1. Manny Diaz, Miami
It was sort of a strange situation.
Manny Diaz was off to become the Temple head coach, Mark Richt abruptly retired at Miami, Oregon’s Mario Cristobal was pained to stay at his gig and not come back to his alma mater in Coral Gables, and Diaz left Temple to take over at Miami.
Diaz went to Florida State, but he grew into a star defensive coordinator at several stops including Texas, Mississippi State, and Middle Tennessee before settling in at Miami.
He seemed like – and still appears to be – a great fit for the job.
He’s got non-stop energy and enthusiasm, he knows how to crank up a killer defense, and he certainly knows how to recruit.
We know what the 'Miami Standard' is, use it as motivation. pic.twitter.com/lD1QRi8kkB
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) March 4, 2020
Last year’s team, though, didn’t know how go get enough going offensively.
The 2019 season was half full: Miami pushed a brilliant Florida team in a 24-20 loss, got by Virginia, rocked Louisville, and started out 6-4 in a bit of a grind.
The 2019 season was half empty: Miami lost to FIU, a mediocre Duke team, and in an all-timer of a clunker, dropped the Independence Bowl to Louisiana Tech 14-0 – it was the first time anyone had been shutout in the bowl.
But the talent is returning to take back a mediocre ACC Coastal after a year off.
Changes needed to be made, and a whole lot of players are transferring out. However, one key one is coming in.
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Former Houston QB D’Eriq King is exactly what the team needs to jumpstart the offense under new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. The recruiting class was among the 15 best in the country, the offensive line should be stronger, and despite some massive losses on the front seven, the defense should be okay.
Temple, Wagner, UAB. The Canes should be 3-0 without breathing hard, and they’ll get time to get the O up and going.
There’s no Clemson on the ACC slate, and the date with Florida State is at home, but the Virginia and Virginia Tech games are on the road. Best of all, the ACC is still the ACC – it’s all there to get back to the ACC Championship for the second time in three years.
This program is too good to be that mediocre again.
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