Your University of Miami football program has been wandering in the wilderness for about 15 years now. There have been five head coaches, countless assistant coaches and too many players to count. And still, here we are.
Head coach Butch Davis led us out of the terrible probation period of the mid-1990s before leaving for the NFL. He recruited and stacked the roster with talented players before caretaker head coach Larry Coker was blessed with the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a college football field.
The results speak for themselves.
Yes, from 2001-2004 Miami was far and above the best team on any field anywhere. Coker won a National Championship and should have won two and maybe could have won three. Miami players stocked NFL rosters for the following decade. But we will let that little detail go for now.
Then the bottom dropped out.
Career 'Cane Randy Shannon was hired to replace "Likable Larry" and was a sure thing to be the next great UM coach. The true Miami fans were convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that Shannon would save us. He had all the credentials but unfortunately none of the skills needed to rebuild the beast. The beast starved to death and was strangled by his abrasive personality, poor media skills and narrow minded recruiting strategy.
Al Golden, a Joe Paterno disciple from Penn State, came in to replace "Rough Randy" with his own master plan that consisted of pillars, principles and plans for greatness. Until he coached his team to be slow and fat and fell on hard times eventually choking on his own neck tie. Golden was tarnished by year two but survived four years. Who the hell wears a necktie in Miami in August much less in college football in 2012? Al Golden did and he is, as we say, history.
Enter Mark Richt, the former Hurricane QB and an experienced head coach would certainly lead Miami back to the glory days of yesterday. I mean the guy was on the team with some of the early greats under Howard Schnellenberger, right? How could he go wrong? Well he replaced the "Golden One" but soon appeared tired and flamed out in record time as if in a hurry to go fishing with Jimmy Johnson in the Florida Keys. Can't blame him, can you?
Enter Manny "The Miami Guy" Diaz. Heck, the guy was a defensive guru (like Shannon) who basically invented the "Turnover Chain". Is there anything MORE Miami than that? Hell to the nah! Manny was THE MAN. He would simply waltz, no make Samba, into the locker room, speak truth to power, and suddenly all would be well with the team once and for all. He created "The New Miami" which meant that Manny simply could not fail.
The truth is that his head coaching performance is already very questionable. And his future is already in doubt among fans. From some people's perspective it is sad. Many say that we need to be more patient with our head coaches.
On the other hand, fans want results and they want them NOW.
And we all know that will not change today or tomorrow.
What we do not want is to carry on like a wayward son.
With no hope or end in sight. All we ask really is that:
There will be peace when you are done,
lay your weary head to rest,
don't you cry no more.
Hello?
Posted by: 86Cane | September 23, 2019 at 11:22 PM
Who's that.
Posted by: Harry Miller | September 24, 2019 at 12:28 AM
that's a well-written article!
i remember: liking richt's back flip; liking golden's orange tie (and his rush to the field re: player's broken leg); liking the feeling randy gave me about locking down SoFl recruiting
i hope that in a few years i will not be adding: liking manny's TNM
Posted by: alpine | September 24, 2019 at 01:13 AM
Great article Soup 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Posted by: IraqiCane | September 24, 2019 at 04:27 AM
Very good article and a pic that proves OGV does exist..... LOL
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 07:13 AM
If you've learned NOTHING else about college football coaches, believe NOTHING that they say.
Posted by: nemo2002 | September 24, 2019 at 07:32 AM
Soupster Hits another Home Run with this Article!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | September 24, 2019 at 07:43 AM
Great effort in the article soup
Good One
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 07:51 AM
Jake Garcia has seen enough, commits elsewhere
Thanks Manny,
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 07:55 AM
Jake Garcia has seen enough, commits elsewhere
Thanks Manny,
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 07:55 AM
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I'm thinking he hasn't seen enough.....like good line play.
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 08:05 AM
Solar - what part of the mountains are you tucked away at? I am heading up to N. Georgia at the end of October
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 08:06 AM
Great article Soup!
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 08:32 AM
I think that Jake Garcia going to USC has more to do with potentially 3 more years of Jarren Williams than bad OLine play. Just my 2 cents.
Posted by: IraqiCane | September 24, 2019 at 10:51 AM
He committed to USC because the #1 QB in the country just flipped to Bama after being committed to the Trojans for over a year.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | September 24, 2019 at 11:48 AM
Good article.....however I would say 2000, 01, and 02 were the real years best team ever!!!....03 we were not the best team on the field....not with Brock Berlin at QB. VT beat our azz and we couldn't find the end zone vs TN....good team but not real good!
The chance to 3 peat was 2000-02! Didn't get the call in 2000 NCAA cronies, and got cheated in 02 NCAA cronies at Fiesta in 1/03...last real UM teams!!!
16 years of really bad football....there has not been a good team since...nada!! I thought Coker was a good OC not HC. Onion was a good DC a horrible person and you knew he would fail he was a politically correct promo from ther midget Golden was no proven HC....a fat JoPa slob who could not coach. CMR a burn out from the SEC who was good at times, but never a top tier guy. Now its the same thing with CMD....good DC....not looking good as a HC.
The problem is this....we stopped looking for real upbeat on top of football HCs. Clappy was players wants, Onion a PC move, Golden a false prophet, CMR a has been, and CMD a reach out of desperation....you do not win like this...and now you have all but dried up the recruiting pipeline...nobody wants to play Cookman on the ACCN....they want to play Clemson or Bama for the title and go to the NFL!!
Even worse, we have nothing to offer just look at the last 16 years. Screw the beach, the nightlife, the pro stadium, storm trooper garb, adidas, turnover chain, fat slow linemen, divas, and crybabies.... give me the dirty haunted OB, the old UM players a Rohan killer hit and let me win!!! ..until we get a real coach with a real plan who will kill to win...literally kill....we will be in this rut til doomsday!!! I am tired of the bulls**t...winning is not beating Cookman and CMU...its beating Bama OSU OK, Clemson Wisky...I want to win not be embarrassed!!!
Mic drops...
Posted by: VA Cane | September 24, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Miami is a Natural Light football power whose fans thirst for Veuve Clicquot, and they’ve barely taken a sip of what Manny Diaz is pouring before deciding they want to spit it out. Seriously, it’s crazy,” Wolken writes. “The narrative around Diaz has gone from 'hometown hero' to 'in over his head' before his first season is even halfway over"
Ouch....sad but true I hear paintbrushes and paint cans opening, and the plane engine being tuned up....people are tired of losing
Posted by: VA Cane | September 24, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 07:13 AM
i'm pressing either the "like" button or the "thumbs up" emoji on this one
Posted by: alpine | September 24, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Solar - what part of the mountains are you tucked away at? I am heading up to N. Georgia at the end of October
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 08:06 AM
raize I am in a farming district called Mossy Creek about 5 miles from Cleveland and 10 miles from Helen let me know if you come close Ill take you to Helen on the 'hootch for lunch.
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 12:33 PM
people are tired of losing
Posted by: VA Cane | September 24, 2019 at 12:12 PM
Been down so long it looks like up to me
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 12:37 PM
coach with a real plan who will kill to win...literally kill...
Ray Lewis, Aaron Hernandez, OJ Simpson, Mike Tyson,Tonya Harding?
Posted by: VA Cane | September 24, 2019 at 12:02 PM
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 12:51 PM
We Are A Corona Program! Not a Natty Light Program. Dan Wolken is a Assclown!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | September 24, 2019 at 01:49 PM
let me know if you come close Ill take you to Helen on the 'hootch for lunch.
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 12:33 PM
****************************************
Roger that....staying in Big Canoe but may work my way to Dahlonega and / or Helen for the day
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 01:51 PM
snow bra days" can be innocent?
Posted by: alpine | September 23, 2019 at 05:25 PM
Sure nuff, those were some of the best days ever on this place.
Posted by: solarcane | September 23, 2019 at 07:11 PM
LMAO, Solar I forgot about that.
Posted by: CGNC | September 24, 2019 at 02:15 PM
let me know if you come close Ill take you to Helen on the 'hootch for lunch.
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 12:33 PM
Been there, done that, loved it, would do it again!
Thanks Solar.
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 02:17 PM
great article. It did give me the creeps seeing some of those coaches though. Ugh.
Posted by: CGNC | September 24, 2019 at 02:17 PM
Yea CGNC! It’s like seen ghosts from a bad era.
We got 3 years of manny, hate it or love it. Let’s hope he delivers.
Here’s a thought: what if we get Urban Myer and the same shit happens?
Just a thought!
Posted by: AfriCane | September 24, 2019 at 02:38 PM
The Canes coaches have a bye week heading into the ACC schedule, and they have four games of film to assess what talent that they have.
On offense, it is pretty obvious that Nelson and Clark are not ready to start at OL at the University of Miami. Starting Clark has really a head-scratcher for me. I have seen him miss too many blocks both in the run game and in the passing game for me to understand.
I don't like criticizing players, but I have to also wonder why the coaches would start them?
Under Mark Richt, Al Golden and Randy Shannon, there were never a two OLs who so clearly didn't belong. At least Nelson can run block from time-to-time, but he really is probably the worst pass blocking LT in the ACC, and definitely the weakest pass-blocking LT for the Canes in the last three decades. It is frankly embarrassing.
Either the Canes need to play someone on the bench, or drastically change its game plan.
Hopefully, our coaches have seen that the Canes OL (namely Clark and Nelson) will not allow the Canes to run certain pro style concepts consistently.
As several of you have said, the Canes MUST go to the spread and RPO, and design their entire offense around those concepts.
They have two weeks to work on it.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | September 24, 2019 at 02:49 PM
Posted by: solarcane | September 23, 2019 at 07:11 PM
LMAO, Solar I forgot about that.
Posted by: CGNC | September 24, 2019 at 02:15
That image is burned into my memory for eternity.
That poor little kid is probably still in therapy 10 years later
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 02:54 PM
They have two weeks to work on it.
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | September 24, 2019 at 02:49 PM
****************************************
Are you holding your breath?
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 02:57 PM
Been there, done that, loved it, would do it again!
Thanks Solar.
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 02:17 PM
Welcome soup.
Cheryl's mom passed away recently, once everything is back to normal I will give you a call and we will make some plans my friend
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 02:58 PM
Are you holding your breath?
Posted by: raizecane | September 24, 2019 at 02:57 PM
I think we have ALL been collectively holding our breath for 14 years or so. Time to exhale.
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 04:26 PM
Solar...U got it!
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 04:26 PM
Soup
Got two new super fishing kayaks with aluminum mesh seats sitting way up for all day comfort.
Like sitting in a canvas camp chair.
Found a lake that is shallow only about 5 to 10 feet 75%, then about 25% 25 deep feet and about 400 across acres, easy access.
Plenty of structure but soft bottom with no hangups hardly.
Plenty of dumb bass with a few arrogant ones lurking arount.
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 04:54 PM
I love when the tablet hijacks my post and adds and removes words
Posted by: solarcane | September 24, 2019 at 04:56 PM
Big Windy We had 2 weeks to prepare for UNC also and look how we played SMH!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | September 24, 2019 at 05:10 PM
I had high expectations for this year as everyone
Knows, it hasn't worked out at all. It.s time to sit back and see how it turns out in the end.
Hopefully the end is better then the start. Can't be any worse. Wait maybe it can be if we don't start improving.
I am to old for this crap, but I will keep watching and hoping for the best. You never know.
I just want to say my granddaughter is an elite softball player and plays for Antioch Senior High
School. She Had her jersey entered into the Antioch Hall of Fame as a junior this past year.
Bailee holds a 4.05 Grade point average. Travels all over the west coast playing for her elite team. Has a great chance for a scholarship. I started showing her how to throw like a boy when she was 4 years old and to get the bat on the ball. Bailee is now a starting pitcher and second baseman. Leads the team in most hitting categorizes and most of all is a Christian girl with high standards. I can't be more proud of Her.
Oh" tom I still need to talk to you,
Posted by: Harry Miller | September 24, 2019 at 06:04 PM
Raize and TSully,
It all starts with coaching. I am not going to bet my house on it, but I hope 🤞 our coaches find a way to maximize our players’ strengths and minimize their weaknesses so they aren’t exposed. That’s has been the hallmark of good coaching since the sport of football was created.
I heard CMD brought in former Canes RB/ST Coach Soldinger to help consult on special teams issues. I hope that is true! It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a start
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 07:21 PM
I heard CMD brought in former Canes RB/ST Coach Soldinger to help consult on special teams issues. I hope that is true! It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a start
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 07:21 PM
This would be a HUGE addition to our staff! (Even just as a consultant!) PLEASE, say it's true...
Now, if we just had some OC help to incorporate some SPREAD plays to "hide" our lack of an O-Line...
Posted by: roachcane77 | September 24, 2019 at 07:40 PM
Roach,
Former Canes punter/WR Brian Monroe on WQAM discussed on 790 The Ticket that Soldinger was consulting with CMD.
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 08:22 PM
Exactly Big Windy Cane!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | September 24, 2019 at 08:32 PM
It all starts with coaching. I am not going to bet my house on it, but I hope 🤞 our coaches find a way to maximize our players’ strengths and minimize their weaknesses so they aren’t exposed.
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 07:21 PM
We ALL share the HOPE but there has been absolutely NO indication that this is going to happen whatsoever. We are all grasping at straws here and hoping for the best but it looks bleak.
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 10:38 PM
Solar...I bet U will wet your pants:
https://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2010/07/outside-the-box.html
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 11:03 PM
Solar and Old Skool...EYES ONLY!
https://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2010/07/wet-your-pants-tour-2010-part-ii.html
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 11:07 PM
Soup,
I agree it looks bleak. I can’t defend the product we have seen over the first four weeks. Still, I hold out some hope that these coaches and players will get it together. We don’t need them to play lights out. Just play better each week. And in the words of the great Al Davis, “Just win baby!”
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 11:10 PM
“Just win baby!”
Posted by: BigWindyCane | September 24, 2019 at 11:10 PM
We will all pretend that we are happy with this for now but beating WMU by 5 points AT HOME is never going to inpsire recruits to come to Coral Gables.
Posted by: 86Cane | September 25, 2019 at 12:03 AM
olar and Old Skool...EYES ONLY!
https://canespace.typepad.com/canespace/2010/07/wet-your-pants-tour-2010-part-ii.html
Posted by: 86Cane | September 24, 2019 at 11:07 PM
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Look at 86 with no shirt on......showoff.
Posted by: raizecane | September 25, 2019 at 07:03 AM
Soup skool!
Posted by: solarcane | September 25, 2019 at 08:38 AM
Going to the Rays game tonight!! The Rays are "nursing" a one game lead over the Indians for the AL Wildcard Playoffs. They're only a 1/2 game back from Oakland as well!!
Rally Caps!!!
Go Rays!!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | September 25, 2019 at 08:41 AM
The hits just keep on coming
On Tuesday afternoon, the Miami Hurricanes lost out on another top local player when Ft. Lauderdale (FL) University School 2021 5-star OT Marcus Tate committed to the Clemson Tigers
Posted by: solarcane | September 25, 2019 at 08:42 AM
OT Marcus Tate committed to the Clemson Tigers
Posted by: solarcane | September 25, 2019 at 08:42 AM
aren't you being a bit greedy . . . we already got a "tate"
Posted by: alpine | September 25, 2019 at 08:53 AM