The competitive spirit from the Miami football team during the loss to Florida on Saturday night was encouraging for the future of the program.
Manny Diaz made it a point throughout spring practice and training camp the importance from the players in the Miami football program to be able to adapt to adversity. Saturday’s 24-20 loss to Florida had six lead changes and far more momentum shifts. The Hurricanes did well to adapt to adversity against the Gators.
In addition to the half dozen lead changes in the game, Miami committed 14 penalties for 125 yards and was sacked ten times. Florida added nine penalties of their own for 100 yards and committed four turnovers. The script for the number of plot twists in the game could not have been written accurately.
The young Hurricanes went toe to toe with Florida and were in the game until Miami was stopped on fourth and 12 from the Gators 26 with 12 seconds remaining. During his Monday afternoon press conference, Miami head coach Manny Diaz stated that how the Hurricanes would battle against Florida was in question before the game.
After the way the Hurricanes seemingly gave up in losses to begin and end the 2018 season, Diaz had reason to believe his team might wilt under pressure. They did not on Saturday night in Orlando. Miami quarterback Jarren Williams was a great leader by continually getting up after getting pounded by the Gators.
"“We were up for the fight and that was in question going into the game…If you looked at us in the past against top ten competition, that had not always been the case. I think our guys understood and you could see the difference in our strain, effort, and passion.I was proud of our guys for showing that the changes that we talk about happening are for real and that it is not just coach speak.We can’t lose sight of that because it is going to give us a chance to win every game. If we don’t ever lose the mentality that we played with on Saturday night, we have a chance to have a very good season.”"
Diaz is laying the groundwork for the culture he wants from his program. The mentality he expects his players to have will be critical for what happens in the future with the Miami football team. Playing with effort and passion on every play, sets of downs, series and game will instill an attitude to help them win.
Infusing that culture in the Miami football program begins with Diaz and the coaching staff. The team leaders and upperclassmen among the Miami football program have to take the mantle from the coaching staff and continue that attitude. Mark Richt was more laid back and the culture reflected that the last three seasons.
Diaz and offensive coordinator Dan Enos are holding their players to a high standard not seen from the Miami Hurricanes football program since Butch Davis left for the NFL following the 2001 Sugar Bowl victory over Florida. If Diaz and his coaching staff can continue to cultivate the effort and passion the wins will pile up.