I've been thinking about this for days. Shannon supporters say the reason we have been playing below expectations is because Shannon inherited Larry Coker's team, a team that everyone says was recruited based on website rankings instead of actual scouting. That excuse was acceptable for a while, but this team right now is Randy Shannon's team. These are kids he recruited. These are the players he brought in to restore the "U" legacy. There is no excuse anymore. The loss to Ohio State hurt, but hey Ohio State is one of the power houses of college football. Hold on. This last sentence is the exact problem!!! I just told you it was ok to lose to Ohio State because they are a college football power house. That used to be the University of Miami! People used to make that excuse when THEIR teams were losing to us! Now the roles have been reversed? Some will say, "Well Randy has changed the image of the school. We graduate all our players and no one has been arrested." Blah, blah, blah. None of that means a thing if you don't have a ring. (Yes, that sentence rhymed. Yes, it was on purpose.) I started tweeting immediately after the FSU game that Shannon needed to be fired. After a few days, my stance on that has softened, but not by much. One more loss this year and I will be first in line with my pitch fork. I am embarrassed to be a fan of this team right now, and that is a shame.
Melvin Bratton said something in an interview with Manny Navarro that many Miami Hurricane fans have been wondering for a while now. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
"Look at Sam Shields starting for the Green Bay Packers. Look at Bruce Johnson. Randy Phillips. Tavares Gooden. These kids didn't get drafted," Bratton said. "Let's be real. This is the NFL. There are only 53 people that can be on a roster. These kids at the University of Miami were part time starters, didn't make any All-American lists. But they can go to the league and dominate? Something is wrong. I don't know if it's coaching or if its scheme. But how can you go to the next level and start on opening day? Somebody isn't getting the best out of these kids."
If this isn't a sign that Randy has lost the support of the alumni, I don't know what is. The problem? We just gave Randy Shannon a four year extension. Translation? The University of Miami is not going to fire him and continue paying his salary. We're stuck with him.
Diagnosing the "U"
I also am leaning towards jumping on the fire Randy Shannon bandwagon, but also realize that I changed my opinion based on a demoralizing loss. We can still end the season on a high note and make it to the ACC Championship and perhaps a BCS bowl.
ReplyDeleteLook at UF now that Tebow is gone... they are no longer dominating. Look at what FSU went through with one of the best college coaches ever. I think programs go through rough times when they start playing tougher schedules when the talent pool is diminished.
I support Randy still because I also believe that this team lacks a Ken Dorsey and lacks superstars across the field. He has had three, maybe four recruiting classes and has a few stars playing on the field from those classes, but still does not have depth, which is a concern on the o-line, linebackers and secondary, which happen to be the problem areas on this team. Yes, the receivers aren't that great. But, perhaps that is more an example of how bad Jacory is versus how bad the coaching is. McCarthy is learning how to play MLB and Buchanon is a converted safety/rb.
The defense sucked miserably last weekend, but I think Jacory is also a tremendous liability to this team. He disrupts the offense. Do not get me wrong, I think perhaps better coaching is more productive with this current group or with last year's group, but I still do not think we have national championship material here.
Bratton also pointed out guys that had injury problems at the U, improved later in their careers here, or were position changes. Jon Beason is another story, though. That is the guy you should point to. He is a pro bowler and started pretty much whole career at the U.
ReplyDeleteThat is true. Devin Hester also comes to mind although that was under Coker.
ReplyDeleteHester has only been a standout returner in NFL and only recently has shown signs of being a good wide receiver.
ReplyDelete