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Charlotte, NC– As part of the home base of reporters covering the University of Miami Football Program here at ACC Media Days, Football Hotbed was afforded several smaller sessions of interview time with head coach Mark Richt. During that time today, as he was shepherded around media day by his communications staff, coach Richt gave key insights to just how he views the upcoming season. Throughout the day, a theme emerged as a message he was clearly trying to convey. Simply put, the entire team is new.
It may seem strange given the return of a junior starter at quarterback in Brad Kaaya, also present here in Charlotte, along with several other offensive and defensive starters. However, Richt clearly has a different way of doing things and so does his staff. So much to the point that he made clear that everyone is starting from square one.
“Even if we had everybody back, they’d all be new…to me. They’d be new to our system. We’re inexperienced period because we’re inexperienced in the system of offense, defense and special teams.”
Richt did grant that the team has “potential.” “We’ve got a chance,” he said.
But he feels it will take until the second ACC Conference game, a likely nationally spotlighted home game against rival Florida State, to really know what his new team is all about.
“I’m brand new to them, I’m brand new to the league. There are a lot of things we’re going to find out about ourselves as the season progresses.”
There is an obvious enthusiasm surrounding the University of Miami program right now with regard to the expected up tick in the program. Coach Richt, however, used the day to delicately temper expectations as any veteran coach would. Miami opens the season at home against Florida A&M (FCS) on September 3rd.
