as delicately as I can – Randy needs to change his attitude. I love the man and he’s always been great with me, but I’m hearing more and more that he’s rubbing people the wrong way. Boosters. Former players. People in the general public who’ve met him.
For a long time I thought that Coach Shannon’s attitude issues were simply directed at the media. To those who don’t know, Randy was burned badly by a reporter a while back and since then he’s not had the most respect for the media. However, more and more you realize it’s not just us that write or speak for a living who feel the wrath of Randy.
Sadly Coach doesn’t realize that MOST of us out here would have his back through thick and thin if he just helped us help him. The majority of the people who cover the Canes honestly root for this program to do well. It’s so much more fun to do our job when this team wins.
Randy refuses to help himself. When asked by one of his closets friends (Don Bailey Jr.) postgame, about Jacory’s injury, Randy responded with “we don’t know”. WE DON’T KNOW??
Coach, no offense but I’m not going to buy that some member of the medical staff didn’t update you on Harris’ condition at some point. It’s one thing to protect your quarterback, but it’s another to say “we don’t know”.
I can’t tell you how many texts, emails, tweets and Facebook messages I got yesterday from concerned fans who simply wanted to ensure one of their own was alright.
As head coach, sometimes you have to understand that the reason you are on the radio after the game is to TALK to your fan base. You know, the same people who buy tickets, merchandise and donate money to this program.
Some believe the media owes us – media and fans – nothing in terms of communication. That’s bull. If it weren’t for the fans, why would you play the game?
Communication isn’t one of Randy’s strengths but if he doesn’t realize he needs to open up more (let more players / coaches speak, improve his attitude, etc.) there is no way we in the media can help him.
I’ll even take it a step further. If Randy wants to be in a spot where he doesn’t have to deal with the media, boosters, season ticket holders and all the other hoopla that comes with being a college head coach – head to the NFL and coach up the linebackers. Those guys lead anonymous lives and can sit in their office all day, breaking down film.
The job of head coach is a combination of CEO and politician. Shake hands. Kiss babies. Rally the troops at CanesFest. And on top of all that, run the football program. There are a lot of requirements for the job, but that is all part of the territory.
I regret having to be so harsh and writing this doesn’t make me feel good at all. In fact, it’s actually pretty painful.
No one wants Randy to succeed more than me. Somewhere in my mind there’s a vision of a movie about Shannon and the job he’s done – from a life of turmoil to championship caliber coach. The type of piece you can picture on 60 Minutes and an awards ceremony where Denzel Washington is thanking Shannon after accepting an Oscar for his portrayal in the film.
I picture all that and because of that, I wake up everyday hoping that Coach Shannon succeeds. A few years back I’d have gone to Vegas and put money on it, but right now I’m not so sure that’d be a wise investment.
Changes have to be made and I’m hoping Randy is ready for the challenge.
More to come on Tuesday on Twitter / Facebook from our weekly media gaggle …
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Changes have to be made, they need to start with randy shannon... We paid coker 2 mil a year but we can't pay gary patterson or chris peterson 2 mil a year? BS. you're one of the people that keep pushing that ludicrous agenda....
It's time to bring in a real coach. Randy did his job, brought in some talent and kept them out of trouble.Now let's bring in someone who knows wtf they're doing.
Here are some people we can pay more than they are currently making that we should go after (maybe it'll put a stop to this "WHO CAN WE AFFORD" nonsense)
Gary Patterson (1.3 - 1.8 mil) i've read differing reports.. his incentives can make it up to 2.3-2.5 mil
Chris Peterson (1.6 mil)
KC Keeler (300k)
Kyle Whittingham (700k)
Al Golden (575k)
etc.etc.etc.. there are plenty of upgrades that we could get that we could at least offer COKER money to.. and several that we could offer what we're paying shannon now. it's time to do something, before the program goes further in the dumps.
Anonymous - A key component you leave out, which Beast touched on, is WHY any of those guys would come to Miami. A place with such high expectations and where the reward doesn't outweigh the risk.
Why in the world would Gary Patterson leave what he has at TCU to come to Miami? Why would Chris Petersen leave Boise for Coral Gables? Both coaches make good money and have kush jobs -- with lower expectations, rabid fan bases, in lesser conferences, playing nobody and having a clear cut path to the BCS.
Again, Greg Schiano told Miami to f-off for TWO MILLION DOLLARS a year and NOBODY outside of Mike Leach, who tanked in his interview, wanted any part of the Canes head coaching gig.
Miami proved to be a great place for coaches with NFL dreams in the 80s and 90s. Keep the machine humming, get a title, move on, plug somebody else in.
Those days are LONG GONE and the landscape has changed BIG TIME.
That's not to say there's not an answer out there ... but stop with all the pipe dreams of these flavor of the year coaches who want no part of coming here.
Last year people wanted Brian Kelly. Before that, fans had hard ons for Steve Kragthorpe. Would either have been the answer here? Probably not.
Patterson is locked up at TCU through 2016 and is happy and Petersen absolutely knows he has a gem in Boise. Both would be idiots to leave their comfy little gigs for the pressure cooker job at UM.
Well things might be changing real fast, tomorrows practice has been changed to 2:30 and an entire team meeting will happen at 7:30 am. Players, coaches, and support staff, heads will roll from somebody.
Com on Allcanes! Schiano is going to get the Penn State job when Joe Pa leaves! Randy has done a good job of recruiting and NOW MIAMI has talent and depth, UM is a good JOB again! Last time around it was not. I like Randy as a man keep him on board, but not as the head coach. 4 years and we are having unacceptable loses to BAD teams. 3-1 at best over the next 4 games. Fans are DONE with this coach. Sad but TRUE!
Also, Randy is not going to make the U the big dollars via ticket sales and big bowl games. Losing must hurt your sales too! Right? Why won't you call for a new coach??? Chit, we are not good after 4 YEARS with this guy! Time for a NEW COACH.
Randy Shannon = Ron Zook without the emotion! Why are you still backing him??
Am I missing something??
If those guys are the coaches we think they are, they will have the desire to win a national title, they both know (or should know) that they will always get passed up by any other undefeated team in the polls and that people are constantly finding ways to put 1 loss teams above them... you only mention peterson and patterson .. whittingham, golden, keeler would all be getting significant upgrades in $$$$ and Talent.. don't kid yourself. people can see that this team, with some solid coaching, could go a long way.
Schiano will take the PSU gig, but when? He could've spent 2007 through whenever at UM instead of Rutgers, but chose to stay in New Jersey. He wanted no part of coming back to Miami, no matter how big the brand.
UM is a better job today than it was a few years back, but coaches still know Miami is a tough city that will run you out quick as expectations are high. There are MUCH better gigs out there. Bigger money. Better facilities. Win there and you can get to the next level.
You don't HAVE to do it at a Miami anymore to succeed. You think a Petersen or Patterson couldn't command a better gig if they wanted, simply based on what they've already done at smaller schools?
Bring a big name guy in and if he doesn't get it done in two years, his head will be called for. Everyone knows that.
Jack, you are missing the point. I don't "back" Randy Shannon or ANY coach. I back the program and university.
I said that Shannon had 4-5 years to get it done and needed to improve every year. If Miami doesn't improve in 2010 and takes a step back from 2009, that is a huge strike against him - and right now that's what looks to be happening.
I'm a realist and I refuse to waste time sitting here "calling for a coach's head" when that's not going to change anything. Let's focus on what IS doable right now instead of some pipe dream that Randy will be gone before 2011. Ain't gonna happen.
As a former Cane player and assistant, sure, I want to see Randy Shannon succeed -- but I've also said COUNTLESS times on this blog that if he didn't have things turned around by 2010-2011, I'd absolutely agree that it was time for change.
We'll see where this team is entering December. If things continue getting worse, I'll discuss change then.
Right now I'm rooting for these kids to grow up, get it together and to take care of business. That IS in Miami's control and CAN happen whereas a coaching change is nothing more than a pipe dream right now.
Why can't we fire shannon before the bowl?? Why is that a pipe dream? Seems to me that's the easiest part
Only way Shannon is gone before the bowl is IF the Canes lose out.
You're thinking and speaking like a fan - not someone in position to hire / fire.
The administration isn't going to let Shannon go before 2011 unless the wheels completely come off. Even with that, he still might get one more year to right the ship.
They're committed to this year and next before change happens.
Randy took a giant step back this year and that hurts his cause big time, but he's not going to get fired at this point, so why keep wasting your breath with the 'fire Randy' rants?
If you don't support the guy, quit going to games and quit watching on TV. Wait for him to get canned and then come back to the program if you feel so strongly ... but to keep on with the same old rant every week when nothing's gonna change? I don't get that.
Here are the major obstacles to UM competing on the national stage in this new age of 100 million dollar alumni funds, in addition to having a rookie head coach who has a verbal communication handicap:
1.) No 100 million or corporate yearly alumni fund (as Oregon w/Nike) to pay salaries of a competitive coaching staff
2.) A president who will not allow an athletic dorm necessary to lock down, monitor and police the caliber of athletes ( as in every other BCS school)
3) A small private school with 10K students in South FLA and a 45K yearly tuition competing with five major in state programs with 2500/year tuition
4.) No home stadium and average 15K attendance
5.) An inflexible acedemic standard that eliminates many athletes, especially from SoFLA poor quality high schools
We all can wish and wish but this is the reality, and UM can't do what it did 20yrs ago before the internet and cell phones and five in state D1 football programs. I really feel we should jump to D2, dump the ACC and enjoy winning national championships while keeping the university acedemic standards.
I'll go on record as saying that I'm not a fan of Randy Shannon as head coach of my university. I support his as a former player and applaud his efforts, but don't believe he's the man for the job.
After saying that, I tend to agree with the author of this blog in the sense that Shannon will not be fired going into next year, so why waste any breath calling for his head?
Shannon will be given through 2011, so if you're against the guy, save your venom for this time next year.
All the ranting and raving isn't going to do a thing. Randy has one more year, so change your tune folks.