The U after ESPN commentator?

After producing a record of only 7–5 in 2010, Miami(Fl.) fired head coach Randy Shannon after four years at the helm.

Only a couple of years ago, the recruiting classes that Shannon had brought to the program were being hailed as one of the best in the nation. They were expected to be in the national championship hunt this year.

Expectations were even higher after the team went 9–3 last year. They were even ranked as high as No. 10 in the nation at the beginning of this season. Then it all fell apart.

The first two loses were deemed okay due to them being against Ohio State and Florida State; both were ranked high and are considered to be two of the best in the nation.

Even the next two loses could be considered okay. Their lose to Virginia was devastating, but their starting QB was injured and were forced to play a true freshman in his place. Their fourth lose was to the extremely hot Virginia Tech Hokies, who eventually won the conference title.

What finally took the cake was the season finale lose on senior day to South Florida. This wasn’t the USF of the past few years who has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. This was the USF who no longer had Jim Leavitt as their head coach and no longer had his talented recruits. USF even has a walk on freshman starting at QB.

This was the final straw. Shannon had to be fired.

Immediately.

On Sunday, Shannon was told that he was let go.

Hurricanes fans rejoice.

Shannon was a decent recruiter but he just didn’t seem to be the typical “Canes” coach. He wasn’t fiery and at times seemed like a fish out of water on the sideline.

So what is next for the Hurricanes?

Miami has said they want a coach that “we will focus on bringing in an individual who will lead us back to national relevance.” The tradition of the ‘Canes as a national powerhouse also makes the statement obvious, “Simply stated: winning is important at the University of Miami. Always has been, always will be.”

This means that Miami wants a high profile coach that can bring them back to national prominence. The supposed top five options are very interesting.

There are rumors of possibly stealing Miami alum Mark Richt from the University of Georgia. He denies the rumors, but we have seen people back out of the denial and jump on the opportunity. It might even be a smart move with talk of the Bulldogs moronically firing Richt.

There is also some speculation that Miami could lure TCU head coach Gary Patterson away from the horned Frogs. He has brought that program back from the depths of college jokes, and into the light of nation.

Supposedly had Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano known that Butch Davis was going to leave Miami a decade ago, he would have stayed and gotten the job back then. Schiano’s improvement of the Scarlet Knights cannot be understated. Before Schiano, Rutgers made the Duke Blue Devils look like powerhouses.

Interesting enough, Boise State’s Chris Peterson could be sought out as the ‘Canes next coach. He has a record of 59–5 in his time with the Broncos. He took over a program that was already really good, but he has taken them to a whole other level. Imagine what Peterson could do with a true national title contender.

Possibly the most intriguing rumor of coach is former Super Bowl winning and current ESPN Monday Night Football commentator Jon Gruden. He obviously might prefer an actual National Football League job, but just imagine the three coaches in Florida consisting of Gruden, Urban Meyer and Jimbo Fisher. The recruiting wars alone would be epic.

There were even reports of Gruden agreeing to a deal that would pay him more than $3 million a year. The reports were false, as of right now at least, but this could be extremely interesting.

No matter who the Hurricanes chose, we know a couple of things: the coach will be high profile, will be expected to win right away, and a new era in “The U” will begin.