What's the view on Randy Shannon -- inside and outside the program -- as he enters his third season as UM's coach with a 12-13 record?

``The jury is out,'' said ABC's Ed Cunningham, an opinion echoed by Fox's Charles Davis. ``I like what he's done in recruiting and the off-field discipline. There's a little learning on the job, but you've got to start seeing good decisions with timeouts and decisions CEOs need to make.''

Davis, who called the past three Bowl Championship Series title games, said if UM has another mediocre year, there will be public support for hiring former Auburn coach and ex-UM assistant Tommy Tuberville. ``He has a doggone good track record,'' Davis said. ``It makes a ton of sense, which is part of what Randy is coaching against. It's a big year for Shannon. They can't get trounced in the first four games. Shannon and Patrick Nix were not aligned philosophically. It's important he and Mark Whipple are.''

Said ABC/ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit: ``I know fans are looking at this year to see where Randy is taking the program.'' But Herbstreit said the tough schedule might not be a ``fair barometer. They're a young team, still a bit of a fragile psyche.''

ABC/ESPN's Jesse Palmer likes what Shannon has done but said ``it's still to be determined'' how good a coach he is.

• Shannon has support inside the university, and one high-level trustee said even if UM has another mediocre season, he is more likely than not to return in 2010, the final year of his contract. The trustee said there is ``some pressure'' on Shannon, but not make-or-break pressure.

Shannon has told people he declined a contract extension, giving him more leverage if UM wins big. But three informed officials, including a high-level trustee, said a contract offer was not presented.

UM president Donna Shalala said this summer a potential extension was never mentioned to her. ``We're just going to play football this year,'' she said. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt has declined to comment on Shannon's contract but has expressed strong support for him.

• Several prominent trustees love Shannon's recruiting and the absence of off-field problems. ``But he's got to perform,'' one said. ``He's got every tool to be successful. I want to see progress and that the program is one opponents are afraid of playing again.''

CHATTER

• Privately, UM is confident about its ability to score against FSU and has found vulnerabilities in the Seminoles' pass defense and defensive line. FSU's Bobby Bowden said this offseason ``the biggest question mark is our secondary,'' except for standout cornerback Patrick Robinson. . . . One FSU football staffer said Jacory Harris looks like UM's best leader at quarterback since Ken Dorsey, who is coaching quarterbacks at Lakewood Ranch High in Bradenton, while awaiting another NFL job.

• UM safety Randy Phillips said ``every day,'' offensive coordinator Whipple installs a play that amazes him.

``You'll see guys at positions you would never thought they would be,'' Phillips said. ``[Running back] Graig Cooper at wideout, [left tackle] Jason Fox at tight end. Crazy things. It's going to be a long season for other defenses.''

• Cornerback Chavez Grant, on improved cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke: ``He used to spaz out, let mistakes get to him and lose focus. Now he doesn't. His maturity level has shot through the roof.'' . . . ESPN wants UM to open at home against Virginia Tech on Labor Day in 2010, but UM will not decide until after the season.

• Although Hanley Ramirez's play has been great, Dan Uggla is far from the only Marlin who has questioned Ramirez's desire and willingness to play through injuries. ``There are 23 guys behind Uggla,'' one Marlins person said, noting Ramirez isn't popular with teammates.

Fairly or not, teammates question his toughness, partly because he skipped the 2008 season finale citing a stiff shoulder, which preserved his .301 average.

• Heat forward Michael Beasley, still at a Houston rehab center, spoke to personal advisor Bruce Shingler by phone last week and ``he's doing well,'' Shingler said. ``He sounded really upbeat. He accepted responsibility and expects to be ready for training camp. He told me he will do whatever is needed to help the team win.''

• At 12 Nevada hotels including The Mirage, the Dolphins are 22-to-1 to win the Super Bowl (14th best). But a lot more people have bet the Dolphins will win less than eight games than more. Their over/under for wins, which opened at eight, is now 7.5 -- same as Buffalo and less than Seattle (eight). . . . Why is receiver Patrick Turner low on the depth chart? Coaches are disappointed with his inconsistency, including several drops.

• Sightings: Ronnie Brown, Chad Henne, and Dennis Rodman among those at Ricky Williams' on-the-beach wedding Friday in Dania Beach, to longtime girlfriend Kristin Barnes. A downpour began after they exchanged vows.

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