Reviewing the Classes- The Class of 2005

[DMoney]

We aren't competing nor should be comparing with the other 98% of college athletes and 75% of four star players. We're competing with the 2% and the 25% (which also tracks as we've topped out as a Top 5 team at some points during the past 20 years only to **** it away and usually end up as a Top 25% team with our 8-5 type record over that time) Darryl Sharpton could have played on a lot of teams. Could have played on a lot of 2-10 or 5-7 or 7-6 or 9-4 teams, too, over his career.

He's not at standard here. Comparing him to third linebackers on stacked teams is the mental jui jitsu you've made over the years. idk, I see a pretty distinct drop in quality from Beason (and from Vilma to Beason) to Sharpton and the linebackers that come after him, ranging from higher rated prospect but failed by a coaching staff like Sean Spence or lower rated recruits that also become Sharpton level players like Denzel and Shaq. They are all NFL players to some extent, but the decline in standard is obvious on the macro.

I just don’t like the approach of tearing down our good players simply because they aren’t our great players. Shaq Quarterman fell victim to the same narrative.

There is no question we dropped off with elite, first round players. It’s our biggest issue and these reviews make it obvious. But the early Coker classes in particular struggled because they didn’t layer enough good players like Sharpton and Shaq under the handful of Pro Bowlers.

 

[simplycanes]

I can't tell where this series is going ultimately, but I suspect a gathering with Kool-Aid.

 

[ben]

I can't tell where this series is going ultimately, but I suspect a gathering with Kool-Aid.

 

[Zombie-Cane]

I can't tell where this series is going ultimately, but I suspect a gathering with Kool-Aid.

Given how this series is going, here's who should be serving the Kool-Aid..................

 

[BoxingRobes]

I just don’t like the approach of tearing down our good players simply because they aren’t our great players. Shaq Quarterman fell victim to the same narrative.

There is no question we dropped off with elite, first round players. It’s our biggest issue and these reviews make it obvious. But the early Coker classes in particular struggled because they didn’t layer enough good players like Sharpton and Shaq under the handful of Pro Bowlers.

That is completely fair.

However, I think it shows a lack of bias - at least for this conversation. Every name I listed was a player I liked, was a good 'Cane, productive, and an NFL pro to some degree, and had moments here at the University. We should be happy to have had them and as far as I know they all represent this University well outside of their time here. They werent the reason we were such **** over the years.

But they are examples that show the decline of the standard.

 

[Trav]

"We signed zero quarterbacks, zero receivers, and zero NFL offensive linemen"

How is that even possible? You almost have to try to be that inept.

I also don't remember who Eric Houston was at all. Name does not ring any bells.

It's truly surreal to go from the greatest college football team of all time to this in 4 years. Like I said, almost purposeful ineptitude. Incredible.

 

[DRC]

I just don’t like the approach of tearing down our good players simply because they aren’t our great players. Shaq Quarterman fell victim to the same narrative.

There is no question we dropped off with elite, first round players. It’s our biggest issue and these reviews make it obvious. But the early Coker classes in particular struggled because they didn’t layer enough good players like Sharpton and Shaq under the handful of Pro Bowlers.

Frankly, we would have been a much better team if we had more guys like Sharpton and K. Phillips and less guys like some of the highly rated guys everyone likes to blame (insert the coach) for not working out.

As a fan base, we’d rather rip the guys who gave everything to win so we can say “what if?” on a bunch of guys who quit on the team or were so busy getting into trouble they couldn’t learn their coverage assignment.

 

[DRC]

"We signed zero quarterbacks, zero receivers, and zero NFL offensive linemen"

How is that even possible? You almost have to try to be that inept.

I also don't remember who Eric Houston was at all. Name does not ring any bells.

It's truly surreal to go from the greatest college football team of all time to this in 4 years. Like I said, almost purposeful ineptitude. Incredible.

i read this in disbelief. how does a former OC as HC (or whoever the OC at the time was) sign off on no QB, no WR, and no tailbacks?!

 

[Trav]

i read this in disbelief. how does a former OC as HC (or whoever the OC at the time was) sign off on no QB, no WR, and no tailbacks?!

Yea, you're telling me we couldn't find 1 back or WR worthy of playing at Miami? Even FSU now as awful as they are is getting some guys. UF when they were below mediocre could still get skill position guys. Just incredible.

 

[Zombie-Cane]

Yea, you're telling me we couldn't find 1 back or WR worthy of playing at Miami? Even FSU now as awful as they are is getting some guys. UF when they were below mediocre could still get skill position guys. Just incredible.

This is why I get so angry when I see or hear people taking up for Coker. The man destroyed Miami Football. He deserves less than zero credit for the National Championship. A ******* chimp could have coached that team to a title.

 

[Scrape into the C Gap]

One big thing about this era is Miami thought they could continue business as usual. They were slow to make major upgrades to their facilities and staff resources, and I think it played a major factor in some recruits’ decisions to skip over Miami. By 2005, the majority of the SEC and Ohio State made football an absolute priority. Miami did not.

 

[BigBucksNoWhammies]

Unfortunately, I was apart of this class haha. In hindsight, the signs were there of the downturn, but I had to have that U on my helmet. Is what it is, and I’ll still make the same decision because I had to go through that to get where I am today.

 

[thepfink]

That 2004 Carol City Defense was crazy, Ricky Jean at DL, Willie Williams at LB and Kenny Phillips at safety.

 

[GojiraCane]

"We signed zero quarterbacks, zero receivers, and zero NFL offensive linemen"

How is that even possible? You almost have to try to be that inept.

I also don't remember who Eric Houston was at all. Name does not ring any bells.

It's truly surreal to go from the greatest college football team of all time to this in 4 years. Like I said, almost purposeful ineptitude. Incredible.

Bruce Williams. That was our wide receiver target for 2005. That was our closest near signing.

A three star player.

Who chose Syracuse (6-6) over Miami.

 

[GojiraCane]

Unfortunately, I was apart of this class haha. In hindsight, the signs were there of the downturn, but I had to have that U on my helmet. Is what it is, and I’ll still make the same decision because I had to go through that to get where I am today.

Whoever you are…thank you for going to
Miami. Whatever the record was, I hope that your time there was awesome.

Loved going to UM.

 

[caneingville]

Unfortunately, I was apart of this class haha. In hindsight, the signs were there of the downturn, but I had to have that U on my helmet. Is what it is, and I’ll still make the same decision because I had to go through that to get where I am today.

I just wanted to tell you that I love your username

 

[GojiraCane]

i read this in disbelief. how does a former OC as HC (or whoever the OC at the time was) sign off on no QB, no WR, and no tailbacks?!

The no quarterback situation came somewhat late if I remember correctly. He had a decommitment late in the cycle and could not land anyone else.

I don’t remember the 2005 cycle as well as 2006, but Bruce Williams was a target that chose us over Syracuse.

Spoiler on 2006…

Same thing happened at quarterback. Pat Devlin flipped away late in the cycle.

At wide receiver, we essentially put all our eggs in the basket on two wide receivers. Sam Shields and Preston Parker. Parker chose FSU relatively late in the process.

And spoiler on 2007…if Robert Marve had not gotten upset that the incoming Nick Saban was continuing to recruit quarterbacks, we would have gone THREE years without successfully recruiting a blue chip quarterback.

 

[Negro-Wan Kanobi]

Unfortunately, I was apart of this class haha. In hindsight, the signs were there of the downturn, but I had to have that U on my helmet. Is what it is, and I’ll still make the same decision because I had to go through that to get where I am today.

Just so you know Cane... you're the new @Brooklyndee we're gonna try to guess who you are. Lol

 

[Southtampacane]

Miami hiring Coker in Jan 2001 had such detrimental effects to the UM program that goes much farther than 4 or 5 years. It goes decades. It started a trend that put us in irrelevance for most part for the next 20+ years. It's really sad. I hope Mario and co can change things soon. Every canes fan is starving for more success and another NC soon.

I have no hope of winning a NC any time soon. But maybe an ACC championship and a playoff berth would be nice. We also have to get off this one year treadmill with QB's and develop someone who can stay 2-3 years.