If capacity limited at Canes games, who gets to go? What UM is saying. And QB update.
If the Miami Hurricanes are permitted to allow a limited number of fans into their football games because of the coronavirus pandemic, who would get priority?
Here’s how UM athletic director Blake James answered a question from a fan about that last week, during an on-line chat with some season-ticket holders:
“We are going to look at all the different scenarios. I will say one of the top priorities has to be providing our students with some tickets for their families to be able to watch them. We do have to continue to prioritize recruiting.
“I think there has to be some component in there for our student body; I think that’s what makes college athletics special. And then we’ll figure out a formula based on the seats that we have to get the most fans in there in a social distanced stadium.”
UM president Julio Frenk said the Hurricanes intend to play football this fall but isn’t sure if fans will be permitted to attend.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he has spoken to the Dolphins about playing at 15 or 20 percent capacity this fall.
Hard Rock Stadium holds 65,326 fans; 20 percent capacity would be roughly 13,000.
The Hurricanes had about 37,000 season ticket holders last season; UM isn’t sure if it would have reached that number this season under normal circumstances.
UM hasn’t announced a refund policy if the school is unable to accommodate all fans with tickets to games.
UM coach Manny Diaz, asked Tuesday how many fans he expects to be able to attend Hurricanes games, said:
“I’ve been pretty consistent this whole time of saying we don’t need to worry about September until we get almost to September.
“But I also think if we just keep doing the right thing, and the right thing changes because for a while the right thing was shelter-in-place and now obviously we’re all back around, but that might mean wearing masks when we’re asked to wear masks, it could be social distancing. If we keep doing the right thing and things continue to go in the right direction, then that’s how we can have a little bit of control of what happens in September.”
Iowa State is the only Power 5 school that has announced a new capacity this year -- 30,000 compared with 61,500 under normal circumstances.
“Anybody making a prediction today, they’re betting on the behaviors of what we do. It’s too hard to know,” Diaz said.
“A little optimism never hurts. It would be great to have some manner of fans in the stadium. It’s good to stay optimistic. And if that’s what keeps us doing the right thing and staying on the right path, then whatever it takes.’’
QUARTERBACK SEARCH
With California-based four-star Class of 2021 quarterback Miller Moss committing to Southern California this week, this could give the Hurricane a better chance of flipping Jake Garcia, another California-based four-star QB committed to USC.
Garcia, who’s rated by Rivals as the No. 3 quarterback and 25th best prospect in the 2021 class, visited UM twice last year (in June and then for the Virginia Tech game) and maintains regular contact with UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
Before Moss committed to USC this week, Garcia told Canesport’s Matt Shodell that he would be fine with the Trojans taking another quarterback.
“I’m ready to go and compete no matter who is there,” Garcia said. “The biggest thing for me is having a fair shot because I know what I can do.”
Was UM No. 2 on his list when he committed to USC? “They were all pretty close,” Garcia told Shodell. “USC just felt like home. And it’s close to home so that was a factor other schools couldn’t match.”
This situation bears monitoring because UM can now make the case to Garcia that unlike at USC, he would be the only quarterback Miami would take in this class. Whether that tempts him to flip to UM by early February remains to be seen.
All of the nation’s top dozen 2021 quarterbacks are now committed, but UM remains hopeful of flipping either Garcia or Texas based four-star quarterback Jalen Milroe, a Texas commitment.
UM also had pursued Moss before his commitment to USC on Monday; Rivals rates Miller the No. 7 quarterback and No. 91 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
▪ UM freshmen who have not yet enrolled are expected on campus by early July. Those players include safeties Avantae Williams, Jalen Harrell and Brian Balom; cornerbacks Isaiah Dunson and Marcus Clarke and defensive ends Quentin Williams and Elijah Roberts.
Here’s my Tuesday Dolphins 6-pack.
Here’s my Tuesday Heat piece with one advantage that has been negated for some Heat players but not for others.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 9:48 PM.
