Canespace: One Bad Cook and One Loose Cannon

August 2022

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One Bad Cook and One Loose Cannon

Back-up Quarterbacks Taylor Cook and Cannon Smith announced today that they were leaving the University of Miami.

The shocking and stunning announcment came just two weeks before the Canes first game of the season on Labor Day against FSU in Tallahassee.

The moves leave Miami severely depleted at the QB position with only first year starter Jacory Harris and Freshman A.J. Highsmith, who has been on campus all of about three weeks, as the second string QB for the 2009 season.

This sudden announcement comes on the heels of the highly publicized transfer of former UM QB Robert Marve to Purdue over the Summer.

Marve, who struggled on and off the field at Miami in 2008, was suspended twice last season by Head Coach Randy Shannon for violating team rules and poor class attendance.

Now the Hurricanes have lost three QBs in three months and face the difficult task of facing a tough early schedule and the entire 2009 season with one QB with very limited playing experience and one that went to his high school prom a few months ago. Not exactly what Shannon or new offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple would have wanted.

Canes fans literally lit up the message boards this afternoon to express their shock, fear, anger and confusion over the news.

Some immediately jumped to conclusions and began questioning Shannon's coaching style and leadership ability. Some fans questioned how this situation could happen so suddenly and so close to the season opener. A few fans even wondered out loud: "What happens if Jacory gets hurt?"

Others took a calmer and more measured approach and attempted to minimize the loss citing the fact that neither Cook nor Cannon were likely to see much if any playing time unless Jacory was injured.

Some stated their support for the coaches and players involved and simply moved on.

A few fans also stated that this situation happens at many programs as players see the competition in front of them and decide they might be better off at another University where more playing time beckons.

The reality is that while however discomforting or disturbing these decisions may have made even the most hard core Hurricanes fan feel, their impact may never be felt unless the unthinkable happens.

But then it was always true, even before today's decisions were announced, that If Jacory goes down the Hurricanes hopes are likely to go right with him.

Posted at 05:59 PM | Permalink