I was right on all accounts. One thing I didn’t count on was that the team would quit the way they did during what was arguably the most emotionally significant game of the year, perhaps the last two or three years, to the Hurricanes.

We all know the OB is a dump. But like KG says, some of the game’s greatest moments occurred there. As someone who passionately loves college football, I respect that venue for what it has meant to the greatest sport in the world (even though I despise Miami, their attitude, and most of the things they stand for today).

But this group of youngsters couldn’t care less about the rich history that came before them. I mean… Virginia? Seriously? It’d be one thing if they rolled over for a national superpower. But Virginia?

It was truly a travesty. Canes305 wrote on his blog that it was part abortion, part funeral, and I agree. You can’t disrespect the great ones who came before you any more than by what this team — and by default, their coaches — allowed to happen.

This is on the new coaching staff. This, more than any single event this season, is the most telling indicator of the core problems faced by this program. This came AFTER changes had been made, supposedly, to the attitude in this once-proud football program.

It’s a horrible mark for Shannon to have on his record in year one. No talent? I can accept that. Poor players? I can accept that too. Not giving maximum effort? That’s hard to stomach but it happens sometimes. Not giving a rat’s ass about being blown out by a mediocre team from Virginia in the final, historic game in the Orange Bowl?

Bad, bad, bad.

It set a trend of negative momentum for Miami that I honestly had not anticipated so early. I thought this year we’d see a squad of earnest young guys trying their hardest, and maybe not succeeding terribly often, but showing that they’ve got heart.

They don’t.

Randy Shannon’s job just got exponentially harder, and it was tough from the get-go.

We’ll see where this goes but I’m betting it’s nowhere good. Considering Miami’s relatively small budget compared to the “superpowers” of colege football, it’s entirely conceivable to me — if not probable — that Miami is heading down the slippery slope. Permanently.

They can’t draw top name coaches.

Another few years of struggling and their fertile recruiting grounds will eventually give way to the four other in-state programs that are pulling hard and making strides. (Well, except for FSU.)

No money. No coach. No stadium. Then, no recruits.

Someone has to explain to me how that isn’t a permanent, as in F-O-R-E-V-E-R, change in the fundamental core of this program.

Judge ol’ Randy Shannon come 2009. Not now. Shannon inherited the worst UM team in the modern era. Coker got a stellar team from Butch Davis. Davis got a team from Erickson which was probation bound, but came off a #3 ranking, two losses and an Orange Bowl loss to eventual champion, Nebraska. Erickson got a stellar team from J Johnson and Johnson inherited the National Champs from Howard S.

In the past, great coaches left Miami for better opportunities. Shannon is the first to replace a dead ass coach for being fired after several years of sub par play.

Simply put, Shannon deserves a few years to turn things around before you call him out. He already has ESPN’s #1-ranked recruiting class entering 2008. Give him some time and then judge.