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With the news that the Big10 and Pac-12 canceled their seasons yesterday, Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz said following the 5th practice of fall that the team is not worried about what’s going on with other schools across the nation and that fall practice would continue in Coral Gables.
“Here at the University of Miami, our focus is on what we can control,” Diaz said. “We’re aware of the news going on around the country, but that doesn’t change what’s going on here. What our players can control is staying healthy with all the methods and protocols we’ve put in place and show an example that we can play football. And we need to keep this virus out of our building. We’re going through our preparations for the season. This is 2020, a ‘day-by-day’, ‘week-by-week’ year.
“We feel thankful to be on the field. We have the ability to control it. This is not a random thing, we can do our part, which [the players] have done. If we continue to stay strong and do our part and protect each other, we know we can keep the spread down.”
While practice will continue at UM, Diaz was also asked if he expects the ACC to follow through with the 2020 season this fall.
"When the schedule came out, it was very exciting,” Diaz said. “The all-ACC schedule will be exciting for the fans. But if you start thinking three weeks from now, you will get your butt kicked. We're still focused on today. Nobody has decided we're playing the season, we're saying `Let's see if we can navigate this thing week-by-week and see if we have a chance to play the season.'"
In sports leagues like the NBA, they created a “bubble” environment in which the players cannot leave in an effort to continue their season, something that Diaz does not think would be possible at the college level.
"That's not plausible in college athletics, not to mention they have to go to class," Diaz said of the bubble environment. "But we all create our own bubble, which is simply who you choose to put yourself in close contact with."
According to Diaz, the Hurricanes worked more on applying what they’ve learned about the playbook over the offseason to game situations this week.
“It’s one thing to learn plays, install plays - we did that a little this spring and Zoom meetings, walkthroughs - but it’s another thing to play the game and understand game situations," Diaz said. "We did that yesterday, it was a really good experience for all our guys. The guys are working and showing good enthusiasm.”
Will the testing protocols change at all once the rest of the student body returns to campus?
“We are always exploring our protocols,” Diaz said. “Talking to our medical experts on campus, there may be more testing. You look at the numbers, positivity rate in Dade County five weeks ago to now, it’s a pretty dramatic turn (with a lower rate). If we can continue the same thing five weeks from now, you’re getting into the season.
“In terms of the student body coming back on campus, the notion that our players have been sitting around in their dorm room with no other people in the 18-22 age bracket is a little far-fetched, right? Of course, there will be more students in the area, but they’re aware of that. They’ve been making these decisions since the middle of June, have been doing a good job, have to keep their bubble small.”
“Here at the University of Miami, our focus is on what we can control,” Diaz said. “We’re aware of the news going on around the country, but that doesn’t change what’s going on here. What our players can control is staying healthy with all the methods and protocols we’ve put in place and show an example that we can play football. And we need to keep this virus out of our building. We’re going through our preparations for the season. This is 2020, a ‘day-by-day’, ‘week-by-week’ year.
“We feel thankful to be on the field. We have the ability to control it. This is not a random thing, we can do our part, which [the players] have done. If we continue to stay strong and do our part and protect each other, we know we can keep the spread down.”
While practice will continue at UM, Diaz was also asked if he expects the ACC to follow through with the 2020 season this fall.
"When the schedule came out, it was very exciting,” Diaz said. “The all-ACC schedule will be exciting for the fans. But if you start thinking three weeks from now, you will get your butt kicked. We're still focused on today. Nobody has decided we're playing the season, we're saying `Let's see if we can navigate this thing week-by-week and see if we have a chance to play the season.'"
In sports leagues like the NBA, they created a “bubble” environment in which the players cannot leave in an effort to continue their season, something that Diaz does not think would be possible at the college level.
"That's not plausible in college athletics, not to mention they have to go to class," Diaz said of the bubble environment. "But we all create our own bubble, which is simply who you choose to put yourself in close contact with."
According to Diaz, the Hurricanes worked more on applying what they’ve learned about the playbook over the offseason to game situations this week.
“It’s one thing to learn plays, install plays - we did that a little this spring and Zoom meetings, walkthroughs - but it’s another thing to play the game and understand game situations," Diaz said. "We did that yesterday, it was a really good experience for all our guys. The guys are working and showing good enthusiasm.”
Will the testing protocols change at all once the rest of the student body returns to campus?
“We are always exploring our protocols,” Diaz said. “Talking to our medical experts on campus, there may be more testing. You look at the numbers, positivity rate in Dade County five weeks ago to now, it’s a pretty dramatic turn (with a lower rate). If we can continue the same thing five weeks from now, you’re getting into the season.
“In terms of the student body coming back on campus, the notion that our players have been sitting around in their dorm room with no other people in the 18-22 age bracket is a little far-fetched, right? Of course, there will be more students in the area, but they’re aware of that. They’ve been making these decisions since the middle of June, have been doing a good job, have to keep their bubble small.”
