Randy Shannon doesn't sleep much during football season. Too many details, too much adrenaline and, lately, lots of late-night congratulatory phone calls.

But he can sleep easier now.

Two consecutive victories against ranked opponents on national TV is a sure-fire cure for insomnia.

In these days of job insecurity, Shannon has removed himself from the hot seat.

For now.

The University of Miami coach won't be napping on his laurels after the No. 20 Hurricanes beat No. 14 Georgia Tech 33-17 on Thursday, 10 days after beating then No. 18 Florida State 38-34.

He knows college football packs as much parity as the NFL with teams such as Boise State and Mississippi mingling with the usual suspects.

He knows UM is only halfway through the rugged four-game stretch of its front-loaded schedule -- four games against top-20 teams. Florida State and Georgia Tech were overrated. But that's the nature of the ACC at the moment: Style over substance.

Is No. 13 Virginia Tech another impostor or the class of the conference? UM will find out Saturday in Blacksburg. Then No. 12 Oklahoma visits Miami.

There was talk that UM would be 0-4 by Oct. 3 and Shannon would be on his way out. But in hindsight that seems like premature panic from grumps who would like to see Shannon fail in just his third year of working to turn the program around.

He's actually the perfect coach at this juncture. He has survived extreme highs and lows in his personal and professional life. He's found that the middle way is best. He rarely changes expression or loses his cool and he expects the same reserve from his players. He's in charge of deflating swollen egos. He's got UM swaggering but not gloating. Eager but not overconfident.

Shannon has perspective. He's been at UM as a player or assistant coach for three national championships -- and he has been there for the controversy of the Thug U. days and the gloom of 5-6 in 1997 and 5-7 in 2007.

He wants a chance to put his imprint on his alma mater. What is his contract status? He has said privately that he turned down an extension in hopes of getting a better deal after the season. UM sources have said he wasn't given an offer, and president Donna Shalala told The Miami Herald his contract hasn't been discussed.

Shannon is building a strong case for himself with a 2-0 start and impressive recruiting. His players are behaving and graduating.

But he would be the first to tell you UM has only played 16 percent of its schedule.

He ought to be safe at least through the 2010 season. It would be great if Shannon's new offensive and defensive coordinators stick around, too. Mark Whipple and John Lovett have done wonders in a short period of time.

UM has scored 77 points and gained 930 yards in two games after finishing the 2008 season ranked 78th in rushing and 77th in passing under Patrick Nix. The big-play attack is back under Whipple, who likes to exploit matchups and initiate movement.

The constant shifting throws opponents off balance, Shannon said, and once they adjust, Whipple adds another wrinkle.

Quarterback Jacory Harris is thriving now that he's free of the two-quarterback rotation of last season. He has passed for 656 yards and five touchdowns, which puts him on a scorching pace to break Bernie Kosar's single-season yardage record (3,642) of 1984 and Steve Walsh's single-season touchdown record (29) of 1988.

No wonder Harris has moved way up in the Heisman Trophy ratings.

The defense, led by Darryl Sharpton, Sam Shields, Randy Phillips and Olivier Vernon, is forging an identity under Lovett. UM's swarming D held Georgia Tech's triple option to half its average production.

``Coach Lovett did a good job with the defensive game plan in organizing and structuring it,'' Shannon said. ``I think it was big that he emphasized all week long that we've got to get 11 guys to the football in some way, form or fashion.''

The kicking game remains UM's glaring weakness, and it could bite the Hurricanes if it isn't fixed.

With much to learn about this team, there's still an undeniable buzz about it. A question floating around college football: Is Miami back?

Shannon is telling his players to be calm and not get ahead of themselves. With only two games down, he doesn't want to draw any conclusions about whether UM is back. He wants to keep UM going in the right direction.

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