Miami football team not paying attention to detail per Shaq Quarterman

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Senior linebacker Shaq Quarterman expressed after the Miami football team lost to Georgia Tech on Saturday that several of his Hurricanes teammates are not paying enough attention to detail.

The quote from a four-year starter was a clear message by Shaq Quarterman to the Miami football team that enough work is not being put in for the Hurricanes to succeed. Miami has lost three games this season that they were expected to win. Two of those came at home as double-digit favorites.

Fans of the great Miami football teams of decades past look at the stars who played for the Hurricanes and the swagger the team displayed on the field as being reasons for winning. It was the hard work the players put in on the Greentree Practice Fields and the little things that made the Hurricanes a dynasty.

Jimmy Johnson met with the Miami football team over the summer and spent time with Manny Diaz and the Hurricanes staff. At Paradise Camp this summer the way the Miami football team competed during the championship eras was the theme. Miami Sports Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Alonzo Highsmith both discussed it.

Quarterman’s comments after Saturday’s game were all about the lack of commitment to competing and listening to the coaches to pay attention to details that need to be followed during a game. Sophomore cornerback D.J. Ivey losing a gunner, or missile as Manny Diaz called them, cost Miami a TD on a fake punt.

"“It’s attention to detail…This is what happens when you don’t pay attention to detail, when you don’t put it on the line for your brothers; When you don’t do what you’re supposed to do…’"

Not executing a game plan or listening to what the expectations are from a coaching staff is what mediocre to bad teams do. Those problems were expected to be alleviated with Diaz taking over from Mark Richt as head coach. Diaz’s fiery personality was the perfect anecdote to Richt’s more laid back style.

"“We didn’t execute…We gotta focus on Pitt because they ain’t gonna feel sorry for us.’’"

Graduate transfer defensive end Trevon Hill reiterated what Quarterman said about the lack of attention to detail. Teams that execute usually do that. The only exception would be being completed overmanned against a more talented opponent. In losses to North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech Miami was more talented.

It takes far more than talent to win at the highest level of college football. Miami has more talent than most of their opponents, but not enough for that to be the difference in winning and losing. Miami is likely to be the underdog in their next two games. Going on the road to Pittsburgh and Florida State will be difficult.

Next. Miami needs to keep working hard to expect results. dark

Losing two games at home they should not have Miami is now in the position of having to win three of their last five games to qualify for a bowl game. The expectations for Manny Diaz’s first season were unrealistic from some outlets. No one could have expected the Hurricanes to be 3-4 and fighting for a bowl berth.