Miami’s Cristobal aces debut at ACC media days, vows to return former players to sidelines
Mario Cristobal makes a splash by getting right to the point.
The new University of Miami football coach made his ACC Football Kickoff media days debut in Charlotte, North Carolina, and all he had to do during his 30-plus-minute breakout session with the national media was disclose that the Hurricanes are working on an “extensive’’ plan to get former players back on the sideline during games to get the alums pumped.
Accompanied by quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, tight end Will Mallory and defensive end Jahfari Harvey, Cristobal, donning a charcoal suit and green tie, fielded question after question — first by himself with three South Florida beat writers, later with the players on the Weston Charlotte’s grand ballroom stage and finally at a separate table in the breakout room.
He confirmed that the Canes are saying bye-bye to the famous turnover chain and spoke about everything from Name Image and Likeness to talk of UM championships to naturally, his Hurricanes.
“GOD IS GOOD,’’ former UM receiver Ahmmon Richards posted on Twitter, accompanied by a smiley face and flame emojis, after he saw Cristobal’s comments on former players rejoining the sidelines. “@coach_cristobal, appreciate you and your efforts coach.”
Former Hurricane 2001 national champion center Brett Romberg, a diehard Cane and close friend of Cristobal’s, was thrilled.
“Before, it almost felt like the Miami Hurricanes sideline was like the line to get in LIV on Saturday night at Fontainebleau,’’ Romberg told the Herald by phone Thursday. “It was extremely exclusive.
“When we did the Legends Camp, Mario asked us what were some of our concerns. ...He wants it to be a good amount of players, and he wants to make it more about the brotherhood than anything else — the guys who contributed on Greentree Practice Field as opposed to contributing green, as in money.
“It ignites the connection, brings it all back to full circle, which was vacant in the last few regimes.”
The question: “Would you like former players being on the sidelines during games and how can that help?”
Cristobal’s answer: “We do and we’re working out a system that makes it doable. Because there are a lot of local guys, and you want to be able to make it work and be respectful and you have to establish a system. I think we’re the only team in the country where they have their own suite. That’s incredible. Unbelievable place.
“We need to take care of our alumni. Our alumni needs to always feel how much they are appreciated. I know a lot of us played at Miami because of the alumni. Like catching up with Randal Hill the other day was unbelievable to me. Watching Darren Handy — him and my brother worked together on the [police] force over there in Metro-Dade for the last 25 years. Unbelievable. Greg Mark stopping by. Connecting with Dan Sileo doing his radio show the other day. Alonzo [Highsmith] back in the building. Guys like DeMarcus Van Dyke, Mike Rumph in the building. Roland Smith being part of our program. These guys live and die by Miami. We want to keep reaching out and getting our guys to come on back, and their families. It’s important their families see what they were a part of and what they helped build.
“So game day, they’re working on exactly the processes because it is pretty extensive.”
Practice Aug. 5
The coach said practice begins Aug. 5 for UM, which finished 7-5 last season, second to Pittsburgh in the Coastal Division. And though most projections have Miami finishing among the top 15 to 20 teams, Cristobal refuses to say that he expects even a Coastal Division title in the final season of ACC divisions.
“I just think its a cardinal sin to talk about being a champion and make a proclamation without ever taking a snap in a live game,’’ Cristobal said. “I don’t think you ever set yourself or your team up for something like that. The process is what the process is. There’s no way to get to Point B without going through all the steps that come through Point A. And there’s a lot that goes through it. We feel very confident we’re going to do the work it takes to be a successful program. ...But I mean maximum everything — maximum effort, maximum time investment, maximum attention to detail, maximize your ability to travel to a place and get your guys into their meal room, activation stretch, to their walk-throughs, through their meetings and in bed early enough where they’re getting the proper rest. Every detail of the program has to be max effort.”
More from Cristobal
Regarding Name, Image and Likeness, the NCAA was at Miami last month to cull information regarding UM and NIL and met with UM officials and Miami attorney and prominent Hurricanes booster John Ruiz. Cristobal was asked if he is concerned about UM’s recruiting aspects and how people around the country are saying some schools are cheating.
“I think we have extremely prominent alumni that are awesome supporters,’’ Cristobal said, “and everything we do at Miami is compliant and everything goes through compliance. On this side there is no concern.
“It’s obvious we’ve had some — it’s July, signing day is a ways away but there’s a lot of momentum,’’ the coach said of his program, which has risen to among the top 10 national teams in recruiting for the Class of 2023. “Recruiting has become very noisy. It’s become like a season within itself and fans and people are very passionate about it. There is always going to be noise surrounding any upswings or downs. I don’t worry about that. I really don’t. I just make sure we continue to work at being the best that we can be.”
On not implementing the turnover chain, born in 2017:
“We’re not using it No. 1, but I’d never use a word like ‘dumping’ because I believe that disrespects things,’’ Cristobal said. “I don’t judge. It’s just really not part of what we’re doing — not good, bad or indifferent. Everything we do unrelated to any turnover chain or any external motivation, our focus has to be on working to get better in every facet of football. We’re not using it. But that’s kind of been known for awhile.’’
Personnel notes, per Cristobal, during the beat-writer segment:
▪ Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez will be “the only guy that won’t be ready for the start of practice.” The coach said more than 20 players were held back or didn’t practice in spring with injuries or rehabbing from surgery.
▪ Fifth-year redshirt offensive lineman John Campbell, who missed last season after reconstructive knee surgery, is back for fall camp, and can play either guard or tackle.
▪ Early enrollee freshman linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who was in a car accident in April, did not play in the spring game due to a “mild soft tissue” injury, according to Cristobal. He should be full go for camp.
▪ Third-year redshirt freshman tailback Don Chaney Jr. , who underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee early last season, “looks great’’ and will compete for a starting spot with Jaylan Knighton, Thaddius Franklin, Ole Miss transfer Henry Parrish and blue-chip freshman TreVonte’ Citizen.
This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 5:58 PM.
