Monday update: Cristobal, Gattis talk Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke, Jacurri Brown; bowl scenario
A few hours after telling WQAM that “there’s a great chance” Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will be back for the regular-season home finale Saturday against Pittsburgh, coach Mario Cristobal expounded on Van Dyke and what it means that he has persevered in his recovery and never quit on the season or his teammates.
The Hurricanes (5-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) need a win against Pitt (7-4, 4-3) to qualify for a bowl game.
“It means that he’s a real one,’’ Cristobal said of Van Dyke on Monday afternoon during his weekly news conference in Coral Gables. “We talk about all the time [that] football tells the truth, now. It will reveal who is tough-minded and resilient and who’s able to push through and deal when things are good as well as when things aren’t so good. It also will reveal those that buckle and that will look for a place to hide if things don’t exactly go their way, or look for excuses.
“I mean football is a beautiful thing in terms of helping people learn about themselves, learn about others, about their teammates, about their coaches, about an organization. It’s one of the reasons I do love the game. Tyler is a great example of a guy who is a competitor and wants to do the very best he can by his teammates and his program.”
Cristobal told WQAM that “Yes, there is a chance’’ Van Dyke will play Saturday. “He’s been getting better and better. Obviously since, I think it was Game 6 or Game 7, when he got injured, certainly he’s a guy that is sorely missed. We started off OK and then we had some lumps and then he really got hot for two games before he got hurt.
“It would be great to have him back, and he’s got a great chance to be back, and we’re monitoring that daily.’’
When asked if he talked to true freshman Brown after the 40-3 loss at Clemson regarding his confidence or any aspects of what happened Saturday, Cristobal said coaches always “talk to our players after the game’’ — as well as during it. Brown, who beat Georgia Tech the previous week, started his second game at Clemson in Van Dyke’s inability to play because of the shoulder injury the usual starter sustained Oct. 22 against Duke.
Brown, and UM’s entire offense, could barely do anything. The Canes gained a total 98 yards (30 rushing), the fewest total yards for UM since 1965. Redshirt freshman Jake Garcia played in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown pass.
“We make sure that they understand, you know what, we’re always going to do whatever gives us the best chance to win,’’ Cristobal said. “I thought both those guys did a great job handling the situation, and both supported each other. That’s hard to do, man, and hard to find — quarterbacks that are willing to do that during a tough time. I commend both those guys to their response to being in a tough situation.’’
Gattis, who also spoke Monday afternoon, called Van Dyke, the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, “a true leader.’’
“He’s been there every step of the way throughout the last five games even though he’s been out,’’ Gattis said. “Yes, we’ve faced a lot of adversity since he’s been out, and obviously you’ve seen the production of the offense decrease. But he’s been there, he travels with us on the road... He’s there trying to offering advice to Jacurri and to Jake and he’s just been a positive leader.
“Obviously, we respected him tremendously before as a leader but now you gain even more respect for him. Talk about the competitor he is, he’s continued to try to rehab and they’ve done a great job throughout his process of trying to get him caught back up to feeling good again. He’s getting closer. We don’t know quite yet where that is. We’ll continue to lean on his leadership to bring this to a strong end.”
Bowl scenario
If Miami should beat Pittsburgh, the Hurricanes would qualify for the postseason. The official bowl selections won’t be announced until Sunday, Dec. 4, a day after the Atlantic Coast Conference title game between No. 18 North Carolina and No. 7 Clemson.
The four lower-tiered bowls in contention for Miami are the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in Boston at 11 a.m. Dec. 17; the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 23 in Tampa; the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27 in Alabama; and the Military Bowl at 2 p.m. Dec. 28 in Annapolis, Maryland.
Early Monday, Cristobal was asked on WQAM how he feels about trying to get a sixth victory and be eligible for the postseason. “How important is that?” Joe Rose asked.
Teams that play in bowls get several extra practices, considered especially important for younger players.
“Every game is critically important,’’ Cristobal said. “Every single game. And being able to go and win the game against a real good football team like Pittsburgh is critically important. To me, it’s important for guys that not only want to play another game, not only for the seniors, but for guys that are playing right now that probably should still be developing on the second team or third team — guys that have stepped up for injured guys.
“It’s really, really important for those guys to go out there and play a great football game and find a way to have success on Saturday. It’s good for them now, it’s good for our program, it’s good for everybody.”
Injury report
Cristobal said linebacker Corey Flagg, who was injured early at Clemson, is “still being evaluated,’’ but that coaches “feel good about him practicing and playing this week.’’ However, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said he is preparing other quarterbacks to fill Flagg’s role as the quarterback of the defense.
Hedley honored
Miami punter Lou Hedley has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award that honors the nation’s top punter. A two-time ACC Specialist of the Week in 2022, Hedley is averaging 45.2 yards on 43 punts this season. The 6-4, 220-pounder has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on 51.2 percent of his punts. Nine of his punts have gone over 50 yards, including a season-long 61 yards at Clemson, now ranked No. 7.
Through 11 games, Miami, thanks to Hedley, is sixth in the nation in net punting at 42.89 yards per attempt. The Canes have allowed only 53 return yards, 16th best in the nation.
“He’s an absolute stud,’’ Cristobal said Monday. “That guy is an absolute weapon.’’
Hedley, a native of Mandurah, Australia, was a 2020 Ray Guy semifinalist and 2021 semifinalist.
