Welcome to Glass Slipper! I went to school with Jordan Chiles and never once met her. That is a mistake I will have to live with forever; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

It’s time for one of my signature tables. On the left is the last 17 years of Miami Hurricanes football, and on the right are the numbers of a mystery program in that same time frame. Based on the stats given, who do you think is School B?

Throw on those earmuffs, ‘Canes fans. This is rather embarrassing. School B is Mississippi State. Yes, the team that serves as an annual punching bag for Alabama and LSU has arguably had a better run. Quick, can you name five football players that have ever suited up for the Bulldogs? Did you get stuck after Dak Prescott and Chris Jones? That is not good company for a program as storied as Miami.

Some Ohio State folks like to declare that the Buckeyes are responsible for ending the Hurricanes’ dynasty in that infamous 2003 Fiesta Bowl. I wouldn’t go as far as to take full credit, but the drop-off following that fateful night in Glendale has been massive. Miami had claimed five of the previous 19 national championships, and strode into the title game against OSU riding a 34-game win streak. It was a stretch of dominance and a feeling of invincibility that few sports teams have ever built. It’s almost been sad to witness the subsequent fall from grace.

But there’s a little positive juice flowing in Coral Gables again. Mario Cristobal may have a bewildering fear of the QB Kneel, but he feels like the right person for this job. The guy was born and raised in Miami, and participated in the aforementioned ‘Canes empire as a player. Cristobal was in an undeniably better coaching situation at Oregon, but dropped everything when the head job at his alma mater became available; returning home gave him an opportunity to care for his mother. His ugly 12-13 record at Miami is heavily scrutinized, but I have confidence that Cristobal will figure things out.

An opportunity exists for this Hurricanes team to make some noise in a watered-down ACC. Everything will run through star quarterback Cam Ward, who left Washington State and chose Miami over the NFL Draft. I won’t pretend like the rest of the roster is loaded with proven guys, but it is certainly not lacking in talent. Cristobal has secured three consecutive top-13 recruiting classes, and also welcomed in a host of solid transfers. Both of the Hurricanes’ coordinators are heading into Year 2, and that continuity should greatly benefit all of those kids that are ready to have their potential unlocked. Miami fans are pumped, and they should be; this team could absolutely win 10 games.

I’ve seen so many people just penciling Clemson and Florida State into the ACC Championship Game; these ‘Canes would make me hesitate before doing so. Things are looking up at The U.

Pressroom

Spin It

“Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac. Enjoy.