OK, yes, I'll admit it: I have been a little a little overly critical and even somewhat negative when it comes to the recent hiring of new head coach Manny Diaz as "The Man" for the University of Miami football program.
But now that I have gotten that out of my system I have firmly decided to stand behind Coach Diaz and his selection of the new staff.
So far Diaz has apparently selected but UM has not officially announced new Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker. Baker would take over the UM defense that was so successful under Diaz. Diaz and Miami did announce that David Feely has been officially hired as Director of Strength. Miami fans are waiting patiently yet with great anticipation for the announcement of the Offensive Coordinator and the entirely new staff on the offensive side of the ball.
So from now on, and until at least after the first game of the 2019 season in August against the Florida Gators, I will stand behind Manny "The Man" Diaz as head coach at the University of Miami.
Go Canes, Go Manny...Beat the Gators!
First time, one more?
Posted by: Alex D | January 05, 2019 at 01:11 PM
I'll second that.
Posted by: VfB_Cane | January 05, 2019 at 01:14 PM
Baker as DC isn't official yet, I assume.
"UM has yet to announce the addition of a defensive coach, reportedly a new defensive coordinator that could be Blake Baker out of Louisiana Tech."
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article223868345.html#navlink=Lead
Posted by: VfB_Cane | January 05, 2019 at 01:17 PM
DallasTXCane that was an excellent post during the last discussion. Great input by all. Keep up the good work on the blob.
Posted by: Alex D | January 05, 2019 at 01:24 PM
We can biatch all we want, but this is our team win, lose, or draw.
Let the Manny Diaz era commence!!
Go 'canes!!
Posted by: Sarasota 'cane | January 05, 2019 at 01:30 PM
I heard that gator meat is pretty tasty, not that I have ever had it. Go Canes baby!
Posted by: YooperCane | January 05, 2019 at 01:34 PM
Posted by: JaxCane | January 04, 2019 at 09:32 PM
You're finally learning!
👀👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾👍🏾😂😂
Posted by: WWIN | January 05, 2019 at 01:36 PM
Bogle up soon.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:02 PM
Bogle Bama
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:03 PM
Manny not a crooter... we probably made a bad choice at HC.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:04 PM
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:04 PM
Butch would have got him.
Posted by: Go Canes!! | January 05, 2019 at 02:08 PM
Posted by: Go Canes!! | January 05, 2019 at 02:08 PM
Butch w/ Schiano... I think so.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:19 PM
It dont matter though... Miami is done competing at a national level... done. This program really has so much to prove.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:19 PM
This battle was lost months earlier, during the four game losing streak. It was reinforced by all of the negative publicity and the terrible bowl game. The fact that we do not have a full coaching staff yet doesn’t sway anything in Miami’s favor.
For everyone who wanted a new coach, we were ALWAYS going to take a hit in at least the first recruiting class. That’s almost guaranteed with any new HC coming in. Still a much better class than Al Golden’s abysmal 2011 class.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:22 PM
One thing that gives me hope is that while Clemson is doing great in recruiting now, they rose back to prominence on the back of talent than on paper was equivalent to Al Golden’s teams. We’ve been handicapped since 2011 by terrible coordinators, first for five years on defense and then for the last three on offense. IF...if we can get good (and I don’t even mean great coaching) on both sides of the ball simultaneously, we have the talent to put together a string of 9 and 10 win seasons. That gets us back into the conversation for elite recruits.
As someone else said, all we had to do was average 28 points this season and we would have been 11-1. That’s a lot different to a recruit than a 7-6 squad.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:31 PM
On a different note, when announcers say that it is good for college football for Alabama and Clemson to meet up for four straight years I ask this question...after how many years would it not be a good thing? 10? 50? 100?
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:37 PM
Jerry Jeudy and Alabama's South Florida WR pipeline https://es.pn/2LOhYmB
Now Bogle to Alabama? This South Florida pipeline to Alabama is something CMD and his staff will have to curtail
Posted by: BigWindyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:39 PM
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:31 PM
Maybe if Diaz at least stacked depth as DC I'd have more hope for him. But his side of the ball hasnt recruited enough 3* talent either. We dont have enough Div 1 bodies at DE, DT, CB, or S. Fail.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:40 PM
Posted by: BigWindyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:39 PM
My prediction is he will not.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 02:41 PM
Stephenson to UGA
Posted by: BigWindyCane | January 05, 2019 at 02:57 PM
Why are you guys all caught up in this recruitment stuff, it's the COACHES remember? If the kids aren't playing any good it's the coaches fault. Let the recruits go where they want, if we get the COACHES it'll be alright.
Posted by: Killerbeez41 | January 05, 2019 at 03:04 PM
Here is something so far that is completely mind boggling and totally unacceptable. This recruiting class has signed a total of one player from Miami/Dade County. Totally unacceptable.
Posted by: Alex D | January 05, 2019 at 03:08 PM
Why are you guys all caught up in this recruitment stuff, it's the COACHES remember? If the kids aren't playing any good it's the coaches fault. Let the recruits go where they want, if we get the COACHES it'll be alright.
Posted by: Killerbeez41 | January 05, 2019 at 03:04 PM
You're joking, right?
STARS MATTER!
Posted by: nemo2002 | January 05, 2019 at 03:09 PM
Big Windy, unless someone steps up with seven figures for EACH recruit, we will have a hard time. We’re competing against schools like LSU that are giving out up to $250K for top recruits. Schools that have $5 -$10M annual salary structures for their roster. Few schools can change compete.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 03:10 PM
Just remember this friends. High Level Players who do not commit in December are not looking for options or are indecisive. They are merely trying to create a bidding war. Georgia and Alabama are in a bidding war for all of the top talent and will be hoovering it up for the near future. We have to be smart, strategic, recruit nationally, and improve our brand. And if a player does not commit in december, let him be dead to us.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 03:17 PM
Well The Herb says this, it ain't alright and it down right sucks losing the talent we could of had in this up coming class. Ingrahm, Bogle and Neal we're at one point all destine for hear. Stevenson was a longshot. Hasselwood was all set, then we start that dam familiar 4 game losing streak we are famous 4. U guys want to get back to the top, well it ain't going to be with a bunch of 3 stars and watching all the talent walk out the door. This class is shot. This class is on Richt. Not blaming Manny.
Posted by: Herbieibis | January 05, 2019 at 04:08 PM
David Feeley looks to be a solid pick for the Canes strength coach.
Posted by: BigWindyCane | January 05, 2019 at 04:09 PM
Posted by: nemo2002 | January 05, 2019 at 03:09 PM
Stars do matter, but so do numbers... take the 2ndary for example...
1. **** CB Couch
2. **** S Smith
And thats it...
Now imagine if you will beating the likes of Syracuse, Miss St., Indiana & UCF for croots.
1. **** CB Couch
2. **** CB Mullen (Indiana)
3. *** CB Good (UCF)
4. **** S Smith
5. *** S Nunn (Syracuse)
6. *** S Emerson (Miss St.)
Not elite... but d@mn at least we can create competition and field a d@mn team.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:20 PM
^^^ and thats on Manny Diaz, he's been DC here for 3 years and he's getting handled in recruiting. Some of you think this was a good hire when it was the very definition of lazy. Didnt even hear out other candidates.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:21 PM
Posted by: Herbieibis | January 05, 2019 at 04:08 PM
The top of what? The top of the NCAA isnt gonna be done w/o 4s & 5s I agree, but sraying on top of the Coastal and fielding a competitive team that gets better every year will require 3*s.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:23 PM
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 03:10 PM
How much did Syracuse drop on Nunn? How about Kentucky on Scalzo? How much did UCF drop on Good, or Indiana on Mullen? Did Oklahoma drop bags on Davis?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:24 PM
Stars matter, good 3* talent is everywhere in Miami. And 3*s are better than App St 0*s and nothing at all. Every time we get a new HC I have to come here and do this.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:25 PM
If Mark Helfrich was hired last year, we'd be fine. This is just Miami being Miami.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:28 PM
If you want to stop this BS with the mass exodus of blue chippers we need to establish a strong and stealth pipeline of money to keep these guys here. Find a way to move Tyrique's Mom to a better neighborhood and put a little money in her pocket each month to keep Tyrique here and do the same with other blue chippers. Your telling me with all the money down here and all the top hustlers in this city who love the U and we cant get some type of DL money club together to keep these kids here. And Manny's family and all their political connections. I dont buy it. Just takes a little motivation and organization. Tired of this happening every year with the top guys getting plucked out of here. Call to all Miami hustlers, movers and shakers lets get this together and stop this nonsense once and for all!
Posted by: 80's Canes | January 05, 2019 at 04:38 PM
This somes it up perfect...
*** OL Kaleb Boateng 6'5" 290 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Vs.
** OL Zion Nelson 6'6" 240 Sumter, SC
Thats what we are dealing with...
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:41 PM
This class is shot. This class is on Richt. Not blaming Manny.
Posted by: Herbieibis | January 05, 2019 at 04:08 PM
This class was shot in the spring of 2018, when we had more 3 star recruits than 4 star recruits. People were not concerned then. Those trends just continued throughout the year and were made worse by Miami's offense cratering.
My GUESS is that this is probably the worst Diaz and his crew will do. 2020 will be somewhat better, and 2021 will be much better. Recruiting is about relationships, and the new offensive staff will have to establish them. We were always going to take a hit when the HC leaves - this is not surprise whatsoever that we are not closing on recruits with this much uncertainty still left in the program.
It will be interesting to see what Bogle does when Saban leaves in the next 13 months. At Alabama, he's just one of a veritable army of 4 star recruits and may never see the field. At almost any other place including Miami, he'd see playing time by year 2.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:02 PM
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 03:10 PM
How much did Syracuse drop on Nunn? How about Kentucky on Scalzo? How much did UCF drop on Good, or Indiana on Mullen? Did Oklahoma drop bags on Davis?
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:24 PM
Who knows, but it's likely copious bags were dropped for Hasselwood to join Oklahoma after they signed three other great wide receivers. Just like bags were probably dropped at USC in the early 2000s, when Carroll had NINE five star running backs on his roster. If rumors are to be believed, Fournette received $250K to go to LSU (which was enough to blow LSU's enhanced recruiting budget and call for additional efforts from boosters to lock up remaining targets).
Not everyone gets significant bags, I imagine. Great on the field performance will help us a lot. Manny needs to build HOPE back into the program. College football programs rise and fall based on hope. Once you lose it, you just do not get the recruits and the coach is usually on borrowed time. I saw this play out with Charlie Strong at Texas, we all saw it play out with Al Golden in 2015. Just eight days ago, there was no hope in the Miami Hurricanes....just a certainty that over time things were inexorably falling apart and that we were just marking time until Mark Richt would leave (probably 2021), at which point we would have to start rebuilding. Now there is guarded optimism, but it's too late to undo the damage that was done with the 2019 recruits over the previous four months.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:08 PM
If Mark Helfrich was hired last year, we'd be fine. This is just Miami being Miami.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:28 PM
True. We'd likely be 11-2 or 10-3 with similar momentum as we had exiting the 2017 season. Mark Richt would still be here.
Let's hope Manny makes the right offensive hires. It's vital.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:10 PM
😂😂😂
Canesinsight be having nuclear meltdowns of epic proportions...
That sight is hilarious.
It ain't f*cking with the Space though
It's so simple. IF Diaz puts together a good staff and the staff coaches the players up, the team will win. THEN the "U" will get plenty of talented recruits next year and beyond.
We can only hope...
Posted by: CoCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:13 PM
Honestly gang, and most know this, you finish 7-6, and your HC leaves, that AINT very attractive to kids! Just WIN BABY, and they will come. 16 going into 17 is evidence of that. We have a solid team, and MORE than enough talent to win the Coastal again! Get another chance at Clem, and go to a major bowl, and the recruits will see we're once again headed in the right direction!
Posted by: ColaCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:14 PM
The Canes have some good 2019 recruits signed, just not a lot of them. I like crouch, Williams and Harvey better than Bogel. I would have liked to get Stephenson, but we have Smith. The Canes just need about 8-10 more quality players like the ones they already signed.
Also, the players they have committed in 2020 and 2021 are also very very good. If they can hold onto them and pull a few more, the Canes recruiting classes will get rolling again.
Posted by: BigWindyCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:37 PM
Welcome to junior college U
Posted by: solarcane | January 05, 2019 at 05:49 PM
Bryant McKinnie was a Junior College transfer so bring it on
Posted by: HillviewCane | January 05, 2019 at 06:01 PM
Tell you what, AQ Muhammed is playing lights out for the Colts. He's sacked Watson already and is manhandling the o-line!
Posted by: ColaCane | January 05, 2019 at 06:18 PM
HillviewCane
Bryant McKinnie was a Junior College transfer so bring it on
Posted by: HillviewCane | January 05, 2019 at 06:01 PM
Hill you are saying junior college is chuck full of guys like McK.and we will be just fine scrounging through Jr college rosters to fill out slots 3 star guys turned down?
Posted by: solarcane | January 05, 2019 at 06:46 PM
Posted by: solarcane | January 05, 2019 at 06:46 PM
Nope I am saying a JC player or transfer isn't necessarily a bad thing. We need to get to next year. Hell it used to work for Kansas State. We just need support to get to the next recruiting cycle.
Posted by: HillviewCane | January 05, 2019 at 07:28 PM
Win and they will come — lose and they won’t. It’s that simple. With the talent on the Canes roster playing in the ACC Coastal Division, there is no excuse for not winning the Coastal and having at least ten wins every season
Posted by: BigWindyCane1 | January 05, 2019 at 07:38 PM
Some of you think this was a good hire when it was the very definition of lazy. Didnt even hear out other candidates.
Posted by: Dude on a Pale Horse | January 05, 2019 at 04:21 PM
There it is!
Definition of LAZY... not interviewing ANYBODY!
Posted by: WWIN | January 05, 2019 at 07:58 PM
Agreed Big Windy. Roster depth and a cryptically bad defense kept us from winning the Coastal in 2011 - 2015. An antediluvian offensive scheme held us back the last three years.
What happens if the improvement shown by the defense in 2016/2018 is wedded to a similar turnaround on offense? The ACC hasn’t seen that yet, and we could really surprise people.
Posted by: TonyCane | January 05, 2019 at 08:08 PM
😂😂😂
Canesinsight be having nuclear meltdowns of epic proportions...
That sight is hilarious.
It ain't f*cking with the Space though
It's so simple. IF Diaz puts together a good staff and the staff coaches the players up, the team will win. THEN the "U" will get plenty of talented recruits next year and beyond.
We can only hope...
Posted by: CoCane | January 05, 2019 at 05:13 PM
Exactly! Great post!
Posted by: thirstybuzzardcane | January 05, 2019 at 08:13 PM