Miami football dominates 2019 college football offseason

Mark Richt’s retirement, Manny Diaz returning from Temple, an almost all-new coaching staff and constant additions through the transfer portal and the Miami football program was continually a national story during the offseason.

The Miami Football program’s foray into the national consciousness began when many college football fans were unplugged less than 48 hours before 2019 began. Mark Richt announced his resignation at the Hurricanes head football coach midday on December 30. Manny Diaz took over about 11 hours later.

Diaz’s hiring began a crazy offseason for the Hurricanes. Diaz fired Richt’s entire offensive coaching staff less than 24 hours after being hired to return from Temple as the Hurricanes new head coach. Diaz was the Owls head coach for 18 days before replacing his former boss. The next month was memorable for Miami football.

Diaz hired an entirely new offensive coaching staff, a few new defensive coaches and upgraded the Hurricanes roster with seven new players through the newly dubbed transfer portal. On top of all that, Diaz knew how to keep the fans and media involved by cryptically using social media as a way of announcing big news to come.

The Miami football program was featured prominently in an ESPN article titled ‘College football’s best offseason jabs, squabbles and feuds.” Miami quarterback Tate Martell was the cover boy for the article. Martell’s transfer from Ohio State to Miami was one of the biggest stories of the 2019 college football offseason.

"“Three QBs, linked forever by TwitterQuarterback Tate Martell was still playing for Ohio State when speculation began after the regular season that Georgia’s Justin Fields could transfer to play for the Buckeyes.Martell, who famously said as a recruit in a direct message that was later leaked that he could start for Texas A&M because then-A&M quarterback Nick Starkel was “ass, my dude”, tweeted sort of cryptically (but sort of not), “word of advice: don’t swing and miss … especially not your second time.”When someone replied, “Is this a message to Fields?” Martell liked the tweet, before later deleting his original…When Fields did indeed transfer to Ohio State, Martell transferred to Miami.”"

Martell has received a lot of criticism from Ohio State and Miami fans about running away from the competition to be the starting QB at Ohio State. It is a hypocritical stance from Ohio State fans who didn’t seem to think that way about Fields leaving Georgia for the Buckeyes.

There was more to Martell leaving Ohio State than Fields arrival in Columbus. The departure of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer meant the Buckeyes would not be using the spread offense as much with Ryan Day ascending to head coach. That is the offense that best suits Martell.

Since Diaz took over as head coach he has dubbed his tenure as “The New Miami.” That has come with its own hashtag coined by Diaz, #TNM. ESPN took notice as Diaz arrived on a Yacht at a fan event earlier this year.

"“As legendary Hurricane Michael Irvin once said of disgraced Miami booster Nevin Shapiro: “The other stuff he is making easy, like boats. Dog, boats? ‘Come on man, get on the boat. We are gonna go out on a boat.Also, Miami defensive line coach Todd Stroud, who was a team captain and nose guard at Florida State under Bobby Bowden, visited his old coach and got him to throw up The U. Say it ain’t so, Bobby.”"

Martell is locked in a three-way battle to be the Miami starting quarterback. Redshirt Sophomore N’Kosi Perry and redshirt freshman Jarren Williams are battling with Martell during training camp to be the first team QB two weeks from Saturday in Orlando against Florida.

Martell was only a part of the excitement of the 2019 offseason. The addition of offensive coordinator and QB coach Dan Enos from Alabama, defensive end Trevon Hill from Virginia Tech and wide receiver K.J. Osborn are all new to the Miami football program and expected to make an impact in 2019.