Coming off the bye week, head coach Manny Diaz used his Monday afternoon presser to discuss a variety of issues regarding the team, including facing off against FIU on Saturday at Marlins Park, the site of where the old Orange Bowl used to be.
“It’ll be a great occasion for our entire football team, for our fan base,” Diaz said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun… We expect a great atmosphere and we’re very excited to be a part of this game on Saturday night.”
Going back to when the Orange Bowl was demolished in 2008, some fans have expressed displeasure at Miami ceding the site to the Marlins in the first place.
“You can’t tell someone how to feel,” Diaz said. “But time moves on. The Yankees are playing in a new stadium, Boston Garden isn’t there anymore… When the Canes are rolling and the city does what it does on a Saturday night, we can play anywhere (in the city) and it’s an advantage.”
What are the benefits of Miami playing the smaller-program local school in FIU?
“One thing I know is anytime a school in this state plays each other, it’s a showcase for high school football in the state,” Diaz said. “I think it’s something the high school coaches can watch guys on both teams, the families, a lot of guys know each other - it’s good.”
For the past few seasons now, it seems the Canes have settled into a yearly non-conference schedule that includes a Power 5 opponent, two Group of 5 teams, and an FCS matchup. Would Diaz like to see the yearly schedule get tougher moving forward with more marquee names?
“We did play Florida this year, right?” Diaz said. “Starting next year, we’re home and home with a major Power Five team… The schedule is going to take care of itself.”
Although TE Brevin Jordan missed the last game vs. Louisville, Diaz remains optimistic he will suit up against the Panthers this weekend.
“He did more last night than he’s done last week,” Diaz said of Jordan. “The bye week came at a good time, still optimistic he’ll be ready to go.”
LB Shaq Quarterman will tie Williams Joseph's school-record and make the 50th straight start of his career when the Canes play FIU on Saturday.
"His conditioning level right now is as good as any player I've ever seen, certainly at the linebacker position," Diaz said.
5th year senior DE Scott Patchan did not partake in the senior day festivities last week against Louisville, and Diaz said that is because Patchan is applying for a 6th year of eligibility with the NCAA; Patchan missed most of his first two seasons at UM with knee injuries.
“It seems he would have a good case for getting it,” Diaz said.
Despite not playing this weekend, Miami was mathematically eliminated from winning the Coastal division. Even though the Canes’ stated goal is to win the division every year, Diaz said the team doesn’t spend much time reflecting on “what might have been”.
“We don’t spend a lot of time looking back,” Diaz said. “It’s up to us as a team in the division to do something about it. It’s a defensive league, and if everyone can play defense, everyone can compete… This team is improving… but our best game is still out there.”
Diaz gave the team Friday and Saturday off, and he said the team responded with a good practice on Sunday night.
“It’s important we have a passion to play, it’s more important we have a passion to prepare,” Diaz said.
With just one month before the first signing period of the 2020 cycle, Diaz feels comfortable with where the recruiting class is right now.
“We’re super-pleased in our recruiting class right now,” Diaz said. “As always, there’s going to be some shuffling around initiated by both sides. We’re very excited about where it’s going. We had a great little group of guys on our campus last night. The arrow is pointing up… what I like is we have a lot of solid guys in our class.”
The Canes lost TE Evidence Njoku to transfer last week, the third player to transfer from Miami mid-season. Does Diaz ever think of playing an athlete more if they express wanting to transfer?
“You have a chance to lose credibility (if you do that),” Diaz said. “The unique thing around college football now is it’s happening during the season when there’s nowhere you can go.”
“It’ll be a great occasion for our entire football team, for our fan base,” Diaz said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun… We expect a great atmosphere and we’re very excited to be a part of this game on Saturday night.”
Going back to when the Orange Bowl was demolished in 2008, some fans have expressed displeasure at Miami ceding the site to the Marlins in the first place.
“You can’t tell someone how to feel,” Diaz said. “But time moves on. The Yankees are playing in a new stadium, Boston Garden isn’t there anymore… When the Canes are rolling and the city does what it does on a Saturday night, we can play anywhere (in the city) and it’s an advantage.”
What are the benefits of Miami playing the smaller-program local school in FIU?
“One thing I know is anytime a school in this state plays each other, it’s a showcase for high school football in the state,” Diaz said. “I think it’s something the high school coaches can watch guys on both teams, the families, a lot of guys know each other - it’s good.”
For the past few seasons now, it seems the Canes have settled into a yearly non-conference schedule that includes a Power 5 opponent, two Group of 5 teams, and an FCS matchup. Would Diaz like to see the yearly schedule get tougher moving forward with more marquee names?
“We did play Florida this year, right?” Diaz said. “Starting next year, we’re home and home with a major Power Five team… The schedule is going to take care of itself.”
Although TE Brevin Jordan missed the last game vs. Louisville, Diaz remains optimistic he will suit up against the Panthers this weekend.
“He did more last night than he’s done last week,” Diaz said of Jordan. “The bye week came at a good time, still optimistic he’ll be ready to go.”
LB Shaq Quarterman will tie Williams Joseph's school-record and make the 50th straight start of his career when the Canes play FIU on Saturday.
"His conditioning level right now is as good as any player I've ever seen, certainly at the linebacker position," Diaz said.
5th year senior DE Scott Patchan did not partake in the senior day festivities last week against Louisville, and Diaz said that is because Patchan is applying for a 6th year of eligibility with the NCAA; Patchan missed most of his first two seasons at UM with knee injuries.
“It seems he would have a good case for getting it,” Diaz said.
Despite not playing this weekend, Miami was mathematically eliminated from winning the Coastal division. Even though the Canes’ stated goal is to win the division every year, Diaz said the team doesn’t spend much time reflecting on “what might have been”.
“We don’t spend a lot of time looking back,” Diaz said. “It’s up to us as a team in the division to do something about it. It’s a defensive league, and if everyone can play defense, everyone can compete… This team is improving… but our best game is still out there.”
Diaz gave the team Friday and Saturday off, and he said the team responded with a good practice on Sunday night.
“It’s important we have a passion to play, it’s more important we have a passion to prepare,” Diaz said.
With just one month before the first signing period of the 2020 cycle, Diaz feels comfortable with where the recruiting class is right now.
“We’re super-pleased in our recruiting class right now,” Diaz said. “As always, there’s going to be some shuffling around initiated by both sides. We’re very excited about where it’s going. We had a great little group of guys on our campus last night. The arrow is pointing up… what I like is we have a lot of solid guys in our class.”
The Canes lost TE Evidence Njoku to transfer last week, the third player to transfer from Miami mid-season. Does Diaz ever think of playing an athlete more if they express wanting to transfer?
“You have a chance to lose credibility (if you do that),” Diaz said. “The unique thing around college football now is it’s happening during the season when there’s nowhere you can go.”
