Well, it’s finally over. The most disappointing season in recent Hurricane history came to a close with a disappointing, but fully expected, loss to Virginia Tech. Coming into the season, the expectations for the program were raised to their normal lofty standards because of the experienced defense and matured offense. Fans still expected to compete for the ACC championship, even though this year was an obvious rebuilding year. (http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/um/story/320593.html) It was not completely surprising that this entire season was mired with dropped passes, inconsistent quarterback play, mental breakdowns, poor coaching decisions, and lack of leadership. We looked like a team uninspired for the entire last half of the season. Even with Kyle Wright’s gutsy performances, the entire team did not have the necessary cohesiveness to be a successful team. Much of the current problems surrounding the Miami Hurricanes can be tied to atrocious offensive performances, though the defense was pretty miserable as well. As fans, we have to support Patrick Nix and hope to find some offensive consistency this off-season. The young offensive talent on this team is overflowing with potential, but they are still very young. It is now time for Randy Shannon and the rest of the fan base to look forward to next season, place our faith with the first returning offensive coordinator we have had in three years, and pray that these kids grow up fast.

Without a doubt, the most deep and talented position on the team is at running back. The three best running backs, and arguably the best athletes on the team, are Graig Cooper (true freshman), Javarris James (true sophomore), and Shawnbrey McNeal (true freshman). James followed up his spectacular freshman year with a disappointing sophomore season, but much of the blame can be placed on the stagnant passing game. He can be a dominating factor on this offence once he gets a strong supporting cast, especially a quarterback who does not constantly turn the ball over. Graig Cooper lead the team in rushing with 682 yards, while seeing limited action in the last few games due to injuries (http://miami.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=&script=content.asp&cid=743601&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=). Cooper has more potential than any player on the entire rooster; followed closely by McNeal, who had flashes of brilliance. Our team will have a three-headed rushing monster. After running back, the offensive positions are cloudy but full of potential. After Kirby Freeman’s horrendous performance this year, many fans expect this job to be Robert Marve’s to lose. He has been receiving rave reviews from coaches and players because of his unwavering work ethic. It has yet to be seen, however, if he can fully recover from the car accident he was involved with during the preseason. At tight end, Richard Gordon is a freak of nature with an uncanny combination of size and speed. He has a year of experience but is still unproven. Dedric Epps began to emerge as a playmaking tight end but lacks the athleticism of past UM tight ends. The receivers have greatly underachieved for the past couple of years, and a dramatic improvement must be made in order to have a successful season. Nevertheless, there is hope for the future. Leonard Hankerson showed signs of becoming a UM great as a freshman. Sam Shields and Ryan Hill both return, as long as they can stay out of Coach Shannon’s doghouse. It remains to be seen what Jermaine McKenzie, one of the most highly touted wide receivers in the last recruiting class, can do because of a pre-season neck injury. Finally, it seems that the line has improved from last year, and building blocks of a dominant line all return. Jason Fox, Reggie Youngblood, and Chris Rutledge all come back but must commit themselves to getting stronger during the off-season. Near the end of the season, Orlando Franklin and Joel Figueroa emerged as young prospects for the open vacancies on the line. Still, all of the lineman must get stronger because there were times when our line would be completely demolished by a stout opposing front four.

There are still a lot of problems that must be corrected as both an offense and a team before this team can reach the glory of past Miami Hurricane teams (http://miami.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=&script=content.asp&cid=743601&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=). Randy Shannon, however, understands and recognizes all of these problems. It will take a few years to mold this team into what he and Patrick Nix want. They understand that the change begins by instilling the right attitude for the team and challenging these young men to reach there full potential. This year was a hard pill to swallow. But at least we all know that the sun will rise tomorrow and next year will be a whole new beginning.



*Sorry about the links but it just wasn't working for my computer.