The Nix Factor...

Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel recently bowed out regarding his University of Miami blog and has moved on up to the NFL, now covering the Miami Dolphins.

On his way out the door he left it all on the field regarding The U, giving fans every morsel of Canes-related info he could.

One of his last posts was a recent Q&A with new offensive coordinator Patrick Nix and personally, I’m liking what I’m hearing.

Like the majority of our fan base I still have that “wait and see” approach regarding all things related to Miami football right now. Still, it’s a step in the right direction after our offensive offense woes since Terry Porter’s flag hit the turf on January 3rd, 2003.

Since the 'robbery in the desert', the Canes have sputtered offensively. Brock Berlin was good enough to go 5-0 against Florida State and Florida, but there were still some inexplicable low-scoring outputs during his run. Most notably a 31-7 loss at Virginia Tech, followed by a 10-6 loss to Tennessee at home.

The Ken Dorsey-Andre Johnson-Willis McGahee era, it was not.

Berlin led Miami to a 9-3 record a season later and there were glimmers of offensive firepower. A thrilling 41-38 comeback against Louisville proved to be the high point. There were also too many moments like the 16-10 loss to Virginia Tech with the ACC crown and BCS berth on the lie.

2005 and 2006 were even more disappointing. The highly touted Kyle Wright hasn’t lived up to the hype. Low-scoring outings had become the norm. Vanilla and bland play calling. No imagination. Few playmakers.

The defense remained amongst the nation’s best, but the offense has now kept Miami out of the BCS for three straight seasons.

Enter Nix. Miami’s fourth offensive signal caller since the 2003 season. The former Georgia Tech coordinator is the lynch pin to Randy Shannon’s rebuilding efforts. Randy knows defense, so that’ll remain a constant – but to get back to championship form, The U needs to start rolling teams up offensively, not just whooping them defensively.

In reading Omar’s piece, the first thing I dug was Nix’s “out with the old, in with the new mentality”. Forget trying to tinker with and attempting to fix Miami’s system. It’s time for something new. 2006 was an abomination and 2005 wasn’t much better. It’s time to inject life into this program with some new schemes, new plays, new signals and new terminology. That’s something Rich Olson promised but never delivered, hence a six-loss season.

Nix sounds a bit optimistic and realistic at the same time. I like that. I get tired of sound bites and headline grabbing quotes. He knows there’s a process and that it’ll get ugly at times, but there’s reason to get excited. Some new plays are proving successful and that’ll help these kids get their swagger back, instead of that faux bravado we saw last season. All bark, no bite.

As for the quarterback situation, he addressed in a straightforward manner. Miami will do what it takes to move the chains, score points and win games. There’s no talk of a quarterback controversy. Both kids will see the field if need be. Should one get the hot hand, expect the staff to ride them until they have a reason not to.

Also, another reason to believe we won’t see Robert Marve redshirt in 2007. With no stability at quarterback, expect the freshman to get his feet wet this year. It’ll get him ready for next season, while letting him make an immediate impact this year.

The cream will rise to the top regarding the three quarterbacks. Better to let them settle it on the field than to make that call based on fall ball. Get your reps against Marshall and make a decision going into Oklahoma.

Nix talked about his senior year at Auburn and his more athletic back up getting more goal line snaps even though as a starter, he put them in scoring position. The greater good of the team supercedes all personal goals and accomplishments.

“Whatever we have to do, whoever we have to play at any position is what the goal is,” said Nix.

Omar discussed Freeman entering games for the running plays, rollouts and short yardage plays with Wright in the game to work the middle of the field and play action ability. In theory, that two-headed monster sounds great, but can it work in reality? We’ll see. I can’t imagine it playing out any worse than 2005-2006.

It’ll take a ‘one at a time’ mentality for Miami if they plan on being in the ACC mix this year. All games are winnable, but will they have the focus and game plan to get it done week in and week out? Again, we'll see.

However it plays out, Nix seems to be saying the right things, making the right moves and getting the kids excited. Combine that with a newly revamped offensive line at the hands of Jeff Stoutland and the Canes' offense could actually turn some heads in 2007.

Someone at Athlon actually gets it...

I usually won't post the work of others here. I feel like I have a pretty good thumb on the pulse of what's going on with The U. That said, every now and again I come across something which I couldn't have said better myself. This is one of those times.

Michael Bradley wrote the following for Athlon Sports this off-season. While I'm not a fan of the SEC lovin' Athlon rag, I am now a fan of Mr. B. A great piece all Cane fans should read.


Attitude Adjustment: Miami's Randy Shannon

The first few times were rather traumatic. If you were on The List, you ran. Right away, no matter what you were wearing. Showed up in sandals, did you? Too bad. Get out and get on the track. Loafers? Man, were you going to have blisters.

From the moment Randy Shannon took over at Miami, where he had earned national title rings as a player and an assistant coach, the program’s short-lived retreat to its dark days as a symbol of bad behavior and excess was over. By the time Shannon had held his first meeting, the ugly events of the 2006 season — on-field brawls, off-field tragedies, arrests, six losses — were long forgotten. The former linebacker had been around during the days of the fast-and-loose Canes, but he wasn’t about to let anything get out of control. That was his message. And his hammer came down swiftly and painfully.

“He set the tone for us to do everything right and not to mess up,” defensive end Calais Campbell says. “If you do, he’ll make you not want to mess up again.”

The first time the Hurricanes met, Shannon read off a list of people who had missed class, training sessions or workouts. It contained about 30 names. Everybody had to get up at that moment and run. Hard. He called that roll of dishonorable mention every Thursday. Soon, the Miami players knew what to do. “After a couple weeks, there were only one or two names called,” Campbell says.

This is no simple win-loss about-face. Shannon faces a rare challenge at Miami. He must bring the team back to its previous high level of success, but he has to do so within a framework that satisfies the somewhat nebulous definition of what a Hurricane is. All top schools have identities that have been crafted over time by coaches, players, and in some cases, marketers. Miami is a little different. No other school is so strongly identified with an attitude. Being a Cane means being brasher than the next guy. It means working harder. And it definitely means reaching back to those who came before you, and once you’re out, staying in contact with those who come next.

Each year, former Miami players descend on the campus to work out or just visit with the current crop. Phones ring in dorm rooms at all hours, and on the other end of the line are All-Americans of days past, calling to remind youngsters what is expected of them. Some schools push the concept of the institution. Miami football is about a dedication to the ethos created by previous generations. “Most people who play here feel like they work harder than anybody else,” Campbell says.

Last year, there was a little too much of that attitude, and Miami’s overall reputation took a hit. The Canes may not have been too upset about the brawl with FIU or former Miami wideout Lamar Thomas’ on-air approval of the proceedings. But the university certainly took a hit. Miami was perceived as an outlaw school, and while that may carry some cachet with certain people, it’s no way to market an institution. When that was teamed with a lack of success on the field (Miami was 7–6 last year), it was clear a big change was needed.

Out was Larry Coker, who had led the Hurricanes to one national championship and within an egregiously late flag of a second. In was Shannon. And in was a new discipline and focus on and off the field that was designed to produce victories and players with character.

“You lose games because of mental slips and by not being disciplined,” Shannon says. “Small things are the difference between winning and losing. If you keep screwing up here and there, you’ll keep losing.”

There is a new emphasis on accountability. “I tell the players, ‘If you can go home and sleep at night, you’ve done everything right,’” Shannon says. Those who suffer from insomnia won’t be playing for the Hurricanes. And there is plenty to play for. Sixteen starters return from a team that excelled defensively in ’06 (seventh in total defense, 13th in scoring D) but struggled mightily to score points.

New offensive coordinator Patrick Nix should inject some life into the Hurricane attack, while Shannon’s defense will again be stout. More important, the Miami attitude will be back, in a form that is productive, not arrogant.

“The guys want to win; that’s all,” Shannon says. “I asked the team, ‘Has anybody here won a championship?’ Nobody raised their hand. I said, ‘I’ve won three.’ I want them to trust me, and we’ll do it.”

Time to stand up and defend the OB...

I haven't said much about the Orange Bowl debate yet, as you've noticed. I've been in 'wait and see' mode as I don't feel that one man's voice is going to make a bit of difference here. But one man's 9:40 second video clip?

It might not change the minds of the powers that be. Money talks and decrepit old stadiums walk, I guess. Still, I hope the top brass at The U sees this and at least thinks twice before sending us to Dolphin Stadium in 2008. At least, that's the latest rumor via Matt Hayes at The Sporting News. Miami will buy out the final year on the contract and head north next season.

A message board poster with the handle CanePhin30 recently put together a pretty sick clip of big times games won at the OB and I got rather nostalgic watching. I saw footage of games I witnessed in person as a young buck in Miami during the Decade of Dominance and the 58-home game win streak. But I also saw recent games where the Canes used every ounce of home field advantage the Horseshoe in Little Havana provided them.



All this talk about the 'glory days' being way behind is pure bull. Whether it was an upset over title game bound #2 UCLA in 1998... 'The Comeback' against Florida State in 2000 (Wide Right III)... the dismantling of Washington (65-7) in a payback game in 2001... another comeback against the Noles in 2002 (Wide Left)... a comeback against the choke Gators in 2003 (38-33)... yet one last comeback against FSU in 2004 (Frank Gore rolls in overtime, 16-10) - to hell with anyone who thinks the Orange Bowl wasn't electric on each and every occasion.

The last two years were a fluke, not a trend. Shame on anyone who wants this stadium demolished in favor of a move north to the vapid, stale home of the Dolphins. Miami will be back. Randy Shannon - player, assistant and now head coach - will lead this team back and deserves to do so on the sacred ground where he's been winning football games since the mid 80s.

If Miami's higher ups want to worry about generating revenue for this program and get asses in seats, make sure this program stays successful and wins more football games. I didn't hear anyone crying the blues about facilities, a run down stadium or money from 2000-2002 when The U was dominating.

You want to make sure the Canes have a decided advantage on game day? Give Randy time to turn it around and keep this team in the friggin Orange Bowl people.

Thank God good ol' Greg Cote is backing the old girl in a recent column. Too bad so many others are absolutely clueless and disconnected from the real tradition which surrounds this holy program. This decision should be left to those who realize it's a Canes thing. Not the folks who are looking to squeeze a dollar out of a dime with this ridiculous notion of moving.

For those wanting to be "heard" you can at least log on and sign the "Save The Orange Bowl" petition. It'll most likely fall on deaf ears, but at least it allow us to speak up. Click here to do so.

Great video, Kenny. Thanks again.


.:Canes305:.

We're movin' on up...

allCanes has been chosen for a new sales & marketing campaign rolled out by the fine folks at Nike. Thanks to the masterminds in Beaverton, Oregon our football program isn't the only bunch with a 'new look' entering 2007. Nike has not only geared us up with all the new 2007 merch, but they also set us up with a brand new Nike-fied way to display it.

Those in town, drop by and check out the new look allCanes....

Biting my tongue...

Miami Baseball got embarassed this past weekend at the Columbia (MO) Regional as a #2 seed. After jumping out to a 7-3 lead in the second inning against #3 seed Louisville, Miami gave up 10 runs unanswered in a 13-7 losing "effort".

The U bounced back against 'mighty' Kent State, 8-7 only to drop their final game of the regional, 8-7, again to Louisville. Between the ACC Championship and the first round of the NCAA Regional, the Canes went 2-4 down the stretch. So much for that whole notion of being "built for the postseason."

I'm not going to harp on how disappointing this 37-24 was or the fact this team was supposed to build on last year's improbably College World Series run in 2006. I've received a handful of emails regarding this team, the coaching staff and the future and I do want to speak my piece regarding Jim Morris. Those out there blaming the head skipper are way off base.

Morris is an asset to this program and has won two National Championships at Miami, matching that of the legendary Ron Fraser. This program has won 13 consecutive regionals under Morris and was in Omaha as recently as last season. This isn't a steady decline and the program isn't in the toilet. It just needs some fine-tuning.

Miami Baseball has strugged to develop players and dominate since guys like Turtle Thomas and Lazer Collazo left the program. No disrespect to the likes of Gino DiMare and J.D. Arteaga, but both guys will have to step their game up if The U is going to get back to it's formerly dominant form.

For now, let's close the door on Miami Baseball until early 2008. Pathetic results down the stretch, but I guess it was bound to happen sooner than later.

Three months 'til football season... thank God.


.:Canes305:.