With two consecutive outstanding recruiting classes in the books it would appear the Miami Hurricanes could be a national player again real soon.But Miami is still relatively young (while experienced) and Coach Randy Shannon is turning over the offense to a tested Jacory Harris, who is a true sophomore. Defensively Miami should be solid with great team speed and unlimited potential. However, the Canes knack for playing undisciplined could be costly. Another concern is the the turnover on the coaching staff.
With all of that said, the biggest obstacle for UM in 2009 is a tougher-than-usual schedule. Eight of Miami's 12 opponents played in bowl games in 2008. Those teams are Florida State (Champs Sports Bowl), Georgia Tech (Chick-Fil-A Bowl), Virginia Tech (Orange Bowl), Oklahoma (BCS title game), Clemson (Gator Bowl), Wake Forest (Eagle Bank Bowl), North Carolina (Meineke Car Care Bowl) and South Florida (St. Petersburg Bowl).
The Canes also open the season in Tallahassee against an improved, but reeling Florida State following NCAA sanctions.
So if you give Miami wins against Florida A&M (Oct. 10), at Central Florida (Oct. 17), Virginia (Nov. 7) and Duke (Nov. 21)--and let's be realistic UM has struggled with the Cavaliers and Blue Devils--what kind of record could we expect from Miami?
At this point it would be hard to see the Canes defeating FSU, Georgia Tech (Sept. 17), at Virginia Tech (Sept. 26) or Oklahoma (Oct. 3). So we're at 4-4. I'll give them Clemson (Oct. 24) because of the Dabo Swinney effect (similar to Bill Stewart last year) and at South Florida (Nov. 28) since the Bulls seem to dive at the end of the season. Record now is 6-4.
What's left? Two tough ACC road games with Wake Forest (Oct. 31) and North Carolina (Nov. 14). Please, someone tell me how Miami is going to win either of these games? So at 6-6 does Randy Shannon survive another season?
I don't think so.
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2 comments:
man, down on your 'Canes. What about all that talent they've recruited?
Nah, he won't survive. Memo to all ADs: Don't hire the assistant that all the players want. It never works.
A dose of reality hit when I looked at that 2009 schedule. It's tough and they are still a year away from really competing at the level U fans expect.
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