Positive run, I would say. The University of MiamiTo say the opposite would be an understatement. Dwayne Johnson, balder and more brolic than ever, recently lifted the WWE Championship from his shoulders for the first-time in a decade. Warren Sapp was also inducted into NFL Hall of Fame. Reggie Johnson’s tip-in kept Miami undefeated during ACC hoops. Frank Gore ran 110 yards for a loss while five Hurricane alums made it to the Ravens.
Berry Gordy would not offer a music deal for Miami’s Seventh Floor Crew. But at its peak, “The U”Similar to college football’s Motown Records, it was similar in its music and lyrics. Motown’s Detroit, which fuses blues, jazz and pop-soul, was first heard on the airwaves in the 1960s.
Lewis’ pregame squirrel dance and pompous sermons, as well as 13 Pro Bowls, are all emblematic of the state of the nation. “old Miami Hurricane” swagger. It was just a glimpse at the university’s influence.
The Hurricanes have delivered at least one NFL first-round pick every year for 14 years. Drew Rosenhaus (the most famous and boisterous NFL super-agent in the last 20 years) was a graduate of the school.
Beano Cook, the late Cardinal of College Football. Once known as The University of Miami “the greatest dynasty since Caesar.”It thrived despite the instability of its sidelines caused by constant coaching turnover. Butch Davis used Coral Gables as a pit stop to blazing their own routes to the NFL and USFL.
Sunday’s U-per Bowl highlighted a worrying trend. Negative publicity, poor recruiting decisions and bad luck have swept away Miami’s football dynasty for three decades. The school has only won nine games since 2004, but the most disturbing thing is the slowing of their inflow of NFL-caliber players.
Vilma, Gore and Ed Reed are among the many active Hurricanes with Pro Bowls. Graham and Beason, however, are the only under-30s.
Brandon McGee, cornerback will be lucky if the Canes draft him in April. Apart from Reggie Bush’s impending retirement, the Cane has lost his talent.
How did they get there? First, Randy Shannon, a former coach, began recruiting student athletes who could meet rising academic standards. Donna Shalala was the University President and made Suntan University the Stanford University of the South. The result for football was just as disastrous as Motown Records’ move to Los Angeles.
Shannon’s 2008 highest-ranked recruiting class plunged the Hurricanes into deeper trouble. The 2008 class included Travis Benjamin, Marcus Forston and Tommy Streeter. Jacory Harris, Arthur Brown, Brandon, Jacory Harris, Sean Spence and Travis Benjamin. However, none of these players made an impact on the NFL.
Brown, 2008’s number one recruit. Brown, 2008’s No. 1 linebacker recruit, drew Ray Lewis comparisons. He is expected to be a potential first round pick but he transferred to Kansas State. After Shannon pressured Arthur to make a decision quickly, his younger brother Bryce dropped Arthur’s soft verbal to Miami in 2009.
Shannon Lesean McCoy lost her commitment to Larry Coker when Shannon was ousted by Shannon. Eli Rogers, Miami Northwestern prep receiver and All American quarterback Teddy Bridgewater made the move to Louisville after Shannon’s dismissal.
Shannon’s recruiting strategy has been a bit off the mark for the past two years. Miami signed zero of the 21 high-achieving four- or five star prospects from the Greater Miami Area in the 2011 class. Florida signed nine of the high-school prospects at four- and five-star universities in the area, while Florida State signed eight.
Motown Records has been defunct and The U is still alive. Ray Lewis may go off to glory as an NFL champion but, barring a dramatic turnaround, he might still be carrying his alma matter’s gridiron glory days.
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