It's All About the U; And That's The Problem

Teams thrive off of identities: it helps them build molds for players they would like, bring coaches in who have the same attitude, and establish an atmosphere for their stadium. The Steelers and Ravens have a tough-nosed, knock your teeth out identity; the Yankees possess a clean, successful image filled with tradition. But there are times when an identity is a major issue, and it needs a facelift. And that is the exact problem in Coral Gables, Florida.

The University of Miami lives and dies by their persona of being "The U." It's a mystique of recklessness, flashiness, and confidence. Back in the 80's, when they were the most dominant program in the nation, it was a benefit. Those Hurricanes brought about the entertainment factor in college football, breaking the cookie-cutter routine of college teams. That was fine back then; but not now.

With the newest violations (combined with previous ones in the 90's and early 2000's), Miami could be facing the NCAA's harshest penalty, what most call the death penalty. This is when the NCAA bans an entire program for one whole year, which is highly likely for the Hurricane football team. Convicted ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro was providing anything the football and some basketball players wanted; money, parties, alcohol, and even prostitutes. No Miami official had a problem with Shapiro being in press boxes, on the sidelines, or even outside of the tunnel, simply because they thought they could get away with violations again. After all, they're the U, right?

This whole mystique gives Miami the idea that the program must be like this. And what is so strange about it is the fact that as an academic institution, Miami is a highly respected private school. But they continue to innerly embrace such a dirty athletic image. Usually, people can accept that when you're winning, like the 80's or when the team went to back-to-back football national title games in 2001 and 2002 (winning in 2001). The key word there is "winning," something the overhyped U hasn't done much of lately.

For the past three years, they have not reached a BCS bowl game, and have lost all three of the bowl games they have played in. Since they lost to Ohio State in the 2002 national title game, they have only won BCS bowl game, that being the Orange Bowl in 2004. Under Randy Shannon (from 2007-2010), they were only six games above .500, quite a drop off from early millennium dominance. With those kind of stats, it's hard to call Miami a current premier college football program. Historically speaking, with five national titles, they are, but that is simply the past.

(Note: I am not going to waste time even discussing why the Miami basketball team doesn't deserve a confident, swagged persona. They have done nothing worth noting, made evident by only two NCAA Tournament appearances in the past ten years, and zero national titles in their history.)

It's about time the Miami athletic program started becoming harsher, as all three money programs have been part of violations (the baseball team had some in the early 2000's as well). Its current identity crisis has died off, as nobody looks at it with reverence, just disgust. To let their ego bring so many violations and corruption is just downright unacceptable, and they should be nothing but ashamed of themselves. New coaches Al Golden (football) and Jim Larranaga (basketball) are innocent victims caught in the middle of all of this, and where can they now turn?

When the football team comes through the smoke, out of the tunnel, it is one of college football's most recognizable entrances. Now this program must burst through the current smoke; one that mixes an institution's confused identity and the effects of over a decade of wrongdoing. It really is all about the U; all about to crumble.