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Manny Diaz not taking UVA lightly: “We’re playing this game as if we’re coming off a three-game losing streak.”

Manny Diaz and his 4-1 Hurricanes main focus is on playing Virginia this Saturday.

By marshthomas
Virginia v Miami Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

Yes, the Miami Hurricanes are 4-1 and ranked #11 in the college football polls, and yes their upcoming game is against a Virginia Cavaliers team who’s sitting at 1-3, and who have lost three games in a row. But don’t tell Manny Diaz any of that.

“We’re playing this game as if we’re coming off a three-game losing streak,” coach Diaz told the media on Wednesday. Miami is coming off a 31-19 win over Pittsburgh this past weekend.

Coach Diaz realizes that an overly confident attitude has plagued this program for a long time, and he’s not letting his team get to that point.

“Every game you have to rebuild it. The gravity of mediocrity is so strong,” said coach Diaz.

Even with the Cavaliers on a 3-game losing streak, coach Diaz says that records or things like that, doesn’t matter when you get to the game.

“Nobody’s records walk onto the field with them. It’s Miami and Virginia.”

This will be the fifth time that Manny has faced UVA while being at Miami, first three times as a defensive coordinator, and 2020 will be his second meeting with Virginia as the Canes head coach.

In the previous 4 meetings, Diaz has gone 3-1 against the Cavaliers, with the only loss coming in 2018. Last year, the 2-3 Hurricanes upset #20 UVA 17-9. Almost every time Diaz has faced Virginia, it’s been a close matchup, usually low scoring.

More Notes:

  • Coach Diaz said that he’s going to speak Rhett Lashlee and WR coach Rob Likens later today regarding the now open wide receiver competition.
  • Coach Diaz says tight end Brevin Jordan is the one that is the most limited at the moment with an injury. Jordan sat out Miami’s last game against Pitt.
  • Offensive tackle Jarrid Williams has been taking more reps this week in practice. Williams didn’t play last week.
  • Coach Diaz on having fans at Hard Rock Stadium: “It means so much to our players to see whatever fans are allowed to show up. If we get 13,000 in there, our stadium, with the roof, they can make their voices heard. We love our fans.”