Golden's Hurricanes Ready For Start of Spring
March 4, 2011
By: Tim Reynolds, Associated Press
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — A few weeks ago, Miami head coach Al Golden was still learning everyone’s name.
The strengths and weaknesses of the Hurricanes were complete mysteries. Offensive and defensive philosophies were still being hammered out. Plans were not in place for how things would work in the coming weeks.
That’s all changed.
“We’re light years ahead from three weeks ago,” Golden said.
And he’ll have a far better feel for his team 15 practices from now, when the spring season for the Hurricanes ends. The first formal workout of the new season — and Golden’s Miami era — is Saturday morning, and nearly three months after getting hired, the program’s 22nd coach is ready to call his opening play.
“I just want to go coach,” Golden said. “I want to go coach for a little bit and have a little fun.”
Golden warned that the opening depth chart for the spring would have some “wake-up calls,” and he wasn’t kidding.
At quarterback, where Jacory Harris and Stephen Morris are ultimately expected to compete for the starting job in the fall, it’s Spencer Whipple — the son of former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple — listed as the first-stringer going into spring ball. Harris is second, Morris third.
Another major surprise comes at left tackle, where 6-foot-8, 340-pound Seantrel Henderson is No. 2 on the chart behind Malcolm Bunche. Some other eyeraising moves include converted fullback John Calhoun as the first-string tight end (where Asante Cleveland will miss the spring because of an injury) and Jimmy Gaines getting the early nod over Jordan Futch at middle linebacker.
“Some guys got their butts beat out in the offseason program,” Golden said. “And now it’s going to be up to them to try to win this second phase. We made sure the kids knew how it was going to be declared, how the depth was going to be listed going into spring, and that was based on the offseason.”
Golden and his staff have been able to do some coaching already, albeit in highly limited forms under NCAA rules. They’ve held a number of pre-dawn conditioning workouts, where no footballs are allowed. In short, guys can run around and whistles can be blown.
That all changes Saturday.
“There’s a lot of excitement going on,” center Tyler Horn said. “I thank God I never had to deal with this before, these coaching changes. But a lot of times with coaching changes you see guys who don’t want to buy into the program or are unsure. I feel like the air around here right now is that everybody is buying into it.”
In Golden’s mind, the Hurricanes will have no returning starters on the field when spring practice starts Saturday.
The way he sees it, every job is open. With good reason.
The Hurricanes went 7-6 last season and again fell short in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Golden is promising to change the way Miami does certain things, and sees the 15 practices of the spring session as vital building blocks.
So do his players.
“There’s a huge chance here for a great turnaround,” Horn said.
As always, many eyes will be on the quarterback situation. Harris (1,793 yards, 14 touchdowns, 15 interceptions) and Morris (1,240 yards, seven TDs, nine interceptions) could both claim the returning-starter tag from 2010, when Harris had the job until getting hurt and Morris shone at times in relief of the two-year starter.
Whipple barely played last year, when he completed 6 of 12 passes for 54 yards and two interceptions. And while Golden’s depth chart may be viewed by some as simply a motivational trick, it’s perhaps the clearest sign yet that everyone in the Miami locker room is essentially starting anew.
“My plan for choosing a starter,” Golden said, “is that they’re going to choose a starter.”
Notes: Jake Wieclaw is listed as first-string to handle kickoffs, placekicks and punts, just as now-graduated Matt Bosher did in the past two seasons. … Golden invited coaches from high schools to see Miami’s closed spring practices, though warned that if information from those workouts gets discussed publicly, he’ll eliminate that access. … Miami’s spring game is April 16.
