Appearing on the ESPN family of networks earlier this week, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt discussed a variety of topics related to the U. Maybe the most striking comment was that if Miami has a good season he said people will say Miami is back.
A lot is expected of the Miami Hurricanes this season. They have multiple players on preseason watch lists. Many of the same players have been selected to numerous preseason All-ACC teams.
This is a year many are expecting Miami to make the jump and finally win their first ACC Coastal Division title. The excitement around Coral Gables and Miami Gardens is building. The expectations for this season followed by one of the nation’s two best-recruiting classes in 2018 have expectations for the future building for Miami football.
Everyone wants to see the U back. Miami being among the elite of college football makes the sport better. The teams in the eighties and early nineties plus in the early 2000s drew attention to the sport.
The Hurricanes still have dozens of players in the NFL who are still very loyal to Miami. Watch any nationally televised game during the starting lineups and alums from Miami all profess they went to the U. Richt spoke about how bad everyone wants the school to return to its glory years.
"“[Miami’s former players] want it as bad as anybody does. The fans want it, obviously, as bad as anybody does. And I think our current players really want it, and they maybe just don’t know how to get it. We’re getting there. We’re going to help them get there. It’s fun, it’s exciting.“The reality is, a team like Miami, ‘The U,’ if we have a season that’s wonderful, they won’t say, ‘Miami’s having a wonderful season.’ They’ll say, Miami’s back. There’s a difference when you’re at a program that’s done it before, and you know can do it again.”"
Richt was asked by ESPN’s Jay Harris during Sportscenter:
"“You’ve made it a point since you’ve been at Miami that you wanted to embrace the past, you talk about bringing back the swagger at Miami. How do you do that?”"
Richt response was to talk about the Paraside camp instead of directly answering the question.
"“We had at least 10 first-rounders and probably four to five future [Pro Football] Hall of Famers — Michael Irvin already is one — and they came and helped coach our camp…They did it on their own dime. They did it because they love ‘The U.’”"
Among the Miami alums that came back to coach at the Paradise Camp according to Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post included Jonathan Vilma, Jon Beason, D.J. Williams, Jeremy Shockey, Vince Wilfork, Devin Hester, Antrel Rolle, and Brett Romberg.
Richt is the perfect coach to build a new future at Miami. In spite of the decade long drought not winning a bowl game and now 15-year drought without a National championship the Hurricanes are still producing talent.
The U logo, the presence in the NFL and the high profile alums have kept Miami among the elite programs. Richt has used that expertly to get Miami on the right path in rebuilding the program. The Hurricanes will build on last season’s 9-4 record and continue to bring in elite recruiting classes.
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The last step under Mark Richt will be to start winning games, division and conference titles and eventually National Championships.