The Beast : You Can Go Home Again

Before I get to the emotional part of this blog, let’s start with the analysis. Art Kehoe getting his old gig back is just awesome.

There was a lot of hearsay when coaches were let go after the 2005 season, but you’re always going to get that in those sorts of situations. The one thing that has never ever been said about Art is that he couldn’t coach. Anyone disagreeing with that is from another planet.

Think about all the names that have excelled on the Miami offensive line over the years. How many of those guys were five-star superstars? Not many, if any at all. No other coach got the most out of what he was given like Art.

Raw projects from Canada like Brett Romberg and Martin Bibla? No problem. A tight end that grew into a tackle like Eric Winston? No problem. A JUCO transfer that became one of the best in the NFL like Bryant McKinnie? No problem. Art took them all and made them into the best they could be. The one thing Art excelled at is something that not many coaches out there can do.

Art took kids from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different languages, different socio-economic upbringings and molded them into a cohesive unit – and he did it over and over and over again.

From the moment he stepped onto campus, Al Golden has reveled in Miami’s past. He’s read Jimmy Johnson’s book, studied Howard Schnellenberger’s philosophies, was beaten (as a player) by Dennis Erickson’s teams and learned from the mistakes of Larry Coker and Randy Shannon, seeing where those two went wrong. Golden has assembled an amazing staff that is ready to cover all bases.

The only thing missing was the lone piece that could tie it all together. The person that’s seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between at ‘The U’; Art Kehoe.

As Ziggy Marley sang, “if you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future”. Art, we’re glad you’re back and can’t wait until you get these guys to bust out the Metrorails on a hot Saturday at Sun Life.

Now to the emotional part.

I know people often say that words can’t describe what they are feeling. It’s an expression that has become ultra cliché. However, I can’t think of a phrase that more appropriately expresses how I, personally, feel about the Kehoe’s return to ‘The U’. I could go with elated, overjoyed, delighted, or jubilant – but those words still wouldn’t convey how I feel. Maybe it’s because I can empathize with what Art has been through.

I too was sitting pretty in my dream job as UM sideline reporter, doing it not for the money, but because it’s the only thing I ever wanted to do. And just as Art lost his job because of politics and BS, so did I. Sure, I made mistakes, and I’m sure Art did too. Who doesn’t? But the punishment in both of our cases was too extreme.

There’s a reason why I’m always one of the last people to drum up the “fire the coach” talk. Because I know all too well what kind of damage having your job taken away from you can do to yourself and your family. I know all too well the effect of losing not just a 9-to-5 gig, but the one job you thought you’d have for life.

I know what it’s like to feel like you are on top of the world one minute, and the next minute worrying about providing for your family. I know what it’s like to have a permanent, infectious smile only to replace it with swollen eyes from the tears of going through a worse heartache than any breakup between high school sweethearts.

I know what it’s like to think that someone is your best friend one day, and the next he’s the biggest asshole on the planet, all for the wrong reasons. So for me, Kehoe’s return to UM isn’t about bringing back the best offensive line coach in the country, or the personification of Sebastian the Ibis himself. It’s about knowing that somebody who had been wronged, has now been righted. It’s about the good guy getting one back.

The fact that tomorrow Art Kehoe will walk back into his office, at The U, gives every one that’s ever been screwed feel like it’s not a pipe dream to hope that some day, it will indeed all be okay again.

IN OTHER NEWS : This week’s edition of allCanes Radio will come your way Thursday night so we don’t conflict with the Miami/North Carolina game on Wednesday night, which I hope you will be at. We hope to have lots of hoops talk, Kehoe talk, and recruiting talk for you this week.

Speaking of recruiting – YOU CAN NOT MISS OUT ON THE ALLCANES/INSIDE THE U INAGURAL SIGNING DAY PARTY AT THE TITANIC BREWERY ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND.

There will be plenty of details to follow, but the guys at InsideTheU.com and all of us at allCanes are working around the clock to make this an unforgettable extravaganza. There will be contests, prizes, raffles, and even a recruit or two stopping by for an interview. Make plans to skip work that day and join us at The Titanic starting at 8am Wednesday, February 2nd.

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