I was just going to post this in the Hurricanes thread, but I know if it were another coach I'd want to read it still. I think it deserves it's own thread. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/dave_hyde/09/23/shannon/index.html?eref=T1
That was excellent. Shannon is the man. OT: Feel free to post things outside 'official' threads. Having gargantuan threads that go on for months does nothing to help the site from a usability or an SEO standpoint.
Thanks, Alex. I hardly read the local media anymore, I usually just come here, so I would have missed that. That's something that The U's detractors always seem to miss somehow...that even in the years of the fatigues and the attitude, Miami graduated its players at a higher rate than all but the top 5% of Division I schools. In fact, that class that lost the Fiesta Bowl way back then, the ones with the fatigues - if I recall correctly - were all on track to graduate with 3+ point grade averages.
This time we will not be known as "Thug U" we may have the cocky attitude, the rap music, the whatever. We do not have "bad" kids on this team though. Randy Shannon isn't just teaching them football he is teaching them life skills.
He's come a long way for a guy that grew up in such rough conditions. He could have easily gone the other direction. Definitely a 180 from those coaches who grew up in 'football families' where their dad was a coach and taught them the game.
I'm a "hater" because I said he was unique? Okay...... Answer this for me then, how many people do you know that have the maturity and strength to overcome all that at such a young age and then turn around and have the immaturity and lack of class to do something like this http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2007/11/shannon-exclusi.html as a grown man? I'd say thats pretty unique. I don't "hate" the guy by any means. I just think its interesting that someone that came from so little and overcame so much wouldn't be more careful and thankful for what he has. Just my 2 cents.