Not much can go wrong if you don't have high expectations. I think it helped that my parents were both Canes alums from the mid '50s. They never had high expectations of the football program then were stunned when things turned remarkably positive for a couple of decades nearing the end of their lifespan.
But I talked about it all the time with them and we agreed it was fragile and hardly destined to last. That's why my dad taped almost every game from that era in Miami, and I taped as many as I could from Las Vegas.
Here's the long range perspective: Prior to the '80s glory era, the high point in Miami football was defeating Purdue the week after Purdue upset Notre Dame. There was even a parade for that accomplishment.
I was in disbelief every time my dad told me that story. That's not even a big deal...defeating a team after they beat a team. Letdowns and everything. Imagine Vikings fans celebrating a win over the Dolphins because the Dolphins just beat New England. Not a perfect comparison but you know what I am saying.
For that to be the state of the program prior to Schnellenberger is astonishing, in comparison to what the blueblood programs had already accomplished. I am a believer than everything tends to drift back to the beginning.
