I love the desire to see every respective team go out and kick butt every year. I love the loyalty to the student athletes, as well as the admiration and appreciation for what they’re doing on the professional level.
I love the bond between fans when crossing paths somewhere other than inside a stadium on game day. The simple tossing up of “The U” and nothing else needs to be said.
With all those pluses there’s bound to be a minus and there’s one thing that’s oft bothered me about this fan base; a propensity to live in the past.
Miami is no different than any other fan base that’s had a ton of success in prior decades. Just as UCLA basketball not only battles internal strife and that annual thing we hear about, “The Bubble”, Bruin Nation is always guaranteed to be thinking back to the eras of John Wooden, Bill Walton or even Tyus Edney. Cane fans are no different.
While fretting about the play of current teams, it’s easy to settle back into a mental bliss, marinating on the play of an Ed Reed, Michael Irvin, Greg Ellena or Charlton Jimerson – and while it’s great to reminisce about the past, it can also be self-destructive when you live there, or use it as a measuring stick, which unfortunately we all tend to do.
I know we’re a week removed from Miami getting swept by top-ranked Florida at A-Rod Park, but there was – and still is – plenty of fodder going around regarding head coach Jim Morris and whether his job is or isn’t on the line. Those calling for him to be replaced, you people are out of your minds. Honestly, let’s for a moment actually live in the reality that is the current world of Miami baseball.
As with football, the move to the ACC has made the road to Omaha and the College World Series exponentially harder. In this week’s baseball poll, including Miami, there are five ACC teams in the Top 25. Six if you take the Top 30.
When Miami was an Independent, the schedule could be crafted to make it just tough enough that the RPI stayed high, while at the same time not too difficult to reach the post-season and to host a regional.
Furthermore, during the four championship seasons – 1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001 – Miami averaged just seven games (usually two series) outside the state of Florida.
Look at this year’s schedule. There are twelve games outside the state, compared to say, ’82, where the Canes played 34-of-36 straight games at Mark Light Stadium. In ’85, there was a stretch of thirty-two straight games at home and in ’01 there was only one trip outside the Sunshine State during the regular season.
In an effort to point out hypocrisy or a double-standard, let’s say we were talking about football and the schedule of a rival like Florida, fans would be burning up talk radio, complaining that the schedule was weak, slated and unfair.
Anyone refusing to admit that Miami had an advantage as an Independent, you’re out to lunch. Plain and simple.
Another major factor in the inability to have as much recent success as expected? The economy.
Let’s number crunch for a minute here. The cost of tuition to attend the University of Miami, including room and board, is somewhere around $54,000 annually. That’s up at least $20,000 since Coach Morris took over this program in the mid-nineties.
The cost of attending the University of Florida or Florida State University, for in-state students? Somewhere around $19,000 including room and board.
Another important number – 11.5 – which is the number of scholarships a baseball program can offer – which are normally split up with many members of a team receiving half, or even a quarter, of a full scholarship. The rest of the tuition has to be made up by academic scholarships, financial aid or parents simply finding a way to foot the bill.
All of this means that in many cases, baseball players’ families have to take out loans to pay for their sons’ educations, just like the rest of us.
For the family of a player that attends UF or FSU, they may only have to come up with $10,000 annually, whereas the parent of a UM player could have to come up with over $30,000 per year.
The obvious sales pitch from Coach Morris is one that points out what a kid will make in the MLB Draft and the money being recouped there, but in this day and age, with the economy where it is, are people as willing and able to take that chance anymore?
Add it all up and you’ll see that these factors considerably reduce the pool of players that are legitimate targets for the University of Miami, as opposed to in-state options.
Unless the NCAA changes the amount of scholarships that are awarded in baseball – and do know that both trustee Paul DiMare and president Donna Shalala are working to get this change – ‘The U’ will continue to have a huge disadvantage in this area.
This also affects the program on the back-end, as well. Think about it. Why does it seem Miami players all seem to leave early when other schools are consistently welcoming returning upperclassmen with leadership skills, as well as maturity and experience?
If you’re at a state school, it might be a no-brainer, but leaving a private school early means one less year of paying back student loans.
Another part of the story – in many cases the cost of tuition goes up from year-to-year, but the loan amount stays the same, meaning that the loan covers a lesser percentage of the tuition.
It’s all about The U … but it’s also all about the economics of the game.
I know some of you still aren’t buying the argument, so let’s take it a step further. These days a major league team will not only give guaranteed contracts to players drafted as low as the tenth round, in many cases, but part of the deal is that the respective team will pay for all, or part, of a kid’s college education once he’s done with baseball.
With that as the case, again, do the math. Play professional baseball now and get paid for it, know that college tuition will be covered when done with the game. Or, go to college, stay in college, take out loans, put family at risk, hope to get drafted higher, get paid more and then pay off loans.
Ten years ago, kids went to college. It was the obvious play. But in this day and age, with the economy still in the tank, it makes a whole lot of sense to sign on the dotted line as soon as you can.
Back in the day you’d have one or two of your recruits choosing Major League Baseball over the college experience. Nowadays there could be half a dozen guys easily signing before stepping foot on campus.
Look back at the Alex Rodriguez story. Surefire top pick from nearby Westminster Christian and still the shortstop was literally hours away from spending at least three years in Coral Gables, rather than signing with the Seattle Mariners as number one. You’re talking about one of the top five players of all-time and ht was thisclose to playing college ball.
Times have absolutely changed and while I’m not saying other schools don’t have to put up with the draft effecting their signing classes, the problem definitely seems to hurt Miami more than the others. Economy aside, another reason has to do with such a large percentage of kids in this region being pro-ready when getting out of high school.
Before going knee-jerk and simply reverting back to the easy answer of calling for the head of coaches on a platter, at least attempt to understand the obstacles that are now in their way.
Some more simple math. The College World Series is the equivalent of the Elite Eight in college basketball. North Carolina, one of the top five programs on the hardwood, has been to the Elite Eight, or further (Final Four or Championship Game), nine times since 1994, and the Tar Heels have won the whole thing twice. Over that same span, the Canes have made it to Omaha eleven times, winning it twice – all under Coach Morris.
Sometimes you have to look at the big picture, before you start demanding change.
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i wonder when people will quit defending a head coach who has let all of his assistants get out from under him, the ones that really made the program successful.
he's not producing anymore. bringing back one coach of many that left is NOT going to save this program that's spiraling towards a shitty, watery demise in the toilet bowl that is miami athletics over the last 5-10 years. it's not a "what have you done for me" thing anymore, it's "what are you doing for me NOW". and, clearly, winning against the big dogs ISN'T in the what are you doing for me now category. swept by florida, at home. couldn't even win ONE.
count on florida knocking us out before we're able to get to the big show at the end of the year. again. what, with their newfangled coaching staff who can actually teach kids how to handle the baseball, and not generate an insane amount of errors in big games. oh, and how to pitch again, that's always a winner.
Well-written...every baseball fan needs to read this. We definitely need more scholarships in baseball. The teams that do well seem to have a fair number returning for their senior year...experience and leadership bonuses. I wish the football stadium were run as well as OUR baseball stadium. You always feel welcome at the Light...which is more than I can say for Dolphins stadium. Having Gino DiMare back will help recruiting. The Canes have eliminated the gators 8 times, and they eliminated us 3 times in post season. We need to demand a separate regional...after all, South Carolina and Clemson never have to face off in reginal play....
I think your post is on point and speaks to the reality of the current college athletics landscape. At the same time, it paints a bleak picture of the future by essentially inferring that the success of the past was due to (1) being affiliated with a weaker conference and (2) a more even economic playing field. I say bleak because the costs involved today as you described them puts UM at a severe (some say insurmountable) disadvantage compared to large schools with seemingly unlimited budgets and fundraising capabilities. Acknowledging the problems, what do you see as solutions for UM to overcome those obstacles and regain top-tier status and consistently compete with those larger schools?
Beast - i moved to charlottesville from south florida 8 years ago to be able to see the grandkids play baseball, dance team and cheerleading. We are now 30 miles north of charlottesville (UVa).
At UVa the "old college try" will get it done. As the best or second best public university in the USA, this is the most the locals expect.
But, will this get it done at UM. I think not. UM had too many mountaintop years in football and baseball to now settle for .500 in the ACC. That,s just the way it is.
I think UM should target what they feel they cam do best and go for broke. .500 all around will not work. Let,s not let baseball fall off the mountaintop - - -
Best or second best?? How about Berkeley and U Michigan?? You're off your rocker dude. UVa is good. But they're cracking the top 10, maybe 5, not the top 2.
Love Morris
Nice piece Brian... You certainly got it right. I've been trying to tell some of these "Fans" (jerks) the same things. Things got even worse when the housing market went bust. Parents 10 years ago could take an equity loan now that's not even an option.
FWIW... the first thing JD and Gino say to a recruit... how much money do your parents make and can they afford The U?
Thanks Brian!
I gotta dispute the beast on both issues.
1. Its easier to finish in the top 5 of the acc than to win 30+ as an independent. And the acc will get 5 bids regardless of records.
2. The money talk on scholarships is meaninless. UM, UF and FSU all get 12.5 schilloy and they are all taken. So if UF, with 12.5 guys beats UM, with 12.5 guys, then i think it,s fair to assume that UF is doing a better job with the same allocation as UM. What does the parents contribution matter - they,re here and they,re playing.
This would not be true if UM was in the situation of not being able to issue schollys because the parents. Say "we can,t afford them"' but that,s not the case. This is a simple issue - UF is doing a better job with their 12.5 than UM is.
1. No it isn't. Go back and look at some of the teams Miami was playing as Independent back in the day and then look at the talent, top to bottom, in the ACC these days. As for bids, again, it's not about reaching the post-season as much as it's about where you land. Miami has had to go on the road to Gainesville the past few years, whereas in the past, as an Independent, Miami was always hosting regionals and playing against lesser talent.
2. What does parents' contribution matter? It means that Miami is only going to get kids whose parents can afford to send them to a private school -- as opposed to Florida or Florida State having a deeper pool if in-state talent to choose from. You're no longer getting the same kids as the state schools are getting, as you're limited to kids who can financially afford to attend a private university, which is something that takes a huge hit in a down economy.
Leave loyalty to UM out of it. If you're the parent of a high school baseball star and he is choosing between UF, FSU and UM ... and say is even leaning a little towards UM ... and you as a parent aren't financially in a position to take on the costs of a private education, would you NOT be all right with him attending UF or FSU, as it'd lessen your financial burden and they'd (1) still get a great education and (2) would get to play for a big time program, helping pave their way to the majors?
Your math is off. UF is not doing a better job with their 12.5 than Miami is, "just because". They're doing so because they have a deeper pool of talent to choose from, due to the benefit of in-state tuition.
Mami has ALWAYS been a private school and UF and FSU hace ALWAYS been public schools. Nobody worried about this when miami was winning 4-5 college world series. So how come, now that miami is getting hammered by UF, is this suddenly an issue.
Bottom line, miami,s 12.5 were better for many years, but now UF,s are better. Why all of a sudden is the school status getting blamed. Maybe, just maybe Jim is getting tired and UF is doing a better recruiting job.
It's an issue for several reasons: (1) The economy today isn't what it was five, ten, fifteen or twenty years ago. Tuition costs are up, what families earn is down and that limits the pool of talent which Miami is fishing from. (2) UF has grown leaps and bounds as a program the past, putting millions of dollars towards their athletic program.
The UF baseball team in 2012 is a far cry from the program is was in 2002 or even 1992. The more money they've put in, the more it's grown into the competitive, well-coached machine it is.
Maybe UF is doing a better job and Morris is getting tired ... but there's more to the story than that. You can't just simply that way.
Exellent article Brian,well done.
One more point on regionals and super- regional lovations.
Schools do not get "sent" anywhere except for the schools that do not host. The regional sites are "bid" situations. Miami always had one because they bid the highest amount. Now UF is getting into the act.
If UM meets UF in a superregional, the solution is simple. BEAT them. If your 12.5 are better than theirs, you will WIN. This is why recruiting is so important.
I understand the economy is a hardship, but I also didn't realize that Miami is the only private school with a baseball team that is feeling the effects. I also can't believe the economy card is being played as almost a last gasp effort to defend Morris & his team/staff
I've had Morris on the proverbial hot seat for a few years now, the archives of this blog will show that. My main problem was the surrounding coaching staff that "3" had and how they were the real reason that "3" even has the rings he has - let alone, the main cogs in the machine of what is seen as the winning resume of Morris. Turtle, Lazer, Gino. Boom. Bringing Gino back helps - but it's still akin to trying to win a car race with only 1 inflated tire and 3 flats. My patience with JD is completely done - admittedly I wasn't a huge fan to begin with
Here's the link to an article written on this blog, with my take on Canes baseball when the tuition argument was brought up ....
https://itsauthing.com/the-beast-canes-baseball-not-offensive-enough
Stanford. Rice. Both private schools, both located in states with plenty of other schools competing for recruits, both very good academic institutions, both good baseball programs.
To quote myself from my response in the link of the article from last year:
"Since 2000 – Rice has been to the CWS 5 times with 1 title. Since 2000 – Stanford has been to the CWS 5 times, no title. Since 2000 – Miami has been to the CWS 5 times with 1 title."
Stanford has been to the CWS title game 3 times since 2000. Rice and Miami have both been there 1 time, with Rice being there more recently than the Canes
I understand the financial argument to a point. Again, Miami isn't the only private school with a baseball team that is held to a standard of success and it's not the only private school in this economy (the economy just didn't all the sudden get bad either)
Morris said he came to Miami and saw a runner-up baseball trophy being used as a door stop. Cane fans expect no less and when we've seen the steaming turd product on the diamond as we have when the Canes play an above average team (stupid errors, both mental & physical ... along with spotty pitching and hitting) - we shouldn't be at fault for demanding more. It's no secret that Sulley's assistants at UiF are above and beyond the far reaches of what Miami has
How much more money did UiF really spend on their baseball program when they brought in Sulley and his assistants - or is it that it Sulley and his assistants are just that much damn better when it comes to the actual coaching of the kids or possibly even talent evaluation?
What's the answer then? Coach up who you have a hell of a lot better if tuition and the economy are going to hold you back? Sounds kind of reasonable, huh
Why are 2 of the best players that Miami has, transfers from Bethune-Cookman and UiF? Peter O'Brien and Tyler Palmer?
Get the ship right. Was bringing Gino back a last ditch effort? I've been a huge George Horton fan for a long long time - I wanted him at Miami a long time ago instead of Morris, but there's a better chance of Miami winning a title before UiF does in baseball before Horton will leave Oregon
The article title is talking about stop living in the past - you can take that another way as well, stop living off of what Morris did that long ago as well, while having three assistants who were the reason Morris won