The end of the Jacory Harris-Sean Spence Era at the University of Miami came to a screeching halt on Friday evening, and much like the rest of it, it was quite disappointing.
This is the part of this post where I should say something cliche about how Jacory throwing interceptions on 4 of his last 17 career attempts was a microcosm of his career, or how the team falling short at home against a team it was supposed to beat by multiple touchdowns was a microcosm of their tenure.
However, everyone else and their fucking mother has taken that angle and quite frankly it is annoying.
I will say this: I thoroughly enjoyed Jacory Harris and the rest of his class. They were fun. Sure, they played some dreadful football at times. But I watched these kids grow up on a football field, and I thought they did alright, given what was put in front of them. They will not go down as the class that restored us to greatness. They were not champions. They lost a lot of winnable games and seemingly always managed to be beating themselves just as much as the opponent.
But at the end of the day they were 'Canes, and they fought. Maybe their burden was unfair. Maybe 5 star recruiting and high school national championships...GASP...do not matter once you get to college. Maybe to expect Ken Dorsey was just a mirage that the media and fanbase ran with, when in reality Jacory Harris had a hard enough time just being Jacory Harris. The fan base fell in love with potential. Potential is maybe the dirtiest word in college football, the type of word that gets college kids booed and coaches fired.
I said in my last post that the signing day class of 2008 was the one that was supposed to bring us back. It in many ways was the biggest reason I advanced at the school paper. Those kids
seemed to lift everyone up. Energy on campus was electric for the first semester they were there, because damn it, they were winners and we were sick of losing.
Now most of that class has moved on. They will be in the NFL or grad school or the work force or wherever these kids go. It seems fitting to take a look back at the expectations these kids had and where they ended up. Maybe I just like doing these run downs. Maybe this is like going to a funeral, something which is supposed to be a celebration but really mostly seems like self torture. Maybe I am just bored on my couch, watching Big Blue close out Ohio. Doesn't matter.
Ladies and gentlemen, with the aide of hindsight, here is the revised breakdown of the class of 2008, which came in as the #1 class in the nation and perhaps the highest ranked in the history of the program:
QB
Jacory Harris
Harris came in as the leader of the Northwestern 8, the captain of their offense and the future of our program. He was set to battle with Robert Marve for the quarterback job and eventually take it over from him. He was the next Ken Dorsey, the guy who just knew how to get the ball to his playmakers and win the game.
I have written a ton about him; his career was obviously uneven. When he was good he was great, when he was bad he was dreadful. He was always a fun kid who handled himself with class. He took an unfair amount of the blame and never got enough of the credit. All in all, his will be a career of unfulfilled potential.
Taylor Cook
The big Texan was a project type who was supposed to battle for playing time after a couple of years in the system. Clearly had the best tools of any QB on the roster but the least polish. Hope was that with time he could be Ben Roethlisberger.
In reality, he transferred after one year to Rice, where he never played quarterback and was moved to tight end.
Cannon Smith
Smith was never supposed to be anything other than a depth chart guy, a career backup. Most, including me, didn't really get why we signed him.
Well, he was bad and then transferred to Memphis, where they made him the slowest safety in the history of football.
RB/FB
Pat Hill
Hill was a bowling ball from junior college and the guy who was supposed to just clear out holes for our running backs and destroy linebackers.
Spent three years clearing out holes and destroying linebackers. Was the man and completely underrated.
John Calhoun
Did not realize he was never redshirted and forgot to include him in the senior day write up. Oh well. He was a project that had no other offers and hopefully would develop in to a serviceable special teams guy and role player who at best would be a starting fullback.
That is exactly what he ended up being, and got his first start at fullback in his last game. Solid player who knew his role and stuck to it.
WR
Travis Benjamin
Was one of the least hyped of the receivers but everyone knew his speed. Was supposed to be the next Roscoe Parrish and a guy everyone thought was underrated.
Ended up the most productive receiver in the class and at times was an absolute game changer. Also had some total bonehead moments and again, never quite lived up to the hype.
LaRon Byrd
Byrd was a physical force from Louisiana who was a little below the radar as a recruit, but the coaches raved about him. One time he was compared to Terrell Owens.
Showed a lot of potential as a freshman but plateau'd afterward. Never could be the go to guy and disappeared for large portions of games and seasons.
Aldarious Johnson
Another Northwestern guy, he was a 5 star recruit, Jacory's go to guy in high school and the next coming of Andre Johnson with his size, speed and "glue hands".
Has a few big games and big catches but all in all was a bust because he lacked the speed to gain separation, was lazy and out of shape, and had a knack for dropping the easy ones. Was kicked off the team his senior year.
Tommy Streeter
Lower ranked than his high school teammate Johnson but had people inside the program more excited for his potential as a tall, lanky guy with room to put on weight and maintain his 4.4 speed and highlight reel body control.
Spent three years on the bench, either injured or in the doghouse. Broke out this season and is poised to become an All American candidate next season. Could go down as the best player in this class.
Thearon Collier
Collier was one of three guys from Booker T Washington in this class and was the lowest rated. Committed to Auburn before flipping to The U. Was a space player that you "couldn't touch in a phone booth."
Collier was a stud for two seasons. He was a nice little punt returner and a clutch receiver who always seemed a little overweight but always on the spot. He ran in to some personal issues, however, and transferred to USC after his sophomore year. He never saw the field there and has not resurfaced. This is a kid who apparently never could shake "the street"...hopefully the street doesn't come back and claim him, as is often the case.
Kendall Thompkins
the third Northwestern receiver in the class was supposed to be another pocket rocket that could make things happen in space. He did not have much hype but was easy to see as a difference maker when watching Northwestern play.
Still has one year left but his only real contribution so far has been as a special teams coverage guy. You hear about him in practice every spring and never during games. The type of kid you root for, even though you're not really sure why he stands out to you.
Davon Johnson
Collier's teammate in high school who was known for his blazing speed. Was highly recruited and was supposed to be yet another option on offense that made for nightmares for opponents.
Showed some promise as a freshman at receiver, then voluntarily took a redshirt as a second year guy. Didn't see the field much last year and then switched to DB this year. Saw special teams action but would not surprise if he chose to use his last year of eligibility elsewhere.
OL
Brandon Washington
Another Northwestern guy, was graded as an absolute mauler out of high school who could help our weak offensive line right away.
After prepping for a year, became an All ACC guard and then moved to left tackle. Will be back next year, most likely as the left guard next to Seantrel Henderson.
Ben Jones
Jones played defensive line at Northwestern but the big boys wanted him as an offensive tackle. He was highly regarded as an athlete more than as a football player.
Has not done much, and at this point, with one year left, seems like the type that will leave in the off season.
DE
Andrew Smith
One of the least regarded prospects in the class, Smith actually was fairly productive throughout his career and will leave as someone who made his fair share of plays and always seemed to be around the ball.
Marcus Robinson
Robinson was a highly rated outside linebacker and was recruited by every major program before deciding to stay home for the 'Canes. Had flashes of brilliance, including a three sack night against Virginia Tech as a freshman, and was a consistently solid performer as a senior. However, you always got the sense that he was best suited to be a stand up, pass rushing outside linebacker with his speed, and he never got a chance to be that. A team like the Steelers or Ravens will take a chance on him and might get a steal of player for their effort.
Gavin Hardin
Hardin was a standout linebacker in Mississippi that the Rebs, Bulldogs and the Tennessee Vols were in hot pursuit of before he chose Miami. Played fiery football and was a physical specimen, but had his career ended by a neck injury before he every got to play. He was the type of player that this program has been lacking for several years.
DT
Marcus Forston
Jacory's counterpart on the defnesive line, this was Baby Sapp. He was supposed to be the next great defensive tackle, that opened up the entire defense and allowed us to start ball hawking again. The number one tackle recruit in the country, according to some, and one of the linchpins of this class from Day 1.
He has been hurt most of his career, and the rest has been inconsistent. He has one year left and HAS to get in better shape. When he is in the zone he is very hard to block, and he and Curtis Porter give fans hopes of a dominant pair of tackles next season. However, they are both made of glass, and it is hard to rely on either.
Micanor Regis
Thought was that Regis was one of the most underrated players in the whole country and would form an All American duo with Forston.
Regis turned in to a solid guy in the rotation but never a star. Will be remembered for punching a Carolina receiver in the crotch.
Jeremy Lewis
Lewis was a guy who wreaked of potential on film and had a quick first step but clearly needed work and would take a few years.
Still hasn't made an impact and has rarely seen the field. Is now an offensive lineman and has one year left to make something out of his career.
LB
Sean Spence
The last of the Northwestern crew, Spence was the best player since the last of the champions in this program. Was considered undersized but from day one, it was clear he had something to him that few others did. There are certain guys that no matter the measurables, have always been the best player on whatever field they stepped on. Ed Reed was one. Anquan Boldin another. Spence is like that. That is the highest compliment you can get.
Arthur Brown
Nation's top linebacker recruit and in many eyes the top overall player.
Had a great spring game for the 'Canes and then disappeared, playing only on special teams for two years before transferring back home to Kansas State. Had a big season for them this year and contributed to their victory in Sun Life Stadium over the 'Canes in a big way.
Jordan Futch
Futch was supposed to be the big, bruiser at linebacker to compliment Spence. Another highly recruited, highly ranked player. Never did much.
Ramon Buchannon
Physical specimen who was a hot battle between Miami and the Gators before flipping back to Miami on signing day. Played safety for a year before moving down to linebacker. Was showing signs of a productive senior year before a season ending knee injury. Will be back next season, although his role will perhaps be minimized with the influx of young talent.
C.J. Holton
Came in as a highly regarded safety that we took from Florida State. Some silly folks threw the name Sean Taylor around as a comparison. Still hasn't done a dick damned thing and will most likely move on this off season.
Zach Kane
Sleeper who was arrested the summer before he enrolled, then tied up with the clearinghouse. Never made it to campus.
Antonio Harper
Tall, rangy guy from Memphis. Never made it to campus, ended up signing with Troy a year later.
Brandon Marti
Undersized kid with a bad attitude and a rumored drug problem. No one was really sure how he made it in to the class, and he fittingly was kicked off the team after one semester.
DB
Brandon Harris
Was in my mind the biggest signing in the class. Was recruited by everyone out of high school at Booker T Washington and was one of the nation's top corner prospects. After Patrick Johnson left us at the altar and we whiffed on Janoris Jenkins (UiF) , T.J. Bryant (USC) and Travis Howard (Ohio), this recruitment took on extra significance.
Harris was a starter for three years and was a very good, if not great, player. Went pro a year early and probably regrets it. Now a member of the Houston Texans, but an extra year of school would have helped him a lot.
Vaughn Telemaque
VT was a highly regarded safety from Long Beach who spurned the Trojans for the 'Canes near the end of the recruiting cycle. Had solid moments through his first three seasons but was terrible for most of his junior year. Has one more season to put it all together, but Coach Golden can not be happy with his performance this year.
Joe Wylie
Patrick Johnson's friend who was very lightly recruited but was a great athlete. Lasted two seasons. Put on enough weight to look like a badass but ended up transferring to UT-Martin.
C.J. Odom
Odom was an athlete from Fort Myers that would have most likely been a safety. Grade issues sent him to prep school, where he clashed with the coach and went AWOL. Hasn't been heard from since.
K
Jake Wieclaw
The Claw looked like a lost cause for three years but had a big season as a junior and will be counted upon heavily as a senior.
Take a look at that list. Spence and Streeter are the only ones that lived up to or exceeded expectations, and even the guys who had solid careers like Brandon Harris or Jacory Harris are considered busts when compared to what they were supposed to be.
This is why we find ourselved in this precarious spot. The coach who pinned his future to this group was fired. The fans who boosted the expectations for this class in to the stratosphere are frustrated and cannot figure out why. But look at what I wrote. According to expectations, almost every one of them was told they were a stud from day one.
Maybe this case was an example of the worst part of fan-dom...proclaiming someone great without their proving it, and then being mad when they are not indeed great.
That is why I have learned my lesson. I will never again judge a class or a player by star ratings or what they have been labeled by the "experts". From now on you are what you show me. That is what gives me hope for this current class. Medium on stars, big on toughness.
We need more badasses. The funny thing is that Spence and Streeter, the two standouts from this class, were in the middle of the pack when it came to ratings for these kids. They have risen up through hard work and football intelligence.
They are the blueprint we have always lived on and thrived with. It is time to get back to it. Until we do, we are doomed to mediocre, overhyped football and football players. And more frustrating fades down the stretch.
Today is the end of not just a season, but an era. The Era of 'Potential'.
The nucleus of the past 4 years has now moved on. It is time to move on as fans. I am sad that the game is over, but at the same time, I am disgusted with the results we always seem to elude as of late. A new day is ahead, and I am just as happy to put this trainwreck of a season behind us as anything else. We will hold strong. We will be back. We are the Evil Empire. We are The U. We will always find a way, because that is what we do.
But until then, until potential turns in to production, we will have rough seas. Here is to next season being the one that we start playing the game the right way again. Physical. Violent. Smart. CONSISTENT. That is how you build a champion.
If you can find guys that do that, they don't have to be the number one recruiting class. Besides, we have all seen how that can play out.
Always guard the inbound passer.
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