Kirk Herbstreit sends message to Manny Diaz, Miami Hurricanes

Kirk Herbstreit sent a message to Manny Diaz and the Miami Hurricanes following their victory over NC State. After criticizing the program earlier this season, Herbstreit praised the job Diaz has done in keeping Miami competitive.

“A lot goes on every Saturday but wanted to recognize the effort-attitude-& fight that Miami has played with since their loss to UVA,” Herbstreit tweeted. “A lot of noise and distractions-could have lost their way-if anything playing HARDER for their coaches and for each other. GREAT to see!”

The Hurricanes didn’t envision having four losses at this point of the season, and Herbstreit recognizes it would’ve been easier for them to simply fold. However, Diaz deserves his credit — it’s not easy to get a team so far out of contention to compete like the Hurricanes are.

Since the aforementioned 30-28 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers, the Hurricanes gave North Carolina all they could handle. Honestly, they should’ve gifted the Tar Heels with a loss — but an ill-advised interception lost them the game.

After heartbreak in North Carolina, Herbstriet commended the Hurricanes performance last night against NC State. The Wolfpack were enjoying one of their best seasons ever, and the Hurricanes spoiled it.

Injuries and expectations shattered their season, but Diaz has kept the Hurricanes together throughout. Next weekend against the Pittsburgh Panthers, they’ve proven they should never be counted out.

Miami AD: ‘We need to win games.’

Earlier this week, University of Miami athletic director Blake James gave an update on Diaz — it wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. James told Susan Miller Degnan of the Miami Herald that Diaz “knows we need to win football games,” but declined to say if Diaz will have a job for the rest of the season.

James was asked if Diaz would definitely finish the season as a head coach and he did not give a clear answer.

“I can’t look into the future,” James said. “I think it’s a situation where Manny is our head coach and he’s getting the guys ready to play a game tomorrow .. Manny is our head coach. Obviously this has been a disappointing season. Manny would acknowledge that. Our guys would acknowledge that. And I understand the fans acknowledge that.”

“We need to win games. Manny knows we need to win games. And he and his coaching staff are doing everything they can to put our guys in position to win games.”

After his athletic director declined to give him a vote of confidence, Manny Diaz went out and did exactly what he was tasked with doing – win games. At least Diaz can take solace in the fact that Kirk Herbstreit recognizes what he’s doing.