Miami football season not determined after one game Manny Diaz correctly states
The 44-13 loss by the Miami football team to Alabama in the opening game of the 2021 season was devastating. The Crimson Tide blowout victory will not determine how Miami will play the rest of the season as correctly stated by Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz. How Miami responds next is critical.
Miami responded to a 42-17 loss to Clemson last season by winning its next five games. Keeping the Hurricanes focused and looking forward to Appalachian State on Saturday. Miami was outclassed and overwhelmed against the preeminent program in college football. Play will slow down the rest of the season for Miami.
Appalachian State won its opener 33-19 on Thursday against East Carolina. Miami is favored in every other game this season according to the ESPN Football Power Index. The Hurricanes have a lot to clean up before Saturday. Any list is extensive, but both Miami lines and the secondary were overmatched.
The Hurricanes should control the line of scrimmage against Appalachian State. Miami will need the crowd behind them. The Hurricanes will be playing their first home game in front of a full home crowd since a 52-27 victory over Louisville in November 2019. Manny Diaz spoke about Miami’s mental state after Alabama.
"“College football is famous for overreactions after Week 1. That’s not what this team is all about. You just don’t get your story written after one game into the season. We’re just not there yet. The guys in the locker room, if anything, what happened today will bring them even closer together.Like I said, we’ve got a stretch of games coming at home. It’s a big deal for us to get in front of our fans. Our fans, I thought, were great tonight to have them out there. D’Eriq King has never played in Hard Rock Stadium with our fans in it. We’ve got to have a great atmosphere next Saturday night.This team’s story is not even close to being written yet, and we’ve got a lot of guys that have a lot of pride to make sure it goes the way they want it to.”"
The Miami football team needs the crowd behind them. Every Hurricanes’ loss brings a parade of negativity about every aspect of the caretakers of the Miami football program. Night games are special for Hurricanes home games whether it was the Orange Bowl or at Hard Rock Stadium. The 2017 season proved that.
Miami needs consistency this season, particularly at home. The Hurricanes need to come out against Appalachian State and show that the loss to Alabama is not going to be the story of their 2021 season. With D’Eriq King at quarterback and the team leader off the field, Miami should be focused on the Mountaineers.