What Cristobal said in first Hurricanes news conference. And coach determined for UM bowl
Quick hits from new Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal’s introductory press conference on Tuesday morning inside the UM indoor practice facility:
▪ Defensive line coach Jess Simpson was told on Monday that he will coach the Hurricanes against Washington State in the Sun Bowl, a source said.
Simpson has time remaining on his contract after this season.
Wide receivers coach Rob Likens will call the plays in that game, which will kick off at noon Eastern Time on Dec. 31 in El Paso. For this bowl game, Likens replaces Rhett Lashlee, who left to become head coach at SMU.
Cristobal said he would speak with all UM assistant coaches before making decisions on their status.
▪ Cristobal, in his opening remarks, said he’s “honored and humbled beyond words can describe. This hits as hard as it can hit. What an honor. My God.... I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude.”
▪ He wants a team known for “resilience, toughness, physicality. We want to make sure the program here is always a program you can be proud of for the right reasons. He spoke of a team with “relentless effort. I’m going to invest every ounce of my existence to make sure we get to a level we need to get to.”
He spoke of needing “discipline.” UM lacked that the past couple of years; Miami ranked in the bottom fifth of the country in penalties per game in 2021.
▪ He said: “When the U brings it, there’s nothing like it. It’s going to take everybody. And I can’t wait... The University of Miami was a game-changer in my life.”
▪ Cristobal -- who signed a 10-year, $80 million contract -- said UM deciding to invest more resources in football was “one of the critical pieces” of his decision to come to Miami. “To make sure these student athletes have the best chance for success was a huge overriding factor.”
He cracked that he called ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit that “we ought to get you on the air more to take jabs on resources.”
▪ He said his program is a “proven blueprint.” He spoke of a “relentless approach to identify and bring in the best talent in the country that understands the [significance] of being at this university.”
He also spoke of the need to develop players.
▪ UM quarterback Tyler Van Dyke met Cristobal and said he is “happy.” He is committed to remaining with the program.
Van Dyke said Cristobal met with the team on Tuesday morning and there is a different type of energy around the team.
Cristobal told his team: “For this thing to work, I’ve got to get to know them. We are going to hold each other accountable. That’s what it takes. Without that, there’s no foundation.”
▪ President Julio Frenk said Cristobal’s hiring “was not based on nostalgia, but a bold vision for the future... He has the drive, determination and discipline that we need at this moment.”
▪ Among former players in attendance: Jon Beason, Bryant McKinnie, Joaquin Gonzalez, Brett Romberg, Greg Mark and Brian Monroe.
▪ Cristobal said: “I feel more driven, more motivated than ever. I can’t wait to get to work... Let’s get this thing right. Let’s take this thing to a new level.”
▪ Cristobal said: “I want to be around guys who can’t live without football.”
▪ He spoke of “being in one of the hotbeds of recruiting talent in the entire country” and said he would “be surrounded by the best coaches.”
He said “talent acquisition is the most critical factor” in college athletics.
The goal is to land some players before next week’s three-day early signing window, and then add additional players before the second signing period begins in early February.
▪ Of keeping the elite South Florida high school players, Cristobal said: “It’s not going to be by a tweet or proclamation...
“You’ve got to make sure the family understands how important he is to the program,... make sure there’s a clear vision drawn up to understand this program is going to work its tail off to play for championships. They’ve got to see you have true passion and are genuine and authentic. It’s such a densely populated, talent rich area. There is a reason the entire country comes here to try to get talent.”
He said he’s eager to reconnect with all the high school coaches locally.
▪ He said he hasn’t told his mother, who is ill and hospitalized, about his new job because he doesn’t want her getting too worked up.
▪ Frenk presented Cristobal with a No. 1 jersey: “No offensive lineman ever gets to wear No. 1. So thank you very much.”
▪ Cristobal said he wants to be “multiple” on both sides of the ball and fortifying the lines.
This story was originally published December 7, 2021 at 10:50 AM.
