Manny Diaz is not the problem.
He's a symptom of the problem, not the root. There is only one constant in UM football since 2013, and that's Blake James. This may get a little "off-point," so apologies in advance. My B.A. is in history, specialities in the Presidency and Revolutionary History. My masters is in Film. I've served as producer, researcher, director, writer. I have a theory of leadership. It encompasses a few traits: vision, pragmatism, and charisma. Those three things build trust.
One of my mantras in UM Football: If Donna Shalala said it, it's probably wrong. "Blake James has proven that he has the experience, skills, leadership and especially the love for the university that we need in athletics." Another is to beware of salespeople in shaky creative capital.
VISION.
To my knowledge, Blake James has never made a definitive statement of his vision for UM Football. A clear, concise direction for the program to go.
Examples:
- "I want to win the ACC Coastal within 3 years."
- "I want to win 3 bowl games in 4 years."
- "I want our football program with a 100% graduation rate."
- "I want our offense to average 35 a game, the defense 10-13."
And so forth.
PRAGMATISM.
Applying that vision with data-oriented strategy. Solving problems. The willingness to shift that strategy in order to achieve that vision. The last part of the definition directs my full attention to Blake James. Blake James was a soft choice to replace the visionary genius of Shawn Eichorst. Eichorst won more games than God himself, and I wept when the Badger/Husker left us for greenless pastures.
#SACKBLAKEJAMES, 1.
They hired Blake James on 02.08.13, when Golden accumulated 11 losses in two years. Final rankings were 56 and 65. Conference record: 8-8. An excuse was stability during "the cloud." Given that talent on those teams, that statement is flimsy. It's even flimsier after 2014, when Miami finished 6-7 with a final rank of 78. Phenomenal players. Dorito defense. Winless in bowl games.
"Al is our coach and will continue to be our coach." "If people weren’t upset about a loss, you probably have a bigger concern because that means they have grown to accept it. Nobody here accepts losses and I wouldn’t expect anything less of our fans. Do I get emails after losses? I do. I get emails from people that are very supportive, people pushing us to continue down the road of building this back to where it needs to be and others very passionate and upset and need to voice their frustration, and I understand that. It’s great to have such a passionate fan base. We want to continue to grow that. I hope everyone understands it’s a process.”
In one quote, James subtly projected blame onto fans. Then changed his mind and loves them. Then he claims a vision without defining it. The finisher? He wants unlimited patience. Reading between the lines, he was afraid to fire Golden because of X. Meaning he wants to please everyone. And pleases no one. There is no backbone, only reactionary hires.
The result? He shifts responsibility to the fans, who have to pay for banners and withhold sales to force the suits to take action. Golden had the job until a week before Halloween '15, when UM was already 3-3.
#SACKBLAKEJAMES, 2.
- Richt gets the job. All is right with the world. A great coach with a proven SEC track record. Alumni. Better still, he reams out Golden's system. Wins 9 games. One, thankfully, a freaking bowl game.
- Year 2. 10 wins! It looked beautiful. I smiled so much in 2017. That's a hard thing to do, because smiling in the state of West Virginia is punishable by death. But the kicker comes in the last three games, the last two giving up over 30 each. Superficially, injuries and unchartered waters. It also shows a product that degenerates with time. Since there is no vision, there is no structure. No pragmatism, no replacement to strengthen the foundation when it cracks.
- Year 3. 6 losses. 4 were consecutive and the last was yet another bowl loss.
#SACKBLAKEJAMES, 3.
- Diaz, year 1. 7 losses. Identifies structural issues. 3 consecutive wins, then 3 consecutive losses. The bowl game was a shutout. The wrong shutout.
- Diaz, year 2. 8-3. Enormous improvement. Quality wins. Then ends the year with consecutive losses. Including ANOTHER @#$(*@#$(&@#$(*@#$ bowl game. I don't consider CoVID a kill factor, because the disease attacked all programs in a more or less equal way.
- Diaz, year 3. Alabama litmus tests the program. App State takes advantage and almost wrecks it. Michigan State destroys the entire foundation. False glue with the schedule of Central Connecticut State. Then perma-death with the UVA loss.
This is not Diaz's doing. He's a great defensive coordinator. It's not Richt's doing. He won over 170 games, 10 10 win seasons, and 10 bowl games. Mostly versus superior competition.
If Blake James remains, the replacement is moot. There is no discernable vision. In short, he's a horrible leader who projects his shortcomings rather than amends them. It should not be up to us to demand a semi-descent product. Yet it is. Again. And again.
#SACKBLAKEJAMES
Love you guys.
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