Miami Football: 5 reasons to be optimistic about 2019 season

Miami football fans quickly forgot and pivoted from the bitterly disappointing 2018 season to focus on a possible rebound during the 2019 campaign.

The mood-swings surrounding Miami football in the past year and a half are staggering. Building on the foundations of 2017, expectations formed that 2018 would welcome the dawn of a new Miami golden era precipitated by the leadership of Mark Richt, a historically-great defense and the return of the in-your-face abrasive swag. LSU dented the narrative in the season opener, sure, but the rest of the year still promised the opportunity for glory.

Then came the loss to Virginia followed by the loss to Boston College. Further compounding the frustration was the loss to Duke and Georgia Tech. And in the blink of an eye (granted, a painfully slow five-week blink), a four-game losing streak snubbed out any notion that The U was back. Recruits exited, and later, Richt fled the scene. Miami had discovered another rock bottom one season after exceeding expectations.

All of which makes the fact that Miami fans currently have optimism all the more remarkable. A short coaching search brought back Manny Diaz, the brains behind the stingy defense and Turnover Chain, to clean up Richt’s mess. Top recruits and high-profile transfers followed Diaz to Coral Gables. Even Miami super-fan Pipo from the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz knows that Diaz is a “dope recruiter” who is “making changes that are necessary.”

Don’t look now, Pipo, but The U may make its permanent return in 2019. Here are five reasons ‘Canes fans can be optimistic about the 2019 campaign.