Being a Miami Hurricanes football fan all my life, I've had to deal with plenty of trouble with the team, which has led to some lean times. This season, the Miami Hurricanes are facing possible NCAA trouble and that means all the players need to be on their best behavior, a memo that Keion Payne must not have received.
After his second round of team violations since the beginning of spring practice, Al Golden has stayed true to his word and pulled a weed from the University of Miami football garden.
Unknown Talent
Keion Payne was listed as a second string defensive back for the Hurricanes and although he only played in two games last season, there is no telling what kind of talent he might have been able to bring to the field. While his talent might still be shown, it won't be shown for the Miami Hurricanes.
About Time
As a Hurricanes fan, I am extremely happy to see that Al Golden is staying true to his word and making the tough decisions like he is. Part of the problems that the Hurricanes are now facing is thanks to past coaches, who supposedly knew of major violations that were happening but chose to ignore them. By letting Keion Payne go, Golden sends his message loud and clear: There will be no nonsense tolerated on his Hurricanes team.
Weed and Water
For as much as Al Golden has shown his tough side, especially in the case of Keion Payne, he has also acknowledged the need to nurture as well. In a story by the Miami Herald, Golden is quoted as saying, " When you're trying to improve the program and move the program forward, you can't just weed your garden, you've got to water your garden, too."
So, while Golden knows he has to remain resolute in his discipline, he also knows that he must combat his hard side with a soft side to get the most out of the Hurricanes players.
Growing the Right Way
In a way, the whole garden scenario that Golden portrays is the perfect one for the University of Miami football program. In order to rebuild this team and do it in the proper manner, Golden has no choice but to get rid of the bad while grooming the good as much as possible. As long as he can stick to his guns and continue to do the right thing, like he did with Keion Payne, then the Hurricanes' glory days may just return.
For fans like me, Al Golden is the Hurricanes' "Golden Ticket," and hopefully will be one heck of a gardener.
Jimmy Collins has been a loyal fan of "The U" since he was a child attending games at the original Orange Bowl. Still a resident of South Florida, he attends numerous Miami Hurricanes games each season and enjoys writing about NCAA Football and the Miami Hurricanes in particular.
More from this contributor:
University of Miami Spring Football Starts With More Trouble: Fan Reaction
Jimmy Johnson was the Miami Hurricanes' Best Head Coach: A Fan's Opinion
Stephen Morris Will Make the Miami Hurricanes 'Quarterback U' Again: A Fan's Opinion
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