Recall the moment when you “knew” Manny wasn’t the guy

This makes Shannon's loss to USF look extremely acceptable. Even Al Golden would have woodshedded FIU. This team is too talented to be this pathetic. It's 100% coaching.

We all know that but does AD LAMES know that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Advertisement
Had misgivings at time of hire - brushed them aside bc were free of Rekt.

Heard the wise, but wanted to give the BOTD.

Wasn't stoked on Penos, but again BOTD.

Honestly, 4th n 17.

That was it solidified.

W Coker - LSU Peach Bowl
W Randy - USF
W Golden it was Maryland
W Rekt it was first 3 game slide
W Manny - 4th n 17.

Am a slow learner, I guess.
 
I didn't like the hire to start with at all. Mostly because I wanted a totally new staff and Manny got trained every time he played a real team.

I, like most of you, wanted him to succeed so I tried to buy in. The biggest red flag was the staff he put together. They all sucked at recruiting and it became apparent he didn't emphasize that or think it was that important.
 
To me, and this may sound silly to some, but the moment I KNEW manny wasn’t the guy is when someone posted a video with some of the players dancing and laughing...and manny comes into focus, looks into the camera with the most stupid, nerdy and aloof look EVER- I knew right then- we are ****ed.
UNC game/4th and 17. I wanted to buy the banner right then and there.
 
I was amazed that Temple hired him as HC. So, as soon as they announced Manny Diaz from Temple I knew we were screwed.
 
I figured there would be a rush to prove you were the first one through the door, but I'll answer honestly.

Yes, I was apprehensive at first because I hated the process-- holdover from failed regime, no attempt at a search, etc.-- but I was willing to buy-in initially.

His career hadn't been without some smudges and black spots, but in terms of the job he did here as a DC, in one season he had us playing Miami Hurricane defense again. We were going with aggressiveness and speed, and letting our kids make plays. Perfect all the time? No, but it was a breath of fresh air after NoD/Golden set us back decades in defensive philosophy.

From game to game, season to season he showed great awareness and continually made adjustments that actually had us one step ahead of some pretty good coaches-- thinking of the VT and ND games in 2017, for example.

He also showed an appreciation for the spread offense and how much stress it is allowed by design and rule to put on a defense. So, when he said he wanted a "cutting edge, explosive" offense that leverages our speed, and the rules that aid these offenses, it was enough to let me want to see the show.

It was a bonus that he went heavy into the portal, showing he knew where the holes were and got guys like Bolden, Hill, Osborne, etc. I also liked that he patched things up with Jeff Thomas, whose departure pretty much anyone with eyes and ears could tell was unnecessary.

Again, in keeping this honest, it was enough to carry me through until GT. That was a mindbogglingly bad performance against a terrible, terrible opponent. At this point, I suspected he wasn't the guy. It was time to shake off the "first year" packaging and take it to an inferior opponent. We didn't. We did the opposite.

Then, of course, we started winning games. The teams that were supposed to be the Ls, we ended up beating and as the momentum built, we started winning pretty convincingly. So, I took a breath and said let's see what he does, he's apparently rallied us into the close. And then, UM does, what UM has done the past 15 years: implode. Each time we do it, it's in more spectacular fashion. This time it was to FIU, a team no Power 5 team loses to, and most of CUSA doesn't lose to. But, we did.

There is no recovering from this. This won't be some story in 5 years about how, "Miami wanted to run the guy out of town, but look at him now, 3 consecutive ACC titles and a playoff experience." This will end the way we know these things do-- having kept the guy one year too long.

So in short, Saturday, along with a bunch of you people, even if you won't admit it.
 
Advertisement
To me, and this may sound silly to some, but the moment I KNEW manny wasn’t the guy is when someone posted a video with some of the players dancing and laughing...and manny comes into focus, looks into the camera with the most stupid, nerdy and aloof look EVER- I knew right then- we are ****ed.

Manny Lied to us all. He said our offense would be a modern offense that caused problems for defenses. Silly me, I though sure that meant a fast pace tempo spread that would utilize the athletic ability of our QB's and receivers in space. Instead we got a coordinator that runs into 9 man fronts from 12 personnel.
 
Way too many people in this thread lying about knowing from the beginning that he wasn't it. There were only a handful of people expressing concern. Everyone else was too "excited." That's all I read the moment he was announced from 99% of you ********, was how god**** excited you were. It went on all offseason, and anyone who poo-pooed on that was just looking to be the first to call him being awful.
 
Last edited:
With Coker it was the minute Jason Geathers didn't go in at RB after McGahee was injured vs OSU. Writing on the wall that you don't understand roster management or how to get playmakers in the right spot. And I wasn't even coaching yet and knew that.

Randy Shannon was 2006. When L'ville tore his defense a new ********. By the GT loss in 2008 I thought I was done. I had a little faith with the Whipple start and Jacory but that died too.

Golden I liked the hire. Then the ND game happened in 2012. That was it for me.

Manny was long before he was hired. Smoke & mirrors defense doesn't do it for me. Shouldn't need to blitz all those LBs and DBs when your entire DL gets a look at the NFL.
 
With Coker it was the minute Jason Geathers didn't go in at RB after McGahee was injured vs OSU. Writing on the wall that you don't understand roster management or how to get playmakers in the right spot. And I wasn't even coaching yet and knew that.

Randy Shannon was 2006. When L'ville tore his defense a new ********. By the GT loss in 2008 I thought I was done. I had a little faith with the Whipple start and Jacory but that died too.

Golden I liked the hire. Then the ND game happened in 2012. That was it for me.

Manny was long before he was hired. Smoke & mirrors defense doesn't do it for me. Shouldn't need to blitz all those LBs and DBs when your entire DL gets a look at the NFL.
That fullback dive on our final series in the championship game will stay with me forever. That and the Kyle Wright throw to olsen vs gt in 05
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Advertisement
When he was hired as the DC...I knew we would never, ever beat any well coached team despite any stats saying otherwise..
 
The day he was hired I and several other posters lost our God **** minds on this message board. It's all there if someone wants to look it up.

This one wasn't hard to see coming. It was a rushed incompetent decision. What makes it REALLY bad is that we were fresh off being handed the ULTIMATE GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD in the history of the NCAA. Richt might have been a ****** coach, but it takes a good human being not to hold the school hostage in that spot.

Yeah...Blake is an ******* and unqualified for his job description.
 
Honestly tho I can’t lie as much I hate manure, the little three game win streak gave me a little sliver a hope that he might be able to turn this thing around, I was willing to reassess my thoughts at the end of the year..but obviously now that’s out the door..

Not trying to brag but I knew that streak was horse ****. Same thing will happen next year when we go on a little streak because of a weak schedule. Then, reality will hit us again.
 
Back
Top