Former Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez called out defensive coordinator Blake Baker during the Cheez-it Bowl on Tuesday night.
Blake Baker is the most polarizing person in the Miami Hurricanes football program. Around the time Miami fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter of their 37-34 Cheez-it Bowl loss to Oklahoma State on Tuesday, former Hurricanes offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez tweeted for Baker to find a ride back to Coral Gables and pack.
Gonzalez was a four-year starter at Miami culminating in being named a two-time first-team All-American on the 2001 National Championship team. Gonzalez held the Miami football record with 49 starts until it was broken by linebacker Shaq Quarterman in 2019. Quarterman was coached by Baker last season.
Miami allowed 198 yards in trailing 21-0 after the first quarter on Tuesday. The Hurricanes defense settled down over the final three quarters finishing the game allowing 418 yards of total offense. The Miami defense got stops several times in the fourth quarter to put the offense in position to tie or take the lead.
The whole Miami dug themselves in the first quarter was too familiar a theme this season. The Miami defense has been good in the fourth quarter throughout most of the season but their lack of consistency has hindered the ability to put teams away early or dug themselves big deficits early in games.
@CoachBlakeBaker find a ride back to coral gables and pack your shit!
— Joaquin Gonzalez (@Joaquin_UMOL73) December 29, 2020
The Miami Hurricanes defense struggled often this season after being one of the best in the country in 2019. Miami was 13th in total defense in 2019 allowing 309.8 yards per game. The Hurricanes regressed to 67th nationally in total defense in 2020 allowing 408.4 total yards per game.
Miami was 23rd nationally in scoring defense in 2019 allowing 20.2 points per game. The Hurricanes are 50th nationally finishing the 2020 season allowing an average of 27 PPG. After the 62-26 loss to North Carolina earlier this month. Manny Diaz said his evaluations of the coaching staff will begin after the season.