In a list of the best quotes of the year in College Football, ESPN attributed two of them to Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Cristobal being the leading and potentially only candidate to become Miami head coach was a poorly kept open secret during the last month of the college football season.
Manny Diaz was the head coach of Miami until a few hours before Cristobal was announced as the Hurricanes head coach. Rumors picked up for the nine days following the last Miami football game on November 30 until Mario Cristobal was named the head coach on December 6. Miami tried to keep it quiet to protect Cristobal.
Following Oregon’s 38-10 loss in the Pac 12 Championship Game on December 3, Cristobal was asked about his potential interest in becoming the head coach at Miami. Like most head coaches in his situation, Cristobal was evasive in discussing his potential to return to his alma mater. Cristobal preferred to discuss Oregon.
In the week leading up to the Pac 12 Championship Game, Oregon was working on an extension to keep Cristobal as their head coach for the foreseeable future. Cristobal tried to control what he could and not focus on the rumors the media were reporting. One of Cristobal’s quotes related to his potential future.
"“Let’s not create narratives as we sit in this press conference. Oregon is working on some stuff for me and that’s what I have right now….How the media treats it, how the media postures it, I have no control of it.”Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, on Dec. 3 after a 38-10 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 title game, on rumors that he could be the next coach at Miami."
Wanted to Thank ALL HURRICANE FAMILY MEMBERS for all the JUICE & ENERGY You brought to National Signing Day/Wk. The PASSION YOU SHOWED WAS IMPACTFUL!!!NEED YOU TO BRING IT ALL THE TIME & Show our PLAYERS, ALUMNI, PROSPECTS that there is nothing like THE U FAMILY! #GoCanes
— Mario Cristobal (@coach_cristobal) December 18, 2021
In the 60 hours following the Ducks’ loss to the Utes, the narrative changed quickly. Cristobal was introduced as the new Miami head football coach on December 7. As expected, Cristobal had the hype out for the Miami football program in his introductory press conference. A second Cristobal quote was mentioned by ESPN.
"“We have to bring it in tight and we have to bring it. Because when The U is on and The U brings it, there’s nothing like it.” — Cristobal, at his introduction as Miami’s new coach on Dec. 3 after a 38-10 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 title game, on rumors that he could be the next coach at Miami.”"
Cristobal and the Miami football staff have quickly gotten to work. Miami has improved a recruiting class that was ranked in the sixties to jump up to 49th currently. After the focus during the last month being whether or not he would leave Oregon for Miami, Cristobal can now concentrate on running a football program.
Cristobal is a no-nonsense old-school coach who is not likely to become quotable regularly. As a Miami alumnus, Cristobal is selling the U and the passion brought by the fanbase. When Miami takes the field for the first time under Cristobal next September, Hard Rock Stadium should be charged up and ready.