The University of Miami, Hurricanes football

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/stor...ruce&id=2690577


Updated: Nov. 22, 2006
Shannon will put premium on toughness, competitionBy Bruce Feldman
ESPN The Magazine
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The old motto of the Miami Hurricanes was "it's a Cane thing, you wouldn't understand." In truth, nobody understands what a Cane thing is better than Randy Shannon. He grew up in Miami, played for the Canes from 1985-88 and has spent 13 seasons as a Canes assistant. He was a part of the Jimmy Johnson glory days and also a part of the bad-boy Canes that relished wearing the black hat.


Most Miami people I know have been incredulous as this coaching search dragged on and candidates and wanna-be candidates publicly turned down the job. Of course, the exact same thing happened just about every other time the Miami head coaching job has come open -- and the guy who finally got the job ended up winning big.


The big difference now is that Miami has hired one of its own. Given the tumultuous year the Canes just endured on and off the field, staying within the family might be the best thing for the program. The 40-year-old Shannon understands exactly what you can and can't do at UM. That is huge because this program has had such a constant battle with reconciling its own volatile history. No program has anywhere near the emotional swells. In years past, anytime the Canes felt they had been disrespected, they destroyed the other team. But this season, it seemed like every time Larry Coker tried flipping a switch, the program came up empty. Clearly, there was a disconnect.


Shannon has never been a head coach, so there must be some trepidation about hiring him to run the show. However, Miami is paying a bunch of fired former coaches, and the program doesn't have a lot of money to spend. Shannon's price tag probably was a big positive in the decision-making process.


The reaction is mixed among the former Miami players. Shannon has always been well respected in the local community, but he's seen as an enigmatic figure. Even guys who have been around him for years struggle to get a great read on him. But he is one of the few people respected by the Canes of the '80s as well as by those from the last decade.


I have spoken to a bunch of UM folks about what they thought "a Cane thing" meant. A few years ago, Shannon and I chatted for almost an hour about the topic. For all the bravado surrounding the program, he distilled it in a very different manner: "Let's say it's me and you playing the same position and I'm the older guy and you've got talent. I'm going to teach you what I know to try and beat me out," he said. "I want you to take my position because if you take it, we'll be a better team. And if not, when I leave, you'll be smart enough to get it done. That's what 'A Cane Thing' means. No matter what happens I want the best players on the field.'"


Expect Shannon to refocus UM's recruiting efforts in South Florida. He will place a premium on toughness and competition. He always has been of the mind that great players are hungry and are about the work, not about fancy players' lounges or locker rooms.


I'm told that when he interviewed for the job he had a very well detailed plan for taking over the program and reenergizing the UM community. The old Canes say Shannon will bring a no-BS demeanor back to the program. "It will be different," says one former UM player. "I'm not sure it'll be better, but I am curious to see what happens."


Bruce Feldman is a senior writer with ESPN The Magazine.

MA-

Any truth to the rumor that Dirk Koetter could be the next OC at Miami?

That is the talk. They won't name the new OC till after the bowl game. Apparently though Olson is already gone, as he's heading to ASU to be their OC.

Found this quote on another board. Apparently Coker decided to open his mouth...

Let me just say that I am livid at this comment. First of all he was given a chance to go out with a bowl game win by the university. They gave him one last chance to coach Miami for this game, and he decides to throw his DC and new HC under the bus. Secondly, he was given a gift when he took over as the HC after Butch Davis left. He was given possibly the most talented team in the nation, one that could have won multiple titles. He pissed it away, each season losing more games, and ruined what respect the school had built during the Butch Davis era.

Chris Perry finally switched to Nebraska. Damn, I've been calling that all year.

He was a soft commit, but hey thanks for being a total dick and rubbing it in. Go back to your cornhusker thread and take your stupid entirely too large sig with you.

This post has been edited by Xavier Panama on Jan 9 2007, 08:34 PM

Mike-

Who is Miami looking at for the OC position now that Koetter is at Jacksonville? I have heard that they are looking at Kevin Rogers, the Vikings QB coach, but who else are they talking to?

That actually seems to be the next big name. Also if you look at the type of guys they are recruiting it makes sense. Rogers worked with McNabb while in Syracuse, and all of the QB recruits they are looking at are mobile guys who can throw on the run. Outside of him, I have yet to read anything that I would actually believe.

Looks like Rogers might be a no go.

A name that I have read that could be the next OC is Kevin Sumlin from Oklahoma.

Coach Randy needs to go after Major Applewhite now and needs to go after him hard.

A OC should be name within the next few days. As of now, all fingers point to Sumlin.

Miami should be getting new uniforms this season. I'm still praying that they bring back the Ken Dorsey era uniforms.

And now he has switched back to Miami.

And with Nick Fanuzzi giving his committ to Alabama, it looks like Robert Marve is heading to Miami. Miami clearly gets the better end of this deal.

Marve would be an improvement.

The weekend of February 2nd will be huge for Miami in terms of recruiting. Among those coming in are Chad Jones, Deonte Thompson, Brandon Paul, Damien Berry (commit), Orlando Franklin (commit), Earl Patten, and Frank Alexander. All are 4 stars except for Jones, who is a 5 star. It is an added bonus that this is also Super Bowl weekend.

This weekend, Major Wright comes in, which would be a big get.

Trust me, I'm well aware of the scheduled trips and who all is close. I hear Miami is closing in on DeMarcus Van Dyke. Stealing him from Florida would be huge. From everything I've read, Shannon and his staff are doing a hell of a job in all of this. I have a feeling that this Miami class could be very big, and will sneak up on people come signing day.

Trust me, I'm well aware of the scheduled trips and who all is close. I hear Miami is closing in on DeMarcus Van Dyke. Stealing him from Florida would be huge. From everything I've read, Shannon and his staff are doing a hell of a job in all of this. I have a feeling that this Miami class could be very big, and will sneak up on people come signing day.

DVD wanted to be a Cane all along, I just don't think that Miami was giving him the attention he wanted. Pretty sure he had a soft verbal with the Canes much earlier in the process before switching to UF.


The Canes should be able to do some serious work that Feb 2 weekend, Thompson needs to be in.

While I love that Miami is putting together what looks like a very good class, it comes down to two things. Getting guys who want to be at Miami, and not just use it to get straight to the NFL, and its about development. Many of the players in these past classes were guys who saw it as only a stepping stone to the NFL. A great deal of these players were never developed either. Kyle Wright was the #2 ranked QB in the nation in the 2003 recruiting class. He hasn't changed since high school. I have heard interviews from Randy Shannon, where he actually talked about this. He stated that we need to get back to what made Miami good, getting kids who wanted to be here to win National Championships, not just to get to the NFL. The NFL dreams will come if you're winning the way Miami is supposed to be doing.

According to Scout.com these were where Miami ranked each year.

2002: 4th
2003: 6th
2004: 3rd
2005: 12th
2006: 14th

That comes out to be roughly an 8th place average.

I'd give them a mulligan for this year.