... and WE'RE the renegade program?

Two days ago, the sky was falling and all fingers were pointed directly at Miami regarding the four suspension. College football fans were coming out of the woodworks to chastise The U and its "renegade program." Four suspensions of two starters and two back ups. One suspension (Tyrone Moss) confirmed for missing study hall in January.

A day later, a REAL bomb dropped in Norman, Oklahoma. Starting QB Rhett Bomar and starting offensive guard J.D. Quinn were booted from the Sooner football program for accepting a "large amount of money for a small amount of work" at a Norman auto dealership.

Fringe benefits = adios, muchachos.

It should also be noted this is the same auto dealership who "loaned" a Lexus to starting TB Adrian Peterson last season. Peterson possessed the car for several weeks in what was referred to as a "test-drive" when it was returned.

Media coverage was definitely prevalent on Wednesday when news broke - but in no way was it at mean-spirited or attacking as what Miami endured Tuesday for the suspension of four players.

The Canes didn't break the law. The NCAA didn't come down on the program - as they would OU for the extra benefits Bomar and Quinn accepted. Make no mistake, their being booted was a pre-emptive move by the university. Take care of the situation on their own before the NCAA gets involved and starts snooping. The last think OU wants is the NCAA looking into this car dealership situation - especially with Peterson's name tied to it for his 'rental car.'

On Wednesday's edition of "Around The Horn" on ESPN, journalist-hack Jay Mariotti called Miami a "renegade program."

I didn't know that missing study hall deemed one a "renegade."

Someone needs to remind this slug that it's 2006 -- not 1986. No Canes are sporting army fatigues and storming out of bowl game, steak fry dinners. Players aren't dancing a jig every play. Miami isn't racking up 200+ unsportsmanlike penalty yards for taunting. There are no Pell Grant scandals flooding the headlines, either.

Twenty years have passed, Mariotti. How long will you and other media hacks continue to penalize the Canes for past crimes. In case you missed it, the price has been paid. Probation. Loss of a bowl game (1995.) Scholarships stripped.

It was five very down seasons - by Miami's standards. From 1995-1999 the Canes amassed a 40-19 record - including their first losing season (5-6 in 1997) since the 1970s.

The previous five seasons (1990-1994) Miami went 52-8. The won a champonship (1991), lost one (1992) and had an outside shot at a third (1994.)

The five seasons after the probation era (2000-2004) the Canes amassed a 55-7 record. The won a championship (2001), had one stolen (2002) and went to four straight BCS games ('01 Sugar, '02 Rose, '03 Fiesta and '04 Orange.)

For you academic figureheads, Miami graduated 87% of it's football players in 2005 and 84.2% in 2004... so can the 'football factory' comments, already.

A steep price was paid in the late 90s and the Canes have played by the rules ever since. "Renegade program" my ass. Talk about a cliche and played-out stereotype. Look north if you want to find the thugs. That's not present day Miami.

Curious to see how this all pans out the next few weeks. Lots of turmoil in college football right now. As my other *favorite* hack writer Pat Forde mentioned in today's column, the entire ESPN College Football front page was chock full of rather upsetting headlines:

> Auburn sits Blackmon, Sears for 3 games
> Volunteers dismiss one football player, suspend another
> Moss, Moore among suspended Canes for FSU game
> Report: Son of Bonds' surgeon flunked USC steroid test
> Air Force suspends kicker Harrison indefinitely
> Marijuana issue last straw as Utah St. dismisses Davis
> NCAA says bad report cards could cost schools plenty

The headline/photo were obviously the current scandal at OU with Bomar and Quinn.

Call me crazy, but I'll take a coach's suspsension for a missed study hall over every other violation on that page.

Yet, the Canes are the renegades...


.:Canes305:.