A Golden Opportunity
Miami Hurricanes AD Kirby Hocutt announced tonight that the new football Head Coach is Al Golden. I’m excited about the hire, personally. Many Hurricane fans don’t feel like a man with a losing record as a Temple Head Coach is right for UM. To be perfectly honest, I’m a bit bummed that we carted off Randy Shannon so soon. I have tons of respect for the man and for what he stands for at The U. Regardless, it’s time to accept that a change has occurred, and go with the flow to support the Hurricanes.
With regard to the hire, here’s my take: Al Golden and his 3-4 schemes brought the University of Virginia’s defense from bottom of the barrel (Top 100 out of 121!) to solid (Top 20) in three years as DC. The year before Golden was hired as HC at Temple, its football team went 0-11. His first year it went 1-11. Second: 4-8. Third: 5-7. Fourth: 9-4. Fifth: 8-4. All out of a program that had won just over 1/5 of its games the 30 years prior to his coming to the school. He’s a stellar recruiter and a guy who can make the best out of the recruits he does get. He’s a motivator and a disciplinarian. He’s young, talented, and loves the game of football. He sounds like our kind of guy.
Al Golden isn’t a ‘home run’ hire. But hey, neither was Howard Schnellenberger. Or Jimmy Johnson. Or Dennis Erickson. Or Butch Davis.
Go ‘Canes.
