Hopefully by now you’ve taken the time to listen to my interview with Randy Shannon Hey you cool kids in Hurricane Nation, sorry it’s been so long. For me, the last week or two has been about family. My parents have been down and my wife – a teacher – and my son have been off of school so it’s been nice to play son, husband, and dad for a while. But, I owe you guys my thoughts on spring.
Spending time with my family made me realize how special we have it as UM fans that we belong to another family aside from our own at home. The U Family is a strong and powerful one and if any one thing is going to get this team back to the promised land, it’s going to be that. Why?
1. Look, there is, without a doubt, a bunch of talent on this team, especially at the MONEY skill positions. However, talent alone does not win titles. Thanks to parity, there are a lot of talented teams out there. It’s a matter of chemistry and who plays best as a team and a family.
2. Pay attention to all the recruiting articles you read – one of the most reoccurring things expressed by visiting recruits is that they are impressed by Miami’s “family atmosphere”. Not only is family important regarding this current team reaching their peak, but it’s equally as important in keeping the stockpile of talent fresh and the next generation of players on board.
I know recently there have been a bunch of “experts” coming to the conclusion that Miami is close to being “back”. Do I agree? Maybe it’s the Boston cynic in me, but I’m not ready to proclaim this team ready to dominate quite yet.
Would I be incredibly surprised if this team went out there next year and reeled off win after win? 100% NO!
What I will remind you is the outlook Randy Shannon had on this program and his words when he landed that monster class in February 2008, led by Jacory Harris and a slew of Northwestern Bulls, as well as other top local talent.
Randy made it clear then that when that class reached their junior year, THAT’S when they would finally make an impact.
Guess what, they’re all juniors this fall and we’re about to see if Randy’s prediction comes true. Time to stop living off old high school glory and to become those next-level, mature college football superstars.
There’s a pretty good list of guys that need to start putting it together – starting with Jacory. I know he was hurt last year, but it’s time to become that smart quarterback we know he can be, making less mistakes and more big time plays. Whether all those deep throws were at the urging of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple last year, or not, this team needs a 12-yard reception more than it needs a 40-yard interception.
As for Harris’ go-to targets, LaRon Byrd and Aldarius Johnson have to become more consistent. As juniors, these guys need to be rock solid. The time for rookie mistakes has come and gone. It’s no longer about “potential”, it’s about “results”.
Same goes for the offensive line. Orlando Franklin and Joel Figueroa have to be leaders, not just serviceable players. Richard Gordon remains that prime example of an ‘athletic freak’ that needs to finally become a football player.
On defense, Sean Spence needs to become the boss out there, like many great Miami linebackers of yesteryear. The Canes have always had a key linebacker who was in charge. Micheal Barrow. Nate Webster. Dan Morgan. Jon Vilma. Miami needs a great linebacker to command the defense.
DeMarcus Van Dyke. Enough said. Another ‘potential’ guy that needs to make it happen this year.
The list goes on and by now you get the point. If the aforementioned guys come through and rise to the occasion, this could be a very special team. Should the maturation process now go off as it should, the advancement could be slower than most of us want.
A few more random thoughts to ponder as we go off into the off season:
1. Can UM please sign Randy to a fair, market value deal already? This is taking too long, it’s impacting recruiting and it’s time.
2. GO BUY SEASON TICKETS. If you live anywhere in South Florida, you have almost no excuse. You can get season tickets for as little as $99. As broke as I am, even I can scrounge that up. Take some pride in your school – whether you attended or adopted The U – and go to the games this year. Enough is enough.
As we progress in the offseason, let’s not let the drought of football take our minds off of our favorite game. I know I won’t. Over the next few weeks I’ll be kicking out some interviews with media members, local and national, maybe some alum and other surprise guests.
If you have questions, email me and I’ll do my best to take a stab at them and get them answered. Until then … Go Canes!!
Brian “The Beast” London is one of the foremost insiders on all things Miami Hurricanes. He was on the Canes broadcast crew for more than a decade. He hosts a daily online radio show on www.SoFloRadio.com.
Very well put. I always agree with what you have to say. I dont think its "cynical" to not be convinced yet. That Wisconsin game left a bad taste in everyones mouth. To be completely dominated the way we were should leave ppl doubtful not optimistic. Sure were loaded, but the most talented players in the game have issues picking up a pro style offense like this, and until I see that talent go out and make plays against players not in orange and green this year, Im gonna remain skeptical. One last thing, this team has yet to go out and leave bruises like teams of the past. Sure there have been great single play examples, like Ray Ray and Futch's hits, but they dont seem to have that attitude that makes other teams fear a championship program at all, much less the Canes teams of the past.
Sign Randy to a new deal???
You really want Miami to stick it's neck out for this? Randy gets a new deal if he proves he DESERVES it at the end of this year.
Went to the U, graduated in '05. Still in Miami and I buy season tickets every year with my buddies.
He's right people, SHOW UP TO THE GAMES!!!
The last FSU home game was pathetic. The house should be packed with orange and green!
COME ON PPL!
It's All About The []_[]!!!
Sign Randy to a new deal??? You really want Miami to stick it's neck out for this? Randy gets a new deal if he proves he DESERVES it at the end of this year.
Sort of an ignorant view, Anonymous.
Every day Randy is without a new deal, it hurts this football program. Especially for a staff who does so much recruiting this time of year.
UM has their team of attorneys working around the clock. Come up with a smart deal. Rip up the old contract and create something incentive-based, where Randy needs to reach certain benchmarks to earn the money.
All this "Randy needs to prove himself" stuff is lame. Dude is the 11th best paid coach in a 12 team conference. He has already proven he's better than 11th in the ACC. Get this guy re-signed.
UM's top brass is obviously sold on the guy. They just don't want to pay him. If he's not 'the guy' then go get someone else — and be prepared to open up the checkbook to pay over $2M for the guy – more than Randy is asking for.
Unproven guys like Mike London, Derek Dooley and Jimbo Fisher are already in that $2M category. If Miami wants an up and comer or a 'hot' coach, it'll cost A LOT more than Randy.
Also… if this comes from some boosters not being sold on Randy's demeanor or lack of gladhandling, then work that into the contract, too. Get him to play the game if they think he's unapproachable.
yes HB is right, the beast is right too…buy tickets, we are the swag team, remember jacory's hair-cut? we can win the games if the football players "NW Bulls" run fast like the police was chasing them in liberty city, go canes throw pass n catch…touchdown! the 5 rings are champions, we the boss! remember JBrown said it, go C-A-N-E-S, sebastian can do it the best ooooooooooooo c a n e S…hey how bout we got some canes over here…whooooosh whoooosh! beat seminols and hookies this time in the dolphin/shark field. miami hurricanes can win the glass football trophy, yes we can! OBAMA said that too.. ok canes go to all the practice and games this 2010 year ok? hey beast you are the new person taling about the really fast U football team, good job THE BEAST!! randy is the coach of this football! ok GO Randy! give that guy more money so he can win the game too, go coach scream at the players, and asst. coaches too, scream loud, scream louder, LOUD!!!at the team GO MIAMI! number ONE1..till im dead i love the football university of canes! im thug too, ok live in the 305 with the U tattoo, ok we are going to show the ohio state and pitt and the other acc, we are winning jacory is best qb in the football leage acc player of the 2010 year, ok sebastian does it better than me but, oooooooo c a n e s CANES!! i am not a professional writer bu i love the football canes so thats all i can say about the best 5 champoinship team in miami 305 dade county till i die. amen god bless the fans of miami canes! pray hail mary's and our father's too ok…peace out, to the fans on the computer reading this from me the number 1 fan
if you guys want me to write for the allcanes blog too, just holla at me your boy—)THE RAM(–ok! allcanes#1 too, i buy all the nice gangster canes clothes in the store nike, next to the baseball team feild. baseball is good sport too go marlins and heat and panthers hockey teams and the U sports of miami canes!!!.
–)"THE RAM"(–
Okay fans. I live way out in San Diego, CA and I'm flying home to South Florida to attend some of the games because I am a die hard fan. If I can fly from the west coast all the way to FLA to attend games then there should be NO EXCUSE for South Florida fans not to be at the games. Let's fill up te stadium! Go Canes!
Derek
Damn Ram…I like your energy bro! Beast, you are on point on several things: 1. Fans need to fill the seats- I live in northern VA (just outside of DC) and I still buy season tickets. Because I am so far away, I only get to the 305 maybe twice a year, but I still buy the seat. If there is an away game anywhere close, I'm there. Hell, I even flew to Boise a few years back for the "Smurf Bowl"…my point is that if you are a Cane fan that lives anywhere close to the 305…you should take your a$$ to the game! 2. UM Leadership needs to quit being greedy and pay the man! All the Randy Haters out there need to zip it! Randy has rescued this program from a free-fall like we have never seen! If Randy doesn't take this team over in "07 it is sad to think where we would be (probably getting beat by Duke and FAMU). Results don't lie…we were in the top 10 twice last year, won 9 games for the first time since "05, and played in a descent bowl game for the first time since "05. What else do you want? Jimmy Johnson and Howard Scnellenberger couldn't have won with the "soup sandwich" of a roster that Randy inherited! Hey Kirby and Donna…pay the man!! Canes-4-Ever!
The play of our lines will be the key to our level of success this year. The o-line has to provide jacory pass protection and open holes for our talented backs. Less pressure on jacory and turnovers take a big drop, recievers have more time to get open and our backs have room to work. As well as jacory wont be rushed into making difficult decisions. With a nasty D-line miami creates turnovers for the secondary and takes pressure off of them. Opposing running games can be shut down, making offenses one dimensional. There is no other area critical to miami's success than the lines. Oh yeah, the fan support!!! BUY TICKETS!!! Fans of other schools say support from our fanbase is weak, PROVE THEM WRONG AND SHUT EM THE F-UP BY ATTENDING THE GAMES!!! C-A-N-E-S!!! THE U FAMILY IS STRONG!!!
Brian… You're thinking is totally messed up.
Urban Meyer can tell you.
Family comes second.
This year BETTER result in big time wins. The young argument is over. I like Randy and do believe he will bring this team to the ACC title game and a very GOOD bowl game with a bowl victory n 2010. This year we judge RANDY and HIS PLAYERS…….
10-2 or 11-1 NOUGH SAID!
[]_[]!!!!!!!!!
AllCanes, "If Miami wants an up and comer or a 'hot' coach, it'll cost A LOT more than Randy."
That's the thing, these people think that Randy isn't an up and comer or a 'hot' coach. Not that that's how I feel, I am doubting him a lot, but this year is make or break for me.