Ground Hog Day 2015

When Randy Shannon took over as head coach for the fired Larry Coker at the University of Miami in 2007 most if not all of the Hurricane fans, UM alumni and current and former UM players were absolutely certain that things were going to change for the better in Coral Gables.

Yet after four years of at the helm Coach Shannon and his Miami football team appeared to be stuck in the movie "Groundhog Day" where the same scenario just keeps repeating itself over and over again year after year.

Let's take a look at one game from 2007 and 2010 as a microcosim of the bigger picture of what happened at UM over the last several years.

In 2007, during Randy Shannon's first season as Head Coach of the University of Miami, his team lost more games than they won.  That year your Miami Hurricanes finished 5-7.  But three games before the season was over his team had already quit on him.  In the final game in the historic Orange Bowl the Virginia Cavaliers not only beat but humiliated the Miami Hurricanes 48-0. 

That night in the Orange Bowl, home of the 58 straight and three National Championships Shannon was coaching against a very experienced if not very good head coach in Al Groh. Groh has been coaching since 1967, had extensive NFL experience and was primed to beat a first year greenhorn in Randy Shannon and his uncommitted team. 

And so it was. 

Groh humiliated Shannon on his home turf with a UVA team that went on to finish 9-4 that year.  That final game at the Orange Bowl not only left a mark on Hurricane fans who were there that night (I was) but you would have thought that it would have left a serious impression on the Miami players and coaching staff, especially first year coach Randy Shannon. 

You might also think that the typical coach would get angry, or embarrassed or whatever someone feels when they are humiliated in front of their family, friends and fans.  But not Randy Shannon. 

You see in 2007 the Miami landscape was ripe with excusues: Shannon was a first year head coach learning on the job. He had inherited a team full of "Cokerites", inferior players recruited by former coach Larry Coker. He had weak assistant coaches (some that he had selected or promoted).

Unfortunately for Groh he followed up the Team Shannon beatdown in 2007 with 3-8 and 4-7 seasons and by the end of 2009 he was fired by UVA.  He now works as the Defensive Coordinator at Georgia Tech. Oh well, so much for Groh being a great head coach. 

In 2010 after four years as head coach Miami's Randy Shannon once again faced the same Virginia Cavaliers, this time under first year head coach Mike London.  After four solid years of recruiting, practicing and coaching you would have assumed that Team Shannon would have his team ready to face the lowly Cavaliers who were now in the way of Miami's first ACC title.

You would have though that Shannon would be relentless against his former nemesis and be ready and willing to pound them into submission. Like 48-0 submision. A beat down and humiliation much like the one he himself had suffered back in 2007 at the Beautiful Old Lady that lived on NW 7th Street.  

You would have been wrong.

Shannon, arms crossed and staring down first year coach Mike London across the field, and now in his fourth year and his team unfortunately never showed up.  Actually that's not completely accurate. They were there, at the stadium in their uniforms, but they played as if the wore shorts and flip flops and as though their minds were on South Beach rather than in Charlottesville.

How does that happen?  After four years of recruiting, four years of change, four years of competition in practice, four years of games that mattered? 

Shannon and his team were down 24-0 at the half.  To a Virginia team that was 3-4 and 0-3 in the ACC coming into the game.  Instead of having the expected cakewalk of a game the Hurricanes were down by 24 points at halftime.   

Mike London took over a UVA team in turmoil, much like Shannon had in 2007.  He had little if any talent and less momentum going into the game against Miami.  Yet he notched his biggest win to date in his career against Miami and fourth year head coach Randy Shannon.  

London did it much like Al Groh had done back in 2007 when Shannon was still a first-year head coach. And it was done so easily, by London and his players who showed no remorse and no shame. Except at the expense of the Miami Hurricanes football team and their head coach Randy Shannon who was fired at the end of the season. 

Then new Hurricanes head coach Al Golden took over the reigns at Miami and hoped to resurrect the talent, tradition and teams of years past. All Hurricanes fans hoped that in the ensuing years that it would no longer feel like Groundhog Day did in 2007 or 2011.

Well it still does. But we hope that this year in 2015, that the bad movie ends, and ends with a bang. Otherwise, it may just fade to black and a restart of the movie, credits and all, will begin in 2016.

Comments

[nemo2002]

Nice!

[CaneRock]

Speaking of Groundhog Day...DOS!...AGAIN! Good article SOUP.

[SinisterCane]

Any reports from the scrimmage?

[Terrance Sullivan]

Top Notch Top Notch Soup.

[86Cane]

I swear some of the dumbest people are Miami Hurricane Fans. Am I right Terrance or what?

[laquinton]

Lol

[Go Canes]

Here are some drives to think about:

Louisville:

Punt
Touchdown
Punt
Fumble
Punt
Touchdown (Kickoff return for TD)
Punt
Fumble
Punt

D is gassed, gives up two late TDs

Duke:

Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt
Touchdown
Punt
Punt
Punt
Fumble
Punt
Field Goal
Punt
Interception
Punt
Downs
Downs

UNC:

Punt
Punt
Safety
TD (Fumble returned for TD)
Punt
Punt
Interception
Fumble
Touchdown
Downs

Benches emptied up 40-13

Virginia Tech:

Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt
Fumble
Fumble
Fumble
Punt
Punt
Touchdown

Cincy:

Punt
Interception
Punt
FG
Interception
Punt
Punt

Benches emptied for 4th quarter up 41-13

So it wasn't just bend, bend, bend break was it?

This team lost 7 games because it couldn't score in the second half. A big part of that was inexperience at QB. Despite his high learning curb, making big adjustments and/or radically expanding the playbook was very difficult to do.

[TonyCane]

The movie gets better in the fifth act.

[Go Canes]

‏@mattyports 24m24 minutes ago
Grace said he had two tackles but was in pass coverage much of the time. Said UM worked 3-4 and 4-3 and nickel

[Lur-ker]

Dropping that Obi Wan Kinobi wisdom.

Hoping Obi Kinobi can get the force going our way.

[Terrance Sullivan]

86 U already know.

[Lur-ker]

Good article, too. Although it's a painful stab to the heart. One of many.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Barring the two holding penalties I liked the opening drive for the Dolphins tonight. I also like the 1st two defensive series as well. Not much to take away from the game after that. They have to avoid the late season slide as well or we'll be talking about Ground Hog's day for them as well!

Go 'canes!!
Go Dolphins!!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

86 actually we have the smartest fans in the world. I am just dumb LOL.

[raizecane]

I was at that Virginia game and was so depressed I didn't even think about taking a piece of the Orange Bowl with me.....I was NUMB.

[Sarasota 'cane]

I was at that Virginia game and was so depressed I didn't even think about taking a piece of the Orange Bowl with me.....I was NUMB.

Posted by: raizecane | August 13, 2015 at 10:27 PM

I was there with my entire family. When they were lighting off the fireworks at the end I was like WTF? Really???

[TonyCane]

Here's an expansion on a post from a couple of weeks ago, showing in part how the numbers bear witness as to why Miami has had its issues over the last eight years:

RANDY SHANNON
2007
6th Year Players: 1
5th Year Players: 12
4th Year Players: 14
3rd Year Players: 16
2nd Year Players: 15
1st Year Players: 18
Total Players: 76 Total 4/5* Players: 42

2008
6th Year Players: 1
5th Year Players: 10
4th Year Players: 11
3rd Year Players: 15
2nd Year Players: 17
1st Year Players: 31
Total Players: 85 Total 4/5* Players: 42

Comments: Miami went heavily with freshmen after the Elite 2008 class was signed - including freshmen signal callers in Jacory Harris and Robert Marve. After tough initial losses to FSU, Florida, and North Carolina, Miami hit its stride as the season wore on, only to stumble at the end against the Yellowjackets and California.

2009
6th Year Players: 1
5th Year Players: 5
4th Year Players: 13
3rd Year Players: 12
2nd Year Players: 24
1st Year Players: 18
Total Players: 73 Total 4/5* Players: 41

Comments: The team continued to improve (+3 in point scored, -2 in points allowed) and was a rainstorm in Virginia from a 6-0 start, but hit a wall midpoint through the season when injuries decimated the squad. Transfers cut the Canes numbers to the point where depth became a real problem in the second half of the year, and Miami faltered to a 3-3 finish.

2010
6th Year Players: -
5th Year Players: 6
4th Year Players: 12
3rd Year Players: 22
2nd Year Players: 17
1st Year Players: 26
Total Players: 83 Total 4/5* Players: 39

Comments: This one is on the regime. Problems with Whipple and Shannon continued to stir, and an early season loss to Ohio State took some of the wind out of the team's sails. Injuries to Jacory forced freshman Stephen Morris into the lineup, and the team seemed to give up towards the end of the season.

AL GOLDEN
2011
6th Year Players: 1
5th Year Players: 5
4th Year Players: 19
3rd Year Players: 16
2nd Year Players: 20
1st Year Players: 16
Total Players: 77 Total 4/5* Players: 28

Comments: Golden entered a situation where the best players on the squad were seniors...and a nightmare scenario where over a dozen players were suspended. The offense stabilizes under Jed but becomes more limited, scoring only an average of 27 points a game. The defense shows slight improvement, lowering its average points allowed to just 20, the best since 2005. A series of close losses (avg 5.5 margin) give the Canes a 6-6.

2012
6th Year Players: -
5th Year Players: 4
4th Year Players: 10
3rd Year Players: 17
2nd Year Players: 16
1st Year Players: 32
Total Players: 79 Total 4/5* Players: 21

Comments: Early departures and transfers/failures to qualify out of the 2010 class mean that the bulk of the starting talent are freshmen. Like 2008, Miami struggles early and is physically overmatched against opponents with quality, experienced depth like Kansas State (JUCO laden), Notre Dame, and Florida State. The offense shows marked improvement in Year 2, but the freshmen laden defense falls to a average of 31 points per game. Miami does finish 3-1 over its last four games, giving some hope for the future.

2013
6th Year Players: -
5th Year Players: 6
4th Year Players: 17
3rd Year Players: 8
2nd Year Players: 22
1st Year Players: 16
Total Players: 69 Total 4/5* Players: 22

Comments: Facing a relatively easy schedule (and facing Florida at the best possible time), the Canes jump out to a 7-0 start. After being crushed by the Seminoles and facing injury issues with a thin lineup, Miami limps to a 3-3 finish.

2014
6th Year Players: -
5th Year Players: 5
4th Year Players: 9
3rd Year Players: 18
2nd Year Players: 14
1st Year Players: 27
Total Players: 73 Total 4/5* Players: 25

Comments: Miami is finally beginning to build depth, but faces two challenges. The first is starting a true freshmen quarterback who only arrived in the summer, leading to conservative play calling. The second is depth. Although carrying more players than in 2014, Golden decides the time is right to begin a normal reshirting process. For the first time there are double-digit redshirts, and as injuries mount and the season wears on injuries badly erodes roster depth. The team loses a heartbreaker to FSU (and all shots at an ACC title), then through a lack of motivation and with serious attrition proceeds to lose three more games in a row.

2015
6th Year Players: -
5th Year Players: 2
4th Year Players: 15
3rd Year Players: 13
2nd Year Players: 28
1st Year Players: 19
Total Players: 77 Total 4/5* Players: 28
+ 3 more players

Comments: For the first time in this sample, the Canes have quality depth distributed along all four years of experience.

My own thought is that the Hurricanes are really under the radar and badly underestimated by many of the experts (but not Phil Steele), and some of our own fans. While Perryman, Duke, Dorsett, and Walford are gone the overall team is strong and experienced. Roster depth should not be the issue that it was in 2008 or 2014. We should win a minimum of 9 games.

[TonyCane]

Dropping that Obi Wan Kinobi wisdom.

Hoping Obi Kinobi can get the force going our way.

Posted by: Lur-ker | August 13, 2015 at 10:18 PM

"The swag runs strong in this program"

"Jimmy Johnson had it"

"I had it" (quoting Michael Irvin)

"Sean Taylor had it"

Cut to scene showing Brad Kayaa...

"You have that swagger too"

Cut to montage of big Hurricane hits, touchdowns....

Cut to Art Kehoe and Kevin Beard standing at the edge of the tunnel at the University of Phoenix on January 11th, 2016. Art smiles

"Kevin...we're home."

THAT'S HOW THE FORCE AWAKENS TRAILER SHOULD TRULY BE

[TonyCane]

Specifically thinking of this trailer, with it recut with Miami in mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCc2v7izk8w

[Ohio_Cane]

@miamibuzztap: http://t.co/VRC1XIEJWt >> Miami Hurricanes Football: News, Notes, Quotes From Miami’s First Scrimmage http://t.co/oKdsF5Khak

[Terrance Sullivan]

Thank goodness no one was hurt.

[Go Canes]

Loving what we're hearing about Norton so far.

[Ohio_Cane]

@mattyports: [new post] All the details we learned about the Canes' first scrimmage of 2015 camp: http://t.co/fZXTO7R0mk http://t.co/PfZWjuM0fB

[SinisterCane]

@canesport: Scrimmage 1 in books - big plays on both sides of ball: https://t.co/CSUGbHhZqL http://twitter.com/CaneSport/status/632021860859772928/photo/1

[CaneRock]

LMAO!

– Jermaine Grace said that Raphael Kirby was able to get a sack on Thursday and also forced a fumble on Gus Edwards in what Grace’s called the biggest hit of the entire scrimmage.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Posted by: Go Canes | August 13, 2015 at 10:05 PM
--------------------------------------------------------

Everyone knows are defensive scheme sucks besides you! Stop posting shyt to make us think otherwise. No body cares. Even every former player knows this!

[Canezitis]

Poor Gus gets used by everyone it seems. Lol

[thirstybuzzardcane]

The Dolphins first teams look outstanding!! The 2nd and 3rd are down right terrible!!!

[Ohio_Cane]

@flasportsbuzz: On Chad Thomas and Tracy Howard trying to live up to their 5-star hype; Oodles of postgame Dolphins items: http://t.co/Cx1CYiiCuk

[thirstybuzzardcane]

Leron Byrd made an amazing diving catch tonight. Hope he does well the rest of camp.

[CaneRock]

D-Money:

Scrimmage Observations

- The big difference with Brad Kaaya is physical. He is leaner, quicker and more athletic in the pocket. He was on his game today, and landed beautiful downfield throws to Braxton Berrios and Herb Waters in between multiple defenders.

- All of the running backs had good days, but the star of the show was Trayone Gray. He had a gliding, 80-yard touchdown run that opened eyeballs. He also showed off his superior athleticism by reversing field on a long run. He has been the most spectacular back throughout camp.

- Waters, Berrios and Rashawn Scott all made big plays. Scott showed some of his run after the catch ability, as well.

- David Njoku has proven to be a redzone weapon flexed out wide, a la Jimmy Graham. He made a very athletic TD catch on a fade from Kaaya.

- With a couple exceptions, the offensive line did a decent job. Sonny Odogwu, Kc McDermott, Tyree St. Louis and Danny Isidora all saw reps at RT, with Darling, McDermott and St. Louis getting reps at LT.

- Kendrick Norton caught caught my eye early in camp and he continues to impress every practice. He gets off blocks much better than I expected, and he even showed athleticism in pursuit. He may not have gotten three sacks, but he was disrupting everything. Bottom-heavy, explosive, flexible, aware-- he's the best defensive tackle prospect UM has had in years.

- Rayshawn Jenkins is healthy and looks poised to start opposite Deon Bush. He jumped in front of a Vincent Testaverde pass and took it to the house.

- Evan Shireffs caught my eye with a TD drive. He is more athletic than people think at 6'6, and you can see his intelligence on the field. It will be interesting to watch his development.

[The Dude]

Mark Walton looks very shifty.

[Go Canes]

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | August 13, 2015 at 11:34 PM

This has to be the best answer ever.

Posting the actual drives, not some anonymous quote from God knows who or rhetoric filled, LMAO riddled observation made is shyt.

Give me a break dude. Open your eyes, get past the single minded regurgitations some of you spew here day after day after day and see that aside from the Nebraska game this D played well enough for this to be a 10 win team.

We should have beat GT if we gave up 28 points. We should have beat S Carolina when they had 17 points with 5 minutes left. We should have beatenLouisville when we made them punt or caused a TO in 8 of their first 9 possessions.

That's what this D REALLY did, not some blinder mentality nonsense you've convinced yourself of based on prior years.

[🐜🌀]

Can we all Unite for the seasons and leave the Golden homers/haters stuff to rest?

[UMike]

Like I said before the O didnt do us no favors, but it wasn't JUST the O. We gave up a career high 143 yards to a back up running back. We gave up 31 points lol...I think we all need to agree it was both sides of the ball...oh and we gave up a 97 yard kick return also.

Go Canes, it could be argued you are being just as single minded as him, just toward the offense lol...

I was BOTH....BOTH sides of the ball...although the D has been bad forever it seems.

[UMike]

Ant...I agree. We all want the same thing.

[canezilla]

I swear some of the dumbest people are Miami Hurricane Fans. Am I right Terrance or what?

Posted by: 86Cane | August 13, 2015 at 10:00 PM
JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT SOUP. STOP TAKING SWINGS AT ME BRO

[Go Canes]

No I'm far from single minded UMike.

Yes we gave up the 143 yards but it took the guy 34 carries to get it. That's very respectable, especially to a team that had gone about 26-3 it's prior two seasons.

And in TODAY'S game, not when Jimmy was here 30 years ago, or when Butch coached here 16 years ago, in TODAY'S game, when your D has given up 14 points through 3 quarters on the road, at night to open a season, you need to score more and win.

The offense scored exactly three second half points, did absolutely nothing and left the D out there all night.

So no, it wasn't the D then, or against GT, or S Carolina, or even FSU and Virginia.

[86Cane]

Can we all Unite for the seasons and leave the Golden homers/haters stuff to rest?

Posted by: 🐜🌀 | August 14, 2015 at 06:27 AM

Can I get an AMEN from the congregation?

[86Cane]

I was BOTH....BOTH sides of the ball...although the D has been bad forever it seems.

Posted by: UMike | August 14, 2015 at 06:29 AM

Uh, yeah, I think that was the only point anyone was ever trying to make?

[86Cane]

JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT SOUP. STOP TAKING SWINGS AT ME BRO

Posted by: canezilla | August 14, 2015 at 06:36 AM

OK, OK...Canezilla is the dumbest Canes fan ever. Now that we have that all cleared up we can move on, correct?

LOL

[Go Canes]

Posted by: 86Cane | August 14, 2015 at 06:50 AM

For that to happen don't you first have to want your team and ccach to succeed?

That thought would certainly be Anen worthy. But you know there are some on here praying our coach fails miserably this year. The reasons why I'lll never know.

[UMike]

So no, it wasn't the D then, or against GT, or S Carolina, or even FSU and Virginia.

Posted by: Go Canes | August 14, 2015 at 06:47 AM

This doesn't count as being single minded? lol...It was BOTH sides in ALL our losses. If the O doesn't score, then the D needs to hold the opponent down. If the D isn't doing is job, the O needs to score more. Simple.

[Go Canes]

@mattyports: ICYMI: Canes WR coach Kevin Beard said if his group stays focused, "the sky isn't even the limit." http://t.co/T8zzwfv1yX

[UMike]

Not a single blogger wants or hopes we lose. Not a SINGLE one. Have some lost faith in Golden, sure, and deservedly so, but that does not mean we want our Canes to lose. You choose to give Golden and staff a break, we dont. Thats all. At the end of the day we all want the same thing. If Golden turns it around I will be the first to say I was wrong, Golden just hasn't shown me anything (on the field) that would make me believe he is the guy.

[UMike]

On another note...Straight Outta Compton was a really good movie. Touched on a lot of subjects and the Hollywood theatrics were at a minimum. Really stayed true to the story and timeline etc.

[VfB_Cane]

But you know there are some on here praying our coach fails miserably this year. The reasons why I'lll never know.

Posted by: Go Canes | August 14, 2015 at 06:54 AM

That is not true.
There are three ways this season might go down:
a) Golden & Co. finally have everything in place and the Canes succeed.
b) Another mediocre season, Golden is given more time, everybody hopes the 2016 class c) Miserable failure, Golden is gone, reset to zero.

Everybody hopes that a) is the way the season will unfold. But there are some (myself included) who think for the long-term success of the program c) might be preferrable to b), even if that means we'll be going through more pain in the upcoming months.

Still, I'll never look at a specific game and hope the Canes will lose. Because, even after all those years, every single loss hurts.

[30CINCO]

But you know there are some on here praying our coach fails miserably this year. The reasons why I'lll never know.

Posted by: Go Canes | August 14, 2015 at 06:54 AM
---------------------------------------------------

No one will admit it now, but this is true, it's been said here.

[UMike]

I'm sure its been said, maybe in the heat of the moment after an embarrassing 6-7 season...but IMO, not a single blogger here hopes we lose any games. I don't think the hate for Golden is so much that we hope we lose any given game, I could never hate a coach more than I love my Canes.

[UMike]

Actually, I know it was been said and who said it, but I also know the context in which it was said and what all that person has said since...so lets not act like there is really bloggers hear hoping and praying we lose.