Blake James: 'We Were Not Where We Needed to Be'

The Miami Hurricanes fired Al Golden on Sunday evening a day after falling to Clemson in embarrassing fashion 58-0 on their home field.

UM Athletic Director Blake James spoke to the media by teleconference shortly after the announcement with highlights below:

-- On the difficulty of making the decision: "Al navigated us through the NCAA case. He also represented the institution in a first-class manner. Anytime you have to make that type of decision it's very difficult. But it came to the point I felt it was best for our program."

-- Why the move was made today: "I felt going through yesterday's game, my analysis had been to the point the end result had been identified. We were not where I felt we needed to be as a program. I didn't feel we were where we needed to be at this point in the process, and this was the decision that needed to be made."

-- On Larry Scott named interim head coach: "My analysis of our staff, I felt Larry had the right qualities to be able to step in and lead our young men over the next five weeks. Larry was the best choice."

-- Does he regret not firing Golden after last season? "No, not at all. I stand by that decision."

--  On the qualifications of the next coach: "We are going to look to get the best person for the job."