Miami head coach Mario Cristobal joined the ACC Media on the "ACC PM" on ACC Network for a six-minute conversation on the program. A transcript of that interview is below.
ACC Media: We are so excited to be joined now by the team that made it to the national championship last year, head coach Mario Cristobal from the Miami Hurricanes with us. Coach, we've got a lot to get to. We were just talking off camera about some of the big storylines that you want to get to, but I just want to start right there real quick. Last year to now, I know that there are so many things that you take away from last season, but as you sit here today, a couple months removed from it, what's the biggest takeaway about that hunger that you have to get this team back?
Mario Cristobal: It's hotter than ever before that our team is more focused and more driven, that it is player-led, but also led by a staff that understands that just because we achieved some really great things last year, we're not going to automatically pick up in the same spot. We have to get back to work and work at a certain level to make it a reality.
ACC Media: We get to start the quarterback position because I remember talking to you when Cam Ward arrived, and there was an instant take to him being a leader there in that locker room. And then Carson Beck comes in last year, and while he couldn't throw, it felt like he was really assimilating in nicely. What's it been like with Darian [Mensah]? What's been your read on him coming from Duke to Miami at this point?
Mario Cristobal: Were blessed to have him. You just mentioned two of the elite leaders for the University of Miami over the past couple of years where, Cam came in and people were trying to figure him out, but quickly took over as an alpha. And then Carson came in with an injury and had a, it took some time, to get him acclimated and integrated with the rest of the guys. Darian comes in. We go right away to spring ball, and it was very evident, very quickly, that he's a natural. He's an alpha. So accurate, poised, tough, resilient, worker, competitor. You see the imaginations for these guys, and that's a good thing. They just come out naturally because they are, they describe what he is. And he had a great spring. He galvanized the offense. He understands what we have to do to get hurt, and that's our focus right now.
ACC Media: Trenches is something I know you know talk about, especially after the last NFL draft. There's a lot of people like, oh, we had a bunch of offensive linemen drafted, including SiSi [Francis] Mauioga. What's that position going to look like moving forward? But from your vantage point, in terms of the development of where this program has been, what can you say about where you are and what people can expect from it?
Mario Cristobal: Well, we walked into a tough situation. No one wanted to do a story on that. You know, it was like, hey, let's fast forward and do it now, right? And the best part about them is that their development is mostly due to them. Choosing, right? Choosing to do what's supposed to be done with our guidance, our blueprint. But these are, they're part of our first group. You know, two of them three-year guys, one of them four-year guys. And so it's a testament to the program, to themselves, their family, the upbringing, their DNA. But it's awesome to see all that hard work and the plan and our words validated, you know, not only on the field, but also when it comes to the graduation and the draft.
ACC Media: I'm sitting there on draft day doing an ACC show, and it might as well have been a Miami pre-show because I'm like, this guy we've got to look out for, and this guy, and where's he going to go? And then in our shows that followed, it was the same thing, seeing guy after guy drafted, not just for Miami, specifically the ACC as a whole. You're really proud of that, and you should be. I know just because of the success you've had with developing those guys. What's that like for you when you get to see name after name called and those guys have put so much work into it?
Mario Cristobal: Oh, it's great. I mean, it sends a message, right? Not only to the ones that are following them, but to the rest of the country that, hey, what we do has worked in different parts of the country now. It's worked in New Miami here, Miami. It's worked in the program, the profile program being elevated to a different level. But most importantly for them, like that's their moment. That's what you dream of since you can remember, right? And for all of it to come true in that setting, because then it's all draft day. That's like a production within itself. I mean, that's like, I've never seen anything like that. And we're making it a habit of those guys making it happen, man. And so it's, you know, people like, oh, they were here, this guy did that. Credit to the players for working hard, for buying in and just finding a way to get it done.
ACC Media: Last year, we had heard whispers of a guy named Malachi Toney going into fall. And we were like, ah, maybe he's going to be pretty good. Let's see what happens. Turns out he has a historic freshman season at Miami and he's compared to some of the greats that have come through this program. How have you seen him transition now in his sophomore year?
Mario Cristobal: Oh, he doesn't stop. I mean, he should be, you know, the new commercial for the Energizer bunny. It just goes and goes and goes. So he's finally got to leave anywhere between eight and 12 pounds of muscle. So from a speed, acceleration, deceleration standpoint, power standpoint, improved. But now he's taking his game to a different level as it relates to the way he leads in the locker room, off the field. I mean, it's a, we're asking, we asked him to be a sophomore when he was a freshman. Now we're asking him to be a senior as he is a sophomore and the message, he takes everything very personally, right? It's hard. And so you see his continued growth and development because, I mean, it means the world to him and wants to have Malachi telling him he'll be wearing number one that year instead of number 10.
ACC Media: Before we go, the significance of retaining your coordinators. Shannon Dawson on offense and Corey Heatherman defensively. How does that impact you guys, especially throughout the spring and as you get ready for fall?
Mario Cristobal: No, I mean, they've been instrumental in the rise of our program. They were signed on multi-year deals. They deserve it, but they've earned that and they love being at Miami. They've been awesome and I think they also recognize what a great situation they have in terms of players, in terms of the staff around them, right? Opportunity. I mean, you can go in this coaching industry for a long, long time and not have the support that they have to work with. So they're a blessing to us. They're a blessing to the players around them. Bless to have them. It's a great marriage.
ACC Media: We are so excited to be joined now by the team that made it to the national championship last year, head coach Mario Cristobal from the Miami Hurricanes with us. Coach, we've got a lot to get to. We were just talking off camera about some of the big storylines that you want to get to, but I just want to start right there real quick. Last year to now, I know that there are so many things that you take away from last season, but as you sit here today, a couple months removed from it, what's the biggest takeaway about that hunger that you have to get this team back?
Mario Cristobal: It's hotter than ever before that our team is more focused and more driven, that it is player-led, but also led by a staff that understands that just because we achieved some really great things last year, we're not going to automatically pick up in the same spot. We have to get back to work and work at a certain level to make it a reality.
ACC Media: We get to start the quarterback position because I remember talking to you when Cam Ward arrived, and there was an instant take to him being a leader there in that locker room. And then Carson Beck comes in last year, and while he couldn't throw, it felt like he was really assimilating in nicely. What's it been like with Darian [Mensah]? What's been your read on him coming from Duke to Miami at this point?
Mario Cristobal: Were blessed to have him. You just mentioned two of the elite leaders for the University of Miami over the past couple of years where, Cam came in and people were trying to figure him out, but quickly took over as an alpha. And then Carson came in with an injury and had a, it took some time, to get him acclimated and integrated with the rest of the guys. Darian comes in. We go right away to spring ball, and it was very evident, very quickly, that he's a natural. He's an alpha. So accurate, poised, tough, resilient, worker, competitor. You see the imaginations for these guys, and that's a good thing. They just come out naturally because they are, they describe what he is. And he had a great spring. He galvanized the offense. He understands what we have to do to get hurt, and that's our focus right now.
ACC Media: Trenches is something I know you know talk about, especially after the last NFL draft. There's a lot of people like, oh, we had a bunch of offensive linemen drafted, including SiSi [Francis] Mauioga. What's that position going to look like moving forward? But from your vantage point, in terms of the development of where this program has been, what can you say about where you are and what people can expect from it?
Mario Cristobal: Well, we walked into a tough situation. No one wanted to do a story on that. You know, it was like, hey, let's fast forward and do it now, right? And the best part about them is that their development is mostly due to them. Choosing, right? Choosing to do what's supposed to be done with our guidance, our blueprint. But these are, they're part of our first group. You know, two of them three-year guys, one of them four-year guys. And so it's a testament to the program, to themselves, their family, the upbringing, their DNA. But it's awesome to see all that hard work and the plan and our words validated, you know, not only on the field, but also when it comes to the graduation and the draft.
ACC Media: I'm sitting there on draft day doing an ACC show, and it might as well have been a Miami pre-show because I'm like, this guy we've got to look out for, and this guy, and where's he going to go? And then in our shows that followed, it was the same thing, seeing guy after guy drafted, not just for Miami, specifically the ACC as a whole. You're really proud of that, and you should be. I know just because of the success you've had with developing those guys. What's that like for you when you get to see name after name called and those guys have put so much work into it?
Mario Cristobal: Oh, it's great. I mean, it sends a message, right? Not only to the ones that are following them, but to the rest of the country that, hey, what we do has worked in different parts of the country now. It's worked in New Miami here, Miami. It's worked in the program, the profile program being elevated to a different level. But most importantly for them, like that's their moment. That's what you dream of since you can remember, right? And for all of it to come true in that setting, because then it's all draft day. That's like a production within itself. I mean, that's like, I've never seen anything like that. And we're making it a habit of those guys making it happen, man. And so it's, you know, people like, oh, they were here, this guy did that. Credit to the players for working hard, for buying in and just finding a way to get it done.
ACC Media: Last year, we had heard whispers of a guy named Malachi Toney going into fall. And we were like, ah, maybe he's going to be pretty good. Let's see what happens. Turns out he has a historic freshman season at Miami and he's compared to some of the greats that have come through this program. How have you seen him transition now in his sophomore year?
Mario Cristobal: Oh, he doesn't stop. I mean, he should be, you know, the new commercial for the Energizer bunny. It just goes and goes and goes. So he's finally got to leave anywhere between eight and 12 pounds of muscle. So from a speed, acceleration, deceleration standpoint, power standpoint, improved. But now he's taking his game to a different level as it relates to the way he leads in the locker room, off the field. I mean, it's a, we're asking, we asked him to be a sophomore when he was a freshman. Now we're asking him to be a senior as he is a sophomore and the message, he takes everything very personally, right? It's hard. And so you see his continued growth and development because, I mean, it means the world to him and wants to have Malachi telling him he'll be wearing number one that year instead of number 10.
ACC Media: Before we go, the significance of retaining your coordinators. Shannon Dawson on offense and Corey Heatherman defensively. How does that impact you guys, especially throughout the spring and as you get ready for fall?
Mario Cristobal: No, I mean, they've been instrumental in the rise of our program. They were signed on multi-year deals. They deserve it, but they've earned that and they love being at Miami. They've been awesome and I think they also recognize what a great situation they have in terms of players, in terms of the staff around them, right? Opportunity. I mean, you can go in this coaching industry for a long, long time and not have the support that they have to work with. So they're a blessing to us. They're a blessing to the players around them. Bless to have them. It's a great marriage.
