All season long, the mantra at Miami has been the same.
Focus on the task at hand. Stay in the moment. Find a way to go 1-0 for the week.
It’s a message that has resonated for the Hurricanes, from the highest points of the season to the lowest, and it’s an approach that has helped bring them to this point: the national semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Now, as the Hurricanes prepare to take the field at State Farm Stadium on Thursday to face Mississippi in the Fiesta Bowl with a berth in the CFP Championship Game on the line, there’s no doubt Miami’s coaches and players are embracing that mentality once again.
Despite the countless questions they’ve faced in recent days, they know they can’t worry about the fact the championship game is being played in their home stadium later this month, nor can they spend too much time thinking about how long it’s been since Miami has played for a national title.
If they want to keep their season going, the Hurricanes must stay in the present.
“It’s definitely pretty exciting to be in [this] position, but we’re not going to get too ahead of ourselves,” said Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who has rushed for 262 yards in Miami’s two playoff wins. “We’re just worried about Ole Miss and we’re just worried about being 1-0. That’s all.”
Said Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, “I think it’s important to address the fact that [Thursday], the University of Miami and Ole Miss play each other. The national championship is several days down the line. I think all focus should be placed on [Thursday’s] game.”
And there’s plenty for the Hurricanes (12-2) to focus on when it comes to Ole Miss.
The Rebels (13-1) enter Thursday’s game on a seven-game win streak despite plenty of uncertainty – and drama – surrounding the program.
On Nov. 30, former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin announced he was leaving the Rebels to take the same job at LSU. There was plenty of back-and-forth about which members of his staff would leave with him and when they’d depart.
Despite all of that, the Rebels stayed steady.
They opened their playoff run with a dominant 41-10 win over Tulane. They then rallied from a nine-point deficit to knock off SEC rival Georgia, 39-34, in the Sugar Bowl.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was a force in the win over the Bulldogs, throwing for 362 yards and two touchdowns. At one point, he completed 13 straight completions, setting a new Sugar Bowl record.
On the season, Chambliss has thrown for 3,360 yards and 21 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He’s also rushed for another 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
Running back Kewan Lacy, meanwhile, has rushed for 1,464 yards and 23 touchdowns, while receivers Harrison Wallace III and De’Zhaun Stribling both have more than 700 yards.
Figuring out ways to contain all of them – and the rest of Ole Miss’ high-powered offense – has been a priority for a Miami defense that has excelled in its first two playoff games.
“I think you look at the quarterback, [he] does an unbelievable job spreading the football around, extending plays and just keeps them on track very well,” said Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, whose unit has held its two playoff opponents Texas A&M and Ohio State to a combined 17 points. “I think the running back is very talented. I think he gets downhill; he makes the first guy miss … I think he’s a big play [possibility] at any point. I think the skill on the perimeter is very talented. There’s a lot of different guys that can take the top off [and] can make some plays in space.”
Said defensive end Akheem Mesidor, who leads the Hurricanes with 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, “We need to slow them down. They’re a fast-tempo offense. If we’re able to slow them down and contain the quarterback, I think we’ll have a good shot at stopping that offense. … [Chambliss is] a magician. He has a great arm. He can do it all. He’s a dangerous player that we’re going to have to contain.”
On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes know they’ll have to find ways to be productive, particularly when it comes to running the ball.
Fletcher has been solid on that front, and in Miami’s 24-14 win over Ohio State, fellow back Marty Brown came in late and provided a spark.
In their playoff wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State, the Hurricanes have totaled 569 yards, including 328 yards on the ground.
They’ve been able to put together multiple methodical drives that have allowed them to not just move down the field, but chew up plenty of clock, too.
That, the Hurricanes say, has been a difference, especially when combined with veteran quarterback Carson Beck’s experience in high-level games like these.
“We trust our big guys up front. We feel that’s the strength of our offense and we have some backs that can get some muddy, bloody yards and I think the key is success early,” said Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. “If you look at those [methodical] drives, typically, we’ve had success early in the drive, which allows you to keep grinding it. … So, I think those guys up front, bullying in those situations is huge. Running backs knowing that they are going to commit a lot of people to the box when they know you are running the ball, so those yards are harder to get, [but] we have guys that buy into those muddy yards.”
Said Beck, “When you go into those drives, you kind of know what it’s going to be. I mean, that’s an identity drive is what I liked to call it. I just go in the huddle before, because you know it’s coming, and I just tell them, ‘Yo, we’re behind y’all. This whole ride is being behind y’all, we lean on you and we need to move the ball.’ That o-line has really been the identity and heart of this team; the same thing with the d-line. Those stretches were so, so important, especially when making these runs and being a good football team. So, again, I just kind of go in the huddle and tell them ‘We’re right behind you. You guys are going to lead this thing.’”
It’s a formula that’s worked in Miami’s first two playoff wins and could be a key against the Rebels.
But the Hurricanes know whatever their coaches ask them to execute on Thursday, they need to be at their best.
If they do that, and go 1-0 again, they’ll be one step closer to their ultimate goal.
“It’s whoever makes the least mistakes,” Fletcher said. “And when the opportunities are there, who is going to seize those opportunities and seize the moment.”
Added receiver CJ Daniels, “At the end of the day, we’re going to do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Focus on the task at hand. Stay in the moment. Find a way to go 1-0 for the week.
It’s a message that has resonated for the Hurricanes, from the highest points of the season to the lowest, and it’s an approach that has helped bring them to this point: the national semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Now, as the Hurricanes prepare to take the field at State Farm Stadium on Thursday to face Mississippi in the Fiesta Bowl with a berth in the CFP Championship Game on the line, there’s no doubt Miami’s coaches and players are embracing that mentality once again.
Despite the countless questions they’ve faced in recent days, they know they can’t worry about the fact the championship game is being played in their home stadium later this month, nor can they spend too much time thinking about how long it’s been since Miami has played for a national title.
If they want to keep their season going, the Hurricanes must stay in the present.
“It’s definitely pretty exciting to be in [this] position, but we’re not going to get too ahead of ourselves,” said Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who has rushed for 262 yards in Miami’s two playoff wins. “We’re just worried about Ole Miss and we’re just worried about being 1-0. That’s all.”
Said Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, “I think it’s important to address the fact that [Thursday], the University of Miami and Ole Miss play each other. The national championship is several days down the line. I think all focus should be placed on [Thursday’s] game.”
And there’s plenty for the Hurricanes (12-2) to focus on when it comes to Ole Miss.
The Rebels (13-1) enter Thursday’s game on a seven-game win streak despite plenty of uncertainty – and drama – surrounding the program.
On Nov. 30, former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin announced he was leaving the Rebels to take the same job at LSU. There was plenty of back-and-forth about which members of his staff would leave with him and when they’d depart.
Despite all of that, the Rebels stayed steady.
They opened their playoff run with a dominant 41-10 win over Tulane. They then rallied from a nine-point deficit to knock off SEC rival Georgia, 39-34, in the Sugar Bowl.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was a force in the win over the Bulldogs, throwing for 362 yards and two touchdowns. At one point, he completed 13 straight completions, setting a new Sugar Bowl record.
On the season, Chambliss has thrown for 3,360 yards and 21 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He’s also rushed for another 520 yards and eight touchdowns.
Running back Kewan Lacy, meanwhile, has rushed for 1,464 yards and 23 touchdowns, while receivers Harrison Wallace III and De’Zhaun Stribling both have more than 700 yards.
Figuring out ways to contain all of them – and the rest of Ole Miss’ high-powered offense – has been a priority for a Miami defense that has excelled in its first two playoff games.
“I think you look at the quarterback, [he] does an unbelievable job spreading the football around, extending plays and just keeps them on track very well,” said Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, whose unit has held its two playoff opponents Texas A&M and Ohio State to a combined 17 points. “I think the running back is very talented. I think he gets downhill; he makes the first guy miss … I think he’s a big play [possibility] at any point. I think the skill on the perimeter is very talented. There’s a lot of different guys that can take the top off [and] can make some plays in space.”
Said defensive end Akheem Mesidor, who leads the Hurricanes with 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, “We need to slow them down. They’re a fast-tempo offense. If we’re able to slow them down and contain the quarterback, I think we’ll have a good shot at stopping that offense. … [Chambliss is] a magician. He has a great arm. He can do it all. He’s a dangerous player that we’re going to have to contain.”
On the other side of the ball, the Hurricanes know they’ll have to find ways to be productive, particularly when it comes to running the ball.
Fletcher has been solid on that front, and in Miami’s 24-14 win over Ohio State, fellow back Marty Brown came in late and provided a spark.
In their playoff wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State, the Hurricanes have totaled 569 yards, including 328 yards on the ground.
They’ve been able to put together multiple methodical drives that have allowed them to not just move down the field, but chew up plenty of clock, too.
That, the Hurricanes say, has been a difference, especially when combined with veteran quarterback Carson Beck’s experience in high-level games like these.
“We trust our big guys up front. We feel that’s the strength of our offense and we have some backs that can get some muddy, bloody yards and I think the key is success early,” said Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. “If you look at those [methodical] drives, typically, we’ve had success early in the drive, which allows you to keep grinding it. … So, I think those guys up front, bullying in those situations is huge. Running backs knowing that they are going to commit a lot of people to the box when they know you are running the ball, so those yards are harder to get, [but] we have guys that buy into those muddy yards.”
Said Beck, “When you go into those drives, you kind of know what it’s going to be. I mean, that’s an identity drive is what I liked to call it. I just go in the huddle before, because you know it’s coming, and I just tell them, ‘Yo, we’re behind y’all. This whole ride is being behind y’all, we lean on you and we need to move the ball.’ That o-line has really been the identity and heart of this team; the same thing with the d-line. Those stretches were so, so important, especially when making these runs and being a good football team. So, again, I just kind of go in the huddle and tell them ‘We’re right behind you. You guys are going to lead this thing.’”
It’s a formula that’s worked in Miami’s first two playoff wins and could be a key against the Rebels.
But the Hurricanes know whatever their coaches ask them to execute on Thursday, they need to be at their best.
If they do that, and go 1-0 again, they’ll be one step closer to their ultimate goal.
“It’s whoever makes the least mistakes,” Fletcher said. “And when the opportunities are there, who is going to seize those opportunities and seize the moment.”
Added receiver CJ Daniels, “At the end of the day, we’re going to do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
