ItsAUThing.com
Following 'The U' since '82—covering it since '96.
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2017
- Messages
- 2,704
I know there was some convo about victory cigars weeks back, but on a macro-level—curious what most think about Diaz’s psyche with players and a desire to be like / accepted, versus respected / feared.
Sort of like the “are leaders made or born”—the general consensus is “made”—over time can Diaz morph and age into a type of coach that focus more on respect, as the age gap will grow between he and younger players?
Dabo Swinney wasn’t always the “tough guy” and hard *** he likes to come across as at Clemson. Go back and look at footage earlier in his career as head coach—he was a lot more “aw shucks” and looked all the part of a wide receivers coach promoted (from a failed Bowden regime) to head coach. Now in his 12th season—two titles under his belt, as well as a few championship losses—he’s cashing fat checks and it one of the biggest names in the game.
Swinney has built a culture where players voluntarily get off social media during the season—and would-be first round draft picks (Wilkins, Bryant, Ferrell, etc. years back—Etienne this year) are returning for senior years to compete for titles.
The cigars for a 52-10 win over Florida State was one thing—as f**k you to a rival, when the Canes scored the most-ever in the rivalry and their biggest win over the Noles since 1976. Playing slip-and-slide in the rain after eking out a five-point win over a one-win Virginia—as bush league as the tackling dummies with 7-6 on their chests early 2019, before putting together a 6-7 season.
(Real talk; had Wiggins not drawn that third down pass interference call—Virginia get the ball back, down five with almost two and a half minutes left.)
I’m rooting for Manny—as I don’t think Miami has many answers outside of a defensive-minded local guy who gets the brand and culture—but fundamentally, the type of old school coach that wants to be feared / respected; Saban, modern day Swinney, Meyer—that guy generally goes further (with the right program and personnel, of course—being a hard-*** at a trash school means nothing).
Can Manny close out this season, evolve as a leader and make the tough decisions needed to success—while creating a little separation with each new recruiting class, going from buddy-buddy to respected. (A reminder, this year’s senior and junior classes knew Diaz as a defensive coordinator—a gig where you’re not the top guy and can more of a player’s coach and well-liked, a luxury great head coaches usually aren’t afforded.) Or is this guy at 46 always going to be this guy?
Crazy to think Butch Davis was 42 years old when he took over at Miami—battle tested under Jimmy for 11 years with the Canes and Cowboys. That, and 42 in 1995 felt and looked a **** of a lot older than 44 in late 2018 when Diaz got the reigns. Still, Davis was all business from day one and those kids fell in line fast underneath him.
Sort of like the “are leaders made or born”—the general consensus is “made”—over time can Diaz morph and age into a type of coach that focus more on respect, as the age gap will grow between he and younger players?
Dabo Swinney wasn’t always the “tough guy” and hard *** he likes to come across as at Clemson. Go back and look at footage earlier in his career as head coach—he was a lot more “aw shucks” and looked all the part of a wide receivers coach promoted (from a failed Bowden regime) to head coach. Now in his 12th season—two titles under his belt, as well as a few championship losses—he’s cashing fat checks and it one of the biggest names in the game.
Swinney has built a culture where players voluntarily get off social media during the season—and would-be first round draft picks (Wilkins, Bryant, Ferrell, etc. years back—Etienne this year) are returning for senior years to compete for titles.
The cigars for a 52-10 win over Florida State was one thing—as f**k you to a rival, when the Canes scored the most-ever in the rivalry and their biggest win over the Noles since 1976. Playing slip-and-slide in the rain after eking out a five-point win over a one-win Virginia—as bush league as the tackling dummies with 7-6 on their chests early 2019, before putting together a 6-7 season.
(Real talk; had Wiggins not drawn that third down pass interference call—Virginia get the ball back, down five with almost two and a half minutes left.)
I’m rooting for Manny—as I don’t think Miami has many answers outside of a defensive-minded local guy who gets the brand and culture—but fundamentally, the type of old school coach that wants to be feared / respected; Saban, modern day Swinney, Meyer—that guy generally goes further (with the right program and personnel, of course—being a hard-*** at a trash school means nothing).
Can Manny close out this season, evolve as a leader and make the tough decisions needed to success—while creating a little separation with each new recruiting class, going from buddy-buddy to respected. (A reminder, this year’s senior and junior classes knew Diaz as a defensive coordinator—a gig where you’re not the top guy and can more of a player’s coach and well-liked, a luxury great head coaches usually aren’t afforded.) Or is this guy at 46 always going to be this guy?
Crazy to think Butch Davis was 42 years old when he took over at Miami—battle tested under Jimmy for 11 years with the Canes and Cowboys. That, and 42 in 1995 felt and looked a **** of a lot older than 44 in late 2018 when Diaz got the reigns. Still, Davis was all business from day one and those kids fell in line fast underneath him.
