Happy Monday everyone.
Sorry, I was out on vacation since after Christmas, the first time in a while that I’d missed one of these columns. Lot to talk about since, so I’ll go ahead and get right back into things without further ado.
1) Non-playoff bowl games don’t mean a single thing anymore and are not worth being attended by fans.
That was the message that was screamed in my face loudly and clearly by Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes coaching staff with how things went down in Orlando.
I’m not dumping dirt on Cam Ward, to be clear. I’m glad that he played and reached the D-1 touchdown record, and we got to see him one last time. Since the plan was reportedly made between Ward and the Miami coaches regarding playing just a half, I can’t put it all on the coaches either.
However, as a program, I’m saying to the coaches and the university: don’t ever expect for fans to care about bowl games again. This was treated like a spring game at the end of the season. Except, y’know, this one gave your program a chance to reach win #11 for the first time in over 20 years while also finishing in the top 10 and proving you belonged. Its name was the “Pop Tarts Bowl”, but it still mattered.
Fans traveled from long distances and paid hard-earned money to watch the team treat half the game like a practice or scrimmage for next year. Miami got a good look at its piss poor QB situation heading into next year (which is something they probably should already have had an idea about). Great. Unfortunately, they got it at the expense of losing a very winnable game.
I personally think that flat-out sucks and guts any reason for me to ever go to a non-playoff bowl game ever again.
2) Anyway, now that that’s off my chest, I’m thrilled Mario finally did what needed to be done and dismissed Lance Guidry.
I starting thinking for a minute that he might actually survive. As I wrote about before, what happened was going to tell me who Mario saw as to blame – subpar talent or poor coaching. I guess it could have been both, but the latter seems pretty well confirmed to me.
One of the most disappointing seasons by any Miami coach in recent memory given the performance and what was lost as a result. There’s zero doubt his unit cost this team an ACC title and playoff spot.
Vaya con Dios.
3) Of course, who comes on board now is the more pertinent question.
I don’t really have to muse about who, as there have been some public rumblings about two in particular: Tennessee’s Tim Banks and Georgia Tech’s Tyler Santucci.
Banks did yeoman’s work this year in Knoxville. With a struggling offense, Tennessee’s defense carried the Vols to a number of crucial victories they needed to reach the playoff, including home wins over Florida and Alabama. Their defensive front was active and dominated most weeks (outside of Georgia, Ohio State, and – yikes – Arkansas). His units, particularly recently, have ranked near the top of the SEC in run defense. Always good to start up front.
I don’t know as much about Santucci, but I have to give him major credit for the job he did against Miami this year. He threw looks at the Canes’ offense that obviously confused Ward. As good a job as anyone has done so far this year. I have to tip my hat to that. Tech also managed to avoid allowing any opponent to top 34 points this year in regulation, and they did a terrific job against Georgia with Carson Beck.
Two guys who produced in the Power Four last year. Not bad options to consider, if they’re truly interested.
4) Anywho, Miami managed to make some moves in the portal the last several days, I saw.
And they did it where they really, really needed to – in the secondary.
Miami has gone into the Portal & landed ELITE talent
The Canes have landed 3 Top 32 transfers:
-Ethan O’Connor (14 NATL, 2 CB)
-Charles Brantley (27 NATL, 6 CB)
-CJ Daniels (32 NATL)+ 3 Top 100 Transfers:
-James Brockermeyer (37 NATL, 5 IOL)
-David Blay (65 NATL, 3 DL)… pic.twitter.com/bPVR8RKLXN— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 4, 2025
If Wisconsin will get off their asses and stop being shady with Xavier Lucas, that’s another potential major contributor who could help out immediately. I’ll get more into these once I’ve had the chance to dig in and evaluate them more. However, they check off major needs on the roster, so I’m going to hang my hat on that for now.
That’s it for today. Go Canes!