Coach Hayes Show

According to Zo and Mel and even LT, the premise of having former players in those roles is because of the unique culture at the U and the city and surrounding areas in general. Zo mentioned how JJ got it and allowed the players to be themselves but also held them accountable for results on the field - both practice and game day.
Miami isn’t unique anymore so let’s stop acting like we are. That is what got us the last 15 years…we are so far behind modern football because we keep operating with a 1980’s perspective
 
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No decent AD is going to have a football GM. You hire a legit HC, and they aren't going to go for it either. Make strong hires at the crucial positions and you won't need to create additional bureaucracy.
 
Zo said it all in his last answer before he had to leave the podcast.

The AD at the U has to demand excellence from every single individual in the athletic department from the second that he steps foot in that door on a daily basis.

He also added what many of us have said countless times, if your goal is to win the “Coastal” every year, that’s a huge problem right there. It’s a losers mentality. The goal has to be National Championship and nothing less. That’s why our legendary teams were so great. They demanded excellence and held each other accountable, while out working every other team in the nation.
Having realistic expectations isn't a flaw. In today's "Richest Team Wins" world of CFB, a school like Miami has a legit ceiling. Never mind the fact that consistently winning the Coastal means that you should be a solid top 10 team, and with a win in the ACC title game, you should be close to the CFP, if not in it. The difference between 8 and 10 wins is competent coaching. Beyond that, it's talent accumulation and development.
 
On the show last night Lamar brought up the point about why a Really good Coach would want to come here... His point was Miami is not a destination school for Coaches who want to get paid well... We just don't do it here.. With that said things could change but so far they haven't... Richt was our ceiling so far for Coaches at 4M.... And honestly we got a "Alum" discount for him... At that time he coulda got more somewhere else...
 
Miami isn’t unique anymore so let’s stop acting like we are. That is what got us the last 15 years…we are so far behind modern football because we keep operating with a 1980’s perspective
I agree we’re way behind the times, but the culture of the city and the HS players in and around the city are still way different than the average college town.
 
“Fell asleep at the wheel.”

Spot on. The school used football success to line its pockets for it’s pet projects in academics. (Spare me the medical school bs). College football turned into an arms race and Miami missed the boat bc it didn’t care. They could’ve taken the money from sports and invested it into sports, and doubled it. Instead they spent it like politicians, however they saw fit.
 
Why do all players want former players at these roles? That **** aint work at USC and im not a fan of friends taking care of friends. Did not listen to it so I dont know the context of it but I want a real AD with big ties to the SEC, same as a HC candidate. Thats just my opinion on it. Thats basically how I would hire. If u want to get back to winning, and if u have to fire people it wont be difficult cause its not friends firing friends or waiting to pull back the trigger because of friendships.
Amen.......can we just have the former players be fans and show up at the recruiting stuff. What makes anyone think Toretta is ready for that role? We need more on the job training in the administration like we need a shot in the head. Lets get someone qualified that is out there and let them fill the entire staff's role as they see fit. Guys talking about how it used to be in the 80s with no administrative experience, ain't getting it done today.
 
Miami isn’t unique anymore so let’s stop acting like we are. That is what got us the last 15 years…we are so far behind modern football because we keep operating with a 1980’s perspective
unique does not apply to the infrastructure. We definitely need to upgrade and modernize that like Bama has. No one is saying otherwise. Culture is different though. You should here some of the South Florida recruiting stories these guys shared. Enough to even get guys like Saban, Petrino, and Schiano shook.
 
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Why do all players want former players at these roles? That **** aint work at USC and im not a fan of friends taking care of friends. Did not listen to it so I dont know the context of it but I want a real AD with big ties to the SEC, same as a HC candidate. Thats just my opinion on it. Thats basically how I would hire. If u want to get back to winning, and if u have to fire people it wont be difficult cause its not friends firing friends or waiting to pull back the trigger because of friendships.
Dude Swan never worked in NFL front offices. You are always saying we need better player and we will win.... Miami is not going to just start getting all blue chip 5 stars and high 4 stars. One thing Highsmith has done in the front office of NFL teams is evaluate talent. Who better to evaluate some of these high 3 stars and low 4 stars then someone with a talent for identifying talent. Our recruiting would be much much better if we were able to get the RIGHT 3 and low 4 star recruits. Now if you want to give me Dan Morgan I would gladly take that too.
 
On the show last night Lamar brought up the point about why a Really good Coach would want to come here... His point was Miami is not a destination school for Coaches who want to get paid well... We just don't do it here.. With that said things could change but so far they haven't... Richt was our ceiling so far for Coaches at 4M.... And honestly we got a "Alum" discount for him... At that time he coulda got more somewhere else...
I think this is a valid point. Miami was never a destination job. Like the players, it was a stepping stone to the NFL. It is crazy looking at the coaching trees from JJ, Butch, even Coker. We have not had an assistant move up to a prominent career since James Coley. If Blake James were to go and we were to get a real AD, going back to that model would be fine, though it is hard to keep picking winners for head coaches and the odds are you will get a dud eventually.
 
I think this is a valid point. Miami was never a destination job. Like the players, it was a stepping stone to the NFL. It is crazy looking at the coaching trees from JJ, Butch, even Coker. We have not had an assistant move up to a prominent career since James Coley. If Blake James were to go and we were to get a real AD, going back to that model would be fine, though it is hard to keep picking winners for head coaches and the odds are you will get a dud eventually.
So if Blake James said he'll walk away from the Football side of things and allowed someone else to come in and be a Football only "GM" would people still want Blake Fired??
 
So if Blake James said he'll walk away from the Football side of things and allowed someone else to come in and be a Football only "GM" would people still want Blake Fired??
Yes. Unequivocal yes. I won't talk about baseball because of the obvious politics there, but his inattention to basketball has left that program in shambles. I have absolutely no idea what he does on a day to day basis. The guy is less than useless.
 
The more i think about it, the more it makes sense. Miami is a private school. It should take advantage of that by organizing and structuring things as they see fit. Why NOT treat football at Miami like a pro team in terms of management in that regard? You dont have to worry about any restrictions that may come with being a State funded institution. General Manager (GM) over football operations. Responsible for handling the money, hiring and firing etc. and independent of the AD.
And what does a GM of Football Operations do when the HC is in place? Stick their nose into the recruiting?
 
Dude Swan never worked in NFL front offices. You are always saying we need better player and we will win.... Miami is not going to just start getting all blue chip 5 stars and high 4 stars. One thing Highsmith has done in the front office of NFL teams is evaluate talent. Who better to evaluate some of these high 3 stars and low 4 stars then someone with a talent for identifying talent. Our recruiting would be much much better if we were able to get the RIGHT 3 and low 4 star recruits. Now if you want to give me Dan Morgan I would gladly take that too.
Morgan and those boys wouldnt be under the radar anymore bruh its a different time, so me and u will never agree based on that. U guys think those guys will be under the radar I believe they would not be under the radar in these times. Since we have that disagreement we will always have different opinions about it
 
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Have to hire a competent AD who has been apart of good football program. Hiring a former player would be a disaster, you can have Zo in some capacity but he has to answer to the AD.
 
IDK, I thought all of the participants in this show made a lot of sense. Taking a step back, forget about the "Miami Guy" tag. That wasn't meant to imply only an alumnus could bring the program back. The real point of the whole discussion - a discussion that's being had one very fan board and in too many podcasts to keep count - is the same. If the football program has any chance to see real success again, some drastic changes have to happen. It's more than just a new coach, or new AD, as we all know. It has to start with the University acknowledging they WANT the football program to be meaningful again.

Alonzo Highsmith, Lamar Thomas and Melvin Bratton all said the same thing: an infrastructure to support the program has to be established first. Who cares what other schools currently do? As AH pointed out, the Canes used to be trend setters in the sport. That disappeared over the past 2 decades and now Nick Saban and others are wearing that title. Maybe it's time for Miami to step up again and be the first, or one of the first schools to establish this GM position, removing football from the oversight of the AD. Why couldn't that person report directly to President Frenk? or the BOT liaision to athletics? sometimes unique problems require unique solutions.

It's really not a stretch to think that this could be possible. It's creating one additional Admin position within the Athletic department. It gives football the attention it deserves. It means a bit of restructuring - but nothing that is really that big of a deal. It really hinges on how the BOT feels about Blake.
 
And what does a GM of Football Operations do when the HC is in place? Stick their nose into the recruiting?

No. The GM gets the HC whatever resources are needed to be successful. Need more money for analysts? The GM will do what Richt did for the IPF and find a way to raise the money. Need more money for recruiting budget, the GM will find a way to get it done. The GM will know how to actually conduct a coaching search if necessary. The GM’s job will be to focus SOLELY on UM Football and return the brand to its glory days and beyond. The GM will eat, sleep and **** UM football only. From scheduling to ensuring the latest technology to support the program.
 
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