Miami Football: The 5 Biggest Challenges Facing New Head Coach Al Golden
With spring ball well on its way, Golden has just scratched the surface of a very long season.
He has already handed out multiple suspensions and one indefinite suspension, Senior starting Linebacker, Ramon Buchanon.
This is only the beginning as there are many things Golden faces during the 2011 season.
#5- Off the Field.
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South Beach, beautiful women, and unlimited clubs are the number one concern for Golden and his coaching staff.
Miami is known world wide as the epicenter for the night life.
Remember, these are 18 to 23 year old kids, who not only want to play football, but want to fully enjoy college life before they move on to the real world.
This is where Golden will have to really monitor his young kids.
He will need to keep a tight leash on his players so they don't get out of hand and make the mistakes that gave Miami the nickname, Thug U.
With multiple suspensions on breaking team rules already, he better nip it in the bud while he can.
#4- Remembering the Past, but Creating the Future.
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I know that Golden has already stated that he wants some of the all time greats to come back to bring some of that old school swagger back.
I think it is a great idea, don't get me wrong, but he needs to understand this isn't the same team that Miami once was.
He doesn't have the NFL caliber players like they had in the 1980's and early 2000's.
What he does have is a new breed of players and a team he can call his own.
Golden needs to understand that history doesn't win you championships, it's what he can teach these kids today that will create his legacy.
If Golden wants to succeed, he will need to look back at what Howard Schnellenberger did for Miami in the late 70's and early 80's.
Although Miami is nowhere like they were back in the 70's, their current string of sub-par seasons, sure makes it feel that way.
All in all, Golden needs to remember the past, but push on to the future and he will be just fine.
#3- Bring Back the Swagger.
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Miami invented swagger in college football.
While it was on the field, or exiting the plane in fatigues, Miami was swagger.
In the last seven years, Miami has looked more like a cemetary, almost zombie like.
There has been no emotion, there has been no running around acting a fool.
The looked a lot like thei ex head coach Randy Shannon, boring.
What Golden can do is bring that swagger back, he does it everytime I see him talk.
His enthusiasm has me clinging on every word that comes out of his mouth. He is definitely a motivational speaker and that is exactly what these Hurricanes need.
In order to be the best, you have to play like it, and the only way Miami knows how, is to do it in style.
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#2- Coaching on the National Stage.
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Golden has a big adjustment to make, or so it seems, coming from a Division 1 Subdivision school, the Temple Owls.
There are a lot of questions concerning his resume that people are asking. In fact, some people still don't understand where Golden even came from.
Don't get it wrong, Golden knows exactly what he is doing and has been here before. Not necessarily as a head coach in the Division One league, but as a defensive coordinator.
Golden was DC under Al Groh at the University of Virginia before he took the lead at Temple.
He has been around great coaches in his career, such as the forever lasting, Joe Paterno, at his alma mater Penn State.
So its not as though Golden doesn't have the resume to back it up, but the real question is taking on a program like Miami, that will keep you on the "hot seat" until you win championships.
Only time will tell if Golden is up for such a big challenge at such a great school with tremendous history.
#1- Choosing a Starting Quarterback
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Since Ken Dorsey graduated after the 2002 season, Miami has gone from one quarterback to the next, never really finding one that played very well.
The list includes Kirby Freeman, Brock Berlin, Kyle Wright, Robert Marve, and Derrick Crudup. Berlin was probably the better of the mentioned names, but never was able to lead Miami into the spotlight like Dorsey did.
In the last couple years, there has been even a bigger problem, part time starting quarterbacks.
Randy Shannon did it with Marve and Jacory Harris in 2009 and last year with Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris.
How many National Champions used a two quarterback system? None.
Golden needs to pick a quarterback and stick with him.
Everything in college, especially in a Pro Style offense, is based on rhythm and when swapping out quarterbacks, neither will ever get into a rhythm.
Harris was thought to be the future of Miami football, but after a disappointing Junior year, he is a huge question mark.
Morris on the other hand is a Sophomore this year, with the better arm, and quicker feet.
Problem both of them had are interceptions, combining for 24 last year.
Jacory's 15 is outright embarrassing in my eyes as he was a Junior and Juniors shouldn't be making that many mistakes, not at this level.
Morris had nine, but granted, he was thrown into the mix, halfway through the season, as a red-shirt Freshman.
So now Golden has to decided which quarterback gives them the best chances to win now. They have talent, they just need that leader.
Harris, as of today, is listed as the starter, but Golden has six months to decided if that is the right choice or not.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
