Manny Diaz was once fired by Mack Brown following similar defensive performance
The 62-26 Miami loss to North Carolina on Saturday was eerily similar to one that cost Manny Diaz, his job as the Texas defensive coordinator under Mack Brown who is now the Tar Heels head coach.
Miami allowed 778 total yards and a hard to fathom 554 yards rushing in a 62-26 beatdown by North Carolina on Saturday. The 778 total yards were the most ever gained by North Carolina and allowed by Miami. The loss was eerily similar to one that cost Manny Diaz has job as the Texas defensive coordinator in 2013.
North Carolina running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams combined for an FBS record 544 rushing yards. In 2013 in his third season at Texas Diaz was fired by his counterpart on Saturday Mack Brown in his third season as the Texas defensive coordinator following a 40-21 blowout loss to BYU.
The Longhorns defense was shredded for 679 total yards and 550 rushing. Cougars QB Taysom Hill ran for 259 yards and three TDs. Hill is now the starting QB for the New Orleans Saints with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees out injured.
BYU running backs, Jamal Williams ran for 182 yards and Paul Lasike ran for 82 yards and one TD. Hill was only 9-26 for 129 yards passing as the Cougars did not need to throw much in the dominant victory.
Listening in on @espn radio. Last time a Manny Diaz-coached defense gave up this many rushing yards, he was fired next day. By Mack Brown. After Taysom Hill and BYU gashes Texas ... Brown's Tar Heels pounded Miami today for 560.
— Suzanne Halliburton (@suzhalliburton) December 13, 2020
North Carolina QB Sam Howell who is a likely future first-round draft pick was 14-19 for 223 yards one TD and on interceptions on Saturday. The Tar Heels, like the Cougars in 2013 only needed about a quarter of their yards through the air. Manny Diaz landed on his feet a year later as the DC at Louisiana Tech.
Diaz connected with Blake Baker in Ruston. Baker was the Bulldogs safeties coach during the 2013 season under Diaz. Diaz left for his second stint as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State under current Florida head coach Dan Mullen. Baker succeeded Diaz as the DC for Louisiana Tech where he remained through 2018.
Diaz hired Baker as his replacement as the Miami defensive coordinator when he ascended to the Miami head coaching job in December 2018. Texas finished 11th nationally in total defense in 2011 before dropping to 68th in 2012 and then the 2013 blowout loss to BYU. There are some similarities this season.
Miami finished 13th in total defense in 2019 before falling to 42nd entering the loss to North Carolina. The performance on Saturday against the Tar Heels will drop Miami to about 62nd, ironically just behind North Carolina. Manny Diaz will have some decisions to make in the offseason.
Miami run over by UNC 62-26. dark. Next
The defense has been inconsistent in 2020 after being top 25 across the board in 2019. The effort was questioned on Saturday through the entire Maimi football team by Diaz, ABC college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit and wide receiver Mike Harley. Some things definitely need to be cleaned up heading into the Miami bowl game.