University of Miami’s embattled football coach Al Golden remains down below on a sideline but metaphorically in a rowboat, by himself, bailing water.
Saturday’s extremely necessary Hurricanes victory — 30-20 over visiting Virginia Tech — didn’t repair the leak for Golden. It only slowed it and gave him the reprieve. It only makes the bailing a little easier for a little while.
Easier than it was last week, for example, when a loss at Florida State left Golden 0-5 at Miami against UM’s biggest rival.
And easier than it will be next weekend, for another example, unless Golden can find a way to beat No. 5 Clemson in what would be the coach’s elusive real “signature” win, not a signature reprieve win to keep his boat afloat. With a Clemson win, he can finally begin to quell his critics (maybe).
At the air space above Sun-Life Stadium, with an eventual 50,000 plus in attendance, there had been the typical pregame flyovers again here Saturday, only, this time the usual planes pulling the patriotically treasonous anti-Al Golden banners were countered by other planes pulling pro-Golden banners — a clear escalation of war between the world’s two smallest, but warmongering air forces.
Some were circling like buzzards do, looking for something dead or dying below, perhaps at a weary Al Golden or at Butch Davis clamoring at his old gig for a desperate shot of redemption to return Miami to greatness. Others were circling in a show of faith: rescue planes.
There were no midair mishaps seen, other than that one snarky anti-Golden banner of "MAKE MIAMI GREAT AGAIN -- Butch Davis 2016" being obliterated in a blindside hit by a flame-throwing pro-Golden drone fueled by a bribe from UM Administration and Marlins Man. That particular banner was never seen again and hardly anyone ever got to see it. Such a marriage of convenience between those two; UM Administration and a powerful FSU booster. These two powers have taken out 2 banners, including the first one at Doak Campbell stadium in Tally. We know FSU's Joseph Johnson was bribed with specific remuneration, but not sure whether WEZ honchos' operatives really got knocked out of the skies above Sun-Life or it was done by a pre-arranged bribe and lay down. One has to wonder if that banner calling for the return of Butch Davis and Miami greatness will ever see the light of day in the sky above, or it was damaged beyond repair. Hello Clemson.
At one time, it even looked like the air space in Syria, with American and Russian fly overs. The Americans bomb ISIS Jihadists and 1 hospital here or there, while the Russians bomb every thing on the ground resisting the oppressive Assad regime, including American-funded and trained fighters. The flyovers at Sun-Life weren't anything close to a proxy air war between super powers, but the pre-game air battles were anything but lame in fighting for air supremacy in forging UM next move.
The University of Miami now is 4-2, and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where somehow winning the Coastal Division to reach the ACC title might be the one Golden ticket, his get-out-of-jail-free card in terms of this coach keeping his boat afloat for another year.
Saturday’s triumph was big and important and good enough, but it was not a domination or thoroughly impressive. That made it the perfect result for the South Florida Association of People Who Rent Small Planes and the powers who hire these mercenaries — a result that both restores some faith in Golden but leaves the doubts hanging.
The Golden haters are denying themselves the simple joys of being a fan if they can’t let themselves feel good about a conference win because a home loss would have raised the water level in Golden’s boat and made the bailing harder, if at all.
Back in the day, fans rooted for teams and seasons, not against coaches.
Now, though, in this climate, beating FSU or Clemson matters in a way that a perfunctory win over the average Hokies does not, except that every game is precious when there are only 12. The game at Cincinnati had nobody’s attention until Miami lost it, right?
There was much to like about Saturday’s game that drew 50,787 fans.
Mainly quarterback Brad Kaaya, who passed for 296 yards and was at his best when he had to be, when the leads grew small and the result seemed in doubt.
“Made some big throws when we needed it,” as Golden put it afterward. “Obviously, Brad’s stepping up his game right now.”
And mainly the defense, too, with its four takeaways Saturday, including two interceptions by Artie Burns. Miami had no turnovers in the game and is now an ACC-leading plus-13 this season on turnovers/takeaways.
“We’re protecting the ball,” Golden noted. “We’re developing a culture of that.”
Issues remain, of course, and these tend to be why UM falls short against better opponents.
The Canes still are woeful in the red zone, at making the most of opportunities. Four field goals Saturday were evidence, including one after UM had first-and-goal at the 2 and somehow failed to reach the end zone.
Stuff like that might not hurt you against Virginia Tech; but it’s probably a killer against the Noles or Clemson next week.
Penalties also continue to bedevil the Hurricanes, including but not limited to an unsportsmanlike-conduct call against Rashawn Scott after his late touchdown catch.
Golden, not happy, huddled his team captains after the game and admonished them to take charge of disciplining themselves when it comes to “control” penalties such as that last one.
“They’ve got to own it, because right now it’s sloppy,” the coach said. “For Rashawn Scott to get an unsportsmanlike-conduct like that after a touchdown is a poor reflection on our team and on me, and we’ve got to get it right.”
It’s interesting right now, the dynamic of being a Hurricanes football fan and the emotions pulling in opposite directions for some. The conflict is why you see those competing little air forces pulling those banners of vitriol and support.
Hurricanes fans on either side of those banners need to decide whether next Saturday they’ll be rooting for Miami to score a huge upset over Clemson, or whether their obsession with getting rid of Golden and returning Miami to greatness will weigh more and make them decide a loss serves the greater good.
Saturday’s extremely necessary Hurricanes victory — 30-20 over visiting Virginia Tech — didn’t repair the leak for Golden. It only slowed it and gave him the reprieve. It only makes the bailing a little easier for a little while.
Easier than it was last week, for example, when a loss at Florida State left Golden 0-5 at Miami against UM’s biggest rival.
And easier than it will be next weekend, for another example, unless Golden can find a way to beat No. 5 Clemson in what would be the coach’s elusive real “signature” win, not a signature reprieve win to keep his boat afloat. With a Clemson win, he can finally begin to quell his critics (maybe).
At the air space above Sun-Life Stadium, with an eventual 50,000 plus in attendance, there had been the typical pregame flyovers again here Saturday, only, this time the usual planes pulling the patriotically treasonous anti-Al Golden banners were countered by other planes pulling pro-Golden banners — a clear escalation of war between the world’s two smallest, but warmongering air forces.
Some were circling like buzzards do, looking for something dead or dying below, perhaps at a weary Al Golden or at Butch Davis clamoring at his old gig for a desperate shot of redemption to return Miami to greatness. Others were circling in a show of faith: rescue planes.
There were no midair mishaps seen, other than that one snarky anti-Golden banner of "MAKE MIAMI GREAT AGAIN -- Butch Davis 2016" being obliterated in a blindside hit by a flame-throwing pro-Golden drone fueled by a bribe from UM Administration and Marlins Man. That particular banner was never seen again and hardly anyone ever got to see it. Such a marriage of convenience between those two; UM Administration and a powerful FSU booster. These two powers have taken out 2 banners, including the first one at Doak Campbell stadium in Tally. We know FSU's Joseph Johnson was bribed with specific remuneration, but not sure whether WEZ honchos' operatives really got knocked out of the skies above Sun-Life or it was done by a pre-arranged bribe and lay down. One has to wonder if that banner calling for the return of Butch Davis and Miami greatness will ever see the light of day in the sky above, or it was damaged beyond repair. Hello Clemson.
At one time, it even looked like the air space in Syria, with American and Russian fly overs. The Americans bomb ISIS Jihadists and 1 hospital here or there, while the Russians bomb every thing on the ground resisting the oppressive Assad regime, including American-funded and trained fighters. The flyovers at Sun-Life weren't anything close to a proxy air war between super powers, but the pre-game air battles were anything but lame in fighting for air supremacy in forging UM next move.
The University of Miami now is 4-2, and 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where somehow winning the Coastal Division to reach the ACC title might be the one Golden ticket, his get-out-of-jail-free card in terms of this coach keeping his boat afloat for another year.
Saturday’s triumph was big and important and good enough, but it was not a domination or thoroughly impressive. That made it the perfect result for the South Florida Association of People Who Rent Small Planes and the powers who hire these mercenaries — a result that both restores some faith in Golden but leaves the doubts hanging.
The Golden haters are denying themselves the simple joys of being a fan if they can’t let themselves feel good about a conference win because a home loss would have raised the water level in Golden’s boat and made the bailing harder, if at all.
Back in the day, fans rooted for teams and seasons, not against coaches.
Now, though, in this climate, beating FSU or Clemson matters in a way that a perfunctory win over the average Hokies does not, except that every game is precious when there are only 12. The game at Cincinnati had nobody’s attention until Miami lost it, right?
There was much to like about Saturday’s game that drew 50,787 fans.
Mainly quarterback Brad Kaaya, who passed for 296 yards and was at his best when he had to be, when the leads grew small and the result seemed in doubt.
“Made some big throws when we needed it,” as Golden put it afterward. “Obviously, Brad’s stepping up his game right now.”
And mainly the defense, too, with its four takeaways Saturday, including two interceptions by Artie Burns. Miami had no turnovers in the game and is now an ACC-leading plus-13 this season on turnovers/takeaways.
“We’re protecting the ball,” Golden noted. “We’re developing a culture of that.”
Issues remain, of course, and these tend to be why UM falls short against better opponents.
The Canes still are woeful in the red zone, at making the most of opportunities. Four field goals Saturday were evidence, including one after UM had first-and-goal at the 2 and somehow failed to reach the end zone.
Stuff like that might not hurt you against Virginia Tech; but it’s probably a killer against the Noles or Clemson next week.
Penalties also continue to bedevil the Hurricanes, including but not limited to an unsportsmanlike-conduct call against Rashawn Scott after his late touchdown catch.
Golden, not happy, huddled his team captains after the game and admonished them to take charge of disciplining themselves when it comes to “control” penalties such as that last one.
“They’ve got to own it, because right now it’s sloppy,” the coach said. “For Rashawn Scott to get an unsportsmanlike-conduct like that after a touchdown is a poor reflection on our team and on me, and we’ve got to get it right.”
It’s interesting right now, the dynamic of being a Hurricanes football fan and the emotions pulling in opposite directions for some. The conflict is why you see those competing little air forces pulling those banners of vitriol and support.
Hurricanes fans on either side of those banners need to decide whether next Saturday they’ll be rooting for Miami to score a huge upset over Clemson, or whether their obsession with getting rid of Golden and returning Miami to greatness will weigh more and make them decide a loss serves the greater good.
