Courtesy of Miami Athletics:
It is a mantra; a thought process Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has worked to instill in his team since he returned to his alma mater nearly five years ago.
The Hurricanes aren’t to focus on finishing the year unbeaten. They’re not to look forward past the task or the opponent at hand. If they can find ways to go 1-0 every week – or, more accurately, 1-0 on the day – then Miami will, ultimately, become the team it wants to be.
As the Hurricanes prepare to close out a two-game homestand with a high-noon showdown against ACC foe Pittsburgh on Saturday, the mantra is being repeated over and over by coaches and players alike.
After a chaotic week that saw several upsets across college football and their 43-35 double-overtime win over rival Florida State last Saturday, the Hurricanes are one of just six FBS teams that remain unbeaten entering this week’s games.
That means that after Sunday, Miami found itself somewhere it hasn’t been since 2002: at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.
In the days since, though, there’s been little talk of the Hurricanes’ rise in the rankings – at least not in Miami’s football facility.
Instead, the focus has been kept on this week’s matchup against Pittsburgh and finding ways to go 1-0 in every moment leading up to kickoff.
“I think that all of us think that rankings only matter when the last game of the season is played, so as it relates to that, that’s probably the best answer I can give,” Cristobal said this week, when asked about Miami’s rise in the polls. “It’s the one that to me, makes the most sense. I know it’s not an interesting answer, a juicy one … but hopefully, it fits.”
Said Hurricanes redshirt senior center Ryan Rodriguez, one of Miami’s veteran leaders, “The ranking doesn’t really matter until the end of the season. That literally changes every week, and we’ve just got to continue to be 1-0, continue to find a way to get better every week. [Offensive line coach Alex] Mirabal, what he’s been preaching to us is, ‘What now? You won, great. What now?’ You’ve got to continue to get better and that’s our goal and that’s our mindset, and we’re nowhere near where we want to be and we’re going to continue to get better.”
For the Hurricanes (6-0, 4-0 ACC), the first chance to get better in a game comes against a Pittsburgh team that is trying to regain its footing after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season.
The sophomore tore his ACL in the Panthers’ win over Virginia Tech on Oct. 2, and in the weeks since, two different signal callers – fifth-year senior and Texas State and Auburn transfer Holden Geriner and freshman Corey Dailey – have started games for the Panthers (5-2, 2-2).
Pittsburgh came up short in both of those games, but Miami’s defense understands its opponent has playmakers on the roster, including previously injured running back Ja’Kyrian Turner, who was listed as probable on Pitt’s most recent availability report, fellow back Damon Ferguson Jr. and wide receiver Cataurus Hicks.
“Watching their offense, they have two good quarterbacks that are good at both running and [passing]. We’re just getting ready for everything,” said Hurricanes defensive lineman Armondo Blount. “They’ve got a good team. Good o-linemen. Physical team. We know they’re coming down here to play.”
Added linebacker Chase Smith, “We’re prepared for everything that we could possibly get presented for and that’s kind of how we’re attacking the game plan. We’re not leaving out anything. We don’t want any discrepancies when we go into this. We’re just kind of going into it straightforward, touching all bases.”
While Pittsburgh’s offense may be looking to get back on track after the injuries its dealt with, its defense enters Saturday’s matchup as the best in the nation against the run.
The Panthers have held their opponents to a meager 57.3 rushing yards per game, though the Hurricanes will look to challenge that with a deep running backs room that includes Mark Fletcher Jr., who has rushed for 373 yards and six touchdowns this season, and Javian Mallory, who has rushed for 397 yards and five touchdowns this season.
“They’re great. They have a great scheme. They’re [well] coached. [Pitt head coach Pat] Narduzzi is respected by everyone. They have veteran d-tackles, veteran linebackers,” Rodriguez said of the Panthers’ defensive front. “I remember some of those guys from last year and they’re going to play hard. They’re going to come and try to beat us. We’ve got to show up, execute and do our thing and be 1-0.”
The Hurricanes will also counter with quarterback Darian Mensah, who has shown his ability to run, when needed, and who remains – through six games – the nation’s most accurate passer.
Entering Saturday’s game, Mensah has thrown for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns, and his 80.8 completion percentage leads all FBS quarterbacks.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney, meanwhile, continues impressing.
The sophomore, who has 50 catches on the year for 758 yards and eight touchdowns, was named the Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week last week after totaling 191 all-purpose yards in the win over the Seminoles.
His 3-yard touchdown catch in the second overtime proved to be the difference-maker, along with his 2-point conversion throw to fellow receiver Cooper Barkate.
He, Barkate and the rest of Miami’s receiving corps could prove a challenge for a Pitt defense that ranks 116th in the nation against the pass.
But Miami won’t be taking any part of Pittsburgh’s defense for granted, Mensah said, especially since the Hurricanes want to make sure they go 1-0 again this week.
“I think their run defense is, I think, number one in the country,” Mensah said. “Physical, good d-line, really good third-down package, so, yeah, we’ve got to come prepared. That’s what stands out.”
Said tight end Elija Lofton, “They have good players on both sides of the ball. They have good defensive players. It’s going to be … a great opportunity to go out there and battle with my brothers, have fun, and play the game that we all love.”
It is a mantra; a thought process Miami head coach Mario Cristobal has worked to instill in his team since he returned to his alma mater nearly five years ago.
The Hurricanes aren’t to focus on finishing the year unbeaten. They’re not to look forward past the task or the opponent at hand. If they can find ways to go 1-0 every week – or, more accurately, 1-0 on the day – then Miami will, ultimately, become the team it wants to be.
As the Hurricanes prepare to close out a two-game homestand with a high-noon showdown against ACC foe Pittsburgh on Saturday, the mantra is being repeated over and over by coaches and players alike.
After a chaotic week that saw several upsets across college football and their 43-35 double-overtime win over rival Florida State last Saturday, the Hurricanes are one of just six FBS teams that remain unbeaten entering this week’s games.
That means that after Sunday, Miami found itself somewhere it hasn’t been since 2002: at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.
In the days since, though, there’s been little talk of the Hurricanes’ rise in the rankings – at least not in Miami’s football facility.
Instead, the focus has been kept on this week’s matchup against Pittsburgh and finding ways to go 1-0 in every moment leading up to kickoff.
“I think that all of us think that rankings only matter when the last game of the season is played, so as it relates to that, that’s probably the best answer I can give,” Cristobal said this week, when asked about Miami’s rise in the polls. “It’s the one that to me, makes the most sense. I know it’s not an interesting answer, a juicy one … but hopefully, it fits.”
Said Hurricanes redshirt senior center Ryan Rodriguez, one of Miami’s veteran leaders, “The ranking doesn’t really matter until the end of the season. That literally changes every week, and we’ve just got to continue to be 1-0, continue to find a way to get better every week. [Offensive line coach Alex] Mirabal, what he’s been preaching to us is, ‘What now? You won, great. What now?’ You’ve got to continue to get better and that’s our goal and that’s our mindset, and we’re nowhere near where we want to be and we’re going to continue to get better.”
For the Hurricanes (6-0, 4-0 ACC), the first chance to get better in a game comes against a Pittsburgh team that is trying to regain its footing after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel for the season.
The sophomore tore his ACL in the Panthers’ win over Virginia Tech on Oct. 2, and in the weeks since, two different signal callers – fifth-year senior and Texas State and Auburn transfer Holden Geriner and freshman Corey Dailey – have started games for the Panthers (5-2, 2-2).
Pittsburgh came up short in both of those games, but Miami’s defense understands its opponent has playmakers on the roster, including previously injured running back Ja’Kyrian Turner, who was listed as probable on Pitt’s most recent availability report, fellow back Damon Ferguson Jr. and wide receiver Cataurus Hicks.
“Watching their offense, they have two good quarterbacks that are good at both running and [passing]. We’re just getting ready for everything,” said Hurricanes defensive lineman Armondo Blount. “They’ve got a good team. Good o-linemen. Physical team. We know they’re coming down here to play.”
Added linebacker Chase Smith, “We’re prepared for everything that we could possibly get presented for and that’s kind of how we’re attacking the game plan. We’re not leaving out anything. We don’t want any discrepancies when we go into this. We’re just kind of going into it straightforward, touching all bases.”
While Pittsburgh’s offense may be looking to get back on track after the injuries its dealt with, its defense enters Saturday’s matchup as the best in the nation against the run.
The Panthers have held their opponents to a meager 57.3 rushing yards per game, though the Hurricanes will look to challenge that with a deep running backs room that includes Mark Fletcher Jr., who has rushed for 373 yards and six touchdowns this season, and Javian Mallory, who has rushed for 397 yards and five touchdowns this season.
“They’re great. They have a great scheme. They’re [well] coached. [Pitt head coach Pat] Narduzzi is respected by everyone. They have veteran d-tackles, veteran linebackers,” Rodriguez said of the Panthers’ defensive front. “I remember some of those guys from last year and they’re going to play hard. They’re going to come and try to beat us. We’ve got to show up, execute and do our thing and be 1-0.”
The Hurricanes will also counter with quarterback Darian Mensah, who has shown his ability to run, when needed, and who remains – through six games – the nation’s most accurate passer.
Entering Saturday’s game, Mensah has thrown for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns, and his 80.8 completion percentage leads all FBS quarterbacks.
Wide receiver Malachi Toney, meanwhile, continues impressing.
The sophomore, who has 50 catches on the year for 758 yards and eight touchdowns, was named the Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week last week after totaling 191 all-purpose yards in the win over the Seminoles.
His 3-yard touchdown catch in the second overtime proved to be the difference-maker, along with his 2-point conversion throw to fellow receiver Cooper Barkate.
He, Barkate and the rest of Miami’s receiving corps could prove a challenge for a Pitt defense that ranks 116th in the nation against the pass.
But Miami won’t be taking any part of Pittsburgh’s defense for granted, Mensah said, especially since the Hurricanes want to make sure they go 1-0 again this week.
“I think their run defense is, I think, number one in the country,” Mensah said. “Physical, good d-line, really good third-down package, so, yeah, we’ve got to come prepared. That’s what stands out.”
Said tight end Elija Lofton, “They have good players on both sides of the ball. They have good defensive players. It’s going to be … a great opportunity to go out there and battle with my brothers, have fun, and play the game that we all love.”
