Author: Chris Bello

The Miami Hurricanes pissed away a must-win game in Tallahassee on Saturday—falling to arguably the worst Florida State squad in recent memory.

The 31-28 loss ended a four-game win-streak against the Seminoles and should immediately end the tenure of lame duck, third-year head coach Manny Diaz—his team slipping to 5-5 on the season, while his overall record dropped to 19-15.

If there’s any solace in this abortion of a performance—it’s the fact the Diaz era has now passed a point of no return. Any manufactured goodwill built up over the past three weeks—win-starved fans clinging to eked out victories over North Carolina State, Pittsburgh or Georgia Tech—long gone.

The frustration is back to where things were at when Miami was 2-4, if not worse—as there is no excuse for falling to an abysmal Florida State team that had only won six of it’s past 20 games, dating back to mid-November 2019.

Players and coaches alike come to Miami to beat Florida State, and vice versa. Even in the most down of a year, the winner of this game can find a silver lining that helps with both recruiting, as well as overall morale; just ask anyone in Tallahassee since Saturday evening’s late rally.

This same Seminoles squad that went 0-4 out the gate—losing six of their past seven dating back to last October, including a home upset at the hands of Jacksonville State months back—managed a 31-point, 434-yard performance against the Hurricanes’ shoddy defense, while holding Miami’s ground attack to a measly 43 yards.

Some quick context on the rivalry and state of the two programs; the Canes outscored the Noles, 79-20 the past two years combined—yet now this.

Florida State is a bad, disjointed football program—yet it still bounced back from blowing a 17-0 lead and early fourth quarter eight-point deficit, rattling off 11 points in the final five minutes—while Diaz fumbled away another big moment that his all-everything quarterback couldn’t bail him out of.

This latest pathetic loss of 2021 is the epitome of why so many were rooting for an epic collapse after a 2-4 start—refusing to feast on any empty-calorie victories against the Wolfpack, Panthers and Yellow Jackets—as all only got in the way of a bigger movement; Diaz gone by all means necessary.

2021 SEASON—OVER BEFORE IT BEGAN

Those who took any solace in that three-game win-streak—does it still feel good at 5-5, in the wake of this awful loss to the Seminoles—another sour Monday morning and learning that Diaz is still employed by UM?

This 2021 season was kicked in the teeth week one and officially dead in the water two games later, when Michigan State wrapped their 21-3 fourth quarter trouncing of Miami—wearing down the Canes in that hometown heat and humidity that was supposed to work in UM’s favor.

Then again, what kind of grit did anyone really expect out of a team previously seen celebrating meaningless moments against Alabama—mugging for cameras when forcing a turnover (that was fast overturned) down 27-0 to the Crimson Tide—or busting out silly little rings when finally finding the end zone in the fourth quarter of a then 41-10 football game?

Furthermore, what can anyone really expect out of a group of players coached up by a program leader who celebrates mediocrity and overhypes conference wins over mediocre foes? Hardly a shock today’s Miami players find joyous moments in games they’re getting smacked around, or falling apart in big-time moments.

Even with five losses on the season, still no worse a look than Miami sitting at 1-2 and over celebrating touchdown after touchdown in a 69-0 rout of lowly Central Connecticut State—choreographed sideline photo shoots with bling, rings and other shiny things—zero concern for sharpening up their game with conference play around the corner and a losing record by late September.

Diaz and his Canes weren’t paying attention, but the talking heads as ESPN sure were—Kirk Herbstreit and others using their College GameDay platform to eviscerate all in charge of athletics at the University of Miami.

“If you look at the powerhouse programs—Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State—the president, AD and head coach are all aligned in their vision for what needs to happen,” Herbstreit said on the panel broadcast. “Recruiting, budget, stuff, whatever that means. That’s what it takes.

“Miami does not have that. So I don’t think it matters who the head coach is. Until you get a president, AD and coach together on the same page, I guess football doesn’t matter. It matters to the alums, the brotherhood of the U, but I don’t know if it matters to the people making decisions at Miami. If they don’t change that, it doesn’t matter who the coach is.”

Stubborn as the University of Miami has proven over the years, those in charge of this program might be dumb, but they sure aren’t deaf.

These words have echoed through the Hecht Athletic Center for the past eight weeks and there’s nowhere to hide after this level of exposure. UM was called out in front of the college football world and Miami became must-see TV—not with any expectation the Canes would turn a corner, but for outsiders to witness the demise, the disfunction and to feast on the carnage.

At 2-4 with North Carolina State and Pittsburgh looming, Diaz was on a collision course for a Halloween firing—2-6 looking inevitable—before a freshman quarterback’s play slapped a Band-Aid on the cancer that is this 2021 season.

FEASTING ON ‘EMPTY-CALORIE’ WINS; RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Tyler Van Dyke has undoubtedly been a bright spot for a program that has been searching for the next great Miami quarterback for over 15 years—but in vintage right guy at the wrong time fashion that plagues these Hurricanes—his efforts over the past three weeks have shifted the focus off of glaring defensive issues that broke Miami’s back in the waning moments at Florida State.

There was no worse recipe for the middle of this season than for a bad football team to knock down a few paper champion, conference teams in underwhelming fashion. North Carolina State and Pittsburgh were propped up to be bigger than they really were—one loss teams, at the time—in a brutally bad year for ACC football; currently tracking for a lackluster Wake Forest and Pittsburgh title game.

Dropped balls and a quirky overturned fumble were the difference in a one-point win over the Wolfpack, while two bad decisions out of a usually-sound quarterback helped the Hurricanes survive the Panthers.

Kenny Pickett had one interception on the season for Pitt, but managed two against the Canes—not seeing a wide open receiver streaking towards the end zone and forcing a pass into double coverage early, as well as a late-game overthrow of another open wideout, sailing his pass into the arms of a roving safety.

38-34 became the only number that mattered to some Miami faithful, completely ignoring that Pickett carved up Miami for 519 yards and three scores—which would’ve been just shy of 600 and five touchdowns, had he not made two uncharacteristic mistakes.

Fans starved for wins were also quick to dismiss a brutal defensive effort by the Canes in these two games—allowing emotion to best logic and getting wrapped up in sports cliches like the kids “showing up”, “having heart” and “not quitting”—which only fit the narrative when victories are snatched from the jaws of defeat.

This mental-midget, “a win is a win” mentality worked for quality, undefeated teams that are able to rally and find a way—but the sentiment loses all luster when simmering in a sad, 5-5 stew.

Miami’s three-game win-streak took the focus off the program’s macro-level issues, in favor of short-term job and celebrating a couple meaningless moments that ultimately did more harm than good. Three wins by a total of eight points are the reason Diaz is 5-5 and still employed—opposed to 2-8 and out on his ass.

Van Dyke’s 1,240 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception over that three-game span—unfortunately enough to counter the 1,337 yards and 94 points Miami’s defense gave up to North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech, combined.

SAME GAME AGAINST GT & FSU—WIN CLOUDED JUDGMENT

Miami’s outing against Georgia Tech eerily foreshadowed what would shake out against another 3-6 football team in Tallahassee a week later—but few wanted to dissect the brutal performance, as the Canes “found a way”, “showed heart” and because “a win is a win”.

A fast 14-0 against the Yellow Jackets, versus a 17-0 hole against the Seminoles—a vast difference—but three first quarter turnovers were the culprit against both; Miami trailing Georgia Tech, 21-17 at the half, while down 17-7 to Florida State.

Up 33-30 late—instead of 35-28, when a two-point conversion was intercepted and returned.

Facing a chance to put the game away with a first down—much like they’d also deal with against the Noles—the Canes were forced to punt and on the first play from scrimmage, looked to be in big trouble as Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims dropped a 31-yard pass into the arms of a streaking, wide open Adonicas Sanders.

The Canes were granted a reprieve as Sims’ knee touched the ground when handling a bad snap—the play called back and the Yellow Jackets now staring down a 2nd-and-16 scenario—opposed to first down mid-field and just outside overtime-forcing field goal range.

Facing 4th-and-4 with a shot at putting the game on ice, Miami’s defense gave up an 18-yard reception—called back by a hold that had nothing to do with the completion.

Tech’s final attempt fell incomplete and the Canes escaped victorious—which again took the spotlight off of open receivers on final drive, against an inferior football team—with a quarterback who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn all day.

“Showed heart.” “Stepped up.” “Found a way.” “Never quit.” “On to FSU!” 

Fast-forward to early evening in Tallahassee this past weekend, failing to convert on 3rd-and-4 when Will Mallory caught the ball short of the sticks.

The play similar to Jaylan Knighton running up the middle on 3rd-and-1 late against Georgia Tech and stuffed—Miami again punting after unable to convert a third down that would’ve resulted in a victory formation and another comeback win.

Georgia Tech couldn’t turn Miami’s and Diaz’s incompetence into fuel for an upset—but Florida State proved up for the challenge—made easier after a late special teams flub by the Canes.

Lou Hedley dropped a well-timed, clutch punt—that managed to roll through a half dozen Miami players, into the end zone for a 20-yard swing and some much-needed breathing room for quarterback Jordan Travis.

One play later—just like Sims-to-Sanders a week prior—a Miami opponent with a back-breaking type of play; Travis finding a wide open Ja’Khi Douglas for a 59-yard gain, the Noles in business at UM’s 21-yard line.

A false start on third down looked like a well-timed setback—setting up a 4th-and-14 after an incomplete pass to Douglas—yet Diaz and the Canes blew it again; reminiscent to a 4th-and-17 unraveling at Chapel Hill in 2019.

Diaz chose to rush three—instead of bringing the house at Travis, forcing a pressured throw. The result, a 24-yard connection with the wide open Andrew Parchment—made even worse for Miami when the receiver was down at the one-yard line with :58 remaining.

Inexplicably, Diaz flinched and waited :12 to call his second timeout of the half—Florida State with a first down from the six-inch line, :46 on the clock and Miami down to it’s final timeout—which it burned after Travis was stuffed on first down.

Two plays later, Travis was in and after a successful two-point conversion—timeout-less Miami and Van Dyke had :26 for a miracle that wasn’t pulled off.

In the spirit of second-guessing, Diaz theoretically could’ve—and should’ve—allowed Florida State to score after the first time out, as it was foolish to believe this shoddy defense was going to win that battle of wills; the Noles needing six inches with four tries.

Doing so would’ve given Van Dyke and Miami the ball with :46 and one timeout—simply needing field goal range to force overtime—opposed to trying to accomplish this with almost half that time and no timeouts.

However it played out, another game where Miami not showing up early is a bigger story than how things wrapped in the fourth.

Three first quarter turnovers and eight penalties—five on the opening drive; UM jumping offsides while getting hit with two personal fouls that cost them 30 yards—resulted in a fast 14-0 hole that took most of the afternoon to dig out of.

Regarding the *why*, some interesting post-game comments and reasoning depending if listening to the head coach, or a freshman defender.

When pressed on the brutal start, Diaz chalked it up to players being too “amped up” and “hyped up”—blaming the “emotional setting” and stating his guys lacked discipline—where linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. ultimately said the quiet part outloud.

“We were very undisciplined. That’s on us. We knew … it’s a habit that happens in practice. Coach Diaz gets on us about it all the time. Brought up in the game, it’s not a shocker that it happened. Again, that’s on us.”

DOUBLE DOSE OF BLAME FOR DUAL-DUTY DIAZ

Diaz spent 13 seasons as a defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Texas, back to Starkville for a second run, as well as Miami—before assuming head coaching duties in Coral Gables in 2019, while keeping his hand in running this defense.

All that to say, how in the hell are the Hurricanes ten games into Diaz’s third season running this program—six years at the helm for the Canes’ defense—yet he’s unable to keep players from jumping offsides, both in practice and on game day?

Fundamentally, Miami has been ripped all season for being one of the worst-tackling teams in all of college football—now it’s coming out that the Canes have an ongoing problem regarding jumping offsides, which hasn’t been corrected during the week.

News flash, Diaz—it ain’t the big moment in Tallahassee if your guys are doing the same thing at Greentree day in and day out. This incompetence from a Miami head coach and long time defensive coordinator has reached new levels of indefensible.

Gaffes aside, as far as the simple nature of tackling, defending and making plays—this Diaz-led defense is surrendering an average of 35 points-per-game and 45 yards-per-game against the eight Power 5 teams faced in 2021. Abysmal.

There is a culture problem under Diaz that has been discussed ad nauseam for almost three years and it deserves to come up again, as this season’s free fall continues and Miami’s 25th head coach is now sporting an indefensible 19-15 overall record.

It’s been amateur hour at the University of Miami since well before Diaz was handed the keys; a series of low-rent, poorly-executed, knee-jerk hires—UM hoping a gamble on an up and comer would yield the type of results usually only seen when investing big dollars in a quality candidate.

Diaz worked for Miami, on paper—a mindset that he was head coach-ready, simply because Temple was ready to hand him the same job—as well as the lazy approach of keeping things status quo with promoting a coordinator to replace a vacating head coach, in effort to avoid the standard down cycle that oft comes with a rebuild.

Diaz’s resume was at best Temple-ready, but nothing about his career trajectory or persona was Miami head coaching-caliber.

Floating into booster events on yachts, an edgy social media persona, tackling dummies and a WWE-like spectacle when the new indoor practice facility launched, victory cigars after beating a bad FSU team or slip-and-slide in the rain after surviving Virginia last year—all acceptable if winning big football games, but immediately cringe-worthy when losing 15 times over the course of three seasons.

Same to be said for being ill-prepared after bye weeks, not taking Florida International seriously, losing to Duke, getting shutout by Louisiana Tech in a garbage bowl game, struggles against Central Michigan and Appalachian State—and now face-planting against arguably the most-beatable Florida State team in recent memory; one year removed from trouncing the Noles, 52-10 at home.

WHEN APATHY REPLACES ANGER; UM IN HUGE CONUNDRUM

This Miami football program has been stalled-out at the same crossroads for a decade and a half—and the natives are no longer restless; apathy has officially kicked in and the Canes are left with a numb, lifeless fan base that is reaching new levels of not-giving-a-shit anymore—supporters getting to the place no longer caring much worse for this program than the frustration and bitterness that used to define this era.

Read the nearest message board, social media commentary or comments section in any UM-related article—the tide has turning to a point where many have abandoned all hope that this will ever turn around—leaving them to check out and invest their money and energies elsewhere.

Many folks now brazen with comments about no longer donating to the program, going to games—or even watching from home; finding new ways to spend Saturday as UM has crushed their spirit and they feel like fools for blinding supporting an university that as Herbstreit pointed out weeks back, “doesn’t care about football”.

I don’t often write in first-person in these op-eds, but the conversations I’ve had with friends, family and long-time supporters of this program this dismal season—it bears a quick rant from this frustrated place.

Hurricanes football was once all-encompassing; growing up in a family that owned allCanes (formerly All Sports) for over four decades—”The U” was more than just Saturdays at the Orange Bowl—it was our livelihood. We lived and died with this program, literally—a double-win when championships were captured, while financially steamrolled when the losses piled up and fans didn’t need the newest shirt or ball cap.

When Miami lost a game, everyone in our little universe knew to give our family a wide berth and a few days to recover—crushing blows, falling out of the national championship race or leaving titles on the floor—it was painful, it stayed with you and in many ways left some scars.

Walking out of my first in person game at Orange Bowl in 1984—after the unthinkable second half collapse against Maryland—followed by a Thanksgiving memory weeks later when my dad and uncle were too rattled by Hail Flutie to sit down to dinner; pacing around the pool like mental patients and trying to make sense of what just happened.

Same for morgue-like environments after choking against Penn State in the desert for a second national title in the wee early hours of 1987—or bids for back-to-back titles falling short against Alabama in 1992, or stolen by Ohio State a decade later.

I still have an out-of-whack knuckle on my right hand from punching a file cabinet in the office when Kevin Thompson dropped a perfect pass into the hands of Chafie Fields for that 80-yard bomb—an upset bid against the second-ranked Nittany Lions falling short in 1999—as well as vividly recalling that sinking feeling when walking out of Doak Campbell Stadium after 47-0 two years prior, forced to ponder if Miami would ever field a competitive team again.

Thankfully the Hurricanes were back by the turn of the century—but as mentioned, the dominant ride was short-lived and brutal days were again just around the corner; Miami’s downward spiral bottoming out in late 2005 when blowing a shot at an ACC title—the third-ranked Canes stumbling 14-10 to a very average Georgia Tech squad.

When the Canes we’re sunk in 2006—a four-game losing streak mid-season, as well as an on-field brawl with FIU and the murder of a beloved player weeks later, en route to a 7-6 finish after winning a blue turf bowl game in Boise—full acceptance that Miami had slipped back into that probation-era level of trash football.

By the time Virginia crushed Miami, 48-0 in the Orange Bowl finale in 2007—the event was nothing more than a tragic comedy, as orange and green confetti sprayed all over the venue and celebratory music cranked through the PA—the university’s top brass never playing out any post-game scenario where a scrub Cavaliers team pounded the Canes like Miami would a Bethune-Cookman.

Still, “The U” had rebuilt before, leading most of us to believe it could do so again—so trust the process for a few years and Miami would soon be “back”, right?

Over a decade later, still waiting—riding this sick cycle carousel in three- to five-year increments; mustering up hope for a new hire, teased in to believing things will turn a corner, hitting that moment you know it’s not going to happen—and then waiting on UM to reach the same realization in the coming years; fire, rehire, start the process again.

Since Miami got smacked around 40-3 in the 2005 Peach Bowl by LSU, this program has amassed a 116-84 record and is on it fifth different head coach over that span—an average of 7.73 wins and 5.6 losses-per-season, over a 15 years.

The Canes have won the ACC’s lowly Coastal Division once—blown out 38-3 in their lone championship game appearance; 2017 their only double digit-win season since 2003, as well.

Dominant for decades, mediocre every season since—University of Miami football is at a turning point like never before.

The writing on the wall regarding low-budget, work-in-progress head coaching hires not being the answer—as well as needing to solve the athletic director-related conundrum—either stuck with a lackey like Blake James, or watching the likes of an opportunist Kirby Hocutt or Shawn Eichorst using the program like the rest stop and stepping stone it is to most in the profession.

For the first time in four-plus decades of this program pumping through my DNA, 2021 proved to be the first year I actually rooted against present day Miami—welcoming losses this season, in the name of change and a better tomorrow.

I saw zero value in beating a North Carolina State or Pittsburgh once the Canes had fallen to 2-4 and Diaz showed he’s not the guy to resurrect this program. Once that determination was made, 2021 be damned—it’s all about 2022 and leaning on UM to get their collective shit together next hire around.

Wins fell into place against the Wolfpack, Panthers and Yellow Jackets—and par for the course, I saw too many back to drinking the Kool-Aid; wrapped up in the temporary endorphin rush of a pointless win and no longer beating their drum about change.

A temporary moratorium this weekend as it was Florida State on the other sideline—the hatred for the rival running too deep—leaving me, like so many other disgruntled fans, clamoring for a win.

Instead, just the type of sobering, gut-wrenching loss needed to remind everyone what a train wreck this current staff is.

Diaz didn’t just lose this game in the end—his team pissed it away early, fought to get it back and then let an inferior squad just snatch it right back from them—bad decisions, poor execution and breakdowns resulting in a few daggers by a Florida State squad that had won six measly football games dating back to mid-November 2019.

Virginia Tech and Duke remain for this up and down .500 squad, followed by a third-tier bowl game if Miami at least beats one of the two—begging the question, who is all right with this pathetic brand of football at this once-great university?

Whoever is in charge, may you pay attention to this painfully bad product on the field, as well as the growing indifference shown by a disgruntled, over-it fan base. Miami has again reached a tipping point and anything short of sweeping change for the better—the Canes are no longer on the brink of irrelevance, but extinction all together. Lose the losers—Diaz and James—and go all-in on quality replacements; proving that football actually is a priority at the University of Miami.

Anything less, and even the most diehard of fans will continues this mass exodus and fast-tracked detachment from this once-great, currently-toxic program.

[Editor’s note. Within an hour of this article’s posting, the University of Miami relieved athletic director Blake James of his duties—the first domino officially falling.]

Chris Bello has been covering University of Miami athletics since the mid-nineties. Getting his start with CanesTime, he eventually launched allCanesBlog—which led to a featured columnist stint with BleacherReport. He’s since rolled out the unfiltered, ItsAUThing.com where he’ll use his spare time to put decades of U-related knowledge to use for those who care to read. When he’s not writing about ‘The U’, Bello is a storyteller for some exciting brands and individuals—as well as a guitarist and songwriter for his band Company Jones, who just released their debut album “The Glow”. Hit him on Twitter for all things U-related @ItsAUThingBLOG.

The Miami Hurricanes are back to .500 football after eking out unexpected wins against North Carolina State and Pittsburgh in back-to-back weeks.

Left for dead after heartbreaking losses to Virginia and North Carolina weeks prior, Manny Diaz and his squad appeared headed for 2-6—games against the ranked Wolfpack and Panthers looking like even bigger uphill battles than “lesser” opponents in the Cavaliers and Tar Heels.

The football gods tooketh away earlier in the season—a kick hitting a goal post, or tipped and intercepted ball—but they gaveth back since; opponents dropping balls, a reversed turnover or a veteran quarterback making two rookie mistakes.

Conversely, quarterback play has absolutely saved Miami in back-to-back weeks—freshman Tyler Van Dyke slapping together two Heisman-worthy performances—throwing for 751 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in season-altering victories.

To some, Miami has gone from left-for-dead—back to winning-out and favored to beat everyone left on their schedule—Georgia Tech heading south this weekend, a road trip to Tallahassee next up, Virginia Tech down south for Senior Day and a regular season finale at Duke.

On paper, the Canes should extend the win-streak to six—but Miami also should’ve beaten Virginia and North Carolina, while potentially stumbling against North Carolina State and Pittsburgh—so plotting out and making predictions means absolutely zero regarding this consistently-inconsistent program.

The sadly-familiar, annual we’re-still-in-this-thing Coastal Division refrain is again pumping full-force—if A beats B and C can get upset by D—strangely more plausible than in years passed, as the underwhelming ACC is that wide open this season.

Inconceivable as it’d be in a more competitive year—a once 2-4 Miami can actually roll to 9-4 with its first conference win, setting up and Orange Bowl berth as ACC champs.

Even if Miami somehow rattled off seven wins since the tip heard ’round Chapel Hill—there are still deep-rooted issues surrounding this broken program and a wrong-fit head coach; all of which seemed closer to being addressed before Van Dyke’s yeoman’s effort saved Diaz from a year three in-season firing.

Without this rejuvenated offense, Miami would be sitting at 2-6—and 2-8 dating back to what would’ve been the Canes last Power Five victory (a 48-0 rout of Duke last December)—a four-game losing streak and 0-4 conference start arguably enough to see the joker Diaz out on Halloween morning.

Instead, the MVP-like performance from Van Dyke propelled the Canes to back-to-back wins—by a combined five points—short-term memories going full-throttle, working overtime to forget how disastrous and embarrassing the first half of this season played out.

DISASTROUS DEFENSE DESERVES HEADLINES

31-30 and 38-34 are the only numbers some want to focus on—instead of 587; the amount of yards Pittsburgh dropped on Miami’s struggling defense. Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett carved up the Canes secondary for 519 yards through the air—done-in by two uncharacteristically bad decisions that ultimately cost the Panthers the game.

Had the veteran Pickett seen Jordan Addison midfield and streaking past the Miami secondary—he’d have dropped an easy 45-yard game-tying touchdown in the sophomore receiver’s mitts. Instead, Pickett didn’t identify the gimme, looked left and forced his pass into double coverage—Tyrique Stevenson jumping the rout and taking the pass 18 yards the other way.

Four plays later, Miami was in the end zone and up 31-17—a defensive breakdown and sure score fast-swept under the rug when Pickett whiffed and Stevenson capitalized on the mistake.

Late fourth quarter, trailing 38-34 and looking for the game-winner—Pickett was again moving the Panthers at-will against a backpedaling Canes defense—Addison again wide open for a would-be 31-yard touchdown, but his all-everything quarterback overthrew a pass landing in the arms of roving safety James Williams.

Van Dyke cooly responded and got Miami out of a jam with a clutch 18-yard, timed sideline hook-up to Charleston Rambo—the Canes facing a 3rd-and-11 from the one-yard line without the completion. Instead, a first down, some space, an opportunity to run Jaylan Knighton for a huge seven-yard gain—the Panthers blowing timeouts on back-to-back plays—before Van Dyke found tight end Will Mallory for six-yard dagger on 3rd-and-4, resulting in victory formation and the ballgame.

Still, lost in the elation of the victory, the fact that Pickett—who had one interception on the season—gifted two to the Miami secondary. The gaffes cost his team 14 points, the ballgame and a personal stat line that should’ve read 41-of-55, 595 yards and five touchdowns—further proving the Canes’ defense couldn’t stop him; Pickett stopped himself.

Two plays were the difference between 38-34 and 48-27—the loss hurting Pitt’s chase of a Coastal title, while allowing Miami to ignore glaring defensive issues, now overshadowed by the false glow of back-to-back wins.

None of that takes away the credit these Hurricanes deserve for not packing it in when backs were to the wall after the program’s worst start since the 1997 season. A youth movement is finally underway in Coral Gables—Diaz’s hand mostly forced due to injuries—but Miami’s underclassmen have some bounce in their step, are showing heart and have played balls out the past two weeks, amidst some mistakes.

Still, to see so many going from the low of lows after two conference losses weeks back—to fully on board after eking out two wins—it’s borderline insanity. A Heisman-caliber performance from a freshman quarterback over an eight-day span cannot negate the fact that Diaz is fielding a train-wreck defense; a unit he put himself in charge of last off-season, which has regressed since.

Van Dyke showed tremendous moxie in the wake of his game-sealing interception against North Carolina—calling his shot against North Carolina State and then delivering a 325-yard, four-touchdown performance—as the Wolfpack wound up as snakebitten as the Canes had been weeks prior.

Case in point, an early third quarter muffed punt by Jacolby George looked like another here-we-go-again moment for Miami.  Danny Blakeman recovered the ball on the five-yard line and the Wolfpack looked to be in business—until a review on the play saw a helmet-less Anthony Smith in the scrum, resulting in an unsportsmanlike call, offsetting a Canes’ holding penalty and forcing a re-kick.

North Carolina State forced a three and out, but lost the field position battle—settling for a field goal on the ensuing possession—the quirky, overturned turnover resulting in a four-point swing in an eventual one-point game.

CLOSE WINS; SHORT-TERM ENDORPHINS RUSH

Before any retort or rant about how this is football and games are made up of small moments like this every week—no shit and well aware. Teams can play good football and lose, bad football and win, good football and win or bad football and lose.

The point being made; that recent wins are seemingly clouding judgment and perspective regarding Miami fielding a good enough football team—one that can back into wins, while continuing to suffer head-scratching losses, en route to 8-4 type seasons—versus the type of fall that would’ve sent Diaz packing; capitalizing on negative national media calling out the university’s commitment towards rebuilding a champion.

An early-season, sympathy-driven narrative was spun by maligned athletic director Blake James and local bleeding heart media—an implication that the Canes were victims of bad luck in last-second losses to Virginia and North Carolina—when in realty, Miami played some really piss-poor football against both; slow starts, dropped passes, untimely penalties, mental errors and trash fundamentals when it came to angles taken or lazy tackling.

Conversely, an offensive resurgence and Van Dyke slapping an “S” on his chest, playing Superman—the only difference-maker in Miami stealing two victories which their defensive did everything to blow. The final score remains the only headline, while desperate fans feast on empty-calorie, meaningless-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things wins—the type of sad victories that give a lazy University of Miami athletic department enough fuel to roll an “improved” Diaz out for another go-around.

Lost in this two-game win-streak and 2-2 stretch—the fact this Diaz-led Hurricanes’ defense surrendered 1,839 yards and 139 points over that span—forcing two turnovers in three games, before Pickett’s unraveling and two gift-wrapped interceptions; his second and third of the season.

Miami’s defense has played poorly enough for 4-4 to easily be 2-6 going into this final stretch—but the Hurricanes’ offense outperformed expectations, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat—which begs the question, how much longer can this current ecosystem of next-level offense and abysmal defense survive?

The Canes are currently running a one-dimensional passing offense, with zero power running game—Miami limited with both Don Chaney Jr. and Cam Harris lost for the season, while working to break in newbie Thad Franklin; the thunder to Knighton’s lightning.

Impressive as Van Dyke was throwing for 325 yards against North Carolina State and 426 at Pittsburgh—the Canes only amassed 95 yards on the ground against the Wolfpack, and 64 yards against the Panthers, 40 of which came on a touchdown run by Knighton.

Despite the fact this final month of football is anything but a Murder’s Row schedule for Miami—doesn’t take a world class defensive coordinator to see the chinks in the Hurricanes’ offensive armor and to believe Van Dyke will start to feel more pressure, while offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will have to dial up some form of a ground attack to survive.

The Canes’ offensive game plan over the next four games needs to consist of more than Van Dyke airing it out—playing mistake-free football and averaging 4o0 yards and three or four touchdowns-per game. Miami’s defense better figure things out—and fast.

WINS DON’T CHANGE OVERALL DIAZ NARRATIVE

The pressure to solve these defensive setbacks sits squarely on Diaz’s shoulders—noise levels needing to rise within this rowdy fanbase, as too many have gotten fat and happy—forgiving bad defense due to success on offense.

The lead story and headlines have been built around a baller freshman quarterback, a youth-led movement and the show-their-heart Canes “finding a way”—while the defense bleeds out weekly on Manny’s watch.

Weeks back, social media was flooded with memes, imagery and comparisons to the plight of former Canes head coaches Al Golden or Randy Shannon in year three of their runs run at Miami—versus where Diaz stands as many games in—Golden at 19-11, Shannon at 17-13 and Diaz at 16-14 after falling in at North Carolina.

Two weeks later, a complete narrative shift for those blinded by two wins—some going as far as to lob Dabo Swinney comparisons (seriously)—who was 23-12 eight games into year three, not counting going 4-3 in an interim role at Clemson in 2008.

Weeks ago this fan base was afraid of Miami potentially losing out—yet is now daydreaming about taking the ACC and pulling off a big bowl victory, en route to the same 10-4 record Swinney posted in 2011; the Tigers’ head coach also winning the conference in his third year.

Left out of that clunky, stretch of a comparison—the fact West Virginia rolled Clemson’s shoddy defense in the Orange Bowl, 70-33—a massacre that saw Kevin Steele and Charlie Harbison removed from their co-defensive coordinator posts, before Swinney chased down one of the baddest defensive minds in the game and landed the coveted Brent Venables, now in his tenth season with the Tigers.

While Clemson reeled in the biggest defensive fish they could hook after Swinney’s third full season—the missing piece to chasing championships—Diaz used his year-three off season to promote and demote himself. The current head coach decided he was Miami’s best defensive option—splitting time in a role held by Blake Baker the past two seasons; who Diaz protected, helped coach-up and was saved from having to fire after LSU bailed him out and brought Baker to Baton Rouge to coach linebackers.

Not that Venables-caliber coordinators grow on trees—but Diaz could’ve turned the keys over to quality, veteran alpha that would put a foot up the ass of kids on that side of the ball—while he focused on his learn-on-the-job new CEO gig.

Diaz rolled into this new season on shaky ground—14-10 overall, and two games removed from a 62-24 beating former boss Mack Brown laid on him in last year’s season finale—yet his immediate answer was to play part-time defensive coordinator, while making sure fifth version of the Turnover Chain and third incarnation of Touchdown Rings were bling-tastic and camera-ready.

Teeth kicked in by Alabama. Nail-biter against Appalachian State. Outlasted and steamrolled in the fourth quarter by a tougher Michigan State team.  Over-celebrating and looking like buffoons while smacking around Central Connecticut State. Back-to-back, slow-start losses to go 0-2 out the gate in conference play.

Miami was in complete crash-and-burn mode—a megalomaniac head coach in over his head, about to have the leg swept—before two pedestrian wins arguably saved his season. This short-term buzz some are feeling; in realty a huge step backwards for the movement, if the goal was to ultimately punt daze in favor of a better-fit head coach for 2022.

BEWARE AS EVERY GAME NOW “WINNABLE”

The good news for these Hurricanes is that the meat of the schedule is in the rearview and they’ll be favored in all four remaining games. The bad? The fact that Miami is prone for late-season shitting of the bed since joining the ACC; pissing away countless winnable games, despite everything—or nothing—being on the line.

From that still-painful late-year stumble against Georgia Tech in 2005 as the No. 3 team in the country—blowing a shot at an Orange Bowl match-up with Penn State as ACC champs, or runner-up Gator Bowl showdown versus Louisville—the Hurricanes drop the ball, literally and metaphorically.

Miami and Virginia Tech both joined the ACC in 2004; the Hokies taking the title outright year one, beating the Canes in a winner-take-all season finale. UM’s former Big East rival has won the conference four times and taken the division seven—while Miami’s lone Coastal Division championship (2017) resulted in a 38-3 bloodbath at the hands of Clemson.

Diaz’s Canes also admittedly have an issue handling success.

In the wake of arguably the program’s most-embarrassing loss—upset by commuter college Florida International in 2019—Diaz stated that his team was believing their own hype, reading the headlines and rolled in big-headed after a three-game win-streak over Pitt, Florida State and Louisville.

The Canes fell into a 23-3 fourth quarter hole against the Golden Panthers, before waking up and falling short—only to get upset by a basketball school the following week in Durham, North Carolina and then no-showing a fourth-tier bowl game; shutout by Louisiana Tech, ending 2019 with a massive thud.

Georgia Tech stumbles in with a 3-5 record—which has Miami faithful like those odds, until recalling the Yellow Jackets were 1-5 the last time these two met in 2019; weeks removed from a loss to The Citadel, before outlasting the Canes in overtime.

Miami’s had Florida State’s number the past four tries—but anyone who’s followed this rivalry knows the law of averages kicks in and the pendulum swings the other way. The Noles stumbled hard out the gate, but have won three of their past four—upsetting North Carolina by double-digits on the road—while having Clemson dead to right, before stumbling late last week.

Everything goes out the window when the Canes and Noles get after it—and a porous defense isn’t the answer for a road game against a Florida State squad starting to wake up from a multi-year slumber.

Virginia Tech is a hot mess, but like both Georgia Tech and Florida State—the Hokies have some pretty decent muscle memory when it comes to upending the Hurricanes over the years. Miami is 6-3 dating back to 2012—but Virginia Tech had a 7-2 run prior-to and Diaz 0-1 against the Hokies at home after an embarrassing 2019 showing where the Canes fell into a fast 28-0 hole.

Even lowly Duke has gotten in on the action—beating Miami in two of the past three showdowns of this insanely lopsided series the Canes lead 14-4.

IN THE END…

The point in this rant; based on Diaz’s overall track record and the Canes late-year slip-ups—there are no gimmes these next four weeks. Nor should newfound excitement over a young quarterback’s efforts cloud judgment in regards to a painfully bad defense in need of a coaching overhaul.

Some want to waste energies battling over allegiance and alliance; as if rooting for these Canes, or against—in the name of building for a better future—has any bearing on the outcome. The only conversation worth having; those who actively go head-in-the-sand over glaring weaknesses, in favor of short-lived jubilation when close wins are squeezed out against marginal opponents—as long-running problems won’t go away without sweeping change.

Whether Miami finishes 4-8 or a miraculous 10-4—a reckoning must still in the cards. Diaz must be judged as harshly for the hole he’s put Miami in—4-6 since last December, saved by three late-game wins—opposed to being let off the hook or keeping his players engaged and “showing up” these past two weeks.

8-4 is certainly doable as the regular season winds down, though 7-5 seems more realistic—Miami a combined 25-16 this past decade regarding the final four games of each season—the Canes losing focus and ultimately stumbling.

This up and down 2021 rolls on—one-game seasons and fast-changing narratives the name of the game, while the ongoing issues seem to stay the same.

Arguably less appropriate on the heels of back-to-back wins—but refuse to be blinded by fool’s gold and staying the course; Dead Manny Walking.

Chris Bello has been covering University of Miami athletics since the mid-nineties. Getting his start with CanesTime, he eventually launched allCanesBlog—which led to a featured columnist stint with BleacherReport. He’s since rolled out the unfiltered, ItsAUThing.com where he’ll use his spare time to put decades of U-related knowledge to use for those who care to read. When he’s not writing about ‘The U’, Bello is a storyteller for some exciting brands and individuals—as well as a guitarist and songwriter for his band Company Jones, who just released their debut album “The Glow”. Hit him on Twitter for all things U-related @ItsAUThingBLOG.

Miami Hurricanes legend Alonzo Highsmith guested on the Orange Bowl Boys’ podcast last week—the episode powerful enough to make you want to run through a wall, as well as jump in front of a speeding bus.

Highsmith obviously knows the Canes’ football DNA like few others; part of that 1983 national championship, as well as an infamous Fiesta Bowl title game loss in 1986—the lynch-pin “first domino” for legendary head coach Howard Schnellenberger—whose five-year dynasty-build was anchored in keeping South Florida’s best talent home and gaming the system.

Everything that Highsmith discussed and laid out, there’s zero doubt he is Miami’s secret weapon, should this university choose to roll up its sleeves to build a winner. The football icon spent the past decade in a general manager / player personnel type NFL role with Green Bay, Cleveland and currently Seattle—making him an ideal candidate for a cutting-edge, football-only type head honcho; athletic director-eqsue, but solely focused on the game he knows and loves.

Of course, that only works if Miami were to clean house and prepare a rebuild from the ground up—a commitment from the board of trustees to go all in financially, doing what it takes to build a champion—while employing a new athletic director who understands the mission, as well as a born leader head coach who understands that the University of Miami’s football program marches to its own beat, and is ready to go all-in on what’s become a two-decade quest to resurrect ‘The U’.

Captivating as it was listening to Highsmith’s entire story—some harsh realities came to light regarding the zeros to heroes challenge that lies ahead.

The pair that Miami would have to grow to go all-in on a champion-caliber, football-heavy rebuild? Monstrous. Same to be said regarding how the Canes pull it off in this era of a softer athletes; most lacking the toughness, selflessness, discipline and attention span needed to be seed-planters for the movement.

The task at hand is daunting and overwhelming, albeit not impossible if UM implements the right game plan and empowers top-flight personnel.

HIGHSMITH HISTORY: 101

For those unfamiliar with the Highsmith backstory, the episode is equally as full of historical building-block information, as it is  exciting to see there’s a way out of this current mess in which ‘The U’ resides.

The Canada-to-Coral-Gables southbound journey—almost as an emancipated minor—with Highsmith living alone in early 80’s era Miami and and playing football at Christopher Columbus High, after Killian and Southridge turned him away; that portion of the tale could’ve been it’s own standalone episode.

Highsmith originally seemed destined to play for one of the traditional bigs; relocating to South Florida to get on the radar for programs like Notre Dame and Michigan—who almost earned his services—until eyes were opened to the Sunshine State’s brand of football.

Florida and Florida State were early leaders for Highsmith, before Schnellenberger delivered his sales pitch and explained how a handful of the right local kids staying home in 1983 could have a decades-long impact on University of Miami football. Aside from Highsmith, Miami Northwestern’s Melvin Bratton was another key figure in Schnelly’s masterplan—a couple of alphas that could be the face of a movement.

An official visit to Miami—which almost never happened, as Highsmith thought he’d seen enough on unofficial drop-bys—changed everything, when he first crossed paths with the one-of-a-kind Jerome Brown, the bad-ass Winston Moss, a brooding Brian Blades and a handful of other future greats.

One can only imagine Schnellenberger’s scheming to get these individuals in front of each other, letting nature take its course—no sales pitch needed from that point on—this future wrecking crew immediately solving how they’d turn the entire sport on its ear if they agreed to come together.

This was the class Schnellenberger felt would start a long-term movement; but in the short term, the Canes won their first ring this crew’s freshman season—left two on the table in 1985 and 1986—but won it all again in 1987; year four under the legendary Jimmy Johnson.

The regard in which Highsmith holds Schnellenberger and Johnson is palpable; talking of both with such respect—their influence changing his life and career, while their winning ways and drive is what earned them the buy-in everywhere these two coaching legends wound up.

Highsmith also spoke of Nick Saban in a similar regard in the podcast—regarding being a winner who builds champions—making it crystal clear that what Alabama has created is precisely what Miami must do to win big’; albeit sticking to their unique brand formula.

As has been discussed on this blog over the years, the University of Miami has always been a different animal—the small private school in the large, diverse metropolitan city. Miami has always been an events town and never a sports town. Anytime the Orange Bowl or Hard Rock has rolled; it meant whoever was lining up and doing battle on that field made that game the place to be in The Magic City that night.

CANES ALWAYS WENT AGAINST GRAIN; EMBRACED UNIQUENESS

Former Miami greats knew that they weren’t an Alabama, Penn State or Notre Dame—nor did they aspire to be. It’s almost too easy at those small-town football factories; the built-in fan bases in rah-rah college towns—a built-in love and adoration, because you’re all those townsfolk have got; the ultimate participation trophy.

Kids who came to Miami for all the right reasons; fast to bask in average facilities, sparse crowds and the challenge of having to perform to garner the city’s attention. Nothing was ever going to come easy—but if you beat the odds at this private university at the bottom of the Sunshine State; prepare to be respected locally and revered nationally.

Highsmith drove it got; as long as Miami was winning—everything was all good in the ‘hood. The decade of dominance era Hurricanes were treated like a pro sports franchise, opposed to a standard powerhouse college football team. Winning was everything and was the mantra; from the head coach, to the assistants, to the staffers and athletic department employees—”national championship, or bust” was the goal every fall; the standard and expectation.

“When you’re from Miami, you have to be good in order for the people to come out—Howard Schnellenberger understood that. Jimmy Johnson understood that. The importance of football was manifested through our coaching—everything we did at the University of Miami was to be a national champion,” Highsmith shared. “If we wanted 80,000 people in the stands—we knew we had to win. Football was of the utmost importance—and the urgency was always high. The standards were set at the University of Miami; it was either national championship, or bust—and that’s how we approached every season.”

Outside of the University of Alabama, the championship-or-bust mindset no longer exists in college football—as it took building a modern day machine in Tuscaloosa to attract the best national talent annually. Play for the Crimson Tide for three to four years—a player is all but guaranteed a few SEC Championships and at least one national title; a turnkey process.

Bama’s process is so tried and true, Georgia has gone all-in copying the blueprint—starting with a $200,000,000 investment into football and athletic three years ago, literally called the “Do More” campaign—verbalizing their attempt to chase and topple a giant.

Quoting the flamboyant Ric Flair, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man”—and as the 2021 seasons unfolds, No. 1 Georgia finally looks up for the challenge of dethroning a champion—on a collision course to meet Alabama in the SEC Championship game, though Saban and the Tide are never to be counted out.

HOW TO WIN BIG WITHOUT BIG TIME PLAYERS?

The only thing Highsmith wasn’t asked to quantify or to answer—the age-old chicken and the egg dilemma that has plagued Miami for years; how do the Canes find a way to win with the talent they have, to attract the talent that they ultimately need to win big?

Obviously a top-tier head coach and well-paid staff could recruit and develop talent better than the low-rent hires Miami has employed over the past two decades—but even a great sales pitch isn’t going to top the millions of dollars big winners like Alabama and Georgia throw annually at their recruiting experience.

Attracting top 5-Star talent that the biggest and best are chasing down—it requires being a winner, not selling a long-term, how-to-win game plan. Miami is faced with having to win big without the big time talent it’s working to attract.

Furthermore, how do you sell today’s me-first athlete on something bigger than themselves?

Listening to Highsmith talk about how he, Bratton, Brown, Moss and others were willing to get on board with Schellenberger’s long-term vision—how can that even resonate in today’s instant-gratification world and with today’s self-absorbed, short-sighted athletes?

Selling players on being the foundation or building block for something that might not take root until after they’re gone—most will choose going somewhere the process is already in place; setting them up to win big immediately and to gain massive exposure as a result—which impacts personal brands, social media engagement rates and the ability to get paid in this new NIL college athletics landscape.

Miami hasn’t seen a collection of these kind of selfless athletes since Butch Davis was pitching a probation-era rebuild and a next-generation player like Edgerrin James bought in—that 1996 class also landing foundation-layers Damione Lewis, Daniel Franks, Nate Webster, Al Blades and James Jackson—en route to an unthinkable 9-3 run, for a program conditioned to be in the hunt every year.

Probation bottomed the Canes out the following year—the 5-6 run Miami’s first losing season since 1979—but the ballers kept lining up and buying in; that 1997 class including Ed Reed, Najeh Davenport, Dan Morgan, Kenny Kelly, Reggie Wayne, Daryl Jones, Martin Bibla and Markese Fitzgerald, as well as Santana Moss—who agreed to come to Miami on a track scholarship in order to play football.

Three years later, Miami was national championship-ready again—the best team in college football at the end of the 2000 season, before winning it all in 2001 and having it stolen in 2002—all because of the buy-in, belief, hard work and chances this collection of kids was willing to take a few years prior.

Proven winners like James, Franks, Jackson, Webster, Wayne, Moss and Morgan all left Miami without a ring—but became legends as the guys who sacrificed and put this program on their back—in effort to carry the Canes to the top again.

Highsmith believes Miami has enough talent-wise right now to at least win the ACC Coastal—but stopped short of saying the Canes could win the conference, reach the College Football Playoffs or chase championships in this current state. He also stayed away from the topic of Manny Diaz—politically correct in offering up nothing more than not knowing what Miami’s third-year guy has or doesn’t have in the tank as the guy currently in charge.

PLAY YOUR BEST, NOT YOUR FAVORITES

An indirect shot was taken, though—the topic of playing the best players, versus the discontent that brews when coaches subscribe to a safe seniority system—rewarding those who have simply been around longer, versus those who pass the eye test. Highsmith called it the recipe for disaster it’s been for years at Miami—predating Diaz and going back to the post-Davis era.

The hard-hitting former running back talked about famed practice battles at Greentree and how the greats would refuse to come out of games—not wanting to lose their job to hungry back-ups, while confidently believing no one could to the job as good as they were doing it. Anyone not on the field that wanted to play—you better good-and-hell-well snatch that opportunity in practice, or the rare game moment where it was time to shine.

The best way for a back-up to see playing time was when Miami was rolling heads and destroying the competition, to the point where second stringers were theoretically in the game to take some heat off—except that Hurricanes back-ups played like their lives depended on it.

Johnson was crucified for running up the score on Notre Dame in 1985—crushing the Gerry Faust-led squad 58-7 in the beloved coach’s final game—left to forever explain that his back-ups were overachievers, using these “garbage minutes” as their audition and real-game chance to shine.

That balls-out attitude was precisely what scouts have told Highsmith they loved over the years; always relishing a Miami practice, as those moments showed them everything they needed to know about said player. Scouts in that era would even jokingly ask of the Canes realized they had a game that particular weekend, as guys were going all out at the highest level.

There was no off switch back then—which was the brand—Miami players always full-throttle. that was the expectation, how they were wired and who they were at their core. Can Miami ever get back to that place? Doubtful, as it no longer exists. One would have to imagine that even today’s Alabama and Georgia players don’t come close to that level of intensity—or insanity—as these older cats were just built different.

Still, Highsmith is correct that Miami is a carefully-crafted brand and it must follow a different script than what other traditional powers do to succeed.

IDENTIFY “THE GUY”; BRING HIM IN & LET IT RIP

Knowing thyself is the jumping off point—as is setting proper expectations and then having the proper leadership in place to execute; which hasn’t been the case since Butch pulled out of town 20 years ago.

Look at those past Hurricanes coaching legends and their career trajectories after succeeding at Miami; Schnelly to the upstart USFL, Johnson taking over the Dallas Cowboys, Dennis Erickson parlaying two rings into the Seattle Seahawks job, while Davis headed to Cleveland after rebuilding the probation-era Canes.

Now look at everyone since; Larry Coker propped up as the face and mascot for a new University of Texas-San Antonio program for a few years, simply because he won big with Davis’ kids. Randy Shannon coached linebackers in the SEC for a few years before even landing a full time defensive coordinator position again—while Al Golden has coached linebackers for a few low-rent NFL franchise since Miami sent him packing; neither coming anywhere close to a head coach or CEO-type role again.

Mark Richt had the cachet after 15 successful years at the University of Georgia; but the Canes needed him in 2006, not 2016—a watered-down version of himself, ready to retire and only taking Miami’s call because it was his alma mater. Three years in, Richt waved the white flag—admitting he didn’t have the stomach to rebuild this thing from scratch.

As for Diaz, his prowess has been discussed here ad nauseam these past couple of years—now sitting at 16-14 and in a downward spiral; wanting to be liked and accepted by his players, opposed the healthily feared and respected. Diaz is all flash and no substance—proven this season as his 2-4 Hurricanes are still breaking out stupid chains and rings for sideline photoshoots in games Miami where is getting its teeth kicked in and ultimately loses.

Listening to Highsmith’s reverence for the iconic coaches he played for; a reminder just what it takes to build a champion. Miami needs the right, proven guy at the helm—not another lazy, cheap, inexperienced, up-and-comer hire it hopes can learn on the job and figure it out.

The program also needs a complete buy-in within the walls of Hecht Athletic Center—a board of trustees willing to do (and spend) whatever it takes to win, an empowered athletic director who puts that plan into motion on a daily basis, as well as a university president who is all-in and speaking the same language—realizing the importance a powerhouse football program does to enhance the university as a national brand.

BURN IT ALL DOWN & TRULY BUILD BACK BETTER

Sadly, the first step forward in this process requires two steps back—losing big now, to wipe the slate clean and to start over.

Kirk Herbstreit fired a big shot when calling out the University of Miami on ESPN’s College GameDay—the general incompetence, the noticeable drop-off and a laissez faire approach to running an athletic department and once-proud football program—which exposed and embarrassed UM internally; proven by their attempts to defend the current process.

With all eyes on Miami, to see how year three of the Diaz era plays out—crushing losses must follow—turning 2-4 into 2-6, if not worse. This season needs to be put out to pasture, while this current coaching regime is put down like a dying dog. Sympathy was evoked by way of two heartbreaking, final second losses for the Hurricanes—which unfortunately negated the argument that should’ve been built about games against Virginia and North Carolina being given away the first 59 minutes, by way of slow starts, sloppy play, mistakes, mental errors and garbage fundamentals.

No. 18 North Carolina State heads to town on Saturday—in what should be a barren HardRock, outside all the red and black adorned fans who made the 10-hour drive south from Raleigh—in what could be a very lopsided loss for the Hurricanes; the Wolfpack packing a punch this fall. Next, a road trip to take on a gritty No. 23 Pittsburgh team, ready to throw a stout defense against an inept, mistake-prone offense.

Should both do the trick and send Diaz packing, it should send Miami’s top brass back to the drawing board—spending the coming months devising a plan to build a winner again. When that happens, the hiding-in-plain-sight Highsmith needs to be on speed-dial and welcomed back to this program with open arms—as no one gets the brand, the blueprint and balls needed to tap into a tried and true recipe for success at The U.

Chris Bello has been covering University of Miami athletics since the mid-nineties. Getting his start with CanesTime, he eventually launched allCanesBlog—which led to a featured columnist stint with BleacherReport. He’s since rolled out the unfiltered, ItsAUThing.com where he’ll use his spare time to put decades of U-related knowledge to use for those who care to read. When he’s not writing about ‘The U’, Bello is a storyteller for some exciting brands and individuals—as well as a guitarist and songwriter for his band Company Jones, who just released their debut album “The Glow”. Hit him on Twitter for all things U-related @ItsAUThingBLOG.

The past eight quarters haven’t been easy on the the University of Miami’s football program—coaches and players alike—while a fan base is also at a breaking point, as the incompetence and failure reaches a new low.