For decades the Miami program has been a model of consistent winning, followed by cycles of disaster and rebuild. The current rebuild under Al Golden is now four weeks into a fifth season.
In that span, Golden has been over .500 only twice, but has ended the regular season exactly at .500 in the other two seasons. While the Hurricanes have been looking for a reason for optimism the past 10 years, the current squad has started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2013, which resulted in a nine-win campaign. Outside of that, the program has not had a similar beginning since 2004, when its last high point was coming to an end under Larry Coker.
While it is hard to look at Saturday’s overtime victory over Nebraska (at home) as a masterpiece, wins are still wins. They are needed to rebuild a program in this diminished condition. Golden has been on the hot seat, and firing him again means completely starting over again. The 3-0 start certainly helps to move the program in a different direction, but Golden still needs to prove that he is man for the job.
However, it is hard to have too many hard feelings against Golden at this point. He is not doing a terrible job with what the Hurricanes have been through. To have at least a .500 record in each of his seasons, while joining the ACC and having to suffer through the NCAA investigations and sanctions, is a minor miracle.
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