First thing I want to see at the game is how many fans will actually show up. It's pretty sad that the Hurricanes don't draw more fans. Sure we show up for the FSU game in ridiculous numbers, but at this point UM v. FSU has turned into that event where even your grandma shows up. People don't go because they want to see a good football game, or even because they are truly fans of either team. People show up because as is typical in Miami, it is the place to be that given weekend. Case in point: I know girls who never watch football. Never. They know absolutely nothing about who is playing, the names of players on either team, but they will make sure they have tickets to the UM-FSU game simply because they need to take pictures and post it on their Facebook profile so the entire world knows they attended the game. This is the type of person who will walk around the rest of the weekend and ask every soul they cross, "Did you go to the game?" Of course, when you say no, they will respond, "Wow that sucks. I was there! I saw the game! I was so wasted!" Ask them who won, or how the game itself played out, and this person will not be able to give you a single detail. So in reality, the UM-FSU game should not be taken into consideration as a measuring stick for fan attendance at UM games. Look at the rest of the ACC games and you'll find a lot of empty seats.
I don't want to continue analyzing the possible reasons for the poor attendance, so let's move on. The second thing I am looking for is how the team reacts to a new starting quarterback. This is really the only thing I am excited about. Stephen Morris will be making his official debut as the starting quarterback this weekend. Last week Randy Shannon burned his red-shirt year when he through him into the fire against UVA. I think the kid handled things pretty well considering he probably had no clue he would be thrown in there and considering at this point last year he was playing quarterback for Pace High School. I'm going into this game as an optimist. I want to see Morris succeed and I want the team to focus more on running the football. Make no mistake about this. If Mark Whipple does not adjust his gameplan and focus on the ground game, the man needs to be taken to a mental institution. You are starting a young quarterback. You have a stable of running backs available to you who have shown flashes of greatness this season. Yes, they are also young, but the running back position is more instinctual as opposed to the quarterback position. Take the hand off and plow forward. Of course having great field vision helps, and that takes some time to develop, but as a running back you can get by using your pure talents and strength. Lamar Miller runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. Give that kid the ball and let him work. Don't complicate things for Morris by forcing him to throw the ball 30-plus times. Anyway, my hope is simple. Morris plays relatively well and causes the coaching staff a headache: To bench, or not to bench Jacory Harris. I've heard all these reports that Mark Whipple hand-picked Stephen Morris. If the kid has success, why not begin the Stephen Morris era immediately? Why go back to turnover prone Jacory Harris?
Let's talk about loyalty. I am sure some fans will feel that Randy Shannon owes some sort of loyalty to Jacory Harris. Here's what I have to say about that: NO! Randy Shannon, and this fan base for that matter, has shown plenty of support and loyalty for Jacory Harris. We have defended him time and time again even when he throws four interceptions and costs us a win. Shannon gets paid to win games. Some of you feel he should be given the benefit of the doubt because of his off-field record (graduation rates, no crime, etc.), but the harsh truth is Shannon is a football coach. A football coach, although he is responsible for fostering a positive environment and being a role model to his players, gets paid for one ultimate essential job function: Win. Win and make money for the school. Randy Shannon can not get caught up in any promises he may have made to Jacory Harris. I say this because at times I wonder if Shannon sold his soul to the devil when he brought in the Northwestern recruiting class a few years ago. I play these weird scenarios out in my head at times when it comes to sports, and the idea I have of how this all went down goes as follows: Shannon promised Jacory Harris the starting job as long as Harris could deliver the rest of the stud Northwestern kids. It is widely reported that many players hitched their football careers to wherever Jacory chose to play. Surely, at some point, this must have been brought up. I can see it now. Randy Shannon asks Jacory which players he has in his pocket, and Jacory stares into his eyes and says: "I start, I will bring them ALL." You might laugh and find that ridiculous, but I honestly believe that something similar to that occurred. Point I am making is that Randy Shannon needs to make smart, objective decisions. If Stephen Morris plays well and you know he is the future, bail on Jacory Harris now.
Last, I want to see if I can get a feel for the fans. What is the mood in the stadium? I need to know. I listen to the radio shows, I watch ESPN and listen to Herbstreit, and I read all the crap that is being spewed on the internet. Now I will get to see it for myself. If we go down early, will the fans boo? Will there be "Fire Shannon" posters?
I'll make sure to let you all know. Stay tuned to my Twitter account for updates from the game.
