Whatever the case, is it really anybody’s business? Randy Shannon and his players obviously sat down, sorted things and moved forward. They are the only ones entitled to have an opinion on the matter as they’re the only ones who know the entire story.
Message boards started lighting up last weekend, folks chiming in saying the guys were getting a ‘raw deal’ without knowing the facts. Many were quick to take up for Collier, who experienced personal hardship — losing a child and dealing with an ailing parent. Fans immediately decided he deserved ‘another chance’ to turn it around, believing grades were the lone issue.
Again, the ‘instant’ nature of the Internet causes chaos. Instead of playing the wait-and-see game, people formed their opinions and came to their decision before all information was released.
As of this evening, it’s been reported that Collier is being banished for “a series of team violations” – which were said to be “non-academic”, according to the Palm Beach Post.
Shannon sat down with the junior wideout this morning, informing him that he was off the team, though he was welcomed to continue taking classes at UM. Should he choose to transfer, Miami will be released from his scholarship, no questions asked.
Again Shannon has proven that molding young men takes precedence over on-the-field accolades. Collier was the first UM player in five seasons to return at least two punts for scores, (Devin Hester house three and Roscoe Parrish took back two, both in 2004) but his mistakes proved more important in this decision.
Wesley was entering his fifth season with Miami and was expected to play a back-up role this year. The Herald quoted Wesley from this year’s media guide, stating that he chose Miami because he “wanted to be part of such great tradition and it’s been a dream come true.”
Sadly all good things come to an end and if this was indeed his ‘dream’, it begs the question – why did he let his grades slip (if that was indeed the issue here)? As a student athlete your job is two-fold; take care of business both on the field and in the classroom. Especially if playing under Shannon, who makes players sign contracts and sets the bar extremely high.
A far cry from Urban Meyer’s play in regards to trashing some outgoing seniors in 2007 (“For those guys who just put in their time and didn’t make any real contributions, it’s time for you to go. It won’t be hard to say goodbye to some of those guys who just went through the motions … but just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you have any value.”)
Shannon is walking the walk and in a tumultuous college football off-season, this should be praised for laying down the law.
Every player on this team knows what he signed up for. No guns. No DUIs. No hitting women. Go to class. Keep your grades up. Become an upstanding member of society. Give back to your community. Competition dictates your place on the depth chart.
None of us know what caused Wesley or Collier’s departure, but both did something to get dismissed. Respect this coaching staff for handling their business and move on. Don’t speculate. Don’t talk sh*t. Accept it and trust that they’re doing what needs to be done.
UM has run a tight ship for years now. Last I checked the score is about 30-to-1 regarding Florida arrests to Miami arrests … and the last Cane to get busted is the starting quarterback at Purdue this season. Cane coaches deserve the benefit of the doubt regarding how they run their program.
Having been a young twentysomething trying to figure life out, I sympathize with both Wesley and Collier being forced to learn a harsh lesson here. That said, rules are in place for a reason and both of them will become better men from this experience.
Other Canes take notice this fall; Coach Shannon isn’t messing around. Rules are rules and playing time is a privilege, not a right. You have to earn it both on – and off – the field.
Turns out Brown left Knoxville without talking to the incoming coach, choosing instead to text his intentions.
Dooley stated that his release criteria is three-fold; (1) analyzing the player’s personal investment to the program – did he give it a fair shot, (2) the harm their departure creates for the organization and (3) did they handle it as a professional. Three strikes and Bryce is out.
Whatever happens to both Bryce and Arthur Brown Jr., this is really another situation where Arthur Brown Sr. is to blame. Both his boys have run from competition and left town with their tails between their legs. The family welcomed shadeball Brian Butler into their home, preaching one thing and delivering another – inevitably misdirecting both brothers while selling his own agenda (re: promoting his ‘Potential Players’ website).
The knock on the Brown Brothers from day one was that they seemed to be big fish in a little pond; tearing up local Kansas prospects, but unproven on the grand stage.
At day’s end, how did Brown Sr. or Butler not pick up on the fact that these kids were meant to stay home? Brown Jr. chose Miami and after never making a dent, is running home to Kansas State. Bryce pledged to follow Arthur Jr. to Miami, played recruiting games, chose Tennessee at the final hour and sent a Dear John text on his way to Manhattan.
Kansas brothers want to stay home and become local heroes.
They both could’ve saved the college football world a lot of trouble, choosing the Wildcats out the gate, instead of wasting everyone’s time.
Home games against Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech obviously help, but regardless, it’s still a step in the right direction regarding the program’s present and future.
Simply put, Canes fans are backed up. After a stellar run from 2000-2003, the downturn started – and few really saw it coming. Winning at the capacity Miami won at — 34 straight, back-to-back title games, one ring won / one ring stolen, four consecutive BCS games — eventually that’s going to be taken for granted by incoming players and fans alike.
The beauty of a down cycle is the fact you’ll appreciate the upswing that much more, if and when it happens.
Fans are ready to win again and after three years of rebuilding this program, Shannon has the Canes on the brink of something special and the increase in ticket sales speaks much louder than the critics on the message boards.
Myth : The Offensive Line “sucked”.
Reality : The line was a single weak link and running backs contributed to many sacks. Miami was sacked thirty-five times over a ten-game span last year and few were the fault of the LT-RG. According to the poster, two sacks were on Harland Gunn, one was on A.J. Trump, two were on Orlando Franklin and one was on Joel Figueroa. (The poster admits he didn’t rewatch USF, UVA and FAMU, but the point is valid.)
Myth : J12 is “inaccurate”.
Reality : Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy had comparable numbers to Harris as sophomores. A year later Clausen had 28 TDs / 4 INTs while McCoy had 34 TDs / 8 INTs as juniors.
Expanding on the poster’s point, there is often huge grown between first-year starting sophomore quarterbacks versus their second go around as juniors. For Harris this should even be truer, considering it’ll be his second season in a Mark Whipple-led offense.
Myth : Our defense “sucked”.
Reality : Miami allowed as many offensive points as North Carolina’s highly-touted defense last seasons. (He states that the extra points per game were a result of blocked punts, interception returns and fumble returns – not defensive stats.)
If you only factor offensive touchdowns, field goals and extra points allowed, the Tar Heels gave up 16.9 points per game and the Canes gave up 17.
Regarding head-to-head match ups (FSU, GT, VT, UVA and Duke), UNC only allowed less offensive points in two games (VT and Duke). It’s also pointed out that the Heels’ OOC schedule consisted of Citadel, East Carolina, Georgia Southern and UConn, while Miami took on Oklahoma, FAMU, Central Florida and South Florida – begging the question why UNC is getting so much defensive preseason hype while UM flies under the radar.
Great stuff from poster”BoomOrBust”. Anyone who knows him, have him shoot me an email so I can fire him a gift card for being a fan who actually employed some great message board logic.
Yes, the BCS is flawed and big money TV contracts are keeping us from a much-needed playoff (or plus-one system), but the nature of this game is still something beautiful.
College football isn’t littered with big money free agents. You can’t lose 4 or 5 games a year and still win a championship. Every showdown is as important as a NFL Playoff game if you’re a top-flight program in the hunt.
A few down recruiting classes can send you reeling, but you have the chance to rebuild every off-season. Stockpile talent. Build depth. Start fresh. Reel in players who fit your program and fill needs.
The ongoing battle to keep players from getting “fat and happy” while bringing in new kids that are able to carry on the tradition, filling in for NFL bound talent – it’s a wonderful science.
The greatest game in the world kicks off in a month.
About time.
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