Mario Cristobal's handling of Jordan Lyle's situation will set the tone for discipline at Miami

Mario Cristobal is probably not going to outright dismiss Jordan Lyle if the decision is up to him (which it might not be), but this could prove to be a defining moment in the culture that he has worked to cultivate with the Miami Hurricanes.

More news is coming out over Lyle's off-field transgressions. Reports from the Miami Herald say that Lyle was driving at dangerous speeds trying to evade a traffic stop, and for that, he received two felony charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding law enforcement.

READ MORE: Star Miami RB Jordan Lyle arrested on multiple driving-related charges

Now, in the interest of fairness, Lyle has pleaded not guilty to these charges and, as Cristobal said, the legal process has to play itself out. But that has nothing to do with his immediate status and the fact that Lyle has brought a negative situation to the program.

Mario Cristobal should be firm but fair with Jordan Lyle

This isn't a Cam Vaughn situation. Vaughn also had some traffic snafus, but he was already on the outs with the program and was reportedly disgruntled about his role after transferring in from West Virginia. It was probably best for both parties to end that relationship.

READ MORE: Cam Vaughn's dismissal is simply a product of Miami's deep and talented roster

Lyle is a homegrown kid, and he is someone that could be a big part of Hurricanes football this year and in the future, so Cristobal wants to keep him around. But this is also an opportunity to establish a point for the rest of the roster that accountability is not voluntary and everyone has to be responsible for their actions.

Miami is in a new space for the first time in many years. The Hurricanes are good again, and the players will have a lot more eyes on them, following their every move. There have been a lot of great reports about the players immersing themselves in the community and doing positive things. Bad apples can spoil the bunch and that's what Cristobal is trying to avoid.

What does that standard of accountability look like for Lyle? Is it a suspension, possibly for a few games? Is it a demotion on the depth chart? If this situation gets too deep, would he have to cut ties altogether? Again, the legal side is the legal side and that has to play out, but none of that will absolve Lyle from his role in making decisions that put the program in a bad light.

It's a lot of speculation, but now everyone around Miami athletics and fans of the program are looking at Cristobal to see how he handles this. 

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