Greensboro — To hear the Orange & Green gang at the ACC Football Kickoff tell it, returning the University of Miami to the business of being a power rather than a puff will not be all that tough.

The formula: Get rid of the "me" and "I" players and the Hurricanes will get back to being "The U."

Hence, the flushing sound in Coral Gables, Fla., where the 'Canes were 5-7 in 2007, and lost three more games the past two seasons (13) than from 2000-'05 combined.

Between his first and second seasons as head coach, former Miami player Randy Shannon has had "at least eight" scholarship players leave the program, he said.

That group includes last year's opening day quarterback, Kirby Freeman. He transferred to Baylor, leaving Shannon to pick a QB from three freshmen — Robert Marve, Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith. (Taylor Cook is expected to redshirt.)

"Changing the culture, that was more difficult than anything," said Shannon, elevated from defensive coordinator after predecessor Larry Coker's teams went 9-3 in '05 and 7-6 in '06. "We've had guys leave, and we're moving forward."

Weep not for Miami, which had one of the three most highly-regarded recruiting classes in the nation this year. There is still talent aplenty, including sterling running backs Javarris James and Graig Cooper.

Junior offensive lineman Jason Fox predicted that the 'Canes will again play loose and fast thanks to a cleansing of attitudes.

"We had problems not relating to talent, not relating to coaches, but as far as certain players who weren't ideal," Fox said. "Coach Shannon's done a good job of either correcting them, or weeding out those players. That type of player can be very cancerous."

Malignancy ran to the 'Canes' marrow as they lost their last four games, including a 48-0 abomination to Virginia in Orange Bowl's final game (Miami is moving to Dolphins Stadium).

So the concept of looking out for oneself and all references to the NFL have become dangerous on Shannon's watch.

"It wasn't that [the departed players] were bad kids; it's just we are moving in a different direction than what they think of themselves," Shannon said. "We're recruiting ... guys that are passionate for football, passionate for Miami, not thinking about themselves, not thinking about being a No. 1 draft pick."

The 'Canes' will have young fingers on the trigger. Shannon plans to play two of his four freshmen quarterbacks. He also has two senior walk-ons. "Just get the ball in the right hands, and don't turn it over," he said.

Turnover, though, may be key for the 'Canes. They hope to add by subtraction.

"Coach Shannon, I think he's doing the right thing," Fox said. "He's part of the U family. He played here, coached here, and I trust everything he's done."