Good article, Stewart. You understand what many of us down here know: UM is not exactly a conventional program, and its coaching moves follow the same pattern.

After Schiano said no, it seemed that we should give Shannon the shot rather than rooting around among second-tier candidates. I think he'll do a fine job, assuming he finds himself an innovative offensive coordinator (something we've been lacking for several years now).

But as far as the "negative" comments you mentioned, I think that's a really misleading sample you've got. Comments depend on the forum and some are more negative than others. From what I've read, the reacion is positive. Check out the comments on Omar Kelly's blog (he's our local paper's UM beat writer):
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2006/12/the_safe_pick.html#comments

Miami stuck to the formula - hire a coach that will use the role as a springboard to the NFL. It works... look at the facts:

Joe Paterno (38 years) - 2 titles...3 title games
Bobby Bowden (30 years) - 2 titles ...4 title games
Bo Schembechler (20+ yrs) - no titles..1 title game
Tom Osborne (25 + yrs) - 3 titles ... 6 title games

UM string of coaches (1983-present): 5 titles ... 9 title games!

Best of luck to Randy...

Oh, crap -- Here goes Stewart with his utterly unsubstantiated race charges again. Here's a thought: Perhaps Shannon is just like many other talented, successful coordinators who, until now, have not gotten head coaching jobs (e.g., Mickey Andrews, John Chavis, et. al.). There is absolutely no evidence that Shannon's race had anything to do with his lack of career advancement, but by all means, don't let a lack of facts get in the way of a good smear. Congrats to Randy Shannon -- I just hope you have more class that Stewart Mandel.

For race to be implied at all in the case of Randy Shannon is a disservice to college football. Look at the long list of top assistants who wait careers to be hired as head coaches - Gene Chizik, David Cutcliffe, Greg Robinson, to name a few. And a few who haven't - Norm Chow and Bo Pelini. The problem is that coaches always want to make the jump to "big time" without paying their dues. Take Urban Meyer as an example - Bowling Green, Utah, Florida. The chances of a coach leaving a program and taking the reins of a traditional power are slim and the results unproven - Bob Davie being a proven example.

I'm a lifelong Miami fan and I'm pleased with the selection. A good assistant delivers his boss' agenda, and that's what Shannon has done, and he defenses have been stellar.
What remains to be seen is whether he can bring the attitude that Miami needs, not swagger, an overused term evoking false macho bravado, but the will to win no matter what. The attitude is confidence and team unit, and they need leaders. Kyle Wright is not that guy. I don't know who is. I hope Shannon can find him.
Go Canes!

I've been a UM fan since '84 and I have never so excited about a head coach being hired.

Miami fans should at least give him a chance to turn things around before calling for his head.

Mandel makes a good point: Defense is not the problem at Miami. I hope Shannon is smart enough to go out and hire a very innovative OC. If not they will be in search of a coach again next season.

I am never a fan of firing a head coach and hiring someone from his staff. It reeks of "settling." I think Miami simply could not find anyone willing to take the job.

I think this decision is very good, but I'm a little concerned because in hiring a defensive coach, that does not solve the problem of an inept offense. Mind you, this offense has been inept since Dorsey left. So this move ensures that my Canes will continue to produce awesome defenses, but Shannon better hire an amazing offensive coordinator.

Randy Shannon was a great hire! Greg Schiano has had 1 good year and he is a great coach, come on now! Let's see Rutgers program 2 to 3 years from now and see if Schiano is the coach? It is truly amazing that a private school has won 5 national titles in the last 23 years going against its public school brethren is why 'the U' is the most difficult job in America. I know Notre Dame is a private school but their tradition is unmatched in college sports. A large amount of 'The U' fans most likely are not alumni of the school, its the only program that fan base is people who could not afford college and lived a very difficult upbringing or had society look down on them. The U is a perfectly place for a non-white head coach, What took so long?

thats probably the best piece youve written in years. good stuff.

So, the key question is who will be UM's offensive coordinator?

by the way, those names you named were not big name coaches before going to UM. Miami made those coaches big names. lol u just want to hate miami as usual.....

I applaud Miami for making this choice. We don't have nearly enough black coaches in D-1, not that I think black coaches should be hired just because they are black, but obviously it should not count against them. I always think schools should look internally then from the outside when they look for their next head coach and Miami has done that. The U will be back, and I will root for them like I do every year...and this is coming from a Gator fan first, but a state of Florida fan secondly. Go Florida Football!!!

Miami knew exactly what they were doing when they hired Shannon. They wanted someone the media would gloat over and you have fallen head-over-heels for it Mandel. Shannon was part of the problem at Miami, not the solution. Every time a player got a persoal foul, it was on defense. Every time a player got arrested, it was a defensive player. Nothing will chance at Miami. The only thing that will change is now the media will think twice about reporting or commenting on problems because they dont want to be percieved as ``attacking'' a black coach.

BYU fired their head coach two years ago (Gary Crowton) and replaced him with Crowton's defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall. BYU went from no bowl games in three years to bowl games in the past two years. Just because a coach was part of a prior regime does not mean the poor results of the prior regime will continue.

Stu,

Nice article, but I wish you would have also commented on the large number of Miami fans that support Randy Shannon as a head coach. You framed the article around how the fans do not support Randy Shannon, and how you (and perhaps the press in general) DO support Randy. I think he will do great provided he is allowed to spend some money on coordinators.

Since it appears that you support Randy Shannon as the right choice for Miami, how do you think he will fair in “cleaning up” Miami’s Thug U image? Hmmmm….as a writer, thus must be a VERY interesting dilemma, huh? If Miami has the same players, then the behavior problem must have been due to Larry Coker, right? Good luck selling that at face value…..anyone who tries that spin will be exposed as valuing hate over fair reporting. Oh the irony! Don’t trip over the other media on the way to praising Miami and its efforts in cleaning up ‘Thug U”.

SDCanes

Randy personifies class. He's a quiet and strong leader. He embodies everything this program needs... discipline, leadership, energy and passion for the U. To the UM fans who are upset... you will eat your words when he lifts this program back on top!

I'm not sold either way on Randy Shannon but I don't have much negative to say. We know he is a top flight recruiter but recruiting the players doesn't mean anything if you can't coach them. Can he put together a good offensive coaching staff? Time will tell. I won't worry about the defense.

But there is one thig that consistently bothers me about the national media. They keep talking about Miami's failure to land a big name. Well who in the heck were Schnellenberger, Johnson, Erickson and Davis before UM hired them as head coaches. They became and remain big names after the fact. So please start getting it right.

Stewart,
I totally agree with you, he is up to the challenge but unfortunately as a Black head coach, his time to prove himself will be very short. Personally , I was wondering what took them so long to consider him. That being said,I think he is the guy for the job. He knows exactly what he is getting himself into and also how the program works. Also, the players are familiar with him and you mention the "R" word, recruiting and that is the lifeblood of any program. Last but not least, he is a fantastic coach. Look at his numbers and they speak for themselves.

Personally, I applaud Miami for making this move. I just hope that they will give him the same amount of time and patience that they would give somebody else. I doubt it but one can always hope.

Randy Shannon's excellence over the years has proven that he is worthy of this opportunity. In a recruiting environment today where an increasing number of schools are tapping into South Florida talent that Miami used to own, the school need to find a new edge that can differentiate itself from the competition. The fact that Coach Shannon is one of the few African American head coaches out there today could prove to be a key to building a rapport with recruits and reestablishing Miami's dominance in gathering top talent out of Florida. Go Canes!

Anyone who says race has nothing to do with hiring a head coach is very naive. Look at Alabama's situation and Notre Dame's. Race is a fact of life no matter what the profession is. Wake up!

Thanks Stewart for the information regarding the Alabama Board of Trustees preventing UAB from hiring Fisher.

UAB wants to be able to control its own destiny.