Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hyde: Nonstop Manny Diaz
As UM’s head coach, Diaz shows the impact fresh ideas can make.
Well, what’s new with Manny Diaz today? Any more fresh names beaming through his transfer portal? Any more old names returning to his campus?
Has the new Miami Hurricanes coach’s
Twitter account put out any new Statements of the U, like his “More fun tomorrow!” tweet earlier this week that came with a movie meme, palm-tree emoji’s and the ever-present, hash-tag, “TNM.” That stands for “The New Miami.”
Or: The Non-Stop Manny.
Or: This Never-ending Manuary.
It’s tough keeping track of Diaz these days. Where do you look for updates on his work? The changed staff directory? Arriving player’s social media accounts? You could just check the WWE broadcast, considering his welcome back for players this week included ringside ropes, flashing lights and smash-downs on the mat.
One of the blocking dummies the players hit said “7-6,” for last year’s record. Another said “Haters,” of which, suddenly, there aren’t any after Diaz’s first two weeks as Miami’s new coach.
Sure, it’s the honeymoon right now. Sure, the scoreboard isn’t there to refute any moves. But it feels more than just that, doesn’t it?
The face of the Hurricanes has changed.
Sooner, not later.
Today, not tomorrow.
It’s a testament to the power of one — one man, one vision — that he’s accomplished an atmospheric change around the Hurricanes in two weeks since being named coach. It hasn’t changed yet where it matters most, of course. That can’t be done in January.
But Diaz changed the full narrative around this program. Just listen. Do you hear it? Fun is back. Swag is back. Even receiver Jeff Thomas is back for another season after a self-exile to Illinois.
Three weeks ago, Miami football seemed on a slide into oblivion under Mark Richt, with no hand-brakes
to even slow the descent. There was a no-way-out feel to a future of softly weeping on Saturdays.
Exit Richt, a good man who seemed out of answers.
Enter Diaz, an unproven
coach full of ideas.
And, presto, change-o, the vibe from the U is all different. Diaz didn’t just embrace some change. He locked arms with change and ran it into the locker room.
He used the NCAA’s new idea of the transfer portal, where graduated players can transfer to a new program and play, to his decided advantage. If Miami had a disappointing signing day in December, its January additions have changed things.
He’s got a Southern Cal safety, a Buffalo receiver, potentially a UCLA defensive tackle and — drumroll, please — an Ohio State quarterback in Tate Martell, who could give hope for Miami’s most frustrating position if he’s eligible next season.
No, Miami didn’t get former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who ran across the championship game field to join Oklahoma. But Diaz did get Alabama quarterbacks coach Dan Enos to leave Tuscaloosa for the offensive coordinator job in Coral Gables.
You want symbolism? A year ago, perhaps Miami’s best assistant, defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski, was plucked by Alabama coach Nick Saban off the Hurricanes’ staff. Now Miami got one of Saban’s hand-picked guys to Coral Gables.
No one knows what last year’s clunky offense becomes next season. But Diaz and Enos want it to go. They want last year’s clunky and predictable offense to attack and be full of surprises — just as Miami’s defense is.
“Let’s be different,’’ Enos said on The Joe Rose
Show. “Let’s shift. Let’s motion. Let’s use our groupings. Let’s go fast. Let’s go slow …”
There’s a usual, methodical approach to regime changes in any business. The new guy comes in, measures the scene, implements his program, talks of the process and over times shows a different approach.
Sometimes you see the change one person in the right setting can bring, though. Diaz arrived back on campus with all the subtlety of his Turnover Chain. Now he’s chasing a bigger, more challenging piece of jewelry that’s making everyone check his Twitter updates and stand around the Transfer Portal. The Turnaround Chain. Anyone betting against him after two weeks?