Al Golden was given a raw deal from just about the moment he arrived at Miami, blindsided with a protracted NCAA investigation, sanctions, probation and a dark cloud that lingered for years.
These are facts, not excuses. And these are facts that Miami administrators keenly understood, using them to rationalize the losses that piled up over the last five years. After a dismal 6-7 performance in 2014, Golden made his case to athletic director Blake James for one more year -- even though many outside the program questioned whether he deserved it.
Golden convinced James this would be his year to get everything moving toward an ACC championship.