Miami coach Mark Richt downplaying FSU’s Dalvin Cook?

Numerous questions already surround Saturday’s rivalry match between the Seminoles and ‘Canes. And due to the approach of Hurricane Matthew, many of them don’t even involve football so much as the logistics of pulling this game off. Is South Florida really a safe choice? Where else could it be played? And when?

One facet of this rivalry that has been unquestionable of late has been the dominance of Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, who has shredded UM in two previous meetings. As a freshman in 2014, Cook needed just seven carries to hang 92 rushing yards and the game-winning touchdown on Miami. And last season, he dropped 269 yards of total offense and three scores on his hometown team.

But now we can add one more question: what is first-year Miami head coach Mark Richt thinking? He recently spoke about Cook, saying that Cook is “like a lot of backs,” and later implying that his production is merely a result of Florida State’s dedication to the run game.

Of course, while any skill-position player benefits from having room to operate, Cook is far from being “like a lot of backs.” He’s on pace to become FSU’s all-time leading rusher, currently leads all Power-Five RBs in rushing yards, and has more yards from scrimmage than any player in the country. Of course, bulletin-board material is nothing new during the buildup to a rivalry game— it’s just a bit more interesting when it comes from a head coach.

Here are Richt’s comments: