Miami Hurricanes Athletic Personnel Discuss Pre-Irma Decisions

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MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 13: The Hard Rock stadium home to the NFL Miami Dolphins is seen after Hurricane Irma passed through the area on September 13, 2017 in Miami, Florida. The Florida Key’s took the brunt of the hurricane as it passed over the island chain as a category 4 storm. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) /

The buses to Orlando left Coral Gables for Orlando at 10 AM ET on September 7. Strawley discussed the heartbreak of leaving.

"“It was hard…The bus pulls out, and you’re leaving behind student-athletes, you’re leaving behind coaches, you’re leaving behind people you care about, and you didn’t know if they were going to be OK. We gave everybody an opportunity to go someplace safe, and they had to make a decision that was best for them and their family in that moment.”"

Miami Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz evacuated with his family to Jacksonville. Diaz spoke about the realization that they didn’t know what they could be coming home to.

"“My wife and I, we drove two cars. We get to the house, and when we brought everything from the cars into the house, all of a sudden in the back in my mind it was like, ‘This might be everything we have.'”"

Next: Miami Hurricanes Had Near Dream Season After Andrew in 1992

After making their decisions on what to do, the players, coaching staff and administration next faced riding out the storm. Being away from home or being in Miami to ride it out would cause anyone great adversity. The discussion of that will be continued.

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