Much has been made this week about the slow start for our Miami Hurricanes. Fans are upset on social media. Radio shows are filled with venom pointed at a coaching staff that is in their third year, yet the same problems continue to permeate throughout the program. Slow starts on offense. A Defense that can tackle or get off the field on 3rd downs. Playing down to inferior opponents. Getting blown out by good teams. When does it end? When do our Canes get off of the hamster wheel of mediocrity? Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesIt is now year three of the Manny Diaz era, and by now there should be signs that the program is getting better, but under Diaz the only thing that seems to be getting better is offseason hype. Manny has done a masterful job of selling coaching changes, the transfer portal additions and hype videos. Unfortunately for Canes fans we aren seeing the results on the field to match the hype. Coming into 2021 the hype was real . Miami had a ton of returning starters. DEriq King was back healthy for his 6th year https://www.mhoutletstore.com/Jordan_Miller_Jersey-21. Once again the Canes were one of the media darlings. Miami had a huge opportunity to play number 1 Alabama to open the season, something that previous Canes teams would relish. Unfortunately this Canes team is a reflection of its fearless leader all hype and no substance on Saturdays. The Canes were embarrassed in the opener 44-13, then Diaz said afterwards labama has been doing this to everyone. This quote should rub the fans of this program the wrong way. It almost sounds like he accepted defeat before the game started. That type of attitude permeates throughout the team, and further exemplified by putting on a Turnover Chain down 27-0. I get that is part of your culture but it looks foolish while getting blown out on national TV. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesIt becomes too early to talk about moving on from Manny Diaz https://www.mhoutletstore.com/Charleston_Rambo_Jersey-105, but the remainder of this season should determine his immediate future. Miami is more talented on paper than everyone they play the remainder of the season, but nothing over 2 years and 2 games shows that anything should be taken for granted https://www.mhoutletstore.com/Elijah_Roberts_Jersey-86. In year three it is absolutely time to start living up to the fake bravado. Squeaking by Appalachian St is not very Miami Hurricane like. Unfortunately this is the reality of the Canes. The continual chasing the tail of the great teams from the 80s, 90s and 2000s seems to be a feeble exercise. At some point the Canes need to establish an identity for themselves, and not live on the past accomplishments of teams gone by.Miami is dealing with the same situation as other national powers. Mediocre coaching hires have set the programs back years. Manny is trying to clean up messes created by guys who were here before him, but patience for almost 20 years of bad football is rearing it ugly head once again. Changing coaches every 3-5 years doesn help, but neither does keeping a guy for too long. Look at former national powers and what bad hires have done to their programs. All have had terrible hires and now are suffering for better days gone by. Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty ImagesNebraska Frank SolichBill Callahan Bo PeliniMike Riley Scott Frost MiamiLarry Coker Randy Shannon Al Golden Mark Richt Manny Diaz Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesFSU Willie Taggart Mike Norvell Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesUSCLame Kiffin Ed Orgeron Steve SarkisianClay Helton Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty ImagesMichigan Rich RodriguezBrady Hoke Jim HarbaughPhoto by Wesley Hitt/Getty ImagesTexas Charlie Strong Tom Herman Steve SarkisianManny Diaz may make the decision easy. Get to the ACC Championship game, and all of the early season struggles will be forgiven. Fall short, and then the administration will have to take a long hard look at the direction of the program. Blake James is an entirely different conversation for a different day, but for now the next opportunity starts Saturday at noon vs Michigan St. It time to come out like your hair is on fire. It time to beat a team who was 2-5 a year ago like they were a 2-5 team. It time to beat a team convincingly who is in year 2 of a new coaching regime. Miami needs to get off the hamster wheel of mediocrity. Miami needs to be more than just a middle of the road ACC team. The time is now!
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