Following the Miami Hurricanes embarrassing 35-3 loss to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl, Athletic Director Blake James issued a statement saying the performance by the football team on Thursday night and at times this season is unacceptable.
James continued to discuss the disappointing 7-6 season. The Miami Hurricanes Athletic Director also stated that he is committed to getting the football program back to National Prominence and that the process is underway. James continued that the Hurricanes will compete for ACC and National Championships.
He finally promised that Head Coach Mark Richt is alongside him “in that commitment to excellence.” It might have sounded like James was channeling late Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders Owner Al Davis, but the Hurricanes Athletics Czar forgot the part about “Just Win Baby.”
A lot needs to be done this offseason. Former Miami Hurricanes Punter Brian Monroe who is the analyst on the Hurricanes postgame said do not expect Richt to make any changes unless the high profile donors go to James and demand them.
Richt has relied on nepotism and been extremely stubborn in his continual belief that his offense works. During Richt’s first season with the Hurricanes with Brad Kaaya under center, the Miami offense was able to consistently move the football. Malik Rosier had a record-setting 2017 but clearly regressed in 2018.
— Miami Athletics (@CanesAllAccess) December 28, 2018
While fans have continually called for changes in the offensive staff they are highly unlikely to happen. Richt continues to show that he will do things his own way. There were several opportunities for Miami to hire someone to help the offense early in the hiring season.
Former Texas Tech Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury was hired by Clay Helton and USC to be the Trojans new Offensive Coordinator. The more egregious name that Miami let get away was the all-time winningest quarterback in school history Ken Dorsey.
Dorsey worked as an Assistant Athletic Director and advisor to Head Football Coach Butch Davis at Florida International this season. He was just hired as an offensive assistant at Appalachian State. The Hurricanes won at Appalachian State 45-10 in 2016.
Nice! Brian is right....unless the big $ people start pulling their checks, or writing ones to force people out it will be more of the same BS
— John Michaels (@JohnMichaelsU) December 28, 2018
Dorsey was the Quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers when they went to the Superbowl following the 2015 season. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won the Most Valuable Player under Dorsey’s tutelage that season.
Richt is going to have to make changes to the offense in the offseason. If he refuses to bring in new coaches on offense, then the Hurricanes have the possibility of at least bringing in an analyst.
James is not going to fire Richt this offseason. Miami still owes him $20 million. He knows he’s on the hot seat entering 2019. Miami is now 7-9 in their last 16 games, 6-9 in their last 15 against FBS teams and 4-9 in their last 13 games against Power Five Conference teams. That is not acceptable at Miami.
In the postgame, Sun Sentinel writer David Wilson tweeted out that Richt said: “Things have got to get fixed and that will obviously be the No. 1 priority.” If they don’t, 2019 could be Richt’s last season.