Can Randy Shannon survive 2009?

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.

That didn't take long

Seems a group of Syracuse fans have already made up their mind about new football coach Doug Marrone. The group that started getgrossout.com, have now started a site to fire Marrone just days after he was hired.

That was quick, but not sure I blame them.

Tuberville "resigns" at Auburn

Beating Bama six of the last seven years apparently wasn't enough on The Plains, as Tommy Tuberville "resigned" Wednesday after 10 years as the coach of Auburn.

I'm not sure exactly who Auburn thinks they're going to hire that's better than Tommy Tuberville. Going up in state against the monolithic Tide and their evil master Saban every year in recruiting with a second-hand budget is not going to appeal to the elite level coaches. Although Bobby Petrino might be looking.

Tuberville did sort of aim the gun at his own head this season with the Tony Franklin debacle. Five offensive coordinators in the last seven years while retaining the rest of his offensive staff was just an odd way to run things.

According to the above ESPN article the Plainsmen/Tigers/War Eagles have already made contact with Mike Leach. If you listened to the podcast, this is exactly the type of crap I'm talking about. Auburn figures it's going to have a decent offense come hell or high water - they don't care how good a fit Leach would actually be.

If Leach isn't interested, look for Auburn to hire an offensive "guru." Maybe those guys in California who invented the A-11 should send in a resume.

Interesting developments

With my daughter trying to talk to me through her BabyCall monitor, I'm downstairs looking for anything interesting in college football land. Lo and behold, I found some things. Hope you enjoy.

* I have never been a big South Florida believer, and I think Jim Leavitt is overrated as a coach. However, I'm shocked to learn that there is a website calling for Leavitt to be fired. More attention has been heaped on the Bulls because the past two years they have been impressive enough to crack the Top 10 only to fall apart in the second half of the season. Saturday's embarrassing 49-16 home loss to Rutgers seems to have fired up the fringe USF fans. Leavitt built this program from nothing. Think Syracuse wouldn't take Leavitt? Relax folks.

* It may seem like a gag or some odd trivia questions, but Vanderbilt and Mississippi are both bowl eligible. Auburn and Tennessee, however, are not. What's going on in the SEC? The Commodores are bowl eligible for the first time since 1982 and Ole Miss for the first time since 2003. Auburn's only chance of getting into a bowl is by upsetting top-ranked Alabama. Not likely, so the Tigers will miss a bowl for the first time since 1999. The Volunteers are missing out for the second time in four years.

* I still can't believe it has been more than two years since Miami was in the Top 25. The Hurricanes, following a 16-14 victory over Virginia Tech, cracked The Associated Press poll at No. 23. Miami is very young, but improving with each game. Randy Shannon deserves a ton of credit for recruiting well. Now he must continue to coach them up if they want to remain a factor.

* With all of the coaching changes it seems Utah State's firing of Brent Guy (did you really know he was the coach?) totally went under the radar. Guy went 8-38 and is 2-9 this season. He will coach the final game. However, what's interesting about this job is the Aggies are trying to lure former Louisville and Michigan State coach John L. Smith to Logan, Utah.

* In another coaching change, New Mexico's winningest coach, Rocky Long, stepped down today following 11 seasons. Instead of the normal coach-speak reasons for leaving, Long was very frank. He was quoted on ESPN.com as saying, "I want this program to be on top. I wanted it be on top as a player. I wanted it be on top as an assistant coach. And I wanted it to be on top as the head coach. I don't see it happening with me as the head coach."

Coaching carnage

College football has entered a new era. Four head coaches (and at least one high profile coordinator) have been fired during the season.

With the firing of Ron Prince today, Kansas State officially joined the coaching carousel. The Wildcats also entered the daily rumor mill. The hot target? South Florida's Jim Leavitt, who coached under program architect Bill Snyder. Leavitt hasn't officially denied interest in the position. Instead, he was quoted in the St. Petersburg Times as saying, "You guys know this (South Florida) is my heart and soul. I'm very fortunate to be here. I think it's the best job in the country."

Leavitt to K-State makes so much more sense than many of the other rumors surrounding Tennessee, Clemson and Washington right now. Leavitt built the Bulls from the ground up, but he's taken this program as far as he can get it. He's probably ready for the new challenge on a much bigger stage. Only reason to stay is the better athletes available in Florida.

So the only thing left to figure out? Who's next? Syracuse may announce Greg Robinson's fate real soon, but don't be surprised if they don't wait until after the final game. Auburn's Tommy Tuberville could get an early exit as well if the Tigers can't get two more victories in 2008.

Clearly, some of these coaches needed to go. But other schools could take a lesson from Ball State. Coach Brady Hoke had a miserable first three years (10-24) before the Cardinals finally turned it around starting in Year 4. Since 2006, Hoke's teams have gone 21-13 (which includes an apparent victory tonight against Northern Illinois) -- thanks Nate Davis.

Patience can pay off. Unfortunately no one at the big time programs are willing to wait.

Houston ... We have a problem

Whoever is in charge of game-day management at Marshall should be fired this morning. Why is there a parked trolley that close to the back of the endzone? Might be a good idea to contact legal and see what an appropriate payout should be.

If he's not hopped up on morphine this morning, Houston freshmen receiver Patrick Edwards is probably thinking about the same things. Edwards was having a productive season, but it all came to crashing halt because of a gruesome leg injury on an incomplete pass. After taking about two steps at full speed his right leg connected with the trolley. It made me think of Joe Theisman when Lawrence Taylor put a beat down on him during a Monday Night Football game.

Before clicking on the video, you have been warned.

Too cool Tony

I look at pictures and video of former Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and he looks like so many other football coaches. A bit overweight, scowl on his face and ready to snap. But give him credit for waiting two weeks before talking about his unceremonious push out the door, along with his spread offense.

I thought he would start spouting off immediately. He told an Alabama newspaper he thought it was in his best interest to wait before commenting publicly to make sure he didn't speak out of emotion. What even seems more awkward is that he doesn't seem that upset. I know getting to collect a hefty check and not having to work has its perks.

But football coaches want to coach. Their egos are huge and they all think they can outcoach anyone in the country. Tony is apparently trying to buy back into his football consulting business, the "Tony Franklin System." It was pretty successful before he decided to go to Auburn. Not so sure how many high school coaches will want to pay for his advice now.

Good luck Tony.