The land of palm trees, beaches and mojitos gave way to the land of the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks and the Declaration of Independence on Thursday, as outgoing Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was officially named the new coach of the Temple Owls.
Diaz’s father, Manny Sr., served as Miami’s mayor for eight years and told the Miami Herald that he was there to watch his son be introduced at Temple.
The former mayor was thrilled to see his son welcomed by a giant, red and white billboard on I-295 in Philadelphia that read WELCOME TO PHILLY, TEMPLE’S NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, with a giant photo of Diaz grinning and a Manny Diaz signature next to it — and OwlsTix.