CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It had to happen. Al Golden is no longer the head football coach at the University of Miami.
That it happened in the middle of the season is somewhat surprising, but given that it came a day after an embarrassing 58-0 home loss to Clemson, we really shouldn't be shocked.
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Golden lost former players. Golden lost the fan base. And more importantly, Golden lost his current team.
Players will tell you they didn't quit, and that's probably accurate. But, what they did do was stop listening to Golden's message. The one he constantly preached about making progress and moving forward with the plan.
What became obvious is that he had no plan. He had no real vision of where he wanted this program to go.
Sure, he started his career talking national titles and a return to relevance. He ended it talking about being alive for the "Coastal" in the ACC and every game being a playoff game.
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It was just the words of a man who saw the walls closing in around him.
I said on Saturday following that ugly loss that once so many former players turned on him to the point of calling for his job in public, the next step was for the UM Board of Trustees to take notice.
Athletic Director Blake James kept saying Golden would get a chance to finish the season, but we all have bosses and James has his.
Even he couldn't protect Golden from the pressure.
Maybe more than any other college football program, the former players have a real voice. And that voice has been neglected for far too long. Gone were the days of seeing former players at practices and on the sidelines at games.
Does that win you games? No. But, it does remind everyone what putting on that helmet with the "U" on means.
It means you expect to be the best. It's the reason why the NFL is littered with UM alums making big plays week-in and week-out. The talent still comes through Miami, but it hasn't translated to wins on the field.
Now comes the more important question: what's next?
Larry Scott takes over as the interim coach for the remainder of the season, and while he's a very solid coach and good man, it's unlikely he'll get a legitimate chance to take the full-time job.
Miami needs a voice. Miami needs a real motivator, recruiter and leader. They also need to surround that person with a real staff. When I say "real" I mean a staff of quality coordinators. I'm talking people who are innovative and experienced. Not just a staff of fill-in's and cheap options.
That will take money. And that will take a major change from the University of Miami.
The school prides itself on being a strong educational institution, as it should. But, they also know how important football is to the school and the community.
Winning these days in college football takes money. It takes facilities. It takes a real commitment.
It's all set up for Miami. This is the school's biggest hire since Howard Schnellenberger took the job and turned the program into a powerhouse. Those days are long gone, but the days ahead could be brighter.
Firing Golden was step one. Hiring a real staff, spending real money and making a real commitment is the next step. No more excuses.
Follow Will Manso on Twitter @WillManso
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