The Golden Years

Tonight at the University of Miami "The Golden Years" officially started.

But before The Golden Era could be ushered in, Miami Hurricane fans had to suffer through some tough times that we will now forevermore refer to as The Dark Ages.

 
Since 2004 the University of Miami football team has been anything but golden. In a span of six years the once proud and mighty Hurricanes had been rendered irrelevant on the national stage.  As you might imagine there was plenty of blame to go around depending on who you ask. 

However, most Miami fans and those in the media covering the team would probably agree that Miami's decline has resulted from some combination of poor decisions, poor recruiting, poor coaching and poor performance on the field.

The decision to hire player favorite Larry Coker did produce short-term benefits and resulted in Miami's fifth and last National Championship in 2001.  In fact, Coker and the Hurricanes were one bad pass interference call away from producing back-to-back titles in 2002. 

Then a sudden loss of NFL talent on the UM roster that was accumulated by previous coach Butch Davis and the accompanied failed recruiting efforts by Coker took hold and the decline had clearly begun.  In spite of winning one national championship and nearly another, Coker was sent packing once the losses started to pile up with no end or solution in sight.

In 2007 Randy Shannon was hired to right the ship and return Miami to it glory years.  Who, if not Randy Shannon, could restore Miami to it's rightful place among the college elite?  Shannon was without a doubt a "true Hurricane" who figuratively if not literally bled orange and green. 

Many fans were convinced the resurrection of the football program would happen under Shannon's watch and that results would be immediate.  The 12%ers were out in force and ready to proclaim loud and proud: "We are back!"

Well, unfortunately not so fast my friend!  Shannon went old school, took the names off of the players' jerseys, banned Twitter accounts, lost too many games and gradually lost the team.  Four years later it was again clear that the Hurricanes had regressed and Shannon was unceremoniously shown the door.

The seemingly talented players Shannon had recruited proudly wore "The U" on their helmets but often played as though they would rather be wearing shorts and flip flops on South Beach.  Reports of the players tearing it up in practice ("They were flying around out there.") did not seem to translate to real games on Saturdays when it counted. 

Most of the UM players looked like Tarzan, but many of them played like Jane.  Some of them even quit on their coach, and The U and their fans.  By the time the Hurricanes had lost five games this season including two awful games at Virginia and at home to USF, the writing was on the wall and the end was inevitable for head Coach Randy Shannon. 

The day after the USF game he and many Miami fans awoke from their Hurricane Dream that had now morphed into a sad, if not tragic, nightmare.  Change was necessary and change is what happened.

But now it is time to start a new, fresh chapter in the Hurricane history books. 

As was officially announced today by UM AD Kirby Hocutt at a press conference held in Coral Gables Al Golden will take over the head coaching job at the University of Miami. 

 
As Golden took the podium and began to speak to the large audience gathered for the event, he was obviously nervous.  You don't make the jump from TU (Temple) to "The U" without some butterflies in your stomach.  But as he continued to talk and field questions from the media, he relaxed and showed why Hocutt had selected him for the job. 

Golden spoke from the heart and he nailed it.  The audience just loved him.

By all accounts and according to Hocutt, Golden is a young, energetic, hard working, dynamic communicator and motivator who will inspire Miami back to national relevance.  Golden developed most of this positive reputation by quickly restoring the lowly Temple program, literally bringing the Owls back from the brink of extinction in just four years. 

Now he is tasked with restoring the once proud tradition of the Miami Hurricanes football program.  The familiar work of recruiting, coaching and leading awaits him.  At the same time he will have to learn to endure fan and media scrutiny on a level that he has never experienced and that may be unparalleled in all of college football.

And, while he may not have been everyone's favorite candidate for the position, Golden deserves a fair chance and our support.  I can only speak for myself in saying that he has mine.

And I can only imagine that all Miami Hurricane fans now hope that "The Golden Years" have begun in more ways than one.

Comments

[dadesfynest83]

"We want to play the University of Florida. I've told their athletics director that. They will not play us" -Kirby Hocutt

Posted by: TLuv | December 16, 2010 at 06:37 PM

LMAO...I'm luvin it...

[solarcane]

Randy should show up at Temple, when they say how long would it take you to get your staff together he could say, "They are sitting outside in my car right now"

[SuperCooper]

Petri was good, but go look at what Franklin did at USC. The guy is a monster.

[UpNorthCane27]

Im excited about the jethro franklin hire i think its gonne be big for us recruiting wise and playing wise from what ive read hes a motivator who can actually coach not like hurtt

[TLuv]

SC-
I absolutely agree about Franklin. How do you think we're gonna finish in recruiting? Are there any DTs you think we might land? Imo we need a lot more talent at that position (amongst others)

[solarcane]

Captain,

"His energy is contagious, and that will make it difficult for even the most dubious players to turn their backs on him"
ESPN

There are only to types of people you will ever meet, ones that give you energy and those that drain the energy from you.
solarcane

but what do I ever know right?

[Caniak aka true cane]

ByTimReynolds Tim Reynolds
Given today's hirings by Al Golden, I would be very surprised if Jeff Stoutland wasn't at Miami in 2011, and think Mark Whipple may stay too
6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[SOUP]

****RB Lamar Miller, Miami
Particulars: 5-11/210, redshirt; Miami Killian

Killian Cougars in the house!!!

[SOUP]

By Tim Reynolds

Given today's hirings by Al Golden, I would be very surprised if Jeff Stoutland wasn't at Miami in 2011 = NO BRAINER

and think Mark Whipple may stay too = BIG MAYBE

6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[solarcane]

InsideTheU InsideTheU
by proCanes

Just walked by A-Rod at UM practice, have seen him before but still ridiculous who walks around this school sometimes

[NativeCane]

Franklin Facts

http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/franklin_jethro00.html

Go Canes!!!

[SuperCooper]

I rather Whipple not come back. His play calling was inexcusable

[Sebastian]

I would love to see some fat guys to go along side #99 to clog the middle that way it will free up the LBs to make some plays

Thats right I said LBs to make some plays because thats what its going to take to get this D to that next level

[dadesfynest83]

man we got those fat guys in Regis and Porter...oh and Lewis too...boys jus gotta step it up a notch

[BEERicane]

Whipple's azz better be gone next year. That will completely undermine this Golden hire. Or, If Whipple is still around, I would let him call the game between the 20s but hire a red zone only OC to get this O to post some points. That O had way too many yards to not put up points. Pathetic.

[Sebastian]

Not enough fat guys

[solarcane]

Not enough fat guys

thats what she said

[Old Skool]

Regarding Whipple. I sure would love to have known what the sideline arguments or disagreements with Randy were about

[Montreal-Cane]

Wasn’t Donna Shalala the Health and Human Services Director for the President of the United States?

Can’t these kids get a friggin flu shot?

[Montreal-Cane]

The only coaches I would keep are:

Stoutland and Petri

If you need to keep Hill on as a FT Recruiting Coordinator for a year or two for continuity purposes that is fine BUT and relieve him of the WR coaching duties and hire a new WR coach.

If not hire Paul Gonella (back) as FT Recruiting Coordinator.

I would DEFINITELY bring in my own OC and DC and Strength and Conditioning coaches.

Don't make the same mistake as Shannon. Get it right the FISRT time and don't take any chances. The OC and DC are the most important hires a head coach can make.

Posted by: SOUP | December 14, 2010 at 05:00 PM

Yes sir!

[dadesfynest83]

Sebas...

LoL...4 not enough??? I mean if they stay healthy yea...

No? LOL

[Sebastian]

Just from observing from being at the games I believe it had to do with who was in the game. I dont know who was making the call on that

I can tell you this, anytime the ball was near midfield or near our 35 and 4th down and less then 5 yards Whipple was always wanting to go for it. Shannon seemed to be conservative in that area and quick to call for the punt team to go out there

That was always good for a stare down or a quick exchange

Also on numerous occasions you would see WRs,TEs or RBs come into the game only to be called back to the sidelines, again leading to a stare down

IMO Whipple wanted more control of the offense and felt Shannon wasnt giving him that control

[dadesfynest83]

Ben Jones played d-line in high school up until that Southlake game, and with the way it looks, he won't be seein much O-line time anytime soon, why not put him back on D huh???

I don't like the Futch move...

[Willie Will in Nashville]

Don't make the same mistake as Shannon. Get it right the FISRT time and don't take any chances. The OC and DC are the most important hires a head coach can make.

Posted by: SOUP | December 14, 2010 at 05:00 PM

yes sir, and don't forget how important the strength and conditioning coach is

[Sebastian]

4 fat guys in the DL are not enough for a roster

I would like to see 7 at the very least

Fat guys up front keeping the OL off the LBs is the key to making a good defense great

[solarcane]

Don't make the same mistake as Shannon. Get it right the FISRT time and don't take any chances. The OC and DC are the most important hires a head coach can make.

Posted by: SOUP | December 14, 2010 at 05:00 PM

I agree soup, with Golden bringing in coaches that have already worked for him we won't see that ego thing during games.

Shannon could have made Tonto say fug it if they were together long enough though.

[dadesfynest83]

aight, I just figured, 2 starters and 2 backups...5 fat guys work well for me in dynasty mode for NCAA 11...lol

[Sebastian]

Overall #99 had a very solid season but without a legit MLB it kind of made it look like he disappeared in some games

[SOUP]

NEW BLOG IS UP!

[AlpharettaCane]

Of course Whipple chaffed at having to report up to Shannon, and being muzzled in the press as well. That's my guess anyway.

He had experience as a successful HC (albeit small school), and knew a helluva lot more than RS about running an offense.

I still say its all about the QB, and how well they can implement Whipple's system. Harris didn't have the smarts to pull it off. Morris was more mobile with a better arm, but still made some poor decisions / awful throws.

Give Whipple a QB that is smart, mobile and understands the philosphy, I think his stock rises as an OC.

In the end, maybe Whipple is like Charlie Weiss, more aligned with coaching pros who do this for a living.

[mi@mic@ne]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvQ1UDzdco&feature=related

[j.w.]

pl;adsf

[usagainsttheworld]

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