Over a month ago, the University of Miami Hurricanes football team faced off against the Florida Gators. Despite the fact that the Canes fell victim to the Gator chomp, the game had people talking.
The game stirred up Hurricane-sized winds which swept through Coral Gables. It had Canes fans thinking: the Canes are back!
Over a month later, things are so great in Hurricane Nation. The Canes are coming off back-to-back losses against North Carolina and Florida State and a not-so-impressive win against Central Florida.
In little over a month, the tides have turned from talks of the Hurricanes cakewalking to an ACC title to questions about whether or not the Canes will finish with a winning record.
Honestly, everyone needs to take a step back and put things into perspective.
I will admit, I was one of the first to think the Canes were going to walk away with an ACC title, but that was the fan in me taking over.
On the same token, I am not going to make the same mistake when it comes to the 180. I am not going to write this team off.
Although it is not an excuse for their performance, this team is young. But, they are good. They are really good.
What everyone has to remember is that these players need some time to adjust and develop, which means we have to go through the growing pains.
Over the last couple years, we have gone through pain. Period.
We have not gone through “growing pains.”
This season is different.
We can see these players developing before us.
And I know that everyone is probably questioning my sanity right now, with the recent quarterback play.
But think about it. We have gone from heralding Robert Marve and Jacory Harris as the second coming of Tim Tebow and Vince Young to questioning their abilities, in their totality.
It is exactly this that I have to warn everyone against.
I understand that as fans, emotions are a major part of the game and what being a fan is all about, but we have to keep things in perspective.
There is no doubt these players have the skill. We just have to let them go out there, make some mistakes and grow.
If we can sit tight for another year, we will all be the better for it.
Do not get me wrong, this season has not gone down the tubes. By no means is this true.
This season presents a lot of opportunity to grow and to even (yes I am saying it) succeed.
But, if we can get through this season and allow these young players to get out there and develop, we will be on the path to where we once saw this team.
The motto of this team, from the beginning of the season has been “no excuses.”
I am not sitting here and making excuses for this team.
I am simply putting things into perspective.