I haven't made a full-on post here in a while - been busy with work and new baby and life and stuff - but it's time for a personal catharsis and y'all get to be my collective Psych couch...
I've always admired the Miami Hurricanes and their style, innovation, and dare I say - swagger - but I didn't become a full-time fan until I started attending grad school at Miami in 2002. I was working as a grad assistant with the Band of the Hour (I'll wait until the laughter dies down...) First game was a night game vs. FAMU at the Orange Bowl. I was hooked from the moment "In The Air Tonight" started being piped in over that lousy crapbox sound system. I was there for Wide Left, the Fiasco Bowl, the Comeback, The Devin Hester Show (Louisville 04), and yes, for the L$U Peach Bowl - the beginning of the end, IMO.
I graduated UM in 05. Since then, like most of us here, I've witnessed the slow decay of a once-proud program. I've watched the iconic "U" turn from feared borderline gang-sign to ironic laughing-stock. I've suffered through destruction of a home stadium, a revolving door of hopeful yet ultimately disappointing coaching staffs, and a community of fans and athletes alike who quite frankly deserve better.
What pains me most though is my own personal affectations regarding UM football. As a younger fan, losses were aberrations. I would be sick for a week after a loss - both with the pain of the loss itself, but also with the general unfamiliarity with the feeling. Miami doesn't lose. That's not normal. Over time, the losses began to pile up and my mindset began to change until suddenly I woke up last Sunday morning feeling...well...fine. And it scared the **** out of me.
I've pretty well owned up to the idea that Golden and staff will be here next year. Between the Presidential search, the mythical buyout drama, and whatever residual goodwill may yet remain from the dreaded "Cloud Navigation", I believe he gets 2015. After that, we'll probably have to start over. Again. And the numbness I feel is staggering.
All that said, I will never just "turn in my Cane Card" and go root for somebody else. Fandom just doesn't work that way, no matter how much we believe we can't take any more hurt. We endure - we linger, like the proverbial boil that just won't go away no matter how much you pick at it. And when the time is right, we explode and give the whole **** college football world a collective case of leprosy.
A post D$ made a week or two ago gives me hope for the long-term future of Miami football. Miami will ALWAYS have the potential to be not only relevant, but dominant. The talent in this area is just too great, too deep to be put aside forever. Another post Lu made yesterday I believe also gives me reason to believe - when that talent stays home, the coach will follow. The right coach - a MIAMI coach - is like a Miami player. They just want to be the best, no matter what. The right coach will take Miami's $2 million salary, underfunded facilities, high academic standards, and lackluster fan support and say "this is still the quickest path to greatness in all of college football."
Until that day, I'll hang around and offer my .02 here and there on this and other sites. I briefly considered taking hiatus from the message board scene but like I said, obsessive fan behavior just doesn't allow it. So gentlemen, ladies, and lurking WEZzies I say to you - endure, linger. Don't be happy. Don't stop flying banners. ****, boycott every game if you want. Just know that the Hurricanes are still out there - somewhere - waiting for the right moment. It might not be in the air tonight, but it's definitely in the air.
I'll get off your couch now and go back to avoiding doing work at my job. Carry on!
I've always admired the Miami Hurricanes and their style, innovation, and dare I say - swagger - but I didn't become a full-time fan until I started attending grad school at Miami in 2002. I was working as a grad assistant with the Band of the Hour (I'll wait until the laughter dies down...) First game was a night game vs. FAMU at the Orange Bowl. I was hooked from the moment "In The Air Tonight" started being piped in over that lousy crapbox sound system. I was there for Wide Left, the Fiasco Bowl, the Comeback, The Devin Hester Show (Louisville 04), and yes, for the L$U Peach Bowl - the beginning of the end, IMO.
I graduated UM in 05. Since then, like most of us here, I've witnessed the slow decay of a once-proud program. I've watched the iconic "U" turn from feared borderline gang-sign to ironic laughing-stock. I've suffered through destruction of a home stadium, a revolving door of hopeful yet ultimately disappointing coaching staffs, and a community of fans and athletes alike who quite frankly deserve better.
What pains me most though is my own personal affectations regarding UM football. As a younger fan, losses were aberrations. I would be sick for a week after a loss - both with the pain of the loss itself, but also with the general unfamiliarity with the feeling. Miami doesn't lose. That's not normal. Over time, the losses began to pile up and my mindset began to change until suddenly I woke up last Sunday morning feeling...well...fine. And it scared the **** out of me.
I've pretty well owned up to the idea that Golden and staff will be here next year. Between the Presidential search, the mythical buyout drama, and whatever residual goodwill may yet remain from the dreaded "Cloud Navigation", I believe he gets 2015. After that, we'll probably have to start over. Again. And the numbness I feel is staggering.
All that said, I will never just "turn in my Cane Card" and go root for somebody else. Fandom just doesn't work that way, no matter how much we believe we can't take any more hurt. We endure - we linger, like the proverbial boil that just won't go away no matter how much you pick at it. And when the time is right, we explode and give the whole **** college football world a collective case of leprosy.
A post D$ made a week or two ago gives me hope for the long-term future of Miami football. Miami will ALWAYS have the potential to be not only relevant, but dominant. The talent in this area is just too great, too deep to be put aside forever. Another post Lu made yesterday I believe also gives me reason to believe - when that talent stays home, the coach will follow. The right coach - a MIAMI coach - is like a Miami player. They just want to be the best, no matter what. The right coach will take Miami's $2 million salary, underfunded facilities, high academic standards, and lackluster fan support and say "this is still the quickest path to greatness in all of college football."
Until that day, I'll hang around and offer my .02 here and there on this and other sites. I briefly considered taking hiatus from the message board scene but like I said, obsessive fan behavior just doesn't allow it. So gentlemen, ladies, and lurking WEZzies I say to you - endure, linger. Don't be happy. Don't stop flying banners. ****, boycott every game if you want. Just know that the Hurricanes are still out there - somewhere - waiting for the right moment. It might not be in the air tonight, but it's definitely in the air.
I'll get off your couch now and go back to avoiding doing work at my job. Carry on!
