Head coach clarifies ‘rebuild’ comments after loss to Tech
Diaz responds to uncertainty around Thomas suspension, play of quarterbacks, kickers
It caught many by surprise postgame on Saturday when Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz used the word “rebuild” in what appeared to be a description of the current state of the UM football program.
Diaz’s efforts in taking over as head coach following Mark Richt’s surprising retirement in December had never been described as such.
On Monday, Diaz offered a clarification and said that his use of “rebuild” after the 28-21 overtime loss to Georgia Tech was taken out of context.
“The rebuild is a rebuild of our confidence,” Diaz said on the Joe Rose Show on 560-AM. “That’s what we’re rebuilding. There’s no concept of this year not being important. If you look at the evidence on hand, we’re four plays away from being 7-0 and ranked — who knows where we’re ranked. Same kids, same everything, all the same plays, all the same mistakes, whatever.
“It’s too close and it’s too there, and our guys understand it. However, there’s no doubt there is a confidence thing. … That’s the part, as a coaching staff, we have to continue to stress and improve on to get our guys to that level to do what it takes to win week in and week out because we can see how close that we are.”
When Diaz said “this is a rebuild” on Saturday, it was within a lengthy response to a question about his message to recruits as losses are piling up for the 3-4 Hurricanes, noting there is opportunity for recruits to come in and make an instant impact.
Diaz added within the answer: “You can see the promise of the future while, at the same time, seeing the ugliness of the present.”
Despite the four losses, which Miami hasn’t experienced seven games into a season since 1997, Diaz believes a foundation is being established for future success.
Hee expressed that later Monday press conference with reporters.
“When we look at who we are at our core and the way we’re building ourselves as a program — our work, our effort, our competitiveness and our toughness, the foundation of who we want to be and what we’re trying to brand ourselves as — those things have shown up and those things have given us a chance to win every game that we’ve played,” Diaz said.
“We need to make sure we never flinch on those things. Those are principles that I didn’t invent. Those are things that have worked here forever, ever and ever.”
As the team presses forward for another ACC matchup at Pittsburgh (5-2, 2-1) on Saturday, Diaz laid out what those principles are.
“There’s three things that have to happen, really: No. 1, we have to have a will to persist, regardless of the short-term outcomes. No. 2, as a coaching staff, we have to continue to do a better job of getting the execution that it takes to win these games, and that falls on me and that falls on our staff. And then No. 3, we have to continue to recruit at a high level. Because some of our issues will get fixed by continuing to add depth and add the players that we need.”
Miami goes into a difficult meeting with the Panthers with uncertainty at various positions —whether due to injury, suspension or otherwise.
Hurricanes junior receiver Jeff Thomas was suspended on Saturday due to violation of team rules. It’s not certain whether he’ll be back this Saturday at at
aPittsburgh.
“It’s something we’ll find more about,” Diaz said. “[Monday], I don’t have the answer, but I should know about it in the next day or two, in terms of his status for this Saturday.” With players off from team activities Monday, Diaz was still getting updates throughout the day on injuries to running back DeeJay Dallas, linebacker Michael Pinckney and cornerback Trajan Bandy and did not yet have answers on any of them as of Monday afternoon. All left Saturday’s game — Dallas with an apparent knee injury — and did not return.
Of the quarterback situation between N’Kosi Perry and Jarren Williams, Diaz said Tuesday’s practice will be key and that he expects to name a starter for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, when Diaz next speaks to reporters.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos revealed on Monday that Perry suffered a separated left shoulder when he left and re-entered Saturday’s game. Williams is also dealing with an upper extremity injury.
Diaz said the team is getting Camden Price back into the kicking competition after Bubba Baxa missed his fifth field goal of the season in Saturday’s loss and walk-on Turner Davidson missed two, including a potential game-winner from 25 yards out with 26 seconds left that was blocked.
Price was unavailable due to undisclosed reasons for UM’s games against Virginia Tech and Virginia. Diaz said he was back with the team on Saturday, but not ready to potentially get into a game.
“You’ve got to count on your guys to make kicks when we’ve got the ball [inside] the 20-yard line,” Diaz said. “I mean, that’s got to be worth three. We’re not asking them to kick very difficult kicks. The thing is, they are kicks that they make at an almost 100% rate in practice, so they’ve got to be able to turn that over to the game.”