Randy Shannon is in the last year of his three-year contract with Miami. His record through two years is 12-13, with a 6-10 mark in the ACC. His team remains a collection of impressive potential with no notable accomplishments to hang its hat on except a two-point win over eventual conference champ Virginia Tech last November, which was followed by three straight losses to end the season. The 'Canes' first three games this fall are against probably the three best teams in the conference, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, followed by a visit from Oklahoma for good measure. Even optimists have to recognize the high likelihood of an 0-4 start.

But where his contract is concerned, Shannon's opinion of the upcoming group of 'Canes is beyond optimistic -- according to the Miami Herald, he's staking his payday and possibly his immediate future at his alma mater on it:

The truth is Shannon's contract would have been extended already, reflecting a modest raise, if the university had its way.

The delay is the coach's idea. Actually, closer to his strategy.
[...]
He banks on this season being much improved overall and offering the tantalizing hint of championship potential to turn that modest raise UM has in mind into a major payday. Shannon, 43, just saw Florida coach Urban Meyer enriched to $4 million a year. Boss Cane won't make that leap without a national title, but believes he can get a lot closer if his team justifies his faith over the coming months than he would right now, coming off last year's 7-6 record.

It's not like they won't have the opportunity to justify Shannon's faith, although most coaches looking at sending a sophomore quarterback with two career starts against four top-20 outfits in a row to start the season would be scrambling for all the security he can get -- in fact, the Herald cites an "Oh and four, out the door" campaign from the "anti-Shannon wing" of the UM base, which apparently has no interest in allowing him a full run to harvest the fruits of his strong recruiting efforts. That's pretty obviously farfetched. But I don't know of any other coach who wouldn't jump at a little insurance, anyway.