Gameday Preview: Players Want
Sept. 5, 2011
Commentary by Rob Dunning
Through it all, Al Golden has held his ground.
Through a turbulent first few months that had him scrambling to quickly try and put everything in place, including what turned out to be a strong recruiting class.
Through the man that hired him, Kirby Hocutt, leaving town shortly thereafter.
And now through this.
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The early obstacles and ongoing distraction with the NCAA investigation have made Golden’s first year in Coral Gables anything but smooth. But amid all the frenzy, amid all the not knowing, the Canes’ boss has done what few in his position would have been capable of doing as well as he has.
He’s held his team together. He hasn’t strayed from the course and more importantly, his team has held his direction. They’ve held his commitment to now. Not what happened before he got here, not what will happen down the road. What will happen Monday night in College Park.
Despite the suspensions, the Canes head to Maryland with a roster loaded with talent. Sixty players who have been grinding on Greentree with Sept. 5 at the forefront of their thoughts. Players that have bought into Golden’s program and maintained their focus despite all the noise around them.
Players like Brandon Washington, who has quietly become one of the best offensive linemen in the country. And Lamar Miller, who Canes fans have been chomping at the bit to see get the ball more this fall.
He will get the ball, again and again. And Washington will be blocking for him. And the rest of the Canes on the travel squad will be there, most, if not all, playing. They’ll be playing for their coach, the guy who hasn’t wavered despite everything. The guy who has handled it all with poise and class.
A long and sometimes difficult offseason will end Monday night in front of a sell-out crowd and a national TV audience. It will finally just be about football for Golden. No more meetings or media sessions or conference calls. Just football.
It has been 266 days since Golden was introduced as Miami’s 22nd head coach. It’s unlikely any of the 21 before him had to endure what Golden has endured before coaching his first game. Was it unexpected? Yes. Unfair? Absolutely. But despite that, it hasn’t broken him. His players recognize that and have rallied behind him even more because of it.
Since the news first broke of the NCAA investigation, the message throughout the program has been about staying focused and holding together. They’ve followed suit up until now and that’s why the Canes will have more than a fighting change Monday night. They have the talent, but maybe more importantly, the motivation.
When asked Friday afternoon about what it would mean to win the opener for his head coach, a sincere Jordan Futch may have put it best.
“He does so much for us, I can’t wait to just show him my gratitude and give back to him by trying to get him a `W’. I know he has a lot of stress on him. We’re really excited to just go out there, knock some heads around for him and get him a `W’ because he deserves it.
“If nobody else deserves it, he deserves it.”
