The debate is over whether Golden needs to go. The only question is when.
It’s time the heat is turned up on Blake James, who should have fixed this last season.
Here are some logical reasons why the time is now to make the move.
1) Send a message about the commitment to winning at the U. There is a perception that UM administration doesn’t care about winning. No reaction in response to the worst loss in UM football history only reinforces this perception. During the turmoil of the glory days when Thad Foote questioned Jimmy Johnson about the football team being a good representative of the University, Johnson put him in his place by reminding him about the jump in applicants (and money) to Miami since the football team rose to prominence. Miami is the only division 1 university that uses the football team logo as the university logo. Despite the outstanding academic achievements of the university, when people hear "it’s all about the U", they think about the football program. It’s time the university shows that winning still matters.
2) It will actually help recruiting. Recruits aren’t stupid. They know Golden is done. Any commitments who are sticking with Miami are doing so because they want to play for the U. Others are waiting to see who the next coach will be. Making the move now will start the process of finding a new coach. Besides, we have seen that a commitment really means nothing until the papers are signed. National Signing Day is Feb. 3. If Miami waits until Dec. 1 to make a move, it shortens the time a potential new coach has to recruit. An interim coach can do just as good a job as Golden while the process to find our next head coach plays out.
3) Our chances of winning are better with an interim head coach. Golden’s history shows that he can’t motivate teams after big losses and there is no bigger loss than what happened against Clemson. Everybody talks about what Golden must be thinking, knowing the end is near. But what about the players? Letting Golden go now lifts that burden off of the players and they can worry about playing the game. The second Golden is gone, the players will quit giving their rehearsed answers and we will find out that they knew Golden wasn’t the answer all along. Look at Southern Cal, which was a much more contentious situation. The players have quickly bounced back and played their best game of the year this weekend.
4) Finally, and most importantly, making the move now gives the U a much better chance of landing a quality coach. Blake can openly talk to candidates, negotiate contracts without having a short window with National Signing Day looming. Miami needs the time to make a quality decision; not make a hurried one. Shannon was fired on Nov. 28 and Golden hired on Dec. 12, by all accounts a rushed decision after a great interview. Learn from that mistake. Let's have the job out there for longer than 2 weeks so we can attract quality candidates.
Al Golden is done. The banners should now be about Blake James. Golden’s blind allegiance to Coach D has cost him a job. If Blake James’ blind allegiance to Golden continues, it should cost him his job as well.
It’s time the heat is turned up on Blake James, who should have fixed this last season.
Here are some logical reasons why the time is now to make the move.
1) Send a message about the commitment to winning at the U. There is a perception that UM administration doesn’t care about winning. No reaction in response to the worst loss in UM football history only reinforces this perception. During the turmoil of the glory days when Thad Foote questioned Jimmy Johnson about the football team being a good representative of the University, Johnson put him in his place by reminding him about the jump in applicants (and money) to Miami since the football team rose to prominence. Miami is the only division 1 university that uses the football team logo as the university logo. Despite the outstanding academic achievements of the university, when people hear "it’s all about the U", they think about the football program. It’s time the university shows that winning still matters.
2) It will actually help recruiting. Recruits aren’t stupid. They know Golden is done. Any commitments who are sticking with Miami are doing so because they want to play for the U. Others are waiting to see who the next coach will be. Making the move now will start the process of finding a new coach. Besides, we have seen that a commitment really means nothing until the papers are signed. National Signing Day is Feb. 3. If Miami waits until Dec. 1 to make a move, it shortens the time a potential new coach has to recruit. An interim coach can do just as good a job as Golden while the process to find our next head coach plays out.
3) Our chances of winning are better with an interim head coach. Golden’s history shows that he can’t motivate teams after big losses and there is no bigger loss than what happened against Clemson. Everybody talks about what Golden must be thinking, knowing the end is near. But what about the players? Letting Golden go now lifts that burden off of the players and they can worry about playing the game. The second Golden is gone, the players will quit giving their rehearsed answers and we will find out that they knew Golden wasn’t the answer all along. Look at Southern Cal, which was a much more contentious situation. The players have quickly bounced back and played their best game of the year this weekend.
4) Finally, and most importantly, making the move now gives the U a much better chance of landing a quality coach. Blake can openly talk to candidates, negotiate contracts without having a short window with National Signing Day looming. Miami needs the time to make a quality decision; not make a hurried one. Shannon was fired on Nov. 28 and Golden hired on Dec. 12, by all accounts a rushed decision after a great interview. Learn from that mistake. Let's have the job out there for longer than 2 weeks so we can attract quality candidates.
Al Golden is done. The banners should now be about Blake James. Golden’s blind allegiance to Coach D has cost him a job. If Blake James’ blind allegiance to Golden continues, it should cost him his job as well.
