Comparing 2007 to 2006 and 1997

Without a doubt this season is one of the worst in the recent history of the program. It should be the outright worst however as UM is more lacking in talent than anytime since the late 1970s. Miami has two losses this season that are arguably worse than any other losses by the program since the late 1970s when you consider the level of opposition.

But another factor that plays in the favor of the 2007 team not being UM's worst recent team is that they went to Tallahassee and beat FSU whereas the 1997 team lost 47-0. Now Florida State is of course not as good as it was in 1997 but still is one of the more talented teams in the nation. Just ask Alabama or Boston College. Florida State can beat anyone in America, including perhaps Florida in a few weeks yet Miami somehow managed to beat them. The same can be said for Miami beating Texas A&M at a time when A&M still had hope for the season. Now the Aggies have quit on their team and their staff as Coach Fran is being almost undoubtedly shown the door after the season.

In 1997 like 2007 Miami played a lot of true freshman. In 2006, Miami played a few true freshman and boasted a completely lethargic offensive. Rich Olsen who had been a solid coordinator under Dennis Erickson had trouble running the offense to the demands of Larry Coker, who wanted to cycle receivers and running backs while not using some of the 3 receiver and H-back sets that were hallmarks of Erickson's offense.

In 1997 the team made up largely of freshmen and others who had been recruiting during the dying days of Erickson era wasn't competitive against better opposition, but unlike this year's team was able to blow out the lesser teams in Big East such as Rutgers and Temple. The 2006 team boasted a much better defense than 1997 or 2007. The loss of Jon Beason and Brandon Merriwhether are painfully obvious in 2007 as Miami's defense has completely collapsed late in games.

The 2007 team much like the 1997 team has a stable of young Running Backs who could take the program to the next level. Four backs on the 2007 Miami team could start for most teams in America. Yet Miami's 2007 team doesn't feature a single player at another skill position who would start on a Top 25 team. That wasn't the case in 1997, when Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss and Bubba Franks all began their ascent into the lore of the Miami program and to successful NFL careers.