From Unbeateable to Rebuilding: The Miami Hurricane Story

While some fan bases out there are delusional and think there program can do no wrong, Miami fans don't fit that bill.

If you ever come across a true Miami Hurricane fan they will never talk about goals like winning a conference title, going to a bowl game, or " improving", there is only set of goals: To run the table and win the National Championship.

While winning a National Title for most is far beyond their wildest dreams, Miami fans always add the running the table. This is added because there has never been an instance where Miami has been given the benefit of a doubt in a tie breaker type situation, they always have earned their position by winning big games on the field.

Most know the story of the Miami program. How the Hurricanes came from out of no where by taking series against the big boys, usually playing two games at "their place" just to get teams on the schedule, to going on the greatest run in the history of college football and a team no one wanted to play anywhere.

While in the 90's the NCAA tried to put Miami down for the count, and most of the charges were serious and the Miami program was guilty of, Miami tradition was already in place and by 2000 the Canes were already on another run.

Sure there were some pained periods over the probation period like all of the reduced scholarships, the big losses which Miami fans hadn't seen in over 20 years, and not even a whiff of a National Title game, but the Canes rebuilt as they had done before, getting top level talent from their own backyard and dismissing what the "experts" who do recruiting rankings said.

The run ended with a National Title and a streak of 34 wins. In the midst of this came the departure of not just coach Butch Davis but of what got Miami there in the first place, and that's what we are going to look at here, how and why it all happened.

Before my Cane brethren stomp me for this, I just want to add that I think the program is headed back to prominence and I think running the table and winning the National Championship not only can, but WILL happen in the next three years.

1) The Hiring of Larry Coker

While Larry Coker was and is a player's coach, he was never a fans coach. He didn't have the head coaching experience and as Miami had sent their head coach to the Pro's four times in a row, the fans wanted a bigger name. Many of the big names considered turned Miami down and Coker was "settled" on.

Most Miami fans never liked Coker as the offensive coordinator. While outsiders can say he was part of the program and an insider, Coker was never considered as such by the Miami community. Cokers play calling as OC were controversial for years.

Coker also wasn't a strong disciplinarian, something that a team of superstars needs. While Miami had seen things get out of hand in a hurry during the Erickson era, they felt that because Coker was already part of the program, the players would respond to him.

2. Poor Recruiting

While Butch Davis can find a diamond in the rough and can make a guy no one wants the next NFL first round pick, Larry Coker wasn't born with the same gift.

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