Shannon by far was the worst hire in History, nothing else comes close.
It was certainly the worst from a logic behind the hiring perspective. In the case of Coker, you promoted a coach from within who had the support of the players while the program was on the rise. I did not agree with it and as noted in this thread, it set off a chain of events that led us to where we are today, but I can at least understand the logic.
In the case of Golden, they hired a guy who turned around the worst program in CFB at a time when there did not seem to be a lot of big name coaches clamoring for the Miami job because Shannon ran it into the ground. Once again, not my top choice but I can see the logic.
In the case of Shannon, there was simply no logic to that hiring. The program was in a downward spiral from perennial national title contenders to the point where they could barely beat FIU and were relegated to lower tier bowl games against teams like Nevada. So why on earth would you attempt to remedy the situation by promoting a coach from the same staff who was responsible for the rapid decline? A coach with no previous HC experience no less. It made absolutely no sense.
Before anyone chimes in because they misinterpreted my point, I am not claiming that Shannon did a better or worse job than Golden. I'm simply pointing out that there was no logic behind the Shannon hiring.
The hiring made some sense at the time.
Coker's buyout was expensive. Funds were limited so it was thought.
Shannon was a former cane player, a local Sofia guy with local recruiting connections. It was so thought.
He was a great college player, very good pro player, and a very good DC here (some would argue it was because of the amazing talent on the team) I think he was a pretty good DC regardless.
But on a more personal level, to me randy was a hero. On that personal level he fought through sh#t that would have crippled most everyone. Iirc one of his brothers stole his identity and at least one of his siblings died of aids resulting from drug abuse. Randy fought through all this and a lot more. To me he was the picture in dictionary of what it meant to be a cane, to never let the world or others define you, to persevere, to struggle and succeed. I was all for the hire.
Unfortunately, as a head coach it seems randy finally got in over his head.
I still have a lot of respect for him. But I remember Patrick nix and a punter at wide receiver, Kirby freeman and the last game at the orange bowl.
Hindsight is based on things you couldn't have seen.
