I was in favor of firing coach Golden after the bowl game debacle against Louisville so I am predisposed to accept anything that reflects badly on his coaching skills. But, in all honestly, I did not see what has become gospel for the board regarding two aspects of last season.
1. The FSU Game
I sit 8 rows from the playing field and it was obvious to me that we came out at the start of the FSU game with the most intensity that I have seen from a Miami team in a long time. This was complemented by a highly agressive defensive strategy and a willingness to take risks on offense. The DL was firing off the ball and shooting gapes. The LBs were playing downhill. The DBs were playing mostly man-to-man press coverage. There was absolutely no read and react going on.
In the second half, we came out and played hard, but the electric, kamikazee intensity was simply not there. After the first offensive and defensive pssessions, I turned to the guy seated next to me and said, "We have just lost this game." He thought I was crazy, but, unfortunately, I wasn't.
When the game was over, it was my impression that dimunition in intensity was the primary factor for the loss. FSU was too good, too confident, too accostomed to big time, second half rallies to beat with less than maximum intensity.
Driving home, listening to the post game show, I was very surprised that so many callers thought that the reason we lost was because the coaches "played not to lose." I saw no evidence of that. I thught the strategy remained aggressive. It was just that we played with less intensity in the second half.
I record the games so I can analyze them in detail. So when I went over the game play by play, I was especially sensitive to look for signs that the coaches changed their approach in the second half to a more conservative, "play not to lose" approach. I never saw convincing evidence that that took place. I just did not see what you saw.
2. The Team Quit On The Coaches After The FSU Loss
Admittedly, we did not played with intensity the rest of the season that we did against FSU, but I think we played hard and did not quit. Case in point:
On defense against South Carolina in the fourth quarter of the last game of a very diappointing season, we made an inspired stop when South Carolina was prevented from gaining one yard on three consecutive plays.
On offence, we put together a 78 yard TD drive in the fourth quarter.
This is not he kind of performance that indicates that the players quit on their coaches.
I just didn't see what you saw.
That does not mean, however, that over time that the player's confidence in the coaching staff did not erode. That may have happened. But I don't think they quit.
This post was edited on 3/20 1:13 PM by timujian
1. The FSU Game
I sit 8 rows from the playing field and it was obvious to me that we came out at the start of the FSU game with the most intensity that I have seen from a Miami team in a long time. This was complemented by a highly agressive defensive strategy and a willingness to take risks on offense. The DL was firing off the ball and shooting gapes. The LBs were playing downhill. The DBs were playing mostly man-to-man press coverage. There was absolutely no read and react going on.
In the second half, we came out and played hard, but the electric, kamikazee intensity was simply not there. After the first offensive and defensive pssessions, I turned to the guy seated next to me and said, "We have just lost this game." He thought I was crazy, but, unfortunately, I wasn't.
When the game was over, it was my impression that dimunition in intensity was the primary factor for the loss. FSU was too good, too confident, too accostomed to big time, second half rallies to beat with less than maximum intensity.
Driving home, listening to the post game show, I was very surprised that so many callers thought that the reason we lost was because the coaches "played not to lose." I saw no evidence of that. I thught the strategy remained aggressive. It was just that we played with less intensity in the second half.
I record the games so I can analyze them in detail. So when I went over the game play by play, I was especially sensitive to look for signs that the coaches changed their approach in the second half to a more conservative, "play not to lose" approach. I never saw convincing evidence that that took place. I just did not see what you saw.
2. The Team Quit On The Coaches After The FSU Loss
Admittedly, we did not played with intensity the rest of the season that we did against FSU, but I think we played hard and did not quit. Case in point:
On defense against South Carolina in the fourth quarter of the last game of a very diappointing season, we made an inspired stop when South Carolina was prevented from gaining one yard on three consecutive plays.
On offence, we put together a 78 yard TD drive in the fourth quarter.
This is not he kind of performance that indicates that the players quit on their coaches.
I just didn't see what you saw.
That does not mean, however, that over time that the player's confidence in the coaching staff did not erode. That may have happened. But I don't think they quit.
This post was edited on 3/20 1:13 PM by timujian
