Miami Hurricanes: Did They Hit a Home Run by Hiring Al Golden?

Miami AD Kirby Hocutt promised a home run hire to replace Randy Shannon.

Is Temple's Al Golden enough splash?

For some Hurricanes' fans it won't be enough. Some will feel it's not much of an upgrade over Shannon.

Oh how wrong they are.

You could easily make the argument "The U" outdid Florida, which hired Texas DC Will Muschamp a day earlier.

Golden has five years head coaching experience at Temple, which was 0-11 when he took over. He led the Owls to a 8-4 record this season, but were shockingly not invited to any of the 680 bowl games played between Dec. 18 and Jan. 10.

Golden has long been considered the top choice to replace Penn State's Joe Paterno, but the 83-year-old coach doesn't have any plans to retire any time soon. Golden could still bolt for PSU in the future, but apparently he convinced Hocutt he was committed to returning Miami to its glory days.

Another reason to like Hocutt's choice is Miami has always done well with sort of a no-name arriving on campus. When Jimmy Johnson arrived from Oklahoma State there were a lot of people scratching their heads after that hire. The JJ hire worked out just fine.

When Johnson left for the NFL, the Hurricanes spurred convention and brought in Dennis Erickson, who was just 12-10-1 after two seasons at Washington State. Erickson won two national championships, but also shoulders much of the blame for the lawlessness and cockiness that became the face of the Hurricanes.

Still, if Golden can bring back some of the magic, it would be hard to say Hocutt didn't hit the home run he promised.