Manny Diaz laments loss of academic support and spring practice

The loss of in-person academic support for the Miami football team and cancelation of spring practice has Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz concerned about the loss of connection his players have with each other and the support staff.

The cancelation of all collegiate sports through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic calendar has had far more wide-reaching problems beyond the cancelations of the NCAA Tournament and spring sports. Miami head football coach Manny Diaz is concerned about the impact throughout his program.

Unlike many college football programs in the northern half of the country, the Miami Hurricanes were able to get in four practices this spring before the entire world was put on hold on March 12. The loss of spring football after four practices cost Miami a chance to build chemistry with Rhett Lashlee and D’Eriq King.

Lashlee was hired by Diaz in January to replace Dan Enos as the Hurricanes’ new offensive coordinator. King transferred from Houston to Miami around the same time that Lashlee was hired to provide the Hurricanes with a huge upgrade at quarterback this fall. Diaz is concerned with his players’ academic progress remotely.

In an interview with ESPN, Manny Diaz discussed how the lost spring football season and need to adapt to a virtual classroom has impacted the Miami football team. The Hurricanes players lost 11 practices this spring to work with their coaches and the academic support team that Miami provides with the players in residence.

"“You’re placing everybody in an online environment, and just not having that connection, you’re in uncharted territory. There are ramifications in terms of progress toward a degree, and you worry about whether everyone on your team has access to the equipment needed. It’s not a given.It all comes down to practice opportunities. Rhett Lashlee can’t be on a football field with D’Eriq King except for those 15 days of spring practice and in training camp. If we don’t make up those days, the product suffers. It helps to have a veteran guy like D’Eriq, but it’d certainly be better if we were all together.”"

This spring and summer were critical for King to connect with his new teammates on and off the field. King will have to build relationships with his teammates virtually now. The timing in the passing game will likely suffer. Schools with returning QBs and more stability in the offensive coaching staff will have an advantage.

In addition to Lashlee and King, Miami hired new offensive line coach Garin Justice and wide receivers coach Rob Likens as additions to the staff for 2020. Having that time together this spring was time for the Miami football team to build chemistry. In the new reality, Diaz has to come up with other ways to do that.