Larry Coker Returning to the "U"

Before we have to send out the police in riot gear, Coker is only returning for one game and it is as an color analyst for ESPNU. Coker will be paired with Dave Armstrong as he is every week on ESPN U's top broadcast team. This should bring the football sense to the broadcasts that were severaly lacking in the last two appearences for Miami on ESPN U where more discussion of the type of tiles in the bathroom and what the event staff was wearing seemed to trump actual coverage of the games.

Coker has broadcast several games the past two years where he's made mention of Miami as "we" and "us." The question Saturday is can he check his obvious towards players he recruited at the door. Will he for example talk about how skilled Bruce Johnson is or how fast Sam Shields is? Or will he objectively analyze these players mistakes and negative impact on Miami's chances? Any anlysis would be better than what we have gotten from Charles Arbuckle the last two weeks or from Ed Cunningham (who did a number of Miami games when we were in the Big East, and CBS owned the Big East contract) against Texas A&M. Quite frankly if Herbie or Jesse Palmer aren't in the building, I'd probably take Coker over anyone else ESPN's family of networks sends to cover games.

Coker ruined the Miami programming with a poor recrutiing stratgey and an inability to police his players and coaching staff. However I want Miami fans tempted to go off the deep end towards Coker to recall the dignity and humility he showed after Brian Pata's murder. Facing a concerted and dare I say orchestrated attack on Miami and everything our players and program stands for from the national media led by his current employer, Coker showed dignity and rallied the team for a remarkable win over Boston College making the Canes bowl eligible. (BC's loss knocked them out of the ACC Title Game) Coker knew he was being fired but his affection for Pata and his concern for his players trumped all personal selfish considerations at time. The national media was barely over the FIU brawl where the Golden Panther players and program (a program that had recently been placed on NCAA probation) were seemingly forgotten by the media in their desire to rip Miami to pieces.

Coker will always go down in history as the coach who ruined Miami. We know that, but this week let's remember him for something else. Something more important than wins and losses.

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