What We Learned In 2020

What we always knew is that cliches are for losers. Some people use terms like:

"At the end of the day."

"Look at their whole body of work." 

""Take them one game at a time."

"Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships."

Yeah, yeah, yeah...yadda, yadda and whatever.

Beyond that, what we learned during the 2020 college football season is this:

• Manny Diaz and his Miami Hurricanes are not quite ready for prime time football. Transfer QB D'Eriq King saved Manny and his bacon (read: questionable coaching staff) from yet another emabarrasing season all by himself. King alone was good for at least three wins and elevated Miami's record from an almost certain 5-5 to a smooth 8-3. Manny was heard saying" "King me."
• Clemson was a good football team that beat Miami, lost to Notre Dame without their star QB, won the ACC over the Irish but eventually got their a** handed to them by a very motivated and determined Ohio State team. Teaching us that NO team is unbeatable and some can be beaten even when very good and well coached.
• Notre Dame tried to fake it before they could make it but did not succeed. We hate the Golden Domers so good riddance.
• Cincinnati surprised many yet fooled few in their seemingly amamzing, if not historic, run up to the top of the polls. They gave Joe-Ga everything they could handle in their bowl game before the Dawgs eventually wore them down and won by a single point (not couting a meaningless last second safety). Their coach is an awesome guy and significantly better than the guy UM.
• Which brings us to Iowa State and Coastal Carolina. They have really, really good coaches who you have never heard of who do more with less as compared to the crew in Coral Gables. Imagine what they might do with the talent in the 305? The Iowa State motto this season was: "We do not have a 5 star talent, but we have a 5 star culture." Yeah, I got excited too.
• Roll Tide! Alabama has a head coach, forgot his name, who alledgedly is really good at this whole "coaching thing". He loses his top coaches and coordinators almost every year or two but still keeps on winning, recruiting, and winning some more. We would like a genetic clone to come to Miami anytime soon if possible. In God we trust
• COVID-19 is highly contagious. COVID-19 is dangerous and can be deadly. Basically COVID-19 sucks. But if football players can play football in their highly competitive, close contact and contagious environment, then healthy, normal people can go to restaurants, stores, school and work like no big deal. This is a no brainer or as we used to say back in the day: "No shit Sherlock!"
• The Miami Hurricanes do not play well after bye weeks, during bowl games or anytime they have time to plan, prepare and think about what they should actually do during the game. This is a very concerning trend that only SolarCane can explain but alas, he is in limbo in a self imposed time out. We need him back to help us understand this concept.
• The concern going into the 2020 college football season for UM was squarely on their offense. Could King play? Could Lashlee coordinate? Could the OL hold up? Could anyone get open or catch the ball if they did? The answers are YES, maybe, and so-so. The run game was horrible as was the play calling at times, but they made it work.
• The concern at the end of the season was squarely on the defense. Is Baker up to the task? What does Rumph actually do if he can't recruit? Can anybody cover anybody or set the edge? No, we have no clue, no, and no are the answers. The defense got run through like swiss cheese (pun intended) early, often and at times in an embarassing fashion like in the loss to North Carolina a score of 62-26. Ouch!
• Miami's completely "un-special" Special Teams coach, who will not be mentioned by name to protect his identity, completely lucked out by having possibly the two best plyers on the team on his side. Punter Hedley and kicker Borregales were always consistently brilliant even when their coach was not. Answer me this: How many kicks or punts did Miami block in 2020? How many kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns did the Hurricanes have? I will wait, go ahead. 

At the end of the day, and after evaluating their whole body of work, (please forgive me) what we really learned in 2020 is that your Miami Hurricanes have a long way to go to compete with UNC, Notre Dame and Clemson for an ACC title and an even longer journey to compete for a National Championship.

But we are in this for the long haul. I have been going to games since the 1970's, winning championships since the 1980's and suffering since 2004. I guess I will stick around until Manny Diaz wins it all, or until his successor is named.

Either way, we seem to keep learning things every year as we go. 

Sure, 2020 was more complicated than most, but still the same.

Let's go Canes!

Comments

[roachcane77]

The more things change... The more they stay the same... ?

(That's what I've learned.)

🙌🏼

[Harry Miller]

I don't know how to tell who wrote this article,
He hit the nail on the head dead center.

Football is over for me now that both Miami teams lost. I have had enough, enough of the shit show dances after someone makes a good play but not a single head hang when they make a terrible play.

I just hope we can get a few good coaches that can coach, recruit and pick up a couple more top recruit's. Then maybe we can make some head way next year.

I know I am asking for an awful lot but hey we may get lucky.

[alpine]

- so, the dolphins were an up n coming team with good coaching . . . then they chose to study the canes vs. NC game and took all the wrong lessons from it
. . . the end to football seasons for miami fans have only rarely been uplifting over the last couple decades
- and even my heat managed to make the wrong kind of history while playing the bucks at the end of december

- i'm glad i have other things in my life besides sports, but
(1) i miss having more uplifting & fun moments; and
(2) regarding miami football, i really miss post-seasonal relevance

[orange 'n green in the vein]

"Cincinnati surprised many yet fooled few in their seemingly amamzing, if not historic, run up to the top of the polls. They gave Joe-Ga everything they could handle in their bowl game before the Dawgs eventually wore them down and won by a single point. Their coach is an awesome guy and significantly better than the guy UM."

Cincinnati gave up a safety on the last play of the game and lost by three.

[CGNC]

Sorry, but the ONLY good coaches I know are Roachcane77, VA Cane and CGNC.

Posted by: 58 Straight | January 03, 2021 at 07:12 PM

First order of business....get a @*&$Aing AD. LOL

What a great article, you outdid yourself. Nice start to 2021! MD has made no changes on defense. Sigh. He is looking more Goldenesque than ever.

[nemo2020]

MD . . . is looking more Goldenesque than ever.

Posted by: CGNC | January 04, 2021 at 02:48 PM

Don't be surprised, if he wears a tie on game day.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Posted by: alpine | January 04, 2021 at 10:50 AM

Agreed. We all have have our political opinions and I’ve given mine on here many times and all it does is rile up one side against the other.

I get enough bat-shit-crazy from my family so I’d ask that we not bring it in here.

Go ‘canes!

[KYcane]

Great article Soupster

[86Cane]

"They gave Joe-Ga everything they could handle in their bowl game before the Dawgs eventually wore them down and won by a single point (not couting a meaningless last second safety)."

There, if it makes you feel better, FIFY.

LOL

[86Cane]

I don't know how to tell who wrote this article,
He hit the nail on the head dead center.

Posted by: Harry Miller | January 04, 2021 at 01:29 AM

Twas I, Young Danielson, oh elderly sensei.

[86Cane]

I deleted all of the unrealted comments to clean up the record. I left Sarasota Canes' comment because he is smart like that, and I can appreciate that.

[VA Cane]

MD . . . is looking more Goldenesque than ever.
Posted by: CGNC | January 04, 2021 at 02:48 PM

CGNCPa....please no more...I cannot take another AlPa.....but he is acting like AlPa...cannot get rid of buddies....I think he needs to fire some coaches and the board needs to fire Blake James...he is a part of the problem...I personally think MD has a hot seat...I saw the decline under Clappy, Onion, AlPa...a little stabilizing but still turmoil under CMR....and now this disasterous end of season....I think we are right back where we were 17 years ago...fairly irrelevant....and hoping to "wait til next year"....and you open with the possible NCs......not a bright looking future....CGNCPa!!!!

[nemo2020]

What We Learned In 2020

Playing in a Crappy Bowl game, during a pandemic when fans can't (or won't) attend, and when key players decline to play, is really NOT a good idea. Moreover, losing a Crappy Bowl game is a crappy way to end a season. Don't you agree?

Playing in a Major Bowl game is always an honor and a privilege, even if U lose. Playing in a Crappy Bowl is hardly ever good, especially when U lose!

Let's hope the 2021 season ends with an invitation to a Major Bowl game - rather than the crappy Cheez-Whiz Bowl or the Gee Whiz Bowl or whatever crappy Bowl du Jour we once again must painfully endure.

[HerbieIbis]

Patrick Joiner in the portal. Adios and there needs to be a few more following his lead. Should The Herb name them, I think I shall:
Steed
Jennings
Hillary
El Gammel
Dykstra
Burns
McCloud. That aught to trim the fat for now.

[roachcane77]

Rumph is gone...

[The Herb]

Yes, yes, yes! One down and 2 to go.
Let the Herb say this, Rumph was a descent coach better than Packman. So why is he not gone because our LBers stink.
Neither can recruit. Usually Rumph brought one 4 star player a year in. Maybe that's what got him canned, he didn't meet his quota😂

[Old Skool]

Looks like Stroud will not be coaching next year. The Tallahassee Democrat mentions a recurrence of COVID as the reason.

[roachcane77]

Safety Bubba Bolden is returning to Miami for the 2021 season, he announced on Tuesday.

🙌🏼

[CGNC]

Skool - According to the Tallahassee Democrat 12/4/20 - Stroud was a former cancer survivor who developed Covid pneumonia after he thought he had kicked it - had to pack him ice to get his fever down. Yowza

[HerbieIbis]

Maybe since Diaz thinks Patke is so great, he'll be our new co-defensive coordinator 😖.

[The Herb]

Saban's daughter has a nasty streak in her, calling B.S. on OSU and their reported covid problems.
She said their angle is to give Fields more time to recover from his injuries.
That's the attitude we need on defense.

[86Cane]

Alpine....please email me. I can't seem to find your email address from our recent communications. Thank U!

[Killerbeez41]

Ok, so Banda, DVD, Rumph, and Stroud are out. Banda was a great recruiter, seemed like a "MEH" coach. Rumph was a $hi+ recruiter and a better coach. Stroud...he did well with the DL. Now comes the replacements, can Manny replace each one with someone better? Well, it's going to come down to the pockets and cooperation of his supporters. Will they do what it takes to bring in quality. We shall see.

[nemo2020]

Another tough loss for Coach L and the Canes.

[58 Straight]

Can Manny replace each one with someone better? Well, it's going to come down to the pockets and cooperation of his supporters.

Posted by: Killerbeez41 | January 05, 2021 at 09:43 PM

I doubt it. But we will see.

[HerbieIbis]

Look Banda was an above average recruiter and an ok coach.
Rumph a good coach but a turd on the recruiting trail.
Stroud a good coach and even though he didn't recruit much or didn't seem to he did help us land Taylor.
Van Dyke an above average recruiter.
Can replace them as coaches, I say yes or at no worse the same.
They had better be at least as good recruiting or better, is The Herb's hope.
I would at least hope they go after Partridge for the Dee line. We don't need two secondary coaches. I'd say if all I had to coach is 5 players, at least a couple would be all ACC at worse.
Manny doesn't need to stop there, Patke is useless and if he can't can Baker, at least demote him to LB coach and bring someone in that is more competent.

[alpine]

canes mens bb team breaking my heart
. . . totally snakebit with injuries
. . . playing with lots of heart but not getting it done in the last 30 seconds of the last 3 games, losing by a TOTAL of 5 points
(sigh) . . . this was finally gonna be THE season

[nemo2020]

canes mens bb team breaking my heart
. . . totally snakebit with injuries
. . . playing for a subpar ACC coach
. . . playing with lots of heart but not getting it done

[alpine]

some of those
on the capitol steps might make good recruits?!

[The Herb]

Need Trump to come give us a pep talk before we play Bama next year.

[HerbieIbis]

Listening to various podcast and their thoughts on what we need from the portal, I'll say that we need the following:
DE. Which we got from Tenn. although the dude played OLB for them in a 3-4 defense.
LB
CB, most definitely and maybe 2, depending how many ships we have, which would be 3 or 4.
Mark Anthony Richard's has been mentioned as maybe wanting to come. Unless he's willing to play corner, which he hasn't played in 2 years, I wouldn't take him. We got enough RB's.
WR Is another possibility but dam we have 10 or so once the freshmen are in and u can't tell me we can't develop at least 4 out of 10?
Manny has some big decisions to make.
It's looking like a WR, DE and CB and at least 2 coaches that can recruit LBers and CB's (Talent not Stiffs).

[Killerbeez41]

I have a feeling Manny is scouring through resumes trying to find a diamond in the rough. He isn't going to get a proven leader from a major program as assistant coaches. He's going to find a FCS or Div2/ HS coach for these positions. Why I say this....he has Blake Baker as his DC one, two, the M.O.N.E.Y!!!! By the way (shout) MANNY!!!! I can coach, look me up boss or give Soup a ring to get up with me. LOL! But for real Manny...I'm here.

[58 Straight]

WR Is another possibility but dam we have 10 or so once the freshmen are in and u can't tell me we can't develop at least 4 out of 10?

Posted by: HerbieIbis | January 06, 2021 at 05:54 PM

Why not? We haven't done it for the last three years so...there is that. Putting most if not all of your hope in the freshpersons (politically correct form of Freshmen) is a reach.

I saw where the WR Heisman Trophy winner from Bama would stay after practice EVERYDAY to catch an extra 100 passes to perfect his craft. Tell me how many UM WRs are doing that?

[The Herb]

58,
Obviously none. Wiggins or Pope couldn't catch a dam beach ball and that's sad, especially 3 year guys. Harley finely came around after they opened the comp up. If these 2 lost causes stay, they should start at the bottom of the depth chart, even behind the incoming freshmen. Either they work their azzes off to get better or they get gone. I don't give a shyt one way or the other, just find 2 or 3 that don't wear a DB on their back everywhere they go.
I get tired of watching other teams having guys run free all over the place and we act like we are playing tag with the DB's. Not only do we constantly make greenhorn QB'S look like A-A but the same can be said for opposing DB'S. I don't blame King for locking onto Jordan when he is in the game.

[58 Straight]

I get tired of watching other teams having guys run free all over the place and we act like we are playing tag with the DB's. Not only do we constantly make greenhorn QB'S look like A-A but the same can be said for opposing DB'S.

Posted by: The Herb | January 07, 2021 at 12:35 AM

Herb, we all share your pain. There are times where we see opposing WRs with 6 yards or more of separation while our crew can even get 6 inches.

No bueno.

[roachcane77]

I saw where the WR Heisman Trophy winner from Bama would stay after practice EVERYDAY to catch an extra 100 passes to perfect his craft. Tell me how many UM WRs are doing that?
Posted by: 58 Straight | January 06, 2021 at 06:22 PM

I saw that piece twice, (on two different shows.) DeVonta Smith is QUITE a fine young man ON and OFF the field. Well deserving of the Heisman.

You mean you don't think all of the U receivers are doing that already SOUP? Why would you think that? (Passes are NEVER dropped by U receivers.) 🤮

[Terrance M Sullivan]

Great Article Soupster!

[AfriCane]

Just watched Paul’s scoop on the U. They were saying how they would be fine if DVD became the next DB coach. Are these not the same inbred, retards that scream about hiring manny as the first choice as head coach. Talking about how a first year head coach doesn’t deserve the job at the U. That is the fokcing flip flop with our fans. Go back to every coaching hire, same sheet!!

[nemo2020]

Nkosi is leaving!

[HerbieIbis]

Coaches and players talking about the work ethic, he should of thought about that the first 2 years and maybe we wouldn't have went the portal route.
He did however play good in the bowl game. I think lashlee's offense is better suited for his talents.
He'll probably turn up some place like USF.

[nemo2020]

Bevin is leaving too!

[nemo2020]

My typo.

Brevin is leaving too!

[58 Straight]

Buh-bye.

[alpine]

women's bb is frustrating
. . . they are always "decent", but never excel
. . . never bottom-feeders, but never in the top, they are the definition of mediocre
. . . katie seems like a passionate coach, so i don't know if it's recruiting, development, miami-not-a-good-destination-for-elite-bb-players, . . .
emotionally, i've hit the setting of: annoying/irritating/"try a new coach when katie's contract is finished"

[VA Cane]

Good morning all...tough times in our country...this thought came to me early this morning....it is not a single train of thought or a political angle...but a feeling that comes from all groups that make up this country...and that make it great....the thoughts of all of US! you and I...We The People...the working people and our forefathers who made this nation...not the elites who think we are their subjects...and they our Kings and Queens...this is not from a platform...but from you and I...We the People

We have seen a lot of unrest in this country, from many different groups, many different factions, who have different beliefs.....from the right, the middle and the left; all with opinions that need addressing, discussing, and correcting. The way these issues are brought to the fore of the discussion are not always correct; they may grab attention, but burning killing, looting, and rioting cannot bring about change.
Nevertheless, perhaps it is kind of good to see the so called "leaders" running in fear like they did this week. They...Dems, Repubs, Independents....were afraid...they feared the people...and they should! We… you and I are the source of their power! In 1776, We The People... our forefathers....granted leaders the right to govern us...but via Limited Government....based on population (House) equality (Senate) and a system based on checks and balances! The Constitution said all men are created equal, that we have the right to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, and that certain unalienable rights (The first 10 being The Bill of Rights) are granted by Their Creator. The government DOES NOT give you and I the right to free speech, religous freedom, fair trials, the right to bear arms, free press, right to assemble etc....our Creator(whomever you believe in) DOES!
We granted our leaders, who we choose, to right to govern through a limited Federal govt and all powers not given them are the states powers.
I think the groups from all backgrounds beliefs and walks of life....who are the backbone of this nation... with all their frustrations opinions and wants feel they are not being governed by a limited government...but rather are again being RULED....just like we were when we were the colonies. The rich elected lifetime leaders, the wealthy big money big business and the celebrities in film sports TV and Social Media have conspired to come to the belief that we are not part of the process....but rather we are their subjects who will bow and obey without question!
So to see them all on the run this summer and this week....scared out of their wits of Everyman...the common man....is a good thing in ways. They need to remember their power comes from the masses....and we have the right to take it if it is being abused.
I will NEVER obey or be ruled....and they will NEVER get in my face. I have one King...Jesus Christ.
"The government is of the people by the people for the people....whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness".

Thomas Jefferson

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Butthurt Politicalspace.

And the toilet bowl streak is over too but that's another separate issue altogether.

[86Cane]

VA Cane...I will avoid getting into the politics of it all right now because things are too tense and too sensitive right now. But at some point we will have a ONE DAY discussion here on the blog for people to post their opinions, not to disagree with each other and get into a blog battle back and forth, but just to state the facts as each person sees them to "clear the air".

I will say one thing: Many people are mistaken that this current state of affairs we find ourselves in is all about one man. But is about much, much larger issues than that. Even when the one man goes away all things will not be made right instantly or even soon or maybe ever. But time will tell and I for one hopes that our Country heals. That is all.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

[86Cane]

And the toilet bowl streak is over too but that's another separate issue altogether.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | January 08, 2021 at 11:11 AM

Wait, what? Somebody left a streak in the toilet bowl?

[Old Skool]

Mr. Dodger Tommy L has passed RIP

[CGNC]

Posted by: 58 Straight | January 07, 2021 at 09:57 AM

Ugh, yes. UM football makes everything look so hard