D$, I respect you and your views temendously broseph, and usually agree with you on most things, but I have to disagree with you here.
I dont think we as hardcore fans view this situation objectively. But if you take a step back, and look at the big picture, especially within the context of the current College Football paradigm, this is not a great job.
That is NOT to say its a BAD job. I think this job is somewhat unique overall, and it could be a great opportunity for the RIGHT coach, but overall, I dont think most coaches would view this as a "great" job.
For starters, the obvious. This job comes with a TON of pressure, and does NOT pay all that well. Coaches are expected to win, and early at Miami, but the pay is more commensurate with that of mid level type program such as Wake Forest or Purdue.
Its true that it is a high profile program that gets you good exposure and it is in a very talent rich area, BUT... the talent rich area is often as much a curse as it is a blessing. The school's admission standards often are at radical odds with the terrible academic standards of South Florida schools. Also, many of these great South Florida players, come from poor socio economic backgrounds, making the "pay for play" situation much more of a problem in South Florida, and that puts UM at somewhat at a disadvantage as being a smaller private University, it does not have the resources to really play that game head to head with the big $ programs.
Being a small private University, also has its disadvantages too from the "big time College Football" environment. The school does not have its own stadium, instead playing in a rather dull, sterile and cavernous pro stadium far away from Campus. Due to the smaller and international nature of the University, it has a smaller alumni base than its rivals, and a very small alumni base even within South Florida, making community support of the program, including attending games, a dicey situation.
Because UM is located in a big city, and because its an expensive, small, private University, most of the local media is not really tied or owes any allegiance to the school. In fact, many of the most prominent members of the local sports media, are alumni of the UMs bigger rivals, meaning the program gets a LOT of scrutiny, but little help from the Sports Media.
Despite all this, the program has very high expectations. The fanbase will scarcely give a coach more than about 3 years before the heat gets turned up significantly. And the local sports media is also will do you no favors either.
Bottom line, UM's HC is a HIGH risk, HIGH reward job, but it doesnt really pay all that well. It also has a host of unique complications which many other coaches dont have to deal with at other programs.
In the "arms race" that is big time college football, UM is like Luxembourg trying to compete with France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the US and China. There is NO other program like UM left competing at this level. If you drill down into comparable schools, UM should be more on par with the likes of Duke, Rice, Tulane, and yet somehow it is still competing with the FSUs, OSUs, LSUs of the world. Its an uphill battle.
Real Talk, WE as hardcore fans love to think that this is the greatest gig in the world. But for many other coaches looking to advance their careers, its a BIG gamble, with big risks, for not as much money as many other places pay. Sure it has a lot of exposure, and it can have a big payoff too. But we need to stop kidding ourselves. The big name coaches and hot shots are not banging down the doors to coach here. Its a place for young up and coming coaches who want to make a name for themselves and move on to bigger and better things, and that is what they have done. That's why despite all the success, none of these guys have ever stayed here.
p @ Dutchie)
