It’s a civil war in Coral Gables

Whatever Miami decides, whatever was resolved in a Friday meeting between a handful of angry Board of Trustees members and Hurricanes athletic director Blake James, they all need to understand one thing:

Alonzo Highsmith, respected as he is, can't solve this program's decades-long problems for them this winter.

He might help in some murky, “chief of staff ” role. He'd certainly bring football insight, executive experience and good common sense to his alma mater.

But if Highsmith is needed in some undefined job for an uncertain boss, it says more about Miami's troubles than his good talent.

It says James is failing, this program keeps falling and there's questions whether coach Manny Diaz can find his way out of this mess alone.

If you thought losing to Florida International, Duke and Louisiana Tech brought the merciful end to Miami's season, look again. There's a civil war inside the program that says the ugliness didn't stop when the season did.

Board of Trustee members and big boosters are beyond upset. They're pounding tables, threatening change — and want Highsmith hired, pronto, because they don't trust James or Diaz to succeed without help. And why should they trust them? What has either done to inspire answers?

James has overseen seven years of nothing with this program. That's got to change quick.

Diaz brings good energy, great personality. But he inherited known offensive problems and had to fire his offensive coordinator, Dan Enos, after one year.

Maybe Rhett Lashlee, who is taking over as UM's new offensive coordinator, is the answer. Maybe his successful time at Southern Methodist (seventh in scoring nationally, ninth in yards) translates immediately to Miami.

Lashlee, not Highsmith, will be the short-term hope for helping Diaz out of this hole. If this program gets out. If, in fact, the last three games didn't expose bigger problems.

Because there's another problem Diaz needs to solve besides the offense. He struggled dealing with disciplinary problems and inappropriate behavior inside the program. Could Highsmith help there?

Certainly Highsmith's years as an NFL executive and UM observer should be valued. He's seen every major college campus and talked with every coach as an NFL talent evaluator. If he doesn't know Miami's inner workings, he's seen what works in winning programs.

Still, there are questions