Randy Shannon's office in the University of Miami athletic center is large and professionally decorated, full of rich mahoganies, leather chairs and a plush couch -- all tastefully designed to impress recruits and their parents.

From one corner of the room emanates the soothing gurgle of a four-foot waterfall, a sort of New Age accouterment meant to suggest serenity.

Shannon could use a little of that.

This Hurricanes football season hasn't offered him much.

Nor has the simmering impatience of many UM fans.

''You want to win so fast,'' Shannon said Tuesday in that private office. ``You want to win in a rush.''

He meant himself but knew he spoke for starved Canes fans as well.

It isn't easy being green (and orange) today, being of The U and watching the last national championship from 2001 fade ever more in the rear view. It isn't easy bearing the indignity of seeing interlopers in the Top 25 -- South Florida, Wake Forest, Ball State, Vanderbilt -- while the once-mighty Canes operate in unaccustomed shadows.

UM football meant a cottage industry of cockiness once along with those five national titles, and the swagger seeped from the field to the fans. It is a humbling time to be a Cane, and humility is not a franchise trademark. So fans think ''ticktock, when's the next parade?'' Think when will the Canes not just be pretty good again but be great?

And here is Shannon, traffic cop at the busy intersection of Nadir and Ascent, having to preach patience, being the guy advising, ''Stay calm,'' while expectations and hunger form a panicked herd thundering all around him.

Expectations? UM got rid of Larry Coker because a six-year record of 60-15 (53-9 before his last year) didn't cut it.

The populace loved Shannon because he was a lifelong Cane and mostly because he wasn't Coker. But do they still love him? Not so much, if you read e-mails and blog comments or hear the vitriol flow on rant radio.

Slaves to the bottom line only want to know that Shannon went 5-7 in his debut last season and that's he's 2-3 this season after consecutive tough losses to North Carolina and Florida State -- the latter game always a litmus test for the State of The U.

YOUNG GUNS

Too many fans (and media suffering from premature agitation) delight in pointing out Shannon's Atlantic Coast Conference record of 2-8. But too few have the foresight to look beyond it and see what Shannon is building.

Miami has 14 true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen and 10 sophomores playing significantly, including both quarterbacks. The group has some playmakers harking to the great old days. Including both quarterbacks.

Contrast that with UM's upperclassmen, the players recruited on Coker's watch. The cupboard is bereft of much. An NFL general manager said this group of Canes seniors might have less impact in the April draft than any UM class in almost 30 years. The streak of first-round draft picks will end. It is not a given Miami will have anyone drafted.

I doubt there is another major program more lopsided, enjoying more potential from its youngest players while getting less now from its older ones.

Shannon didn't inherit much, but has flexed his well-regarded recruiting prowess to rebuild the foundation.

His babies need time to grow, that's all.

Do I know Shannon will be a great head coach? No. Nor do I know he won't. He might prove to be a great recruiter and natural defensive coordinator less suited for head coaching, who knows? What I do know is that he deserves time and patience, not intractable judgments 17 games in.

He says, ''We're excited in the direction we're going,'' and level-headed Canes fans should have faith, too.

Shannon said he expects this season to end in a better record than the last one.

I asked if this team will be in a bowl game.

''We should be in one,'' he said. ``Yes.''

ON COURSE

He is convinced in his direction, convinced this team is better than last year's. Shannon can flat-out recruit -- he doesn't need the plush office and soothing waterfall for that -- and he will grow as a head coach.

Shannon offers an even keel publicly, not wearing defeats like open wounds as Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson did. He can seem aloof at times.

''Everybody mourns differently,'' he said. ``I don't have much patience or accept losing, but I internalize. I didn't sleep for two days after these last two losses. I may lay my head down, but I don't sleep. There are growing pains.''

And better days beyond them.

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