Canes 2011 Football Schedule

While national signing day just passed, and the regular season is still months away, it’s never too early to look ahead to the Canes season.  The schedule has been released and it’s tough!  Miami does catch a break from the original talk that they’d open the season at Florida State or Virginia Tech.  While kicking off the season on Labor Day at Maryland is no easy task, it certainly beats opening up in Tallahassee or Blacksburg.  Here’s the complete schedule:

Sept. 5             at Maryland (Monday), ESPN, 8 pm                          

Sept. 10           OPEN

Sept. 17           OHIO STATE

Sept. 24           KANSAS STATE

Oct. 1              BETHUNE-COOKMAN

Oct. 8              at Virginia Tech

Oct. 15            at North Carolina

Oct. 22            GEORGIA TECH

Oct. 27            VIRGINIA (Thursday), ESPN, 8 pm

Nov. 5              DUKE

Nov. 12            at Florida State

Nov. 19            at USF

Nov. 26            BOSTON COLLEGE

Dec. 3              ACC Championship Game (Charlotte, N.C.), ESPN

Again, the good news is they’ll open at Maryland and not FSU or Va Tech, and they’ll get a bye week before Ohio State at home.  That said, the stretch of games from Ohio State on is brutal, even with an easy win against Bethune-Cookman squeezed in.  Back-to-back visits to Virginia Tech and North Carolina will be tough.  3 very winnable home games follow, but the annual showdown against rival Florida State is looming in mid-November this year.  Simply put, we knew Al Golden had a tough road ahead in his first season at UM, and the schedule certainly isn’t doing him any favors.

Significance of Signing Day

The Seminoles are number one.  Didn’t you hear?  Some guys who watch video of 17 and 18-year-old kids play high school football all day are telling us that FSU had the top recruiting class.  How about the Gators?  They’re in the Top 5.  Finally, what about Al Golden in his first UM class?  Well, he did a great job too, considering he took the job in December.  These are all things we’re being told today on the college football holiday known as “National Signing Day.”  Of course, all of this doesn’t mean a single thing, and history has proven that plenty of times.

While young men make the vital decision of where they’ll go to college, ESPN is devoting countless hours to covering press conferences, while blogs, twitter, etc. are overflowing with who committed and de-committed.  Quite frankly, it’s a bit overwhelming.  I’ve never been a fan of all the coverage, but it’s just the day and age we live in.  Meantime, these players now have to adjust to a new life, quality academically and then try to compete with players who are older and more developed than they are.  Sounds easy, huh?

It’s far from easy.  Ask any college player and they’ll tell you the romance ends the second signing day ends.  Anyone wonder how Jacory Harris feels now about the love and attention he got just a few years ago?  All of those phone calls from coaches and text messages from recruiting sites come to an end.  Now it’s time to really work.  Now it’s time to see who really develops into a top class.  Just 3 years ago, we were told by ESPN, the same network that does marathon coverage of the day, that the Canes had the top class in the country.  That also happens to be the class that never panned out and got Randy Shannon fired.  Granted, those players are now seniors and may vindicate themselves a bit under Golden’s regime, but you get the point.

Don’t get me wrong, signing day is important to the players and universities.  It is a time for everyone to get better.  That’s not a question.  Yet, with all the attention these players get, it’s easy to see why so many of them grow up to feel entitled.  I don’t blame them.  This is a storm created by the media and internet.  I look at signing day like I always have.  I congratulate the players and wish them the best.  It’s a tough decision, and it’s something that’ll help determine the rest of their lives.  Forget the hat switches, props and live press conferences.  Now is when I start paying attention.  Let’s see how they hit the books, hit the practice field and develop mentally and physically.  Then, in about 3 years, we’ll see who really had the top class.

Kehoe and Canes reunited

Art Kehoe is back where he belongs.  UM head coach Al Golden has officially hired the Hurricanes one-time offensive line coach for the same position.  Kehoe is the only constant in the Canes 5 national titles, but he was fired by Larry Coker and went on to sue the school.  Yet, he’s back and most Canes fans (including myself) couldn’t be happier.

Kehoe brings so many great qualities that it’s hard to pinpoint just a few, but here are the obvious ones:  he’s a great o-line coach and will make this young and talented unit even better.  Also, few people are tougher than Kehoe, and that’s something this team has been lacking.  Golden talked about bringing back the old days of Miami and having former players come back whenever they want.  Well, he hit the jackpot by bringing back this great coach and terrific recruiter.

Welcome back, Art Kehoe.  We missed you!

Canes go Fisch-ing…

It took new coach Al Golden a while, but he’s finally found his offensive coordinator.  Miami has hired current Seahawks QB coach Jedd Fisch to fill the role.  You may not have heard of his name, but Fisch has an impressive resume.  He coached in the NFL for 8 other seasons and spent one season in college football as the offensive coordinator at Minnesota. 

Fisch is highly regarded in NFL circles, and he initially started his career by working under Steve Spurrier.  That should give UM fans hope that he has a creative offensive mind.  Fisch runs a pro style offense and seems ideal for the type of system Golden wants.

I will point out that his only season in college as an OC, the Gophers were a very bad offense, but then again, the talent wasn’t very good.  This seems like a good hire and a good fit.  Now Golden has one more spot to fill on his coaching staff.  Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland left to take the same position at Alabama.  Only one holdover from the Randy Shannon era remains:  Michael Barrow.  Many Canes fans wanted to clean house.  In the end, that’s exactly what happened with the coaching staff.  No more blaming Randy now.

Canes Golden Opportunity

It’s official:  the Hurricanes have hired Al Golden as their new head coach.  The former Temple coach was offered and accepted the job on Sunday, and he takes over for the fired Randy Shannon.  While the pick may not be the “sexy” pick so many UM fans desired, I think it’s the right choice.

Golden Hurricane

I’ve said all along during this process that Miami would try to hit a home run with the hiring.  Kirby Hocutt tried from the start to do that.  Whether it was calling Jon Gruden, or inquiring about Bo Pelini, Hocutt took the time to really look at all the candidates.  When the dust settled, he was left with a short list of up and coming coaches at the college level.  I liked Golden, UConn coach Randy Edsall and Houston coach Kevin Sumlin as potential candidates (I never believed Marc Trestman was a serious candidate).  They all had experience as head coaches at the college level, and they all had success, as well.  Golden fits the bill for many reasons.

He took over a Temple program on the brink of extinction, and he made them relevent again.  Here’s a guy that led Temple to 17 wins over the last 2 seasons, or exactly one more victory than Randy Shannon led Miami during that time.  He’s only 41 years old, and he’s coached under Joe Paterno and Al Groh.  He was considered by many as a possible replacement for Paterno at Penn State.   Golden has paid his dues and earned a high level of respect in college football.  He also brings something to UM that this program has been lacking: discipline and accountability on the field.  One of the downfalls of Shannon at Miami was the lack of discipline from the Canes on the field and the way he tried to protect his players from the media.  Golden is a hard-nosed guy who won’t put up with any issues.  Plus, he led the Temple football program to a major improvement academically.  That last fact is obviously very important to UM President Donna Shalala.  Shannon set a high standard with the job his players did off the field.

So, while I know some Miami fans will be disappointed (I understand), I implore you to give Golden a chance.  The Canes have given him quite an opportunuity, and I have every reason to believe he will succeed long-term.

The Truth about Canes search…

I can’t tell you how many emails, tweets, texts and Facebook messages I’ve been getting about the Canes vacant head coaching job.  Trust me, I don’t mind reading your thoughts and also seeing the thoughts of fellow journalists who are covering the story.  That said, let me tell you the truth about the Hurricanes search:  anyone who tells you they know who the next coach will be is lying.  Actually, no one can really tell you with any certainty who the lead candidate is.  The reality is, as I pointed out earlier this week in this blog, the Canes are in the middle of an extensive search.

In the last 24 hours, I’ve read reports that Chris Peterson and Bo Pelini are both strong candidates for the job.  I can’t confirm either to be true, and I won’t discard the possibility.  I just hope everyone learned a good lesson from the Jon Gruden fiasco.  I, like many people, tried to tell everyone that Gruden would meet with the Canes and Miami was very interested.  Yet, somehow that led to reports that it was a done deal and Gruden was signed.  It was another hard lesson learned for everyone that you can’t always believe what you read.

Believe this though, the Canes have spoken to NUMEROUS potential candidates.  I was told by a source with knowledge of the search earlier today that just because conversions have taken place, it doesn’t mean any real interviews or offers have happened.  Simply put, they haven’t.   No one has been offered this job.  The same source told me that names like Randy Edsall (UConn), Tommy Tuberville (Texas Tech), Al Golden (Temple) and Kevin Sumlin (Houston) have been discussed.  That just means UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt has either talked or plans on talking to them.  Again, I have no confirmation that Peterson, Pelini or any other candidate than the ones I mentioned have spoken to Hocutt.  I was told by the same source that, “they’re still in the process and plenty of names have been discussed.” 

I know this doesn’t give you much new real information, but what it does give you is the truth.  Hocutt would like to find his new coach very soon, but how soon that will be no one knows.  An offer would need to be made first, and who eventually gets that offer has still yet to be determined.  Be patient Miami fans, the end of this search is near.

Canes Slow Coaching Search

It started with a bang!  From the moment the Hurricanes fired Randy Shannon, the rumors started that Miami would target Jon Gruden for the job.  The rumors turned out to be true, but any chance Gruden would come to the U quickly fizzled.  After those crazy first few days, it has now been a week of nothing.  No real rumors, no real sources and no real information.  All we do know is that UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt is in the middle of an extensive search.  Yet, most coaches in the middle of the speculation don’t seem to be too interested.  Where does that leave the Canes?  Let’s see where everyone stands:

Dan Mullen from Mississippi State is getting his team ready for a bowl, and it appears his current school will do everything possible to keep him.  Mullen has made it clear he wants to stay at MSU, and he is currently in the middle of negotiating a new deal.  Of course, the Canes could swoop in and grab him, but it’s becoming more and more unlikely.  I’ve said Mullen is my top choice and many people around UM feel the same way.

Randy Edsall is another possibility, but he’s currently getting his team ready for the Fiesta Bowl.  Edsall’s UCONN team won the Big East, and they’re a program on the rise.  I’ve been told Hocutt hasn’t talked to Edsall or requested an interview.  I do think he’ll look at Edsall’s direction at some point, but Edsall’s in a good situation with the Huskies.  He’s building a nice program in a BCS eligible conference.  Again, UM could try to get him, but it won’t be easy to pry him away, and no one is sure whether he’d be interested in UM.

Al Golden has to get consideration.  He’s only 41 years old, and he has taken a doormat program at Temple and made them relevant again.  He may not be the “sexy” pick to fans, but he’s a young guy who knows how to coach in college.  Golden teaches discipline and he’s done a great job at Temple on and off the field.

Mike Leach is publicly begging for the job, and even Donald Trump gave him a letter of recommendation (yes, it’s gotten that bizarre).  That said, I see no way how Miami gives Leach a serious look.  He’s a little strange, to say the least, and UM President Donna Shalala doesn’t want a coach with any baggage.

I’m starting to think Tommy Tuberville may just be the favorite right now.  I was told over the weekend that the current Texas Tech coach would listen, if Miami called, which I’m told it hasn’t.  He has UM connections in his past, and he’s had success at a major program in the SEC (Auburn).  I originally thought Tuberville was a boring and rehashed candidate, but as the dust settles, he’s starting to look like more and more like what UM is looking for.  He has experience, he has ties to the school, he’s somewhat of a big name in college football and he knows how to recruit.   Those are all pluses that make him a likely candidate.

The other big name out there is Utah’s Kyle Whittingham.  He’s someone I think the Canes intend to reach out to, but I have no indication that has happened yet. 

Other major names like Gary Patterson (TCU) and Chris Peterson (Boise State) seem to have little to no interest in the job.  Granted, they have more important things to deal with now.  Both are in great situations, and I find it hard to believe they’d come to Miami. 

The list of assistant coaches with potential interest seems to be growing, but does that mean the Canes will go in the same route they did with Randy Shannon and Larry Coker?  All indications are Hocutt wants someone with head coaching experience.  Miami went down the road of hiring assistants with no experience and look where it got them.  Brent Venables of Oklahoma hasn’t been contacted by Miami, and he was quoted as saying last week that he wasn’t going anywhere.  Hocutt has said it wouldn’t be a deal breaker if a candidate didn’t having head coaching experience, but I still think he wants someone who’s done it before.

So, where does that leave us?  It’s becoming clear Hocutt really is taking his time, despite the fact that a handful of recruits are getting cold feet with the lack of a coach in place.  I wouldn’t get too caught up in recruiting right now, because the Hurricanes don’t have a very big class to sign anyway.  I’m starting to wonder if the Canes job is really that attractive of a job anymore to someone who has a job.  Yes, someone who is unemployed or currently an assistant will likely want a chance, but this whole notion of Miami snagging an up-and-coming coach from Division 1-A seems to be losing steam.  I wouldn’t lose hope yet, Canes fans, and I have confidence Hocutt is really focused on making the right choice.  About the only thing we do know right now is that the new coach won’t be Gruden.  After that, it’s too hard to tell, at this point.

Bowl Games for Florida Schools…

All the D-1 state schools will play in a bowl game, except FAU:

Miami-Notre Dame in Sun Bowl

FIU-Toledo in Little Ceasars Bowl

Florida-Penn State in Outback Bowl

FSU-South Carolina in Chick-Fila Bowl

UCF-Georgia in Liberty Bowl

USF-Clemson in Meineke Car Care Bowl

Rivarly Renewed: Canes-Fighting Irish

It was a disappointing season for the Hurricanes, but at least they’ll end up with an intriguing bowl game.  Miami will take on Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl on December 31st in El Paso, Texas.  While this certainly isn’t a battle of powerhouse teams, like in past years, it is the 1st time these historic football programs have played each other in 20 years. 

Both teams are just 7-5, but Sun Bowl officials couldn’t be any happier.  I know the Catholics vs Convicts days are long gone, but a sell-out is expected, and this game will get national attention.  It’s also a fun preview for fans who are too young to remember this rivalry.  The teams already have a game scheduled for 2012 in Chicago.

At least it’s something fun, in an otherwise dismal season.

If no Gruden, then what?

Despite reports that indicate Jon Gruden will not be coming to coach at Miami, the rumors continue that UM will pursue him.  Who you believe at this point, I have no idea.  It’s clear that someone is leaking information to the media all over the place.  Separating fact from fiction isn’t easy on these types of stories, but I do know one thing:  anyone who tells you that a deal was in place and contract numbers were agreed to is lying.  I’m sorry, I have not been able to confirm that was even close to being true.  All I continue to hear is that both sides are indeed interested in the possibility of Gruden coaching the Canes.  This story will hopefully be resolved soon.

Of course, the Canes can’t just concentrate on Gruden, so who might the other options be?  You fans have sure come up with some interesting ideas.  Let’s see, from Jimmy Johnson coming back, to Butch Davis coming back to Pat Riley taking over.  Okay, that last part was a joke, but trust me, none of those things are happening.  Let’s look closely at my top candidates:

Dan Mullen- Head Coach at Mississippi State

This guy really intrigues me.  A former Gators assistant and up-and-comer.  He may fit the mold a little better, as to what the Canes are looking for.  I know fans want the so-called “sexy pick” to make a splash, but Mullen has some very good qualities that fit the bill.  He has experience, he knows recruiting in Florida and he’s on the rise.  Mullen has an offensive background and has coached some very good QB’s.   He led the Bulldogs to an 8 win season (more than Randy Shannon) in the tough SEC.  I have no doubt the 38-year old Mullen is one of the top candidates, and I think it’s a name we’ll hear more of in the coming days.

Randy Edsall- Head Coach at UConn

This man is so underrated for the job he’s done with the Huskies.  He’s taken a program from the ground up in Division 1-A and made them a potential conference champion.  He also handled the death of a star player with class.  Edsall is a hot name in all jobs opening up, including Notre Dame last season.  He is a protegé of current Giants coach Tom Coughlin, so you know he means business.  That said, he is well-respected by his players.  After over a decade at UConn, he may ready to move on.

Kyle Whittingham- Head Coach at Utah

Well, if the Gators grabbed a Utah coach (Urban Meyer) and had so much success, why not the Canes?  Okay, it’s not that easy, but this is another up-and-comer who is well-respected.  All he’s done at Utah since taking over for Meyer is go 58 and 19, including a perfect season in 2008 and a 6-0 record in bowls.  How’s that for success?  I’m not sure Whittingham is ready to leave a place he’s enjoyed coaching at since 1994 (he was a defensive coach before being Head Coach), but he must be considered.

Brent Venables- Defensive Coordinator at Oklahoma

Okay, I know what some Canes fans are thinking:  WHO???  Trust me, remember the name.  Venables really fits the bill on being an up-and-comer.  Granted, he doesn’t have head coaching experience, but UM Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt said that wouldn’t be a deal-breaker in the search.  A disciple of Bob Stoops, he has that same style.  I think he will make a heck of a head coach some day, and I think the Canes would be wise to, at least, discuss him as a candidate.  Again, I know this is far from a “sexy pick”, but he should be considered.  Remember what Hocutt said, this will be nationwide search, and the Canes would be wise to be complete in the search.  They can not afford another Shannon or Larry Coker mistake.

Other possibilities include:  Mark Richt- Head Coach at Georgia (former Cane, but has denied interest), Al Golden- Head Coach at Temple and long shots Chris Peterson- Head Coach at Boise State and Gary Patterson- Head Coach at TCU (both are at great jobs right now).

***added to list from readers***  Tommy Tuberville- Head Coach at Texas Tech, Mario Cristobal- Head Coach at FIU (love Coach Cristobal, but not sure UM would pursue), Mike Leach- Former Head Coach at Texas Tech (can’t imagine they interview him again), Jim Leavitt- Former Head Coach at South Florida.