Manny Diaz hot seat heating up from national perspective

The loss to Virginia expanded the hot seat for Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz. Several national media outlets questioned the job security for Diaz after Miami lost their fifth straight game against a Power Five opponent. Calls for Diaz to be fired have been strong from the fan base and several prominent Miami alums.

Legandary Miami defensive tackle Warren Sapp and local legend Luther Campbell who wrote and performed the theme for The U documentries have lobbied for Manny Diaz to be fired and replaced by Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin. Everyone has an opinion on if Diaz should be fired and who his replacement should be.

The list is long. First the question from national media is how hot is the seat for Diaz. After an 8-3 2020 season the expections were high for Miami in 2021. The Hurricanes began the season ranked 14th in the AP Top 25 and 16th in the USA Today Coaches poll. Miami has plummeted after losing to Alabama in the 2021 opener.

The Hurricanes dropped after winning week two against Appalahican State and descended out of both polls following a 38-17 loss to Michigan State two weeks ago. The hot seat from Miami will continue to flame if the Hurricanes continue to lose. It doesnt get any easier with their next game at North Carolina on October 16.

The above link is from Canes Warning partner site Saturday Blitz. Miami remains a national program. If the Hurricanes job becomes open the discussion about who will be the fourth Miami head coach in eight seasons will become a national story. Draft Kings had their own take on the Diaz hot seat.

"Hot Seat Week 5: ACC continues to be the conference ripe for change after 2021 seasonManny Diaz, Miami (FL)Diaz couldn’t bear the thought of his name not being mentioned alongside (Florida State had coach Mike) Norvell and (Nebraska head coach Scott) Frost in this tracker, so he decided to make a permanent residence here after a 30-28 loss to Virginia.The Hurricanes are going nowhere this season, especially with D’Eriq King sidelined. Diaz has compiled a 16-13 record at Miami, which is not good enough for that program. In a wide-open ACC this year, the Hurricanes are largely out of the picture.He’ll see out the season based on numerous reports but expect a move in 2022."

Miami still has time to turn its season around. At 0-1 in the ACC. Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech lead the ACC Coastal Division at 1-0. The loser between Miami and North Carolina is likely eliminated from title contention with a loss. North Carolina has started ACC play 2-2. Dan Wolken of USA Today has Miami in his Misery Index.

"Miami: The problem now for the Hurricanes isn’t whether to change coaches — it’s figuring out if there’s a human being walking the Earth who can make this program pop again.Though no announcement about Manny Diaz’s future was made in the wake of a 30-28 loss to Virginia, and we don’t expect one to happen imminently, it is not a remotely hot take to say that Miami keeping Diaz another season would be an admission that football isn’t that important to the school’s administration.But in the wake of this awful 2-3 start, with one of those wins coming by the skin of their teeth against Appalachian State, deciding to fire Diaz is only half the equation. Who do you hire?Miami’s going to have to get creative and get comfortable with either an up-and-comer type like Jeff Hafley from Boston College or someone like Liberty’s Hugh Freeze, who has won at a high level before but comes with some baggage."

With 13 days before Miami plays North Carolina the speculation on the future of Diaz will continue to be debate vociferously. Wolken asking if there is a coach who can “make this program pop again” is poignant. Miami has one 10 win season in the last 17 years. Everyone has an opinion on Manny Diaz and the Miami football program.

The only way for Diaz and Miami to silence to the critics is to go on a winning streak. Miami begins a tough stretch at North Carolina. North Carolina State plays at Miami on October 23. Miami travels to Pittsburgh a week later. Miami needs to win a minimum of two of the next three games.

Ideally, Miami wins all three to improve to 5-3 this season. Miami will be expected to win its final four games against Georgia Tech, at Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke. The Hurricanes likely have to finish the season with six wins in its last seven games to save Diaz’s job. Anything less will be a 7-5 regular season.