In today’s media availability, University of Miami center Matt Lee addressed the viral video from last Saturday's game where his emotions poured out on the sideline and spoke about the team's preparations for their upcoming game against UNC.
A video of Lee on the sidelines caught the attention of fans and media alike as his frustrations were evident following Miami’s loss against the Yellow Jackets. When asked about the video, Lee said, "I've seen a lot of stuff online, social media messages, DMs, text… but it's overwhelmingly supportive." Despite the attention, Lee remains unfazed, stating, "I don't really care either way what's on Twitter and Instagram... I'm too old; it just doesn't bother me nowadays." He believes the video was merely a "display of passion and emotion" that showcases "the character of our guys."
Given the emotional aftermath of their last game, the focus has now shifted to how the team plans to channel that passion towards their next opponent. Lee emphasized the importance of having a "short memory" in football. "Football is a game where every single new week you got a new opponent and you got to move on fast," Lee noted. Speaking about their approach to the next game, he shared, "you can be disappointed, you can be upset, but… you got to get up and be like 'all right let's game plan, let's get ready to play North Carolina.'"
Lee was candid about his own feelings during the viral moment. He revealed that his frustration was largely due to the team not playing up to their potential. "To be honest, the game should have never been close. We should have punched in a lot of drives and it never should have come down to the wire like that."
Despite the recent challenges, Lee remains confident in the leadership of his coaches. Speaking about Mario Cristobal and Dawson, he said, "I have unwavering faith in both of them since the day I met Coach Cristobal... I love both of them and have extreme faith in both of them for the rest of the season."
With regards to the upcoming game, Lee highlighted UNCC's defensive front. "They're a good football team... they're well-coached. They got good football players, they play good sound football," he observed.
Lee also addressed a tweet he sent out after the game, emphasizing his resilience and the team's determination to move forward. "I just felt like I wanted to express myself a little bit in a positive manner… let's go get after it next week."
