The presence of sports on the Miami campus, and many college campuses throughout the US is not there for the benefit of the peripheral fans. It's there for the benefit of both the students and the student athletes. the phenomenon that WAS the Cane football team of years gone by will NEVER be replicated. the big, powerhouse, universities with deep pocket alumni and other donors, can certainly buy the teams and win the games, but they can never replicate what happened at the little college in Coral Gables.
And here's the truth many fans refuse to accept.....neither can the Canes. Try to understand that things that are truly remarkable rarely come along more than once in a lifetime, if at all. for those that have been there since the 60s this is all too true. we saw it all. we bore witness to the magic. we were the lucky ones.
When the cost of pursuing the level of exceptional excellence becomes untenable the pursuit, itself, becomes less desirable. if the goal of the athletic programs is to offer a place for student athletes, and entertainment for students and fans only, then the goal is achieved just by having the programs. In this scenario there is little to be gained by throwing good money after bad. We are where we are (ACC) because of this reality. There is nothing to be gained and very little to lose, by lowering athletic expectations. The IVY league recognized this years ago when they opted to approach college athletics from a more rational perspective.
So here we are, in the ACC, fielding teams that satisfy the requirements for continued participation in the conference. We are in an elite academic conference with excellent sports in basketball and baseball, and decent, competitive football.
We many never reach the heights we were once at in football again. But we will still play football and still be in the ACC. For those who demand only uber excellence in football i submit the following. You are at a crossroads. You can stay the course with the die hard alums and others and enjoy the ride, no matter how bumpy and mired in mud it gets.......or you can get off the ride now and find a new one that satisfies your need for perpetual glory. It won't bother those of us who are in for the long haul one bit if you decide to go elsewhere. However, if you decide to stick around for awhile please show a little respect and turn down your rhetoric a few decibels. it's too noisy and a bit annoying.