Time To Stand With The U

Lost in the recent barrage of trouble-related news, the Hurricanes actually worked in a scrimmage over the weekend.

Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris were a combined 39-of-57 for 547 yards, with six touchdowns and no turnovers. Wide receiver Tommy Streeter had seven receptions for 148 yards, two touchdowns and looks ready to finally live up to his early hype.

The white team beat the orange, 34-31, but the focus around UM still revolves around last week’s bomb instead of a quarterback competition, depth chart shuffling and the fact that actual football is less than two weeks away.

UM president Donna Shalala released a video statement on Monday, acknowledging that fifteen athletes have questions regarding eligibility (a dozen football players). She let the ‘U Family’ know that NCAA investigators arrived on campus August 15th, interviewing current student-athletes, coaches and staff members. Miami has also hired outside counsel that is “familiar with NCAA investigations”.

Seems ‘The U’ is gearing up for a fight, which seems inevitable right now. On the student body front, a call for solidarity. CanesFest will take place this weekend at the BankUnited Center and this Wednesday, a call for all fans to wear orange in effort to unite.

Regardless of what reigns down, you truly hope this unity-themed approach sticks. Especially in what would become a very difficult season with up to a dozen impact players suspended.

Wednesday marks the nineteen-year anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which hit days before the 1992 season kicked off. A city in utter turmoil, the defending national champions were something Miamians were able to rally around at a time when there was little joy to be found.

A NCAA investigation and looming suspensions can’t compare to one of the worst natural disasters this planet has seen, but Andrew should serve as a reminder that fan can pull together when need be, if they so choose.

Many in Hurricane Nation have spent this past week emailing Charles Robinson at Yahoo! and other journalists who have taken shots at UM. Others of you have fired over note after note regarding shirt ideas, theories or simply to vent. None of the above are a solution to this problem.

You want to know what you can do? You want to truly unite? You ready to finally bleed for ‘The U’? Have the back of head coach Al Golden this season and support these Hurricanes no matter what comes down. Period. Get your asses in seats on Saturday afternoons this fall, yell your faces off and truly give a damn.

Don’t base your loyalty solely on improvement upon last year’s 7-6 campaign. Commit right now to have this program’s back through thick and thin. Especially at a time like this when it needs you most.

Golden didn’t sign up for this – but he sure as hell isn’t going to run from it, either. Men of character step up and do what they signed on to do, despite a change in circumstance while men void of character rob friends and colleagues of almost a billion dollars, have malice in their heart, spew lies and plot revenge from a prison cell.

When you look at what both Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio came from at Temple, you could suspend two dozen Hurricanes and this coaching staff still has more to work with than the Owls did last season. Despite the drama, this is still a huge opportunity. Turning around the Miami program is still doable and while there are a few more roadblocks, it’s still a tangible goal.

It’s about overachieving and exceeding expectations for Coach Golden and the last thing he’s going to do is make excuses. Come Labor Day night, Miami will face Maryland with – or without – upwards of a dozen players. At that point it will be about who’s there, not who’s on the bench.

This program, coaching staff and team has been through the ringer this past week and news flash, that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Embarrassment turned to anger, both of which are understood, but what’s absolutely unacceptable is any hint of fear.

Is this not a fan base that prides itself on inventing swagger? Has UM not always had the mantra, “anytime, anywhere, anyplace”? If so, then why are so many people rolling over? Why is the sky falling based on some online allegations of a vengeful criminal?

We’re done. Stick a fork in us. There goes the season. We’ll never come back from this.

Shame on any of you sporting that loser mentality.

Whatever comes down, Miami not only needs to get through this – but needs the support of a take-no-shit fan base. Turn this into a rallying cry. Hold your heads up this season. Everyone spouts that “us against the world” stuff – so live it. Embrace those hateful looks you get from opposing fans the same way this team will when it hits the road this fall.

Conversely, put an arm around your Hurricane brothers and sisters when you see them – a reminder that we’re all living through this together and have each other to lean on. When one starts playing the ‘doom and gloom’ card, kick them in the ass and remind them what being a true Cane is all about.

As yourself W.W.J.D. – as in the legendary No. 98.

What would Jerome Brown do in the wake of these allegations? How would leaders like Alonzo Highsmith, Michael Irvin and Melvin Bratton react? Think of the true adversity those 80s-era Canes faced and compare that to this Shapiro-fueled scandal.

Simply put, Miami has cleared bigger hurdles than this. Man up, people. Get your balls back and keep things in perspective. – C.B.

Comments

comments