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Getting this deal done was a top priority for Hocutt, who raves about Shannon for a number of reasons, perhaps most significantly the way the 'Canes have excelled academically. There's been few significant off-the-field disciplinary issues since Shannon took over, and the football program ranks among the national leaders in the Academic Progress Rates scores charted by the NCAA.
Earlier Wednesday, Miami was recognized by the NCAA for having a multiyear APR score in the top 10 percent -- making the Hurricanes the only school from an automatic-qualifying BCS league among the teams that finished 2009 in the national rankings to have that distinction.
Under Shannon, the on-field product is getting better, too.
He went 5-7 in 2007, the first season after taking over from Larry Coker, then rebounded to go 7-6 and reach the Emerald Bowl one season later. The Hurricanes easily beat eventual Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech last season, plus topped Florida State and Oklahoma in two other tests, then closed at 9-4 after falling to Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl.
There's plenty of pieces in place for more improvement in 2010.
Quarterback Jacory Harris (3,352 yards, 24 TDs) will be back for his second season as a starter, running back Damien Berry could be poised to take over in the backfield and the Hurricanes might have the deepest crop of receivers in the nation, led by senior Leonard Hankerson and speedster Travis Benjamin. Defensively, lineman Allen Bailey is already being talked about as a first-rounder in the 2011 NFL draft, linebacker Colin McCarthy returns for his senior season and fellow linebacker Sean Spence could be among the ACC's best.
Shannon got them all to come to Miami. The way the Hurricanes see it, it's time for that potential to finally start paying off.
[Associated Press;
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