Emotional Mario Cristobal directs first Miami practice, then heads to mother’s funeral
It’s hard to imagine a tougher, more emotional day for Mario Cristobal.
First, the University of Miami’s fiery new football coach spent the morning leading his inaugural spring practice on Greentree Field. Then, he headed to his mother Clara’s funeral.
“Services are today,’’ he told the media after the two-hour session, and….
Cristobal paused for several seconds, his head down as he composed himself. “This is exactly, exactly what she wants and so it’s all good... The energy, being around these guys’ enthusiasm is very real and they know I go. I just go. And so today is about going and moving forward and making sure that everything that was ever taught to us, my brother and I, that’s always carried on in our daily doings.”
UM posted a message Friday extending its condolences to Cristobal on his mother’s death at age 81. He said fellow coaches asked him, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m like, ‘I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. The job is not done. The job is not finished.’ And that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
He said “the best part” about his mother, who would have told him Monday, “You better go to practice,’’ was “she’s relentless, tireless, there’s no give. She’s gonna finish everything, and that’s what we do. That’s the way we’ve been raised.’’
‘Incredible’
Cristobal, 51, the former Hurricanes offensive tackle who won two national titles at Miami and left his Oregon Ducks in December to sign a 10-year, $80 million contract to coach the Hurricanes, called it “incredible” to be back practicing on Greentree Field.
“Man, I remember practicing out here as a player,’’ he said. “I remember coaching out here as a [graduate assistant] and as a position coach. Greentree is sacred ground, guys. And when we step on that field we gotta understand that, that every time we step out on that field that nothing but our very best will be good enough.
“It doesn’t mean that the plays are perfect or the technique is perfect, but it means that every ounce of what we have has to be poured into what we do, and that’s gotta be the secret sauce of Miami Hurricanes — it always has been.”
The Hurricanes wore shorts, jerseys and helmets — no pads — Monday, as is mandated by the NCAA rules for the 15-day practice period that ends with the noon spring game April 16 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. But it was clear that these practices will be as energetic, fast-paced and intense as the new coach and his staff.
“We definitely felt that,’’ starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke said of Cristobal’s intensity. “We’ve been having the fourth-quarter program workouts, so we’ve seen it through that and we saw that today. Yeah, he’s intense, but that just builds our mentality and physicality.”
Defensive end Jahfari Harvey said “all the coaches” were teaching with intensity Monday.
‘Coaching us hard’
“Everybody is making us work,’’ he said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. Everybody is getting on us, coaching us hard. They were getting on our tails today.’’
Harvey was asked about Cristobal coming to practice right before his mother’s funeral.
“He’s a tough guy. It takes a lot for somebody to do that. That shows that he really cares. He comes out here and coaches us to the fullest. It’s like you wouldn’t even know anything happened.’’
Gilbert Frierson, now listed as a linebacker after Cristobal eliminated Manny Diaz’s former “striker” position — a linebacker/safety hybrid — spoke to the media last before he headed to class.
“We’re all just competing and sticking together, creating more of a brotherhood,’’ Frierson said, when asked the biggest differences in culture the past couple of months. “We’re meeting on our own, coming around more and spending more time together.”
Frierson said Cristobal was “a great dude.’’
“He’s even a better person than as a coach. He tries to make us better young men off the field, on the field. We have our meetings where we just talk about mental things and keeping everyone on the same accord.
‘Player’s coach’
“He’s a player’s coach. He sticks with us. He hears out out. He’s been in our shoes so he understands us.’’
Cristobal mentioned that his first 100 days as UM’s head coach had concluded, and described the feeling as “pretty insane.’’
“Man it still hasn’t set in,’’ the coach said. “But what did set in is that this journey began 25 years ago — 25 years ago. I’m like wow! The excitement is like through the roof and through the stratosphere to be able to get after it.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 3:23 PM.
