Carry On My Wayward Son

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.

Comments

[AeroCane]

Terrance
We all know we were going no where with richt and his high rankings were bs and not sustainable - shit, look what kirby is doing with GA
Read my freaking post
We are a nobody and you can fool yourself into thinking we’ve been relevant but we haven’t
The biggest point I made is ‘who is manny’
As go said, we will see

[AeroCane]

PS we can argue among ourselves but bottom line is - we need to get better and hopefully soon and I think we can all agree on this - Blake James sucks and is lazy

[Terrance Sullivan]

Aero Cut The Crap! Now You spinning like a damn politician. U said some foolishess and I called you out about it and now you spinning it. Just Man TF up acknowledge it and keep it moving Pimpin. It aint hard. Hell I admitted I was A Blake James Fan and that I was wrong and he needed to be fired. Just Own It and Keep it moving.

[86Cane]

to be honest, that's a drop-the-mic post
. . . i see you worked out this off-season
. . . secretly seeing felder?

Posted by: alpine | September 26, 2019 at 10:24 AM

Shhhhhh...not so LOUD.

[86Cane]

Even a blind squirrel...

[solarcane]

Even a blind squirrel...

Posted by: 86Cane | September 26, 2019 at 01:01 P

Dam you beat me to it, by 15 minutes
Nice one

[Go Canes!!]

Curious why Blake James is lazy.

[Terrance Sullivan]

As Far As CMD is concerned I hope My and others Fears about him being the Next Randy/Al Type Coach are not True that he grows from this. But at this time I see A Highly Undisciplined Poorly Coached Team with a lack of leadership from the Head Coach down to the supposed Team Leaders! This upcoming stretch of 6 ACC Conference Games of VT, UVA, GT, @Pitt, @FSU, UL from October 5th Through November 9th will tell the tale of this season. Buckle Up Canes Family!

[AeroCane]

Go
Blake is lazy because he didn’t do much of a true search before hiring richt, and obviously did no search before hiring manny. If he hired either after a thorough search, then I wouldn’t call him lazy; simply incompetent LOL

[CGNC]

TSully - LOL, Blake James seemed better at first because we got rid of Hocutt who was another loser AD. We didn't know they were twins LOL. It happens.

But jeee-zee the money Miami makes with the ACC and we can't hire a decent established coaching staff????? I really dislike Blake James now. I wish Manny all the best, but I am not sold. Waiting to see as is everyone.

[CGNC]

Posted by: 86Cane | September 26, 2019 at 08:50 AM

Great post

[Terrance Sullivan]

CGNC Yes Mam Indeed Total Agreement!

[Terrance Sullivan]

CGNC and do not leave out that Assclown Eischorst either UGH SMH!

[alpine]

i believe (if i remember right) that we jammed with blake, because he was supposedly excellent at the money & bureacracy stuff (bringing in the donations/gifts and getting important structures built)
. . . the 2 before him (eichhorst & hocutt) didn't seem to be all that good at anything . . . though we did get our current bb coaches; that's worth a point or two

[Go Canes!!]

James just did what 5 of the Top 8 teams did the facing a similar situation. They elevated the assistant which best represented their identity.

For three straight seasons Manny has fielded a quality, hard nosed, tough defense that has excelled.

Not saying it was a good or bad decision, only time will tell that. Just saying I doubt laziness was a factor in his decision.

[Go Canes!!]

Clemson-Dabo iired from within
LSU-Ogregon hired from within
Oklahoma-RIley hired from within
Ohio State-Day hired from within
Wisconsin-Chryst hired from within

[Terrance Sullivan]

Alpine Correct!

[CGNC]

TSully - forgot about Eichorst. I think I got them mixed up - ok, forget twins, triplets. I dislike them all. They are dead to me LOL.

Alpine - Hocutt was in the middle of the Nevin Shapiro scandal - so, he was very involved, with money

[Terrance Sullivan]

Go Canes Cryst wasn't hired from within he was the Pitt Head Coach! But all others Spot On.

[alpine]

regarding manny:
- i'm not so sure anymore about how successful his short-term is gonna be, though at least 60% of me still thinks we'll run this thing or lose only to pitt

- i do find myself still believing in manny as a teachable workaholic; humble enough to keep looking in the mirror and trying to find answers
- and not blindly loyal in the way that allows a d'no or a richt-as-play-caller to screw things up . . . i think he takes winning too seriously

- he had a texas mess-up; but came here and lit up our defense quickly!

- the timeline regarding how quick he can make the change from excellent d-coordinator to above average coach; then continue to progress on towards good, excellent, elite will be the question
. . . will we see VERY clear progress, not just each year, but within each year?
- the players seem to like him ... will the whole team eventually play their hearts out for him in the same way the D seemed to do the last couple years?

[CGNC]

Just saying I doubt laziness was a factor in his decision.

Posted by: Go Canes!! | September 26, 2019 at 03:01 PM

Disagree, laziness was a factor, but I can see your point. And we paid how much to Temple to get him? We couldn't have hired somebody awesome for that? And Richt - Georgia fires him and we hire him? Whose turn is it to watch Blake James. I guess no one at the school

[86Cane]

Dam you beat me to it, by 15 minutes
Nice one

Posted by: solarcane | September 26, 2019 at 01:19 PM

You know, that I know, that you know.

Haven't broken out da blind squirrel in a bit.

#FreeDaSquirrel

[86Cane]

1. i'm not so sure anymore about how successful his short-term is gonna be, though at least 60% of me still thinks we'll run this thing or lose only to pitt

2. i do find myself still believing in manny as a teachable workaholic; humble enough to keep looking in the mirror and trying to find answers
and not blindly loyal in the way that allows a d'no or a richt-as-play-caller to screw things up . . . i think he takes winning too seriously

Posted by: alpine | September 26, 2019 at 03:11 PM

1. Well I'm down to 40% so together we make up 100%?

2. I like this. I read it and had to admit it.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

I think this game against VT is the most important game all season. If Miami can come out and dominate behind hopefully a great crowd at the rock, then I think Miami will get the needed confidence this team needs badly.

[thirstybuzzardcane]

This is why our fickle fans need to show up to the games! I really do think our fans hurt recruiting.

https://twitter.com/canesinsight/status/1176855688552820736?s=21

[solarcane]

VT 2.5 Favorite at home vs Duke.
Duke lost all three of their starting wide receivers this year.
I think this is a Friday night game but too lazy to look it up

Tarheels 26 point underdog to Clemson

[CGNC]

Posted by: alpine | September 26, 2019 at 03:11 PM

1. Well I'm down to 40% so together we make up 100%?

2. I like this. I read it and had to admit it.

Posted by: 86Cane | September 26, 2019 at 03:24 PM

Agreed

[Herbieibis]

Fellas, ain't no use In working selves up into a lather about Manny. He's going to be here at least 3 years, unless we absolutely fall completely apart.
Young team that has growing pains.
The Herb,however, is not so sure about Patke and Baker.
No we don't have a Willis up front and we have basically a new secondary, aside from Bandy. Baker picks the worst times to not be aggressive, like 3rd down.
The special teams gig was dumped into Patke's lap. It finally looks like we have a punter but our kicker is sucking. He can't kick for Baxa and he can't field punts for Thomas and he can't help these pups taking bad tackling angles during the game. The players have to take some of this. We should of hired a true S.T. coach.
Manny is trying to use the path that Butch took.
Not the exact blue print but close. Until we start being dominate, he will have to be be Butchesq in recruiting. Better be a good evaluator because until these struggles abate, we are going to keep losing a lot of the big name kids in that 100 mile radius. We start out recruiting in the top 5 and after an avalanche of decomits we end up hovering in the high teens.
Enos has got to pull the petticoat off and start Jacki g the ball down the field and as I have repeated SPaaaaaRED!
Article I read about all the teams In the SEC going to the spread, including Bama and LSU, who have been grinding teams in the past. We don't need to be last to the party Manny. Don't want to be like Goldie and hold onto the worst decord. We have had in Deno. Nothing wrong with being multiple, IF u have the players to run. We don't.

[CGNC]

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | September 26, 2019 at 03:30 PM

LOL! The fans need to be rewarded with good football.

Herbie, Donnie Soldinger is supposed to now be helping on special teams and with the running backs. I heard it here so it must be true :-)

[solarcane]

More conformation of how we suck

You know Jonathan Taylor the Wisconsin running back in contention for the Heisman this year?

"That makes four of the five regular starters from the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2018 offensive line that will not return this upcoming season, leaving opportunity for those previously behind them to step up and continue the legacy of the reputable position group."

[Go Canes!!]

Posted by: solarcane | September 26, 2019 at 06:10 PM

https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/08/08/wisconsin-badgers-offensive-line-red-robin-jonathan-taylor

[solarcane]

Go,
good catch

Out of the bunch you can tell Benzschawel would be the only Cane.

Too bad we couldn't snag their line coach

Deiter, Biadasz, left tackle Jon Dietzen and right tackle David Edwards populate the High Council, which meets weekly. Right guard Beau Benzschawel has yet to be admitted to the Council because of his insistence on ordering fish and chips or chicken fingers instead of a burger*.

[solarcane]

Watching this line block will give you chills, Mckinnie committing assault and battery

https://youtu.be/yzITqeGU6Zg

[DallasTX Cane]

I think a better term for our hiring “process” than laziness is fear. We were surprised by Richt’s seemingly spur of the moment decision and imo the decision to hire Manny without even the pretense of a search was due to fear that we had the “next big thing” young superstar coach right under our nose and let him get away. Fear of that potential embarrassment (plus the embarrassment of being possibly publicly turned down by other high profile candidates) was the driver for our actions.

[DallasTX Cane]

Good point Solar. It all starts with the OL. Skill players can’t do jack crap when the line sux. The UM coach that solves our OL puzzle (why does the CANE OL ALWAYS suk arse?!?) will enjoy great success. An average OL puts us in the top 10-15 given our skill position talent and above age D. A good OL makes us dangerous against ALL competition. A great OL means we compete with the bamas & clemsons.

[solarcane]

DTX,
That fear of being embarrassed by not
doing what is obvious is a ballbuster you are spot on.
Remember when we were above hiring Chris Peterson because we were Canes and we didn't need any trick play offense?

What did he do, win like coach of the year 3 times put Boise State on the map, go out to Washington and turn them around.
While we flushed millions of coaching dollars down the drain.

The only people that prosper by our coaching hires are the guys that make the airplane banners at the sign shop.

[TonyCane]

MIAMI HURRICANES AFTER FOUR GAMES: RECORD, POINTS FOR, POINTS ALLOWED:

1999: 2-2 PF: 126 PA: 069
2000: 3-1 PF: 201 PA: 064
2001: 4-0 PF: 175 PA: 035
2002: 4-0 PF: 186 PA: 060
2003: 4-0 PF: 157 PA: 059
2004: 4-0 PF: 129 PA: 030
2005: 3-1 PF: 093 PA: 053
2006: 2-2 PF: 082 PA: 067
2007: 3-1 PF: 101 PA: 080
2008: 2-2 PF: 120 PA: 084
2009: 3-1 PF: 099 PA: 102
2010: 3-1 PF: 131 PA: 059
2011: 2-2 PF: 117 PA: 081
2012: 3-1 PF: 134 PA: 130
2013: 4-0 PF: 181 PA: 050
2014: 2-2 PF: 126 PA: 099
2015: 3-1 PF: 148 PA: 087
2016: 4-0 PF: 184 PA: 044
2017: 4-0 PF: 148 PA: 069
2018: 3-1 PF: 174 PA: 074
2019: 2-2 PF: 125 PA: 064

[TonyCane]

I read Manny explaining why his Canes can't score points...seems they are just inherently lazy,something he might have noticed last July and fixed by season's start?

“Human inertia is to be average and mediocre. That current and that gravitational pull sucks you down every day. And so it just doesn’t happen where all of a sudden everyone is like, ‘I’m going to come in here and bring my best every day.’ That is quite literally why they call us coach — to make sure that it happens
Manny Diaz

Posted by: solarcane | September 25, 2019 at 08:01 PM

IMO it's just spin. Manny and staff know that the offensive line is BY FAR the weakest area on the team, and barring a change in offensive scheme there's not much that can be changed on that. Perhaps he and Enos underestimated how bad the unit was.

I think he's hoping to inspire the rest of the team to raise their contributions to 110%. Not that the rest of the team is bad, but by going all out they might mask - a little bit - the glaring, enormous weakness on the offensive line.

[solarcane]

2009
3-1
Give up more points than you score

[86Cane]

I really do think our fans hurt recruiting.

Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | September 26, 2019 at 03:30 PM

Losing hurts fans.

Losing hurts recruiting.

Losing hurts the program.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

Any questions?

[86Cane]

Watching this line block will give you chills, Mckinnie committing assault and battery

Posted by: solarcane | September 26, 2019 at 06:52 PM

I plead guilt as charged your Honor.

#ForTheLoveOfTheGame

#DoItAgainDoItAgain

[solarcane]

One for the music inclined space cadets

https://youtu.be/d1E1EH6bXfA

Johnny Winter Sound The Bell
I like Johnny Winter cause to me he sounds exactly like his records when he plays live

[solarcane]

Tony yea I think Manny is playing the hand he was delt this year. I do think he is humble enough to make coaching changes for the long haul.
A long haul at Miami for a head coach is about 6 years I guess.

[DallasTX Cane]

Posted by: solarcane | September 26, 2019 at 08:29 PM

Ha! Yes, I remember those days. I also remember when The U made coaches great and now it’s a coaches graveyard.

[solarcane]

remember when The U made coaches great and now it’s a coaches graveyard.

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | September 27, 2019 at 01:51 AM

Yea go through the coaching staffs from 1983 til Coker and look at some of those names, unbelievable.

[alpine]

"That makes four of the five regular starters from the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2018 offensive line that will not return this upcoming season, leaving opportunity for those previously behind them to step up and continue the legacy of the reputable position group."

Posted by: solarcane | September 26, 2019 at 06:10 PM

i've been giving this OL problem lots of thought (yes, the one that makes us think: OLord!); i finally have a solution:

- everyone on canespace chips in $5 and together we buy a large bag of fairy dust
- CGNC will figure out if we can get this thru amazon . . . or if we have to directly order from a witches coven
- this seems more humane than kidnapping tinkerbell
- questions?

[alpine]

for those of you who are skeptics, let me point out, that just mentioning fairy dust caused typepad to get me back on service!

[alpine]

- i've been receiving mails from fans uncertain what we do with the fairy dust, once we get our hands on it
. . . c'mon guys; i didn't bother posting that cause it's so "duuh"!!

- of course 86 will don his soup'd-up wings and inconspicuously flitter thru the OL hallways, dust-dosing every one of their muscle milks!

[TonyCane]

I blame Shalala for refusing to spend to keep apace with other schools, and allowing UM to slip into the budget, discount program. Especially with some of the assistants Randy was forced to hire.

[KYcane]

remember when The U made coaches great and now it’s a coaches graveyard.

Posted by: DallasTX Cane | September 27, 2019 at 01:51 AM

Yea go through the coaching staffs from 1983 til Coker and look at some of those names, unbelievable.

Posted by: solarcane | September 27, 2019 at 09:35 AM

“The circus came to town, I guess it must have stayed
It's like an endless parade.”
Govt Mule