The Beast : Insert Layup Headline Using Coach’s Last Name

Alright, I’ve finally had some time to process.

This blog will be far different than the one I’d written 24 hours ago and even more so than the one I’d have written 48 hours ago.

This is why I try not to rush to analyze, which can be tough in such a fast-paced Twitterized world, but it’s something I’ve forced myself to do over the year. The fog of war can skew reality and make no mistake, the past three weeks have been crazy, draining, exciting, depressing and satisfying, all in one.

Before I go off on more tangents than a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, let me say that if Al Golden can live up to his introduction to Hurricane Nation … wow. I know there’s more to all this than one speech, but the man did something that’s been sorely missing these past four years; he communicated. Coach Golden thought on his feet, spoke clearly, concisely and meaningfully. He exuded confidence, had a great demeanor and showed his intelligence.

He’s yet to coach his first game, but I feel at least when it comes to all those things Randy Shannon couldn’t get right, Al Golden will.

Going back a few weeks, Kirby Hocutt stood in front of a crowd in the Edgerrin James room and said he wanted to hire a coach that would return this program to national relevancy. Al Golden doesn’t do that just by walking in the door, though I have a feeling once we get through bowl season, spring practice, summer workouts and into next season, Golden will play a huge role in UM being relevant again.

Like you, I remember the days of Miami beating Temple like a drum. I was at The Vet watching the Canes whoop the Owls in front of nobody and saw a few games at Franklin Field where it was more of the same.

When it’s all said and done, I think the highlight of the Miami/Temple series might’ve been Frank Costa’s family getting in a full-on Philly-style brawl back in 1994.

I’ve seen the stats and I know Golden’s Owls didn’t beat at team with a winning record in the MAC. I also know his marquee win came year five, against Connecticut. I get all that. Still, this is a guy that’s been groomed for a while. Golden coached at Penn State, Virginia and Boston College and had some great mentors in Joe Paterno, George Welsh and Tom O’Brien.

Beyond that, Golden isn’t afraid of a challenge.

Five years back, nobody wanted any part of a Temple program that was on the verge of dropping football. Yet Golden embraced the idea that he could make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what. I like that. This is a guy who saw Mount Everest and decided to climb it without turning back, which says a lot about his character.

Miami isn’t Temple. There are five national championship trophies collecting dust, yet expectations are as high as ever, meaning in many ways, this will be just as challenging a task for Golden.

There will be several battles to fight and it will take the same effort on his part to get UM back to the pinnacle, which is something he embraced, for those of you who saw today’s press conference. It didn’t take him but a minute or two before mentioning the phrase “national championship” his introduction speech. You don’t have to be around Coral Gables long to realize it’s “championship or bust” around these parts.

Like everyone else in the room, I lit up when Coach Golden made it clear that he wants former players back in the fold. If there’s one thing I never understood, it’s how Randy, as a former player himself, failed to make past greats welcome. I can’t tell you how many old school Canes shared with me that Coach Shannon wouldn’t return their call, which in itself is an egregious error at The U. This program would cease to exist without those who built it, so it’s on the current head coach to empower those guys with the shared responsibility of helping get Miami back on top. It’s a responsibility every one of them to a man would welcome.

I know it’s easy to over-analyze body language, but let me say this – watching Coach Golden, you feel like he exudes a winning spirit. When you think of the best in the game an Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Bob Stoops – or even Gene Chizik and Chip Kelly, who are headed to this year’s BCS championship – you feel like you’re in the presence of a winner. (I may personally think a lot of other things too, but I definitely think winning.)

Many in the industry say Coach Golden reminds them of the aforementioned coaches, so let’s hope he has similar success.

In regards to my overall thoughts about the hire; I’ll say this. I can’t necessarily say Kirby hit a home run with Golden. I may be a homer, but I’m not unrealistic. On the other hand, I’m not on the ledge either and I’m pleasantly satisfied so far.

In the couple of hours I listened to Coach Golden speak, I believe down the road our athletic director could very well end up looking like a genius. Still, we’re yet to see the first game of the Golden era, so I’m more than willing to give him the time he needs to personally convince Hurricane Nation he’s the man for the job.

Lastly, as important as it was to find the right coach and right fit, it’s equally as important that the administration and athletic department give Coach Golden the support he needs.

This isn’t a one-man job and he’ll need the funds to hire a top-notch staff. No dime must be spared when it comes to the price of winning.

The days of assistants complaining that they weren’t able to catch a prospect’s game because Delta was booked up, or heading to another football banquet that’s anything less than a first-class affair – that has to remain in the past.

We in the media don’t want to be told that everything and everyone is off limits and we can’t afford another season not knowing anything about the current players and assistant coaches.

I don’t want to go to CanesFest and reminisce how it “used” to be such a great event and I don’t want to go to the stadium, only to have the gameday experience ruined because I can’t tailgate or park with my friends.

The time has come for the University of Miami to be a ‘have’ and not a ‘have not’. If the mantra truly is going to be “no excuses”, then it must resonate through the entire athletic department.

When I call and leave a message for a Hurricane Club rep, it means I actually get a call back.

When my Dad asks the ticket office if he can move down a row, that he’s not so turned off by the push back he gets that he gives up his season tickets.

There needs to a full court press in marketing, promotions, media relations and community relations. There are so many areas outside of winning football games where the University of Miami has struggled and that has to stop today. As an alum, I want my U to be the best – academically, on the field and in every possible area.

The message we all heard weeks back about money being no object – it has to go deeper than just the head coach’s salary. It’s time this athletic department finally runs like a well-oiled machine – just like the ones in Gainesville, Norman, Austin and Tuscaloosa. It’s a new era and The U has no reason to not be top notch, merely succeeding in spite of itself. It’s time to kick ass and take names on the field, in the classroom and everywhere else.

When that’s finally the case, we’ll know that UM has truly reached a Gold(en) Standard.

Also … don’t forget that we have an action-packed edition of allCanes Radio this Wednesday night at 7pm ET. Dial in for all sorts of reaction to the hiring of Coach Golden, as well as audio from both Kirby and Donna Shalala. With all the recent hype surrounding Miami football, it’ll definitely be one of those shows you don’t want to miss.

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