After the Miami Hurricanes were destroyed on the football field Saturday by the Clemson Tigers, 58-0, there is no way to justify keeping Al Golden around any longer.
Forget about waiting until the end of next year — Golden should be fired immediately.
The Hurricanes were supposed to give No. 6-ranked Clemson a run for its money in Week 8. After all, they were undefeated at home and had come close to beating undefeated Florida State three games back. At the least, a competitive game was expected. While nobody would mistake Miami’s roster with that of Alabama’s, the Hurricanes have plenty of talent.
But despite the home field, the talent and the expectations of a competitive game, Miami offered no resistance, allowing Clemson to dominate in every aspect of the game.
It was an embarrassing display by a program that was not to long ago one of the nation’s best from year to year. Fans have been disgruntled by the mediocrity on display since Golden’s arrival in Miami five years ago. Since that time, the Hurricanes are 32-25, with losses in both bowl games.
Even before the team unravelled on Saturday, many high-profile former players had criticized Golden and the university for putting a substandard product on the field. And you know it’s bad when Jerry Johnson — the man who made the “U” the “U” — comes out and says it’s not a primetime program any more.
During the game against Clemson, Warren Sapp and Leon Searcy both came out on Twitter to blast Golden, who has done nothing to keep his job.
He has done nothing to boost the program, either, and the lackadaisical effort shown on Saturday against a top-10 team in the biggest game of the year at home was the final straw. Golden must be fired, and there is no point in waiting until the end of the year to make the move.
If anything, perhaps an interim coach might spark something positive for the Hurricanes down the stretch. Right now, this program is dead in the water, and the problem starts at the top.