Podcast: Miami’s problems keep getting worse and now it’s time for (gulp) North Carolina
D’Eriq King is done for the season, a virus is spreading through the Miami Hurricanes and a number of veteran players are getting ready to put their names into the transfer portal.
When it goes wrong, it tends to really goes wrong for Miami and now the Hurricanes, just a few weeks early for Halloween, will have to deal with an old house of horrors.
The North Carolina Tar Heels, who delivered Miami one of its worst beatdowns in program history last year, are welcoming the Hurricanes up to North Carolina on Saturday, and David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Hurricanes beat writer for the Miami Herald, are here with your preview on the Eye on the U podcast.
First, let’s go back to Monday, when Manny Diaz revealed the inevitable: King is having surgery on his right shoulder and is done for the season. It’s now quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s team, the coach said, and he takes over at a pivotal moment for Diaz and the Hurricanes. Miami (2-3, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) is in danger of quickly falling out of the ACC Coastal race and, with Diaz firmly on the hot seat, Van Dyke has to start leading the Hurricanes to wins in a hurry.
The quarterback injury is the biggest problem the Hurricanes are dealing with, but it’s far from the only one. More than 10 players missed practice for Miami on Wednesday, Diaz said, for various reasons, including looming transfers and a virus — not COVID-19 — spreading throughout the team. There are real questions about what sort of supporting cast Van Dyke will have when he takes the field this weekend in Chapel Hill.
It’s pretty dire for the current Hurricanes, but at least Gregory Rousseau is balling out for the Buffalo Bills. It’s a dark time for Miami, so we couldn’t help but spend a few minutes gushing about the rookie defensive end — a favorite of both of the co-hosts of this show.
