Mario Cristobal joined College Gameday Friday to discuss Miami's win over Ole Miss. Below is everything they said:
Rece Davis: Mario Cristobal is with us now, the head coach of the Hurricanes. Mario, you get the win last night. There are 18 seconds left. Ole Miss is on the other end of the field and suddenly they’re throwing into the end zone. What were the emotions like for you when you saw that ball go into the air off the hand of Trinidad Chambliss?
Mario Cristobal: I was figuring out why our contain player did not cut off the quarterback as he ran to his left.
Nick Saban: Have you figured that out yet or not?
Mario Cristobal: That is the way Cory Heatherman designs it. We want to flush him and force him toward his throwing arm. The contain looper got stuck and never made it around, so he had time to get settled and throw a very accurate ball.
Kirk Herbstreit: Mario, Rece asked you about that throw, but I want to know what your thoughts were when one of your assistants grabbed you after Carson Beck’s touchdown. There were 18 seconds left and you turned around and said, “Don’t you dare. This thing’s not over.” You were fired up.
Mario Cristobal: I had a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu flashback. Last week Coach Johnson was on the sideline and he bear-hugged me after we scored late. That is Coach Johnson, so I did not have to say anything to him. Yesterday it was one of our coaches and I said, “What are you doing? We have 15 seconds left with the most dangerous player on the field holding the ball. That is not the right time, brother.”
Nick Saban: I tried to call you today to congratulate you and you didn’t call me back. I get it. You’re in the finals now. Big time. But let me ask you something — do you want me to handle this diplomatically on national TV, or do you want me to talk to you like we’re in a staff meeting in 2015 and tell you what you need to get fixed?
Mario Cristobal: Well I’m sure you had plenty of time to think about it while you were getting your makeup done and your eyebrows trimmed, so however you want to do it, coach.
Nick Saban: You dominated that game. You dominated them. And you kept stopping yourselves. You didn’t get stopped in the first half one time unless you stopped yourselves — holding, sacks, penalties. You get a 25-yard run, holding. You get something going, sack. And then right before the half you give them the ball back and they steal three points. You should’ve been up two scores at halftime.
Mario Cristobal: Now hold on. By your rules — and I know them — if you’re under 45 seconds at your own 35 you pop a run or a screen and if you hit it you go. But if you have over a minute, especially over a minute-ten, your philosophy was to be aggressive and try to get points.
Nick Saban: I may have changed my philosophy.
Mario Cristobal: TV changed your philosophy. You used to be about physicality. Now you like Trick-**** reverses and all that stuff.
Nick Saban: [Laughs] Hold on, I saw a flea flicker and some bull**** on third-and-two.
Rece Davis: On the flea flicker, we all learned a new rule about grounding the ball. But through all of it, penalties, turnovers, missed opportunities, your team still found a way to win. What did you learn about your team?
Mario Cristobal: They have gotten tougher and more resilient as the year has gone on. They really like each other. They work extremely hard. Our program is built very similarly to what we did under Coach Saban at Alabama. They trust each other. They love physical football. They do not let mistakes or adversity get in the way of winning. We have developed a mentality that there is no bad play, no bad call, no injury that we cannot overcome.
Nick Saban: That is what I respect most about your team. The resilience. All the bad things that happened and they still came back twice in the second half. That is a **** of a job getting those kids to believe that.
Mario Cristobal: I appreciate that.
Nick Saban: In the second half Xavier Lucas got ejected for targeting. I thought it was a bad call. What were your thoughts, and how do you move forward in the secondary?
Mario Cristobal: That is a really tough call. The receiver’s upper body changes as he goes to make the catch and our defender is already committed to the tackle. You cannot predict that. We were banged up, but we have extra days to heal. At this point it is strap up and find a way.
Nick Saban: I am starting a movement that players should not be ejected for targeting. Fine them, do whatever, but do not take them out of championship games.
Mario Cristobal: I am with you.
Rece Davis: Ole Miss wanted 90 snaps. You had more than 40 minutes of possession. Why was that so important?
Mario Cristobal: That is the best defense against that quarterback. Keep him off the field. We felt direct runs and wide zone would hit against their movement and stunts. The quick game hit. We took shots down the field. We just did not separate on the scoreboard the way we should have until the fourth quarter.
Nick Saban: Three of Miami’s five national championships were won at home. You get to go back there. Congratulations.
Mario Cristobal: I appreciate you guys. Thank you for having me.
Rece Davis: Mario Cristobal is with us now, the head coach of the Hurricanes. Mario, you get the win last night. There are 18 seconds left. Ole Miss is on the other end of the field and suddenly they’re throwing into the end zone. What were the emotions like for you when you saw that ball go into the air off the hand of Trinidad Chambliss?
Mario Cristobal: I was figuring out why our contain player did not cut off the quarterback as he ran to his left.
Nick Saban: Have you figured that out yet or not?
Mario Cristobal: That is the way Cory Heatherman designs it. We want to flush him and force him toward his throwing arm. The contain looper got stuck and never made it around, so he had time to get settled and throw a very accurate ball.
Kirk Herbstreit: Mario, Rece asked you about that throw, but I want to know what your thoughts were when one of your assistants grabbed you after Carson Beck’s touchdown. There were 18 seconds left and you turned around and said, “Don’t you dare. This thing’s not over.” You were fired up.
Mario Cristobal: I had a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu flashback. Last week Coach Johnson was on the sideline and he bear-hugged me after we scored late. That is Coach Johnson, so I did not have to say anything to him. Yesterday it was one of our coaches and I said, “What are you doing? We have 15 seconds left with the most dangerous player on the field holding the ball. That is not the right time, brother.”
Nick Saban: I tried to call you today to congratulate you and you didn’t call me back. I get it. You’re in the finals now. Big time. But let me ask you something — do you want me to handle this diplomatically on national TV, or do you want me to talk to you like we’re in a staff meeting in 2015 and tell you what you need to get fixed?
Mario Cristobal: Well I’m sure you had plenty of time to think about it while you were getting your makeup done and your eyebrows trimmed, so however you want to do it, coach.
Nick Saban: You dominated that game. You dominated them. And you kept stopping yourselves. You didn’t get stopped in the first half one time unless you stopped yourselves — holding, sacks, penalties. You get a 25-yard run, holding. You get something going, sack. And then right before the half you give them the ball back and they steal three points. You should’ve been up two scores at halftime.
Mario Cristobal: Now hold on. By your rules — and I know them — if you’re under 45 seconds at your own 35 you pop a run or a screen and if you hit it you go. But if you have over a minute, especially over a minute-ten, your philosophy was to be aggressive and try to get points.
Nick Saban: I may have changed my philosophy.
Mario Cristobal: TV changed your philosophy. You used to be about physicality. Now you like Trick-**** reverses and all that stuff.
Nick Saban: [Laughs] Hold on, I saw a flea flicker and some bull**** on third-and-two.
Rece Davis: On the flea flicker, we all learned a new rule about grounding the ball. But through all of it, penalties, turnovers, missed opportunities, your team still found a way to win. What did you learn about your team?
Mario Cristobal: They have gotten tougher and more resilient as the year has gone on. They really like each other. They work extremely hard. Our program is built very similarly to what we did under Coach Saban at Alabama. They trust each other. They love physical football. They do not let mistakes or adversity get in the way of winning. We have developed a mentality that there is no bad play, no bad call, no injury that we cannot overcome.
Nick Saban: That is what I respect most about your team. The resilience. All the bad things that happened and they still came back twice in the second half. That is a **** of a job getting those kids to believe that.
Mario Cristobal: I appreciate that.
Nick Saban: In the second half Xavier Lucas got ejected for targeting. I thought it was a bad call. What were your thoughts, and how do you move forward in the secondary?
Mario Cristobal: That is a really tough call. The receiver’s upper body changes as he goes to make the catch and our defender is already committed to the tackle. You cannot predict that. We were banged up, but we have extra days to heal. At this point it is strap up and find a way.
Nick Saban: I am starting a movement that players should not be ejected for targeting. Fine them, do whatever, but do not take them out of championship games.
Mario Cristobal: I am with you.
Rece Davis: Ole Miss wanted 90 snaps. You had more than 40 minutes of possession. Why was that so important?
Mario Cristobal: That is the best defense against that quarterback. Keep him off the field. We felt direct runs and wide zone would hit against their movement and stunts. The quick game hit. We took shots down the field. We just did not separate on the scoreboard the way we should have until the fourth quarter.
Nick Saban: Three of Miami’s five national championships were won at home. You get to go back there. Congratulations.
Mario Cristobal: I appreciate you guys. Thank you for having me.
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