Can't get clean.
Scrub as I might, I wash and rewash. I try the bar-soap, I try the hand-soap, I try the liquid gel. I resort to using Pert Plus.
I can't seem to wash the smell off of me.
Did the dog secretly drop a deuce in the bathroom that I can't see?
I couldn't possibly smell that bad.
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The year is, well, about any year between 1984 and 1994.
I've just come from another lopsided Canes victory at the Orange Bowl.
I forced my mother to drive me two-hours early to the game, and wouldn't leave until I saw each touchdown of the absolute obliteration.
Those games were just like watching a Tyson fight.
Just like Tyson had the knockout before the opening bell, the Canes usually knocked out their opponent the second they ran out of the smoke.
We wait an hour for the car parked directly in front us. Yeah, our "no blockie" spot FINALLY clears out.
And just like that, we leave Little Havana.
To top it off, I need to hear the locker room show, just so I could listen to the guys revel in their latest annihilation.
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But back to the shower, you could spend hours in there.
You could call in a team of NASA scientists, washing off the smell of the Orange Bowl was a task above anyone's paygrade.
God I miss section U, Row 65. God I miss that smell.
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And that's the perspective from which I'm going to write this particular blog.
I'm going to throw off my "journalist" hat and speak as a fan.
A fan who watched too many consecutive wins at home, a fan who once drank out of the dip-cup of a stranger who was wearing overalls, a fan who listened to loonatics chant "AH-OH" at any female who had the audacity to walk back to her seat, a fan who was thrown into the garbage can by linebackers and taken out by the kicker (thanks Greg Cox).
So yeah, 9 win seasons don't make me happy.
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I love that Randy Shannon (not pictured) doesn't have a contract after this season.
I think it's the best scenerio for Randy and I think it's the best scenerio for the University of Miami.
Right now, Randy Shannon is Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire.
He's betting big on himself.
I like that.
Either he's right about what he's built here and stands for a monster payday.
Or...
He's wrong, and thanks for playing.
You have to respect that.
Randy's got stones and Kirby's smart.
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I know it's early May.
So why am I talking about University of Miami football?
I just feel like it.
During the off-season, fans like to kick around the "we should beat them," "that's going to be a tough one" emails.
I think it's all non-sense.
I have friends who sat with me in section "U," die-hard Canes fans, who are scared of games like Pittsburgh and Clemson.
I refuse to accept that.
If the University of Miami is afraid to play a Wannstedt-coached team, then they're not a real Canes team.
I don't care what the rankings say.
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We've been told for so long that Randy Shannon is an expert recruiter.
Perhaps that's true.
But, we haven't seen it, yet.
Doesn't mean it's untrue.
But we can't say that we've seen it.
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Kick this one around Canes fans.
I asked this to a friend on the phone today.
How many players from last year's team, would have played a SINGLE DOWN on the 2001 National Championship team?
We're talking 10 years ago.
And I'm not talking based on potential.
I'm not talking based on the eye-test (Aldarius Johnson LOOKS like an NFL Pro Bowler).
But based on what they've shown.
A single down.
My answer: 1.
I think Allen Bailey would've found his way onto the field.
That's it.
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If Randy Shannon is going to get a BIG contract offer from Miami, we need to revisit that question in 8 months.
If we don't say at least 5, Randy likely won't be here.
I'm not saying the potential isn't there.
I'm just saying, I want to see it now.
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There are areas to give Randy a LOT of credit for.
He did change the culture at Miami.
I can't remember the last Cane to get into trouble with the law.
The sheriff up in Gainesville must have Urban Meyer on speed-dial.
Two dozen plus arrests in the last few years.
So it's nice to lose the "thug U" reputation. (a reputation that wasn't particularly fair given the way Miami was graduating players back in the day).
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Here's the other beautiful part of Randy's no contract situation.
Let's say Randy is right.
Let's say this turns into a BCS-caliber team.
Let's say Jacory gets invited to New York for the Heisman and the Canes are awesome this year.
Randy can tell the school to shove it.
He can leave and take a big job elsewhere.
If he gets the big payday, who could say he hasn't earned it?
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I know that Sun Life Stadium is an antiseptic building.
It's lovely with its great suites and sightlines.
There's ample parking and the smell is like fresh potpourri.
But just because I can't get that Orange Bowl funk on me, doesn't mean the Canes can't return to greatness.
The first step is to stop accepting mediocre.
There's no doubt that Randy has improved the Canes from 5 wins to 7 to 9.
But the next jump has got to be even bigger.
I refuse to get excited about 4th round draft picks.
I refuse to applaud overtime losses to ACC opponents.
I'm sorry, I'm more afraid of Justin Bieber than I am of Dave Wannstedt.
Canes fans, don't accept average.
The '01 Canes team could have been the best team of all time. I don't think there are many teams that have a player that could break that starting lineup. Maybe on defensive line as you mention.
ReplyDeleteShannon was able to recruit talent but now kids are noticing he can't develop it (at least in my opinion). I think the Canes will return to their dominant position as soon as Shannon the joker is run out of town.
Lastly, the true test of a good football team is how many arrests there are. The Canes used to show up on the police blotter all the time..and they won all the time. This is the same situation as UF now. Until the Canes begin to engage in domestic disputes, bring guns to clubs, fight at clubs, and drive drunk they will never be back to their old selves.
This is the season where we find out *IF* he can develop that talent.
ReplyDeleteIf these guys are as good as we thought they were, this year's team should be at a BCS level.
What makes it so fascinating to me, is that Randy's contract depends on it.
The man is putting his money where his mouth is.
You have to respect that.
Absolutely. Especially in a day where coaches' contracts always run at least 4 years, regardless of their being on thin water or not. I guess its supposed to back them up when they sit in kids' living rooms and tell their parents that they will be his coach the whole time he is at school.
ReplyDeleteRS destroyed the U and turned it into a solid program.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Mike Tyson analogy because thats what the U was....Shock and awe....including the personalities that came with it. The flip side of the discipline RS, is that you take out the soul of the U.
Shannon seems to be able to recruit (if we are to trust the national rankings) but he cant develop the guys or keep them happy (or keep them at all). For all the hype and hope about the 'future' stars early in the season, by the end of the year they all seem to regress (Marve, Jacory etc). I think if you took every randy shannon coached UM team and had the team from game 1 play the team from game 12--the game 1 team would dominate every time.
RS's in game coaching is despicable and I dont think needs to be addressed.
The thing that bothers me the most is that the expectations to be great are gone. It used to be championship or nothing. We used to make fun of the gators for celebrating SEC titles. Now RS strives for an ACC title. The ACC isnt even a real football conference. And honestly, I think the ceiling for a shannon coached team is an occasional ACC title. The thought that shannon would be satisfied with that is exactly the problem
RS destroyed the U and turned it into a solid program.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Mike Tyson analogy because thats what the U was....Shock and awe....including the personalities that came with it. The flip side of the discipline RS, is that you take out the soul of the U.
Shannon seems to be able to recruit (if we are to trust the national rankings) but he cant develop the guys or keep them happy (or keep them at all). For all the hype and hope about the 'future' stars early in the season, by the end of the year they all seem to regress (Marve, Jacory etc). I think if you took every randy shannon coached UM team and had the team from game 1 play the team from game 12--the game 1 team would dominate every time.
RS's in game coaching is despicable and I dont think needs to be addressed.
The thing that bothers me the most is that the expectations to be great are gone. It used to be championship or nothing. We used to make fun of the gators for celebrating SEC titles. Now RS strives for an ACC title. The ACC isnt even a real football conference. And honestly, I think the ceiling for a shannon coached team is an occasional ACC title. The thought that shannon would be satisfied with that is exactly the problem
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI think we agree in the fundamental idea that ACC title is *NOT* a level that you aspire to.
Miami should be a national force.
In game coaching can be overrated.
Justin Bieber could've coached the 2001 team to a national title.
All of your criticism about developing players is based on too small a sample size.
Now Randy's guys are Juniors and Seniors.
Now's his chance to prove himself.
And as I said, his future income depends on it, which makes it more riveting.
New here. Interested to know how you chose topic and do you just sit down and write or are there several rewrites?
ReplyDeleteThank you
Jason
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! I do something I call "mental prewriting." What that means is, I make a detailed mental outline of what I want to say and how I want to say it. Before I type the first word, I have a really good idea of where I'm going with a given blog.
I do read through the blog 4 or 5 times once I write it to make sure it's correct grammatically and with spelling (which I'm awful at).
And whenever I write, I always read aloud. I want to make sure it flows properly.
Hope that helps!
Kind of sad that the Canes have fallen on hard times. I remember the Miami teams that would pummel the daylights out of Pitt. However, I think the Pitt-Miami game will be a litmus test for both teams. Each school had 9 wins last year and made strides with their respective programs. It wouldn't shock me to see the two match-up in a bowl game.
ReplyDeleteThe problem under Randy is that players have not developed. Think about the boys from Northwestern the only one who is showing promise is Sean Spence and he was injured for most of last year.
i agree Eddie.
ReplyDeleteThat game fascinated me.
People criticize Randy's game-day coaching, but he's going up against Wans, great guy, awful game-day coach.
That development question will be answered this year.
What if all the NW guys reach their max potential this year?
They all still have 2 years of eligibility left, so, I'm curious to see what happens.
thanks, I read them all.
ReplyDeleteJason
Cool, thanks! Feel free to follow the blog. I post a few times a week
ReplyDeleteDukie, Enjoyed reading your blog. Do you have anything else written on the net or published? Learned of you in school today from some guy I thought was an idiot but he was right about you.
ReplyDeleteRoxanne,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first foray into putting my work on the net (i have been a ghost writer for radio in the past). I'm glad you came to the blog. Feel free to follow and comment. However, you came to the blog, glad to have you here.
Cheers,
Dukie
Wow. Having been there in the seat next to you at the OB all those years, this blog speaks to me in a big way. We have fallen from such great heights when I get nervous about a team like Duke (no offense). Hell, back in the day, I'd be supremely confident that we'd storm the horseshoe and decimate Ohio State.
ReplyDeleteThe question is: Is it possible for UM to get back there? Moreover, is it foolish of us to expect that we will?
By the way, I think Bosher could've been on that championship team.
And in conclusion, Justin Bieber.
Why do people insist on claiming Mike Tyson was a good boxer? He beat has-beens and never-have-beens but never beat even an average boxer. Douglas was the first decent boxer he faced and we all know what happened there. I believe he also lost to Bowe and obviously Hollyfield. He wowed everyone in our generation with knockouts of people who should not have been ranked as pro boxers.
ReplyDeleteDavid, great point about Bosher. I considered that. But where's your program at when you're banking on the field goal kicker/punter?
ReplyDeleteShould you expect that? Absolutely. Why are you afraid to ask for it?
What makes Gainesville and USC so GD special that they can have a run right now?
If Miami could DOMINATE for a decade, I think it's fair to think they can contend for a BCS bowl.
My whole thing is don't fall victim to lowered expectations. 9 wins isn't good enough.
The ACC isn't a football conference.
An elite Miami team should punk it. (please feel free to send this blog to your UM buddies, would love to hear what more Canes think)
Greg...
Mike Tyson was a cultural landmark. The intimidation factor was the real deal.
I'm not Max Kellerman.
But I did love "Punchout"
Dave, Let's go through the common excuses:
ReplyDeleteFacilities: They've always been subpar. They played in a ****Hole (the OB, which has now been upgraded to an NFL stadium). Greentree was good enough for Ray Lewis, it's good enough for Ray Ray Armstrong. And dozens of Pro Bowlers flock to the weight room each offseason. So they must be doing something right.
SCHEDULE: BS. Miami used to play the toughest schedule in the country times 10. Teams were afraid to play Miami, it should never be the other way around.
RECRUITING: More schools to recruit against, Tougher competition. That's legit. And I don't care. If Howard Schnellenberger or JJ were here on top of their game, think they wouldn't get studs? That's on the coach. Either Randy's an elite recruiter or we find one.
Academic Standards: True. They've gone up. But you could keep a chicken eligible for two years. If the academic people can't get it done, find people who can.
UF and USC have replaced Miami as the elite programs in the country.
Heck, even Boise State, with their ridiculous turf and joke schedule is ahead of Miami right now.
That's unacceptable.
Rather than fearing the early schedule, I can't wait to kick OSU's butt and then Pitt, and reclaim dominance.
we'll beat OSU, then lose to Wake or Duke....
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about the Odor Bowl , but still too many good tines there. It gave the place character. It seems by these comments I've transcended all media as an idiot. Just glad she's reading this and confident in her quest to be an anchorwoman there's a news director out there looking for the "Jersey Shore" look. But I'd still spit out the gum for the audition reel.
ReplyDeleteinterestingly enough, I'm told the great Anne Bishop used to chew gum on the set. But generally that is frowned upon
ReplyDeleteThere was article today in the Herald about UM wooing stud-QB Teddy Bridgewater out of Northwestern. I think if Bridgewater chooses another school, it would set the program back big time. To lose a player of that caliber in your own backyard is damaging.
ReplyDeletei've seen him play in person, he's good, really good
ReplyDelete@darryl - what do you even mean?
ReplyDelete@Mindy. The student above refers to the "idiot" that refered her to this blog. I'm that idiot.
ReplyDelete@Lang in OJ. -- "get me Alan Dershowitz". LMAO a classic!