Miami's Stoutland in it for the Players
Nov. 30, 2010
By: Rob Dunning
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It took most people by surprise when Kirby Hocutt named Jeff Stoutland the University of Miami football team’s interim head coach on Sunday.
It didn’t take long to see why he was the choice.
On Tuesday, Stoutland met with members of the media and spoke for over an hour on topics ranging from undergoing triple bypass surgery earlier this year to breaking down film of Seantrel Henderson battling Allen Bailey in practice. It was a riveting session that provided insight into a man whose passion for his job and concern for his student-athletes takes a back seat to no one.
“Our job right now – our mission – is to bring this group back together,” Stoutland said. “When we do finally hit the field, come out with high energy and enthusiasm. Us as coaches…everybody’s committed.
“We had a meeting as a staff, addressed the players and let them know we’re all hands on deck. We will coach you hard, coach you well and give you all we have. We want to go win this football game, whoever we play. We’ll go at it with a lot of detail, a lot of enthusiasm, and then whatever happens after that, happens.”
Whatever happens has yet to be determined as Miami’s postseason fate is still up in the air. In the meantime, the players and assistants will rally behind Stoutland, who has served as Miami’s offensive line coach the last four seasons.
“My philosophy is I want to be around these kids as much as we can,” Stoutland said. “So as much as we can get out there to practice, we’re going to do that. And they don’t have to be long practices. They have to be fast, precise, detailed, and then we’re off the field… the young kids get a chance to get a lot of reps.”
It is obvious that despite with everything going on, Stoutland’s focus is completely on the ninety-six student-athletes on the football team.
“You have to remember we recruited these players,” Stoutland said. “We sat in their homes; we sat in their high schools. We spent a lot of time with these kids. When they get here, we spend a lot of time with them. When you become emotionally attached to these guys, it’s hard to leave.
“When I was at Michigan State, I had chances to leave every year… I couldn’t leave. I could not leave. I could not look the players in the face. That’s just the way I am and all the coaches here are the same way. That’s why this is going to be special couple weeks here because we have a great group of coaches that No. 1, all came to me and said, `I’m right behind you for whatever you need…I’m here for you’.”
The fact the entire staff has embraced Hocutt’s decision to name Stoutland as the interim head coach says more about Stoutland as a man than anything else. His story is one of loyalty, perseverance and accountability.
A four-year letterman and three-year starter at linebacker under Kevin Gilbride at Southern Connecticut State in the early 1980’s, Stoutland quickly rose up the coaching ladder with stops at his alma mater, Syracuse, Cornell, the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and most recently Michigan State before coming to Miami.
He has risen among the ranks of offensive line coaches with his knack for recruiting and ability to get men working together towards a common goal.
“This is kind of what I do,” Stoutland said. “I bring guys together. I get them to work together. I’m excited about this whole thing…. I really am.”
With the excitement of football comes the responsibility of everything else. The fall semester wraps up Friday at the University of Miami with exams scheduled to start next week. Leading the program – and more specifically his players – through the next month falls on the imposing shoulders of Stoutland.
“We are going to finish this thing out the right way,” Stoutland said.
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