During a Tuesday press conference when he was asked if backup quarterbacks Cade Weldon or Jarren Williams would play Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt gave a testy answer.
The quarterback play for the Miami Hurricanes this season has caused a lot of frustration from the fanbase and media. The consternation has been repeatedly been brought up on social media and asked of Richt during press conferences. Has it seeped into his coaching and decision making?
Richt was asked if he was tempted to play Weldon or Williams on Saturday against Virginia Tech. The Miami Hurricanes Head Coach gave a very terse response. “I’m tempted to try and win the game, how about that? I guess people don’t see that as a premium, but I do.”
Richt has brought a lot of the issues on himself. The constant shuffling back and forth between quarterbacks has not given them any consistency at the position. Former Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Randall Hill appearing on the Hochman and Crowder show on WQAM on Tuesday afternoon said: “you make a decision and go with it.”
Miami has changed the starting quarterback three times this season. Malik Rosier started in the season opener against LSU and played the entire game. He also played the entire game against Toledo. N’Kosi Perry was brought in during the third series against FIU. All four Miami quarterbacks on the roster played against Savannah State.
Mark Richt today, when asked if he's tempted to play either Jarren Williams or Cade Weldon this week: "I’m tempted to try and win the game, how about that? I guess people don’t see that as a premium, but I do."
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) November 13, 2018
Richt has been asked over the last few weeks if and when he plans on playing Williams this season. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson relayed one of Richt’s recent answers regarding the possibility of Williams getting playing time.
"“Before the season’s over we’ll probably get him in there, might get him in there, If it’s 14-14, I’m not going to slip him in there because rule says he can. He’s growing.”"
Richt is not going to get fired as some in the fanbase and a very small part of the media have suggested. He’s safe. Richt signed a contract extension after last season that goes through 2023. Whether or not giving Richt the extension was the right decision is irrelevant at this point.
Other suggestions have offered that Richt needs to make changes in the coaching staff, stop calling plays or change the offensive system entirely. Normally mild-mannered today’s news conference clearly showed a crack in Richt’s demeanor.
Miami Sports Hall of Famer Jonathan Vilma who was a star linebacker on the 2001 National Championship team mocked all the suggestions for Richt on Twitter.
Richt was more succinct and didn’t seem as bothered by the questions regarding Perry as those asked about Williams. The Hurricanes Head Coach discussed Perry’s progress.
"“I think he’s turning the corner. I don’t think he has turned the corner. He did a lot of really good things. I like how he threw the ball with confidence. He made the right decisions for the most part. I like his demeanor during the game. He was on top of it.In the Virginia game, I didn’t see that. I thought that moment got too big for him.”"
Perry’s play has been erratic this season. The Redshirt Freshman’s 53.9 completion percentage doesn’t rank in the top 100 in the nation.
Whether he feels pressure from the fan base, the media or internal pressure of winning being the Head Coach at Miami this was the first time Richt was terse in public since getting called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the Orange Bowl