Mailbag: The Miami and FSU fans aren't too happy with me
Updated Sept. 13
In case you haven't noticed, I've been on football duty the past two weeks helping my esteemed colleague Dennis Dodd until basketball season begins. I've seen Florida State lose to Clemson and Miami lose to Oklahoma. So naturally, Florida State and Miami fans now hate me, as if I'm the one who's been handling their recruiting the past few years.
Talk about pointing fingers in the wrong place.
Anyway, here's the latest Dear Gary (the pigskin edition).
From: Dale
Your column from the Florida State-Clemson game was so far off. Did you watch the game? ... Time will tell how all the (coaching) changes will turn out, but as long as the Seminoles improve on last season's win total of seven then this will be a successful season!
Let me get this straight: I wrote that Florida State was terrible and you didn't like it, but you are willing to call a seven-win season a success. I got news for you, Dale. A Florida State team that only wins seven games is a terrible Florida State team. You're a fan. You should know this.
From: Tony
Did you miss the (drive) from the FSU 20 yard line to the Clemson 30 yard line (when you wrote how Florida State did nothing on its final three possessions against Clemson)?
This is just sad. We have reached the point where Florida State fans are bragging about 50-yard drives that result in no points. What happened to the Seminoles of my childhood?
From: Dre
I see it like this: We are bad. Looks like another seven or eight-win season for my 'Noles.
Haven't you heard, Dre? Seven wins constitutes success!
From: Norton
You should've written your column from the Miami-Oklahoma game with no bias in it. Miami got killed. So what! Let's see if you write something positive about the Hurricanes when they start winning again. ... Keep my email handy. In a couple of years you will eat your words.
How many calories are in words? I'm trying to get into shape.
From: David
Miami will be back, and you will be eating crow.
Words and crow? We're on our way to a four-course meal!
From: Andrew
Maybe there is a reason you normally cover college basketball. You acted like Miami has been terrible for 20 years.
No, Andrew. I acted like Miami is terrible now because, you know, Miami is terrible now, at least relative to Miami's own lofty standards. And that's what some of you -- and by some of you, I mean delusional diehard Miami fans -- are missing, that though there is nothing wrong with getting killed at Oklahoma it's difficult to make sense of Miami getting killed by anybody. It's THE U, for crying out loud! So I don't care what Miami was five years ago or what Miami will be in five years. On Sept. 8, 2007, the Hurricanes didn't resemble the Hurricanes from the last OU-Miami meeting in no way shape or form. That was my point. Nothing more. Nothing less.
From: Craig
This is some of the worst journalism I've encountered on this site.
There's been way worse journalism on this site. You're not clicking around enough.
From: Conrad
What did you expect when Miami plays the No. 5 team in the country?
Something closer than 51-13.
From: Gabriel
You're just a Hurricane hater! You like bashing the Canes for no reason. They made a couple of mistakes which led to the blowout. They were in the game the whole first half. How about the blown touchdown fumble in the end zone call? The receiver’s foot did not cross the plain before he scored. The Canes will win another national title before Oklahoma wins another. I'll take any bets on that.
First, there was never a single moment in the first half where anybody (with a brain) believed Miami had a chance to win. Regardless of the score, there was a huge and obvious difference between those teams from the opening kickoff, and it was always just a matter of time before Oklahoma pulled away. Second, if you want me to take some touchdown off the board because of a supposed bad call, I'd be happy to do it. That makes it a final of 44-13. Congrats. And third, if I were a betting man (which I am) I'd bet every penny I own and then borrow some from my brother to wager even more that Miami will not win another national title before Oklahoma. Hell, Oklahoma might win another national title THIS SEASON! So though I respect your passion, Gabriel, I'd advise taking a deep breath and calling Gamblers Anonymous, ASAP.
From: Justin
Great story on OU-Miami. Your sense of humor was tremendously great and widespread.
I thought so too.
From: Carl
God bless you, but you are an idiot.
Perhaps, but I'm an idiot with a sense of humor, and that's accepted in this business.
From: Randal Only an idiot would need to devote that many words on how bad the Miami Hurricanes are these days.
It wasn't that many words, actually.
From: Roto
Hate on the Canes all you want, but give Randy Shannon a little bit of time as the new head coach. At least they had THE BALLS to go on the road for the second game of the season.
If that's the case, then you know what Miami needs? Less balls and more good quarterbacks.
