Shannon Gives the Canes New Hope

Yesterday at this time as our loyal readers are aware I was none too pleased with the choice of Randy Shannon to be the new Hurricanes Head Coach/Football CEO. However upon reflection and after watching Shannon's Press Conference today along with subsequent radio interviews, I've determined Miami made the right choice.

My anxiety about Shannon was two fold. My first which is unresolved still is his closeness to Jimmy Johnson who continues to meddle in the program's affair both in a public fashion and behind closed doors. Johnson fashions himself as the grand poobah of Miami Football much like Pat Dye does at Auburn, and until his untimely death a few weeks back Bo Schembechler at Michigan. The second is that Shannon I believe had been neutered, or "Cokerized" if you will as a member of the current staff. My anxiety was erased with his words today. Shannon will bring a fresh approach to UM Football.

Shannon spoke today about his desire to learn about the game. Unlike so many at the "U" his experiences and attitude are not simply limited to Miami Football. Shannon today described his week spent in Tempe last year learning offensive football from Dirk Koetter then Arizona State's Head Coach. (This of course instantly fueled speculation that the soon to be jobless Koetter will be joining UM's staff.) He also spoke on the radio tonight about his digits, 305, 954, and 561. What he is referring to is South Florida. It's Canes country, not NC State country nor Rutgers territory. Keeping kids home from the three SE Florida counties used to be much easier for UM, but Shannon unlike Coker is determined to keep them home.

Most importantly the hire is of a historical nature. Randy Shannon is native Miamian. He spoke today about the school and the area and what it means to him. He talked about his ex- teammates and pupils like Rod Carter now the head of UPS in Fort Lauderdale, and Twan Russell from Dillard HS. He spoke of their success in life and why the media's attitude towards South Florida is so wrong headed.

Shannon is also an African-American and he is only the third African American coach to take over what you would call a major program. Ty Willingham is more of a gun for hire so he provides a bad example, but Karl Dorrell who played for UCLA, then coached in the NFL and now is the Head Coach with the Bruins provides a nice example of what Shannon can accomplish. Dorrell has turned around a dying, lifeless program whose potential and past success pales in comparison to Miami's. Randy Shannon has unmatched credibility as a former UM player when he sells the "U" and as an African-American he can knock down doors as a pioneer that should have been knocked down years ago.

Randy Shannon I am convinced earned this job. Unlike so many white coaches who are handed jobs and recycled, Shannon will make the most of his opportunity and return the "U" to the nation's elite.