Alonzo Highsmith never fit in hierarchical power structure structure of college or Miami football
The report that Miami football legend Alonzo Highsmith is not joining the Hurricanes staff is one that should have been expected. Highsmith was not going to take the Chief of Staff role rumored to be offered to him.
Miami football social media has been abuzz with the potential of Alonzo Highsmith potentially joining the Hurricanes staff. The negotiations reportedly were if Highsmith would accept the Chief of Staff position being offered or the Miami hierarchy would offer him a general manager type role. No college football team has a GM.
When Arizona State hired Herman Edwards to commence with the 2018 college football season the Sun Devils were met with a lot of skepticism regarding their plan to develop an NFL style power structure with the longtime NFL coach as the head coach and de facto CEO. In two seasons Edwards has guided ASU to a 15-11 record.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald first reported that Miami and Highsmith had decided to go their separate ways. Highsmith was never a good fit for a college job with what he and the Miami Hurricanes staff was seeking. Several people close the Miami football program stated a GM type role would not work.
Highsmith told Jackson that the
“door closed”
and that
“There never was really a lot of talk other than trustees wanted me.’
The only person close to the Miami football program that has so far spoken out positively about Highsmith joining Miami in a general manager capacity is former Hurricanes offensive lineman
Butler co-hosts the Miami football postgame show during the season with Danny Rabinowitz the producer for the Joe Rose Morning Show on 560 WQAM. Butler played six seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. He always has good insight into the Miami football program.
With Highsmith out of the picture, it remains to be seen if the Hurricanes will attempt to hire someone else for the chief of staff position they are looking for or just allow the position to remain vacant. Miami play-by-play announcer Joe Zagacki got it right when he said Highsmith wasn’t the sole answer to improve Miami.