Besides the obvious of guys having fun, what you see genuinely reflected in the facial expressions and body language of every player in this photo is comradery, unity, togetherness, and sense of family that hasn't been seen in a Miami Hurricanes team in a looooong time. I don't know how many of you have been on a really tight close knit team, but
- it's the type of bonding that occurs when teammates love each other like brothers that they would literally(*and i don't mean figuratively) sacrifice their life for one of their brothers on or off the field.
- Its the type of bonding that occurs that in the heat of battle where you know the guy beside you that has been grinding, sweating, getting up early, doing s#!t he hasn't been wanting to do but is doing for the betterment of the team, is going to come through to make that play. *I think i remember some hurricane lore about the whole team running gassers with someone who was trying to get in shape.
- Its the type of bonding that occurs when there is 100% unfettered honesty between teammates that allows leaders to emerge:
- The I'm hurt speech where Ed Reed said, "I'm putting my heart into this." couldn't have happened if he had a bunch teammates that didn't give a fck about each other. The 2011 Canes come to mind as guys that didnt give a fvk about each other. Even though they were extremely talented they went 7-6 losing each games by less than td. They didnt give a **** about each other
- I think leaders on this team emerge this year and are solidified going to next. A leader doesn't have to be rah-rah fire em up but has to have success on the field. Other guys have to want to follow them. Kaaya and Quan are my favorites to emerge this year on solidify in 2016.
- Its the type of bonding that occurs when there is 100% unfettered honesty between teammates that is needed to not be selfish. Lets face it, all these guys are chasing a dream and they are so very very close, just one more step away from achieving it. That creates a huge amount of pressure to perform, especially in big time games with top talent match ups. So with that pressure to perform and with dreams that are so closed to being achieved still hanging in the balance there is the urge to become "the Star Player." What I mean is a player trades in his discipline, and assignment football to make the play for his glory instead of the team. For example, say an MLB ignores his assigned gaps to make the tackle in the assigned gaps of the SLB. As soon as the OC for the opposing team sees this he will adjust his play calling (e.g. cutback run in a zone scheme) to take advantage of the over eager "Star" MLB and expose the area where the MLB should have been playing his assignment.
- Its the type of bonding that occurs that allows players to move mountains to make their coaches proud of them. If Golden gets these guys to want to move mountains for him there will be no unmotivated play in games this year.
- Finally, its the type of bonding occurs that allows collective failure to linger in the back of everyone's minds and to motivates the team as a whole to not want to taste that ever again doing everything possible to get better.
Let me lay this out flat. With how much the team invested emotionally in this game last year, when we march into that hostile environment known as Doak Campbell and if we get a W; Watch. the Fvck. Out. The self-confidence and erasure of doubt derived from that W will awaken a sleeping giant. The Dukes, GTs, Pitts, and Uva are finished.
Last edited:
