Sports
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Colleges
With FIU next, jobs are open, including at QB
Compiled from Times wires
Published September 10, 2007
CORAL GABLES - This is the week that some around the Miami football program have been silently dreading, the days leading up to a rematch with Florida International and plenty of inevitable reminiscing about last year's on-field brawl between the teams.
Turns out, the Hurricanes have many other problems.
Saturday's 51-13 loss at Oklahoma prompted a quarterback dilemma, raised questions about a once-touted secondary and simply reiterated that the offense lacks playmakers.
Given all that, coach Randy Shannon has more on his mind than the looming brawl redux.
"You can't make excuses," Shannon said Sunday. "Guys have to get it done and we'll find guys to get it done and do what the coaches say. That's just the bottom line. I'm not going to make excuses just because we're a new coaching staff with a new defensive coordinator and new offensive coordinator."
Shannon has said that competition is always open at every spot. And that may be especially true now.
Cornerback Randy Phillips was beaten on three Oklahoma touchdown passes. Run-blocking seemed nonexistent, although Shannon said the pass-blocking schemes worked. Yet starting quarterback Kirby Freeman was ineffective, throwing for 17 yards, and backup Kyle Wright had one strong drive but finished 7-for-14 for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Shannon said he may decide by Tuesday on his starting quarterback. He indicated that the decision will primarily be based on what he and offensive coordinator Patrick Nix see after review of the Oklahoma game film.
FIGHT IN THE PAST? FIU and Miami have campuses 9 miles apart, with plenty of players from South Florida high schools all over the rosters. It's a natural rivalry that quickly overheated last year, with a sideline-clearing fight in the third quarter that led to 31 players suspended or dismissed. "That was last year," Shannon said. "And FIU is probably going to say the same thing."
[Last modified September 9, 2007, 21:11:14]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor