Now experienced and "mature" the 'Canes were set to take the next step in Randy Shannon's tenure with their minds set on the ACC title and maybe more. Losing to Ohio State 36-24 in Columbus wasn't a complete shock and Hurricane fans could take solace in the face that they looked like they belonged on the same field as the now Associated Press #1 team in the nation; in their house. However, this Saturday it all came crashing down...
A primetime game against the hated Florida State Seminoles on national television in fron of the first ever sellout crowd since Miami has moved into Sun Life Stadium three seasons ago. The Seminoles shared the same record as the 'Canes but looked completely inept and lost in losing to Oklahoma by 30 in Norman just three weeks earlier. It was supposed to be a statement win for the Hurricanes, and it ended up a scarring loss.
The Seminoles jumped out to a 21-0 lead physically dominating the Hurricanes on both sides of the ball. Missed tackles. Blown assignments. Outwilled. Surely Jerome Brown and Sean Taylor were rolling over in their graves at this disgrace of a performance. It left Randy Shannon dazed and confused and Jacory Harris grabbing his nuts...no really....
Randy Shannon has done a nice job replenishing the talent at Miami and keeping the players out of trouble, and by all accounts he's a good guy who is a father figure to his players. However, at the University of Miami where we not only beat you, but we tell you to your face how bad we are beating you and celebrate it the choir boy mentality must end. The true character of this team showed again, punched in the mouth and instead of fighting back they took it laying down. Had the 'Canes of old been pushed around like this you know what they would have done? Fought back. Either during the game or after the play. They would fight you. That mentality is long gone and it goes back to the head coach.
You can say that it is just a bad game, but at least once, if not multiple times during each of Shannon's seasons there are losses resembling the one we saw Saturday Night.
In a 5-7 opening campaign Randy closed out the last game ever in the historic Orange Bowl with a 48-0 ass kicking by Virginia. VIRGINIA!!! The next season there was the thrashing on Thursday Night by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets where they ran for almost 500 yards against the 'Canes, again outmanning Miami in the trenches. Fast forward to last year, they didn't lose to Wake Forest but they were dominated for 3 quarters before making a valient comeback late in the 4th. Then ending the season with a 17-14 loss to Wisconsin which had it not been for 2 Wisconsin redzone turnovers and a missed field goal would have been much, much worse.
At some point one must realize the trend. A team reflects the attitude of it's head coach. Randy "Blandy" Shannon stands on the sideline with his arms folded having no idea what to do. Jimmy Johnson's players feared losing because they knew what a Monday after a loss would be like under Jimmy--hell. The time for change has come, it's been four years and when Miami gets physically dominated and looks disinterested again, take a look at the coach...and you will see the same confused, nonchalant look that is seen every single week from the man that with Coker, took all of the heart and passion out of Miami football.
Hurr durrrrrr
Blow it up and start over.
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