Mario Cristobal discusses winning 1992 game at Syracuse as Miami player

During his weekly press conference on Monday, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal recalled a tight Hurricanes win at the then Carrier Dome in 1992. On their way to the national championship game in 1992, Miami won 16-10 at Syracuse when they stopped Orangement tight end Chris Gedney at the three-yard line on the last play.

The win over Syracuse came in Miami's penultimate 1992 regular season game. It was the third time Miami avoided a tie or loss on the final game of the game during the 1992 regular season. Cristobal discussed the crowd noise and Syracuse fans making it uncomfortable when Miami arrived at their team hotel.

Miami won the 1992 Big East title with the win over Syracuse, finishing with a 4-0 conference record. In its infancy, the Big East played an unbalanced schedule. Syracuse finished 6-1 in the Big East in 1992. Syracuse beat Colorado 26-22 in the Fiesta Bowl to conclude the 1992 season with a 10-2 record.

Bud Poliquin of Syracuse.com republished his 1992 game story in 2013. Syracuse had the ball at the Miami 22 on the final drive. Two Miami sacks pushed the ball back to the 29-yard line on the final play. Syracuse quarterback Marvin Graves completed the pass to Gedney before Miami surrounded him for the game-winning stop.

"Loud loud loud. I remember getting to the team hotel and there was a contingent of fans that...made it uncomfortable for us upon arrival and I remember they had really good players. They had a really good defensive end. I remember not being able to hear and trying to look at the ball and trying to get off at the same time and block that absolute monster of a defensive end they had...I remember I believe it was Chris Gedney getting tackled at the three-yard line and time expiring. That's what I remember great game great football team physical...got all those...crazy pictures."

- Miami head coach Mario Cristobal

Cristobal faced Syracuse twice as a Miami player. Miami also beat Syracuse 33-7 in 1990 at the Orange Bowl. Miami leads Syracuse 15-7 in the all-time series. The Hurricanes take a five-game winning streak versus the Orange into the game on Saturday. Miami is 7-3 at Syracuse and has won the last two games.

Syracuse has won its last three home games, is 4-1 at the JMA Wireless Dome and won their last two home games there in 2023. Miami faces one of its biggest challenges this season. At 8-3, Syracuse has the best record of any of Miami's opponents entering the final week of the regular season.

Kevin Mitchell who led Syracuse with 10.0 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks could have been the defensive end Cristobal mentioned. The 1992 game was dubbed the biggest game in the history of Central New York. Saturday is not the biggest, but it's arguably second.

Cristobal discussed the expectations of playing in the dome and how Miami will prepare for Saturday. Miami was going to practice outside on Greentree and in the Soffer IPF getting ready for Syracuse. Saturday will be the first time Miami has played in a dome stadium under Cristobal as head coach.