Jump forward to 2021 and we're pulling receipts. Where do you stand on Manny Diaz, do you think he is the right guy to bring us back to being consistently relevant or not.
I do. If I'm wrong in 2 years, come grab this post and throw it in my face.
Put it this way—I think Manny Diaz is Miami's only viable option here and now in 2019 and believe he has the DNA to get it done.
How fast he can get things going; I have no idea, but two years from now (early 2021 season) isn't going to have this program where an entitled fan base wants it. Not after 15 seasons of mediocrity. Look how long it took Dabo to build a winner in Clemson; their fans were trying to run him off after year 4.5—despite him winning the division three times and the conference once. (Lost 77-33 to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl that season.)
I also think this job is nowhere near as enticing nationally as our fan base thinks it is—and I know that a fifth different head coach in 14 is **** for a program's continuity, so our fans better hope he's the guy—instead of some of these moronic,
"Back up the Brinks Trunk or Urban Meyer and do whatever it takes to get him here—but we won't, because this program has no balls." (News flash; if / when Meyer comes back—he will have bigger, better options than 'The U'. He will go to a football factory where academic standards are non-existent.)
Most college coaches are drawn to the sport at this level because they love small college town atmospheres for the wife and kids—as well as the pageantry, the undying fan support, the packed stadiums on game day. Miami is an event town and a pro sports city. Nothing about the experience is collegiate or enticing for a coach and his family—which is why UM has generally attracted climbers who saw it as a stepping stone to the NFL; not lifers who have a long-term plan.
Look at every coach Miami hired in the modern era (1979-2019)—outside of Richt, every guy was an up-and-comer and not a known name. Richt was an alum and South Florida native who came back home to give it a whirl at his alma mater and three years in, punted rather than dig in for the fight.
Schnellenberger was the Dolphins' offensive coordinator. JJ was an Oklahoma State head coach, barely above .500 (29-25) and never beating the likes of Oklahoma or Nebraska. Dennis Erickson had Idaho, Wyoming and Washington State on his head coaching resume before heading south. Butch was a third-choice defensive assistant of JJ's in Dallas who came back to Miami because he enjoyed his time as a defensive assistant at UM in the eighties.
Coker was a substitute teacher promoted from within and asked not to ***** thing up. Shannon was a low-rent hire when the program had a massive PR image problem (re: FIU brawl, Pata murder) when no one else wanted in—and so in over his head, never saw a position better than linebackers coach until UCF in 2018 (I'm not counting that trumped up title at UF; linebacker coach, but also co-DC and assistant head coach because McElwain needed him to help recruit in-state.) Golden was another up-and-comer because of marginal success at Temple; picked over names like Randy Edsall and Marc Trestman.
The same way Diaz talks about this program needing "Miami type guys" to get on board to play for this program; the Canes also need a "Miami type guy" to dig in for the job of putting it back on the map.
Diaz is the closest thing to Davis in that sense; Butch coming along when things weren't riding high—but having spent five years in Coral Gables during the glory days, understood the expectation and the blueprint for success. He had some massive growing pains early and wasn't a good game day manager—but navigated Miami through the probation years, recruiting like a beast and putting together a beast of a team; albeit two decades ago when there was less parity in the sport.
Wrapping this rant; I buy into Manny's vision for what it takes to rebuild this thing, I buy into his work ethic and I believe he has the head to be the CEO of this program—making Miami look better than it has under any previous coach since Davis left. I think it takes a guy like him to dig in a do this—and don't think a lot of guys like him have the heart, stomach or grit to rebuild this thing from the ground up, as things have gone completely off the rails the last 15 years.
What I don't know is how long it's going to take, or where things will be in two years.
I won't call for this team to win out ... but I wouldn't be shocked if it did, based on the schedule. I think 9-3 is more realistic at this rate—but things set up well with Bethune, C. Michigan and a bye before Virginia Tech on the 5th. Virginia and Georgia Tech at home, as well.
At Pittsburgh and at Florida State aren't going to be as daunting as Chapel Hill the second week of the season; primetime, sold out game, Louisville at home, FIU up the street and at Duke to close the year.
I think we'll see noticeable improvement as this season goes on and believe these kids will grow from two close losses.
Others are going to hammer 0-2. So be it. Everyone is tired of losing and if that's where they want to focus, that's on them.
I see improvement and a team that didn't quit the past two weeks; which isn't something I could say for this program the past 15 years. I also see a quarterback who is capable of greatness, running backs who get after it and one of the premier tight ends in the country—which negates the resentment the defense had against the offense the past few years, which is going to help tremendously this season.
This thing is already on a better track than most want to admit—but I also understand people not being able to find any good after an 0-2 start and losing to two hated teams, as this drought has been long and painful.