Mario Cristobal excited about Miami players attacking demanding regimen

Mario Cristobal is known for being a demanding head coach. Cristobal expects a lot of hard work from his players off the field during the offseason and season. The Miami football players have put in a lot of hard work in the nearly seven and half months since he was hired in December. Cristobal praised his players at ACC Kickoff.

Mario Cristobal discussed his expectations for the Miami football players after being asked about his assessment of the program, what was lacking and what he felt good about going into the 2022 season. Cristobal has focused more on what he and his staff will be building not how the past staff set the culture.

The Miami football players have praised Cristobal and he likes the attitude that they have had during the offseason. Miami is putting in the hard work to succeed under what some Hurricanes have praised as the best staff in college football. Cristobal has repeatedly emphasized what previously made Miami successful.

The competition that occurred on the Greentree Practice Fields when Cristobal was a player, graduate assistant and assistant coach created swagger and helped lead Miami to five national championships. Cristobal was a part of two championships as a player and helped set the foundation for the 2001 national championship.

"Q. Coach, as you came back to your alma mater in the offseason and assessed the program, what did you find lacking, and what did you feel good about?MARIO CRISTOBAL: “I don’t know if we find stuff to be lacking. I think what I found really impressive was that we brought in a regimen that was very demanding, and these players attacked it and approached it with a no-nonsense mentality. They’ll tell you, it demands absolutely every ounce of what they have on a daily basis.Not only did they attack it, they excelled in several aspects of it, and we got better. That’s critically important, right? Your season is going to be a direct reflection of your offseason. It’s a great start. We’ve come a long way, and there’s an long way to go.Honestly I’m just very thankful that they allowed us as a coaching staff, whether I played here or not, it’s still change, and there’s a generational gap there that we’re very blessed and thankful and honored that they allowed us to bring in a regimen that pushes the way it does and that all they did was approach it with a great mindset.”"

Leading the offseason work is new Miami strength and conditioning coach Aaron Feld who previously worked for Cristobal at Oregon. The Miami players are also adjusting to new systems on defense and offense. The no-nonsense mentality is exactly what is expected from Cristobal and the new Miami staff.

Cristobal also spoke about the elimination of the turnover chain during his session on Thursday. The generational gap for college football involves the installment of allowing athletes to secure deals for their own name, image and likeness beginning July 1, 2021 and the increasing proliferation of the transfer portal.

The Miami players are clearly buying into the culture that Cristobal has instituted in the last seven months plus. Miami will play more physical in 2021. With Cristobal leading the Miami football program the players appear to be more focused based on comments by many Hurricanes. Miami should improve in 2022.