You’re not wrong, nor crazy. I posted a similar thread years ago on Canestime (FSUUNC was my name). Of course, those bereft of deeper thought, sought out to derail the thread. I suspect they will do the same here.
This was/is a nefarious plan hatched by both the NCAA and the SEC in an effort to so improve the product (cfb) into a multi BILLION dollar industry. (Notice the salaries of coaches lately?- this was all part of the vision).
Brief history. The (3) Florida schools were either winning or playing for the championship **** near every year, and there wasn’t a damned thing the Alabamas or LSUs nor Georgias of the world could do about it. They had the money, via boosters and the like, but they simply didn’t have enough horses that were “difference makers” (I.e. the Julio Jones’ and Patrick Johnson’s’). In the late 80’s, early 90’s, the powers that be (NCAA, SEC, SEC boosters), tired of the Florida dominance, gave birth to the idea of what we are witnessing today- the SEC domination of the cfb landscape and subsequently, the launching of the SEC network. The thought process goes beyond any particular program’s and/or its booster’s wounded pride in taking a$$ whoopings every time they faced that vaunted “Florida speed”, rather, it simply came down to dollars and cents- Good Florida teams was bad for the overall business of big time cfb. The success of this plan depended on two factors; 1.) securing the absolute BEST (south) Florida athletes and 2.) conference realignment. Ever wondered why we started sucking AS SOON AS WE JOINED THE ACC? Lol.
Now, let’s discuss the methodology used to achieve the first point- securing the top Florida talent. Well first, the obvious…you pay em’. With the NCAA being both the criminal AND the cop in the scenario, there was (and has not been) nothing stopping bags from being dropped. The second prong to this scheme? Cripple the most successful and most desirable Florida school as to make it undesirable to recruits and their parents. (see pell grant scandal, labeling Miami “thug U”, etc.). Miami gets sanctioned and the product on the field eventually suffers. Everyone knows kids want to play for a winner? Miami is losing. Meanwhile, on the cfb landscape, the SEC is gaining steam. Their schedules are favorable and the refs are on the take, thereby ensuring certain SEC teams are in position to be in the championship discussion almost annually. The continued success of the SEC will, inevitably, change the public perception of the SEC and it’s new found dominance. Once the media jumps on board, they unwillingly become a powerful tool for propaganda. It’s a snowball effect…and it’s beginning to ROLL.
Fast forward to the late 1990’s. UF, because of thier boosters and overall size and strength (and SEC membership) had been insulated from the I’ll affects of “the plan”…until now. FSU, because of its boosters and size had been able to stave off the NCAA’s scrutiny for a while, but they are not SEC members, and thus, are NOW feeling the affects of “the plan”. But poor Miami has been fighting these ******** from the beginning. Because of its private status, small size and the fact that we sit right on top of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the WORLD, we simply had to go away….and the NCAA has been the sharp tool used to constantly chip away at Miami’s viability and reputation (the local Miami media, disloyal, pathetic and thirsty for sensationalized material, didn’t mind aiding in the fueling of the National perception of Miami being “thug U”).
The plan is working beautifully. The SEC is rolling, poaching whomever they want, Miami is down and out and the money is flowing in all directions. The Miami brass, at this point, are simply EXHAUSTED with the football program, as they naturally blame the football program for the negative public perception of the university. Enrollment is down, which means money is tight. Things look bleak. The NCAA, seeing a severely weakened Miami, eases up a bit. And although the public had asked the question “should Miami drop football?”…thank god we didn’t because something magical and totally unforeseen happened- BUTCH DAVIS

. Butch was the proverbial monkey wrench to “the plan…and the school’s desire to have the football program “fly under the radar”, as to not suffer anymore potential embarrassment. Butch was so important to Miami lore because he possessed the uncanny ability to identify and develop kids that weren’t necessarily highly rated. The SEC plucked whom they thought were the best. Butch identified the true gems. You all know the rest. 2001, 2002- Dominance. Miami is, once more, on top of the cfb world….and once again, a problem to the powers that be. Something HAD TO BE done. Being as though cfb is basically the “minor leagues” for the NFL, the NFL has a part to play in this as well. The Browns are “encouraged “ to offer Butch (who mind you, hadn’t won anything yet) an offer he simply couldn’t refuse. He is lured away and Miami no longer has this Svengali roaming various Florida high schools. But what if there is ever a coach whom possesses the same ability to identify and develope talent like Butch? What then? Enter the second phase of the plan- conference realignment.
We last played for it all in 2002. Got obviously robbed (NCAA once again turns a blind eye to the injustice), and is immediately facing rumblings of the Big East disbanding. I remember the fear of many on the boards at that time, being afraid of being left without a conference. Some of us said “fck it- we will go back to being independent!”. Fun times. But the powers that be knew EXACTLY what they were doing. They hatched a plan whereby they would ensure that either FSU or Miami wouldn’t ever be in the MNC game, as they would always knock each other out. Beautiful. So here comes the ACC, offering Miami stability and revenue sharing. There’s just one catch- Miami can never feild a National championship caliber team. Miami must not hire a coach ranked above (pick a sh1tty, mediocre number) and must be signed off on by the NCAA. If Miami complies, the money will always flow. Donna Shalala was more than happy to take this deal. Why? Because the university would be able to fund vital programs essential for the viability of the school itself… and the university WOULD NEVER HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SCHOOL EVER AGAIN. No more embarrassment. No more “thug U”. Miami will hire boy scouts who will coach boy scouts. Happily mediocre and below the radar. Everything is fine.
Enter yet another monkey wrench. Randy Shannon. While the mild mannered, Boy Scout the school wanted, Both Miami and the NCAA underestimated the power of the identification with ethnicity. Kids could now have pride in “putting on for their city” as well as having pride in playing for someone who looked like them…came from the same streets…knew their fathers, uncles, etc.. The MNW crew all come and immediately make Miami a viable threat once more- despite Shannon being a sh1tty coach. Once again, the NCAA’s services are needed. (Nevin Shapiro scandal). We didn’t get completely blasted for the Shapiro scandal because the scandal was meant to be a warning to Shalala and Miami. They were stepping out of the bounds and strictures of the “deal”. Enter Golden, the ultimate Boy Scout and the poster child of mediocrity. And the beat goes on.
Folks…I’ll be sincerely surprised if we get Mario or anyone else of note? Because we are not allowed to. That’s why this whole process seems so fck’g stupid and a$$ backwards. It’s all a smokescreen to fck up the timing so we CANT hire a good coach. But we are all blue collar, mouth breathing morons, most of which never attended UM and only care about the thing UM had been trying to disassociate itself from- the football program.
Smart people…search your feelings. You know what I just posted is closer to the truth than anything else you’ve read. To those who have difficulty wrapping your head around this? There’s always the sand i which to stick it….