Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal spoke with Joe Rose on 560 WQAM to recap the Hurricanes 41-13 win over the Clemson Tigers. He touched on the win, injuries, underclassmen, and a bunch more. Check out everything he had to say down below:
On the preparation showing up at Death Valley: We're proud of our guys, Joe. That was an awesome environment, a great test. They have a lot of great players. Really good win, and a lot of really good physical play, and a lot of guys that hadn't played much ball before, it was their time, and there was no flinch in them. I think everything that we practiced in three, on GreenTree practice field, I think that showed up out there at Death Valley.
On spreading the ball around: Yeah, the ball was spread around really, really well. A shame that we, again, our own **** fault being an illegal motion on a great check by Mensah to Malachi. Important to note Malachi forced a couple of holding calls as well. Those are as good as receptions when we're going to be some chunk plays. So all in all really good job playing complementary football, man, and just keeping everything just laser focused on the task at hand and just executing.
On the method behind Miami’s offensive line versatility: Yeah I think if you give one day to get with Coach Mirabal and talk through all the different things that he does. Because, for example, right now Samson is an awesome left tackle, he had to sharpen parts of his skill sets that were required in to get blooded right in the teeth as a three technique, playing guard. He had to experience the rigors of taking on those massive bodies inside while he worked his way back outside to take on the quicker, twitchier body types and work the timing of the passing game and protection. There is a method to the madness.
On Miami’s injury updates heading into the bye week: We'll see. They're going to be evaluated throughout the course of the week. They went back in the game, except for Marquise, and there were a couple guys that ended up not playing that we do expect back as well. But let's see what this week does, man. We're working at it. We're in the training room day and night, and it's a great time for a bye week. Wish I had about six of them in a row, but it is what it is. Let's roll.
On JJ Dunnigan, Javian Mallory and Ben Congdon: The best way to describe them, they embody, you know, the Miami Hurricane DNA. Those guys came in here with the right mentality, and their maturity in the processes that go with being a contributor, being a player. They're on point, man. You know, they took notes during the playoffs last year of the older guys doing it the way it's supposed to be done. That's what they do, and they're a great example for the other freshmen. Taking the butt, like that's what it's supposed to look like. That's how you play as a freshman. It's not your talent level; it's your level of maturity and commitment and dedication to preparing the right way. And these guys, you saw them today, there was no flinch in them. Zero. And they all played a huge role in getting things done, man. But it's three straight years. Three straight years we have freshmen contributing at a really high level.
On Mark Fletcher and Ahmad Moten: Well, Moten was here last time we were up at Death Valley, and we got beat pretty good. So, you remember those things. And having him back, he's a great player and he did a great job with his teammates and being prepared. And you know what? He's really good at getting that ball out. And then you look at Fletcher, the level of physicality and leadership that comes with him, and it comes with Moten. Those guys are awesome, and they came back to Miami for a reason this year, and they're making it count.
On Miami’s defensive front: I mean, played with great effort, high motor, continually harassed the quarterback. We're there in position for another dozen sacks, so we'll keep working that. But, you know, Tait Reynolds is a **** of a player, and Joe, they got a **** of a team now. I mean, they have a lot of high-end talent. They got a really good scheme, good coaches. You mentioned some guys that did really, really well. You mentioned Moten did a great job. You mentioned, I think, Blount came back and played for us as well. And I also want to mention Chase Smith and Mohamed Toure, because those two guys, really, really physical, sensitive, and made some massive plays. Massive, like tone-setting plays in terms of knocking the opponent back.
On the line of scrimmage: A lot of progress. We knew it was a challenge. They had an 100-yard touchdown on, I believe, 20 drives or something like that. Like you mentioned, it always comes down to the line of scrimmage in some way, shape, or form, and you're always going to find ways to win. You got to chuck it 50 times, it is what it is. And more times than not, in these real heavyweight matchups, the line of scrimmage reigns supreme.
On the offense and defense complementing each other: Yeah, I mean, it's a special group of guys. They love winning, I think this group really understands that nothing could ever get in the way of being 1-0. The offense scored on three of its first four possessions. The defense, I believe, forced punts on first six possessions, allowed only two field goals in the first half, and I think all that stuff set the tone for the second half. We went in there with a lot of confidence. Some guys were banged up, you always look at, right, the eyes never lie. Everybody had the right look in their eyes. The focus was strong. We knew we were playing a really good team, and a team that had tremendous success in the second half. We knew that was going to be their best punch, their best shot, and our guys responded really well.
On remembering past games against Clemson: Joe, I remember everything. I just don't like talking about it. I don't like creating narratives or Hollywood scripts and movies, or I really don't want any attention. I couldn't give a rat's you-know-what about attention. I really don't want it. I just, we have our processes. We talk behind closed doors. We set our themes. We set our messaging, and we go deep and hard. We, like, make sure that everything we're doing is meaningful and it has a lot of juice and substance to it. But we never disclose that, because then, in a world where there's so much intrusion, right, as it relates to the ball and the media, we'd rather just, you know, do the work and just get it done. We've gone through painful steps before. We know that, and whatever we got to use, we use.
On Miami’s mentality when it comes to playing through pain: One of our biggest goals of training camp is to become a more calloused football team. There's a very clear line between being hurt and hurting. It's our duty and obligation to prepare these players, this is their life they choose. It comes with it at the next level, Joe, you know better than anybody. And sometimes you got to just bite down on the mouthpiece a little bit harder and you got to roll, because that's the expectation. If that's on the other side where a guy's injured, we let him go, you know. Ball is ball, and it's been that way for how many years? We're very blessed to have real deal competitors that, winning means the world to them.
On what he was most proud of in the second-half of the game against Clemson: I saw levels of physicality, fighting through. The first half, the play count for the defense was just about 50. Offense, it was 25, and yet we held them to six points. And going in the locker room knowing that we had to flip that with a bunch of guys down with injuries, right? You had to control the line of scrimmage. You had to maintain possession, and you had to flip that balance. Because if not, you start reaching the 90s, brother. You're in trouble, right? On one side of the ball. So I thought that really set up. I thought communication, that one freaking penalty. That's going to be a rough meeting for some folks. But aside from that, I thought we handled the environment really well, and I thought that we really focused on just one play at a time, Joe, just taking the life out of the stadium and taking control and gaining the momentum. And at some point in time, we felt that we could get it and keep it, and we kept fighting and doing our job until we got there. So very simple, very simple message with a mission, and I thought for the most part we carried it out.
On the preparation showing up at Death Valley: We're proud of our guys, Joe. That was an awesome environment, a great test. They have a lot of great players. Really good win, and a lot of really good physical play, and a lot of guys that hadn't played much ball before, it was their time, and there was no flinch in them. I think everything that we practiced in three, on GreenTree practice field, I think that showed up out there at Death Valley.
On spreading the ball around: Yeah, the ball was spread around really, really well. A shame that we, again, our own **** fault being an illegal motion on a great check by Mensah to Malachi. Important to note Malachi forced a couple of holding calls as well. Those are as good as receptions when we're going to be some chunk plays. So all in all really good job playing complementary football, man, and just keeping everything just laser focused on the task at hand and just executing.
On the method behind Miami’s offensive line versatility: Yeah I think if you give one day to get with Coach Mirabal and talk through all the different things that he does. Because, for example, right now Samson is an awesome left tackle, he had to sharpen parts of his skill sets that were required in to get blooded right in the teeth as a three technique, playing guard. He had to experience the rigors of taking on those massive bodies inside while he worked his way back outside to take on the quicker, twitchier body types and work the timing of the passing game and protection. There is a method to the madness.
On Miami’s injury updates heading into the bye week: We'll see. They're going to be evaluated throughout the course of the week. They went back in the game, except for Marquise, and there were a couple guys that ended up not playing that we do expect back as well. But let's see what this week does, man. We're working at it. We're in the training room day and night, and it's a great time for a bye week. Wish I had about six of them in a row, but it is what it is. Let's roll.
On JJ Dunnigan, Javian Mallory and Ben Congdon: The best way to describe them, they embody, you know, the Miami Hurricane DNA. Those guys came in here with the right mentality, and their maturity in the processes that go with being a contributor, being a player. They're on point, man. You know, they took notes during the playoffs last year of the older guys doing it the way it's supposed to be done. That's what they do, and they're a great example for the other freshmen. Taking the butt, like that's what it's supposed to look like. That's how you play as a freshman. It's not your talent level; it's your level of maturity and commitment and dedication to preparing the right way. And these guys, you saw them today, there was no flinch in them. Zero. And they all played a huge role in getting things done, man. But it's three straight years. Three straight years we have freshmen contributing at a really high level.
On Mark Fletcher and Ahmad Moten: Well, Moten was here last time we were up at Death Valley, and we got beat pretty good. So, you remember those things. And having him back, he's a great player and he did a great job with his teammates and being prepared. And you know what? He's really good at getting that ball out. And then you look at Fletcher, the level of physicality and leadership that comes with him, and it comes with Moten. Those guys are awesome, and they came back to Miami for a reason this year, and they're making it count.
On Miami’s defensive front: I mean, played with great effort, high motor, continually harassed the quarterback. We're there in position for another dozen sacks, so we'll keep working that. But, you know, Tait Reynolds is a **** of a player, and Joe, they got a **** of a team now. I mean, they have a lot of high-end talent. They got a really good scheme, good coaches. You mentioned some guys that did really, really well. You mentioned Moten did a great job. You mentioned, I think, Blount came back and played for us as well. And I also want to mention Chase Smith and Mohamed Toure, because those two guys, really, really physical, sensitive, and made some massive plays. Massive, like tone-setting plays in terms of knocking the opponent back.
On the line of scrimmage: A lot of progress. We knew it was a challenge. They had an 100-yard touchdown on, I believe, 20 drives or something like that. Like you mentioned, it always comes down to the line of scrimmage in some way, shape, or form, and you're always going to find ways to win. You got to chuck it 50 times, it is what it is. And more times than not, in these real heavyweight matchups, the line of scrimmage reigns supreme.
On the offense and defense complementing each other: Yeah, I mean, it's a special group of guys. They love winning, I think this group really understands that nothing could ever get in the way of being 1-0. The offense scored on three of its first four possessions. The defense, I believe, forced punts on first six possessions, allowed only two field goals in the first half, and I think all that stuff set the tone for the second half. We went in there with a lot of confidence. Some guys were banged up, you always look at, right, the eyes never lie. Everybody had the right look in their eyes. The focus was strong. We knew we were playing a really good team, and a team that had tremendous success in the second half. We knew that was going to be their best punch, their best shot, and our guys responded really well.
On remembering past games against Clemson: Joe, I remember everything. I just don't like talking about it. I don't like creating narratives or Hollywood scripts and movies, or I really don't want any attention. I couldn't give a rat's you-know-what about attention. I really don't want it. I just, we have our processes. We talk behind closed doors. We set our themes. We set our messaging, and we go deep and hard. We, like, make sure that everything we're doing is meaningful and it has a lot of juice and substance to it. But we never disclose that, because then, in a world where there's so much intrusion, right, as it relates to the ball and the media, we'd rather just, you know, do the work and just get it done. We've gone through painful steps before. We know that, and whatever we got to use, we use.
On Miami’s mentality when it comes to playing through pain: One of our biggest goals of training camp is to become a more calloused football team. There's a very clear line between being hurt and hurting. It's our duty and obligation to prepare these players, this is their life they choose. It comes with it at the next level, Joe, you know better than anybody. And sometimes you got to just bite down on the mouthpiece a little bit harder and you got to roll, because that's the expectation. If that's on the other side where a guy's injured, we let him go, you know. Ball is ball, and it's been that way for how many years? We're very blessed to have real deal competitors that, winning means the world to them.
On what he was most proud of in the second-half of the game against Clemson: I saw levels of physicality, fighting through. The first half, the play count for the defense was just about 50. Offense, it was 25, and yet we held them to six points. And going in the locker room knowing that we had to flip that with a bunch of guys down with injuries, right? You had to control the line of scrimmage. You had to maintain possession, and you had to flip that balance. Because if not, you start reaching the 90s, brother. You're in trouble, right? On one side of the ball. So I thought that really set up. I thought communication, that one freaking penalty. That's going to be a rough meeting for some folks. But aside from that, I thought we handled the environment really well, and I thought that we really focused on just one play at a time, Joe, just taking the life out of the stadium and taking control and gaining the momentum. And at some point in time, we felt that we could get it and keep it, and we kept fighting and doing our job until we got there. So very simple, very simple message with a mission, and I thought for the most part we carried it out.
