Games have nothing to do with it. Had he been a 3 year starter and not come back for his senior year most, if not all, of these same desperate, miserable ******** would be chatting the same ****. I’ve pointed it out for years: a lot of fans hate athletes.
They are a jealous lot. Miami is not immune from this scourge. Their personal caste system puts athletes beneath them and any relationship beyond a version of chattel servitude is incomprehensible. No agency, no self-determination, just “you owe me”; and, worse, I’m not paying you.
They don’t begrudge baseball or hockey or tennis players or golfers … but football and basketball players? “who the **** do they think they are?”
Jimmy Graham 13 Games.
Greg Rousseau 15 Games.
Ed Reed 45 Games.
All Canes.
Go HOF dey asses, GR15!
You lost me by including Jimmy Graham in there with "13 games." Graham played in 120 NCAA basketball games with Miami across his chest and a U on his back. Not recognizing that diminishes his contributions to the university.
Beyond that, it is fair to say that
some people are miserable and would have cried even if GR15 played a full season in 2020 at or near the same level as he did in 2019 then abruptly turned pro with 2 seasons of eligibility left. But had he played this season and then decided to forgo his last two seasons of eligibility for the NFL draft, I honestly believe a lot more fans would have supported that decision. If you read this forum and the recruiting forum (and I know you do), many of us were already counting GR15 as a goner
after this season (expecting an encore to his incredible 2019 season), so there is support for the notion that had he done so the cacophony of ignorant "boos" would have been silenced by an overwhelming wave of cheers.
Regardless, as an alumni, my loyalty is to UM above any individual player. The Program is bigger than Ted Hendricks, George Mira, Melvin Bratton, Jim Kelly, Micheal Irvin, Bennie Blades, Ken Dorsey, Russell Maryland, Gino Torreta, Warren Sapp, Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Ed Reed, Ottis Anderson, Sean Taylor, Calais Campbell, Frank Gore, Jim Dooley, Edgerrin James, Ray Lewis, Cortez Kennedy, Jon Vilma, Dan Morgan, or Jerome Brown. It is bigger than any individual player because it encompasses every player and their individual contributions and sacrifices to the program. And it sure as **** is bigger than GR15.
Of course, he's still a Cane. Nobody should be trying to take that away from him (nor can they, honestly). But neither should we kid ourselves that all contributions and sacrifices to the program are equal. Leaving now, after an injury-shortened RS season and one incredible RS FR season, it is fair to point out his contributions and sacrifices do not measure up to the men listed above.
But he is absolutely entitled and within his rights to take advantage of the ability to opt out, sit the season, and then go out and become a millionaire in next year's draft. Wherever he is playing, I will wish him success. I am of the opinion that this move will (rightfully) cost him money on his first NFL contract (because I believe in GR15 and I am confident that had he played he would have solidified himself as the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2021 NFL draft, whereas his actions have allowed an opening for others to take that crown on the field this season). No matter where is drafted (unless he's the first edge rusher off the board and drafted in the top 3), we'll probably never know for certain.
I still hope he goes somewhere in the first round. And I'll cheer him on come Sundays, sure. But, no matter what he does in the NFL, IMO he'll never be a UM Ring of Honor worthy player. For some players that sort of thing matters, for others it doesn't. My guess is GR15 falls into the latter category anyway.