The currently pitiful Miami Hurricanes football team still has as illustrious a set of alums as any college program in the country. So when Miami — known familiarly as THE U — started to get ignominiously pummeled 58-0 by No. 6 Clemson Saturday, the alums cried out on Twitter. Many called for the head of head coach Al Golden (they got it), who had been in the hot seat long before Saturday’s game. A few of the tweets are below. But it was Warren Sapp, the Hall of Fame Miami alum, that called into question even Golden’s style of loyalty. Sapp makes an interesting comment in our current age of image and brand.
Golden is from the old school of coaching attire — far more Tom Landry tweed than Bill Belichick sweatshirt. Golden sported a jacket and tie while everyone else donned the famous U on the sideline, including his assistants. It gave Golden a removed, executive air, which could be couched as cool if the Canes were 6-0. But it looks dowdy and less than all-in when you’re getting crushed. Sapp turned Golden sartorial choices into doubt about his loyalty too, saying “Why is Al the only coach on our sidelines without the U on Him?” Is Sapp right? Did Golden’s choice really send a signal to the team and its fans that he wasn’t quite there. Did Golden’s dress choice show fatal flaw and a lack of solidarity in the age of the brand?
Why is Al the only coach on our sidelines without the U on Him? #SomebodyHelpMeWithThis
— Warren Sapp (@WarrenSapp) October 24, 2015
I’m so embarrassed! @CanesAllAccess I would take his headset at halftime!! Do not wait until end of season, make a statement dammit!!!!! — Joaquin Gonzalez (@Joaquin_UMOL73) October 24, 2015
Time to head in a new direction as a program, enough is enough & I sat back & have been patient & quite long enough.
— Bryant Mckinnie (@BryantMckinnie) October 24, 2015
