Miami Football: Why Hiring Mike Leach and Other Drastic Moves Aren't The Answer

The Miami Hurricanes were dismantled by the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday 45-17, and it was that bad...maybe even worse. 

The Hurricanes put up one of the most underwhelming performances in the history of Miami football, and against their biggest rival no doubt.  As usual, the fanbase and sports media are up in arms calling for Randy Shannon’s head and the benching of Jacory Harris immediately.  The fans should take a minute and relax—the knee-jerk reacting and whining help no one.

We all wanted to believe that “The U” was back, but the truth is we have all chosen to ignore the stark reality of college football. 

The game of college football has changed over the past decade, and it has left the Hurricanes behind.  Fans fail to see the bigger picture here—get mad at Randy all you want.  Firing Randy Shannon and bringing in a head coach like Mike Leach is the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time.  If Leach came in as an offensive coordinator maybe, but definitely not the head coach.  The administration led by Donna Shalala has a clear mission to have clean-cut players who graduate, and carry themselves with dignity and respect on the field and off.

Sure Shalala would love to win a national championship, but her focus is academic accolades and proving that you can be at the top of college football while having a high graduation rate and no arrests.  Her marching orders to Shannon first and foremost were no off-the-field issues, and clean the program up—goals which Shannon has achieved with flying colors.  Why do you think they gave him a four-year extension? 

Back on Leach—people do desperate things in desperate times, and I hope that Hocutt is smarter than that.  If Leach was such a great coach why has he not gotten a head coaching offer from the many that were open?  He interviewed for several jobs, and rather than coaching this year he is enjoying his time off from coaching.  Here is Leach’s coaching record at Texas Tech:

Year    Team             Overall    Conference  
2000    Texas Tech    7–6        3–5         
2001    Texas Tech    7–5        4–4   
2002    Texas Tech    9–5        5–3   
2003    Texas Tech    8–5        4–4     
2004    Texas Tech    8–4        5–3   
2005    Texas Tech    9–3        6–2     
2006    Texas Tech    8–5        4–4        
2007    Texas Tech    9–4        4–4      
2008    Texas Tech    11–2      7–1    
2009    Texas Tech    8–4        5–3     
Texas Tech              84–43     47–33   

In nine years at Texas Tech Leach only had one 10-win season, and three nine-win seasons.  He only won one conference title in nine years, and did not consistently beat Texas or Oklahoma.  Many will say Leach had less talent and would thrive at Miami, but can we really say that Miami has elite talent now?  That is the perception, and it is true at some positions, but the quality of talent is unknown throughout the team. 

Bring in Leach, who may not be able to recruit the state of Florida and has no propensity for putting together good defensive squads, and Miami will end up as Florida Tech.  If fans are complaining about mediocrity, then that is all you will get with Leach as well.  Randy Shannon has only been a head coach for four years, and maybe the Miami job is above his head.  But Leach’s first four years as a head coach are no better than Shannon’s record, so the Mike Leach talk needs to stop.  It’s a lateral move at best.

This administration is not going to bring in a $3 million-a-year head coach, so forget a Saban or Meyer-type coach coming in to save the day.  Miami makes coaches and does not pay them, why do you think we can never keep a great coach for long?  Then they decide to pay Coker of all people?  If you want to see what life will be like after Randy, look at what happened to Michigan when they switched systems.  Unless you get a coach who has a system to match the talent level on the team, then expect to struggle for two or three seasons as the team starts from scratch. 

Maybe Shannon is not the answer, but outside of the top five percent, what coach is going to come in guaranteeing success?  It's all a roll of the dice, and if you are willing to risk three years of exchanging recruits, attrition, new systems and new coaches while the team struggles in hope of winning something in year four, be my guest. 

The bottom line is you have to have the horses to be in and eventually win the race.  The Hurricanes may not have the horses they need to win the ACC race, and changing jockeys will not necessarily fix that problem.  Robert Marve did not prove anything except that he is spoiled, and who is to say he would have worked out here?  Jacory is not the answer although he looked like he had potential last season.  In contrast, what is Meyer without Tebow?  Mediocre.

Drastic moves and changes hardly ever solve problems—Alabama and Florida hit lightening in a bottle.  Name another program that replaced a coach and then all of a sudden was winning national titles.  The Paul Johnson move for Georgia Tech worked for one season, and they sure look like a power house this year (sarcasm).  I bet the probation, embarrassment and NCAA sanctions heading Butch's way at UNC are desirable as well, and for such a great coach he has not sniffed a conference title.

For all the panic and complaining this team can still win the ACC, and make a BCS game.  Should they pull it off, then that may redeem Shannon and prove he is worthy of being the coach of this team. 

One thing is for sure, no coach will ever take a demotion.  If that is put on the table Shannon will leave the program.  Good luck finding good coordinators for the paltry salary Miami pays its assistants. Mark Stoops (FSU def. coordinator) makes more money than Randy Shannon.  If Miami is a big-time program they need to pay to get the coaches that will make them one. 

Until then, good luck attracting anyone big-time to come to Coral Gables.