ESPN’s Rece Davis praises Miami Hurricanes turnover chain, mocks FSU backpack

In a conference call with beat reporters on Friday ESPN Gameday Host, Rece Davis praised the Miami Hurricanes turnover chain and mocked the Florida State turnover backpack.

The Miami Hurricanes turnover chain inaugurated in 2017 by current head coach Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator was praised by ESPN Gameday host Rece Davis. Speaking with Miami beat reporters on Friday afternoon, Davis elaborated how the turnover chain has brought fun into college football but doesn’t like the imitations.

Manny Diaz acknowledged earlier this week that the idea to reward turnovers when he was the Miami defensive coordinator from 2016-18 was not an original one by the Miami coaching staff. Diaz appeared on Campus Insiders on the Audience Channel earlier this week and stated theirs was the best but not the first turnover prop.

The turnover chain became a national sensation when the Miami Hurricanes began the 2017 season 10-3. With a 13-16 record since then, the turnover chain has added some levity and incentive to the Miami defense. The offense has since added their own props for touchdowns. Miami’s bling is often imitated but never duplicated.

Being able to perform on the field will add more legitimacy to the turnover and TD props. Some Miami fans have blamed the turnover chain for complacency from the Hurricanes players. The turnover chain idea from Diaz has brought the fun back into college football. Davis elaborated on the chain’s popularity.

"“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…and if you’re going to imitate the turnover chain, let’s not do a backpack like Florida State did, and let’s not do a garbage can like Tennessee tried to do years ago. Those were bad, bad ideas. I think the days of coaches saying, ‘You can’t have fun, this is football’ [are] over.It lets the guys have some fun and express some individuality. I’ve known [UM coach] Manny [Diaz] for a number of years. And as soon as I saw the turnover chain and heard it was his idea, I was like, ‘Yeah..that’s Manny. That’s about right.’ I think it’s cool…I think they’ve done it better than everybody else’s.“I’ll be honest…I like the turnover chain way better than I like ‘The Crib’ thing. But I guess the offense has to have fun too. So, it’s OK with me. But The turnover chain is cool and the way they keep updating it and making it bigger and flashier — it really fits with the history of the program. I think it’s really cool.. I love it.’’"

Florida State received a lot of pushback in 2018 when they created a turnover backpack that many compared to the children’s animated show Dora the Explorer. Florida State and Miami have both fallen into average programs. Florida State and Miami will be playing for the fourth season in a row with a new coaching matchup.

The expected coaching matchup between Diaz and Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell will not take place. Norvell will miss the game on Saturday after being diagnosed last Saturday with COVID-19. Chris Thomsen who is a former Division II head coach will serve as the interim head coach for Florida State.