Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Al Golden 'Admirable' For His Efforts

In the latest edition of his college football team previews, SB Nation's Bill Connelly highlighted the Miami Hurricanes and what to expect from them in the 2012 college football season. While sanctions for the team could be handed out at any time due to a scandal involving booster Nevin Shapiro and alleged illicit benefits, Connelly still admits that he admires head coach Al Golden for taking on such a project as Miami.

But for obvious reasons, I admire Golden quite a bit, too. I have no idea whether he will succeed at The U, just as I have no idea whether any coach would be able to succeed with what might be serious sanctions coming down the pike. I hope he didn't get his hands too dirty in the Shapiro mess (and if he did, shame on him), but I simply admire coaches who take on really, really difficult projects.

Golden inherited the worst FBS program in the country and turned it into a program good enough to get promoted back to the Big East after he left. And he is now steering a ship in Miami that has been difficult to guide and could soon become almost impossible. Bravery is close to stupidity, but there is still something admirable in taking what you know to be a difficult path.

For more on Hurricanes football, visit Miami blog The 7th Floor.