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Miami football is currently on a 3-game winning streak, but it sounds like not all is well down in Coral Gables judging by recent comments from Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz.
When Miami was 2-4, Diaz’s job status was a hot topic. UM athletic director Blake James commented to the media that Diaz understood the Canes “need to win games.” James didn’t further address Diaz’s job status or express further confidence in his head coach. Apparently, Diaz feels that didn’t help Miami’s recruiting efforts.
According to Nikki Chavanelle of On3, Diaz was recently asked about James’ statement and recruiting:
Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz has a recruiting class to fill but the Canes haven’t picked up a new commitment since August.
Asked if whether he thought athletic director Blake James’s refusal to put out a vote of confidence for him in October could be factoring in, Diaz said, “I’d imagine.”
Per Chavanelle, Diaz acknowledged other programs are likely using the uncertainty in Miami to negatively recruit against the Canes:
“If I was coaching at another team … I’m sure our players are getting peppered with those type things, but what we can control right now is winning a game, and that’s what we did against NC State, then Pitt and then Georgia Tech,” Diaz said. “The thing about college football is that where you stand today is temporary.
“The players see what’s real,” he continued. “It’s a strange time for recruiting. I think some of the things that go into their decision process is a little bit different now than what it was then. They have a lot shorter memory than we think, the recruits of this day and age.”
Miami currently has 8 pledges in its 2022 recruiting class. On the 247Sports Composite, UM’s 2022 class ranks No. 60 nationally and No. 12 in the ACC.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
