Miami football legend Bennie Blades meeting with university administrators
Miami football legend Bennie Blades tweeted that has been granted a meeting with Miami president Julio Frenk and athletic director Blake James. The Miami football team suffered another disappointing loss on Thursday night. Virginia controlled the Hurricanes and held on late for a 30-28 victory.
Blades was an All-American at Miami in 1986 and 1987, was the co-winner of the Thorpe Award honoring the best defensive back in the country in ’87 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. The tweet by Blades was in contrast to other Miami football alums who are calling for head coach Manny Diaz to be fired.
Blades is part of a legacy family of Miami football players. He played with his brother Brian at Miami and Al Sr. played for the Hurricanes from 1998-2000. Al Blades Jr. is currently on the Miami roster, but out injured. Blades is taking the right approach with the Miami football program.
Negativity has surrounded the Miami football program for the last 15 years. On the pregame show on the flagship Miami football station WQAM last month the weekly roundtable discussed that the negativity from the fanbase and former players helps no one. Blades statement he will encourage and support the program is promising.
Yesterday’s loss to Virginia is of course disappointing. Regardless, I’m here to encourage & support the players, coaches and staff.
— Bennie Blades (@BennieBlades36) October 1, 2021
I’ve been granted the meeting that I requested with the President and AD for which I’m grateful. We’ll see what happens.
It’s All About The U!
The topic of the meeting and what will come out of it going forward are unknown. Problems that are occurring in the third season under head coach Manny Diaz have been in the Miami football program have existed since the end of the Larry Coker tenure. Blades can hopefully provide perspective.
There are several former Miami football players close to the program that can help equally to the view that Blades can provide. Alonzo Highsmith who has been an NFL Executive since 2012 and current Miami chief of staff Ed Reed would be a good place to start. The Miami alums are still passionate about the Hurricanes’ direction.
Next. Miami roasted by national media after loss to Virginia. dark
Other Miami alums who are frustrated include former offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez who said “bad things happen to bad teams” after the loss to Virginia and former linebacker Colin McCarthy who stated in a pair of tweets “Watching Canes football is difficult…Seen enough…. Fire Manny.” Miami is on a bye until October 16.