As Miami prepares for its biggest stage of the season in the Fiesta Bowl, Mario Cristobal spoke this week about the challenge Ole Miss presents and what he expects from his team.
Here is everything Mario Cristobal said:
Opening Statement
“Certainly want to thank first of all, the fans for showing up so strong like they did this past week in Dallas, and I’m really proud of our team for showing resiliency, toughness, and very enthused, very excited to be able to attack this next opportunity. So many things on tape that we can get better at. There’s areas where we have improved, but we’re still a work in progress and just looking forward to our next opportunity.”
On Ole Miss’ Coaching Staff Situation
“It has zero impact on our preparation, and I think be safe to say that it doesn’t impact their preparation as well. They’re a great football team with great coaches that are in place, and they’re preparing just as hard for this as they have.”
On Top Alumni Being on the Sidelines
“It’s always great to see. And it’s great to see such high-profile names, such high-caliber former players and coaches. And it’s also great to see some of the guys that maybe weren’t those high-profile guys that haven’t been around in a long time, but they were Hurricanes just as well. So I think just the entirety of the Hurricane, Miami Hurricane family from years past, showing up and supporting our team and getting back involved with the university is absolutely awesome. And it also gives our players a chance to experience that brotherhood that we have always spoken about so strongly of.”
On Ole Miss’ Edge After Coaching Changes
“They’re an excellent football team. They’ve got speed, power, explosiveness across the field. They certainly played with a tremendous edge this past week against Georgia, and showed up big in the big moments. And I think the fact that they have their play callers in place, which is arguably the most important part, I don’t think there’s any effect on what they do schematically. And I think that anything that an event like what they went through, I think things like that always galvanize people. So again, just really impressed with them. It’s certainly the best team that we have faced, that we will face, I should say, this year, and looking forward to that opportunity.”
On Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss
“Yeah, we have faced some really good ones throughout the course of the year, especially the last couple of weeks. And watching him on film, he’s a different level. I mean, he can do it all, and he has excelled in every aspect of the game. He certainly brings a ton of energy to their team. He’s a limitless football player. And certainly you could see on the sideline and watching some of the stuff on TV, his leadership skills and the way people gravitate to him, he’s had tremendous impact on the program. Plenty of respect.”
On What’s Changed About the Team
“I don’t think anything really. I think that media sometimes is a little bit more intrusive, so they get a little bit more behind the scenes. And sometimes, maybe a narrative is built that is not exactly completely accurate. And I think when you wouldn’t have success, then there begins the next narrative of why this and that, but we stayed true to our core beliefs, our principles, and our values. I think our team, as years gone on, has certainly played with more confidence. And I think the confidence that the coach is having the players and the vice versa has shown up more and more on the field. And I think when that happens, then you feel energy. But really, we haven’t strayed from our original blueprint.”
On Injured Players (OJ Frederique, Damari Brown, & Ahmad Moten)
“Progressing steadily. I would say day-to-day, and we’ll have a better idea in the next two or three days, but we feel like they’re progressing at a pretty good rate.”
On Run Defense Adjustments After The VT Game
“Virginia Tech, credit to them. I mean, they executed some stuff really, really well. And we adjusted, but you know, they also played really, really hard. We played hard… I just think our technique, our willingness, has gotten better, and just the understanding of the defense and where your health is allows you to leverage the ball…”
On Ball Security
“Certainly, it’s one of the non-bright spots. We take a lot of pride in that… So, you have to be cautious of that because bodies are going to fly around… ball security… has to be emphasized and accomplished at a higher level. It’s one of the biggest, and I’d say the biggest focal point of us this week.”
On Keeping the Team Grounded
“Right now at this time of year… praise and overpraise is poisonous man. It is absolutely the worst thing you can take in and listen to… you create your own distractions… I think the mentality, the DNA of our guys… has improved.”
On QB Carson Beck
“Schematically, he knows exactly where to go with the ball, where not to go with it. He's put us in great protections in the run game. He has put us in advantage runs. He knows where he's not protected, and he's secured the football. Ball security has been fantastic for the most part. So, that's such a big part of like, what we do, right? We've been efficient when we've been good, I should say we've been efficient on offense, and it all starts with the quarterback. But again, that's like a highly committed, high work ethic guy that people gravitate towards him. And he's kind of him, along with [Francis Mauigoa] and Mark Fletcher, CJ Daniels, Keelan [Marion], they set the tone, man. Alex Bauman. Those guys are like the dudes, and together with Carson. I just think his level of play, complemented by all those guys mentioned, it has generated some really strong offensive performances, and there's a lot to correct on film. We feel like we need to be, and have to be a whole lot better here, going into this game."
On Outstanding Offensive Play
“I just think his level of play… complemented by all those guys mentioned… it has generated some really strong offensive performances…”
On Marty Brown
“He's always been a big part of the equation. He's proven that throughout the course of the year, and Marty is made of the right stuff. He understands what team play and being a great teammate is all about. So there's no flinch in him. There's no hesitation or reservation about him. Every time he's been called upon, he's answered the bell because he knows he's a big part of this, and he knew this was his kind of a game, too. This was one of those physical, knock them, sock them around, type of games, right? The rock fights like we talk about. And he was prepared. He was prepared. And when he got his opportunity, not only did he show up, he showed up strong. And he was a difference maker in the game, both with his catch, with his blocking and of course, the way he finished those runs."
On Facing Explosive Offenses
“Well, I don’t think you ever limit the amount of points that you want to score in any game. So that would never change… And from a game plan standpoint,… certainly they’re an excellent, excellent offense… no one’s really had any success against them whatsoever. So looking forward to the opportunity to compete.”
Here is everything Mario Cristobal said:
Opening Statement
“Certainly want to thank first of all, the fans for showing up so strong like they did this past week in Dallas, and I’m really proud of our team for showing resiliency, toughness, and very enthused, very excited to be able to attack this next opportunity. So many things on tape that we can get better at. There’s areas where we have improved, but we’re still a work in progress and just looking forward to our next opportunity.”
On Ole Miss’ Coaching Staff Situation
“It has zero impact on our preparation, and I think be safe to say that it doesn’t impact their preparation as well. They’re a great football team with great coaches that are in place, and they’re preparing just as hard for this as they have.”
On Top Alumni Being on the Sidelines
“It’s always great to see. And it’s great to see such high-profile names, such high-caliber former players and coaches. And it’s also great to see some of the guys that maybe weren’t those high-profile guys that haven’t been around in a long time, but they were Hurricanes just as well. So I think just the entirety of the Hurricane, Miami Hurricane family from years past, showing up and supporting our team and getting back involved with the university is absolutely awesome. And it also gives our players a chance to experience that brotherhood that we have always spoken about so strongly of.”
On Ole Miss’ Edge After Coaching Changes
“They’re an excellent football team. They’ve got speed, power, explosiveness across the field. They certainly played with a tremendous edge this past week against Georgia, and showed up big in the big moments. And I think the fact that they have their play callers in place, which is arguably the most important part, I don’t think there’s any effect on what they do schematically. And I think that anything that an event like what they went through, I think things like that always galvanize people. So again, just really impressed with them. It’s certainly the best team that we have faced, that we will face, I should say, this year, and looking forward to that opportunity.”
On Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss
“Yeah, we have faced some really good ones throughout the course of the year, especially the last couple of weeks. And watching him on film, he’s a different level. I mean, he can do it all, and he has excelled in every aspect of the game. He certainly brings a ton of energy to their team. He’s a limitless football player. And certainly you could see on the sideline and watching some of the stuff on TV, his leadership skills and the way people gravitate to him, he’s had tremendous impact on the program. Plenty of respect.”
On What’s Changed About the Team
“I don’t think anything really. I think that media sometimes is a little bit more intrusive, so they get a little bit more behind the scenes. And sometimes, maybe a narrative is built that is not exactly completely accurate. And I think when you wouldn’t have success, then there begins the next narrative of why this and that, but we stayed true to our core beliefs, our principles, and our values. I think our team, as years gone on, has certainly played with more confidence. And I think the confidence that the coach is having the players and the vice versa has shown up more and more on the field. And I think when that happens, then you feel energy. But really, we haven’t strayed from our original blueprint.”
On Injured Players (OJ Frederique, Damari Brown, & Ahmad Moten)
“Progressing steadily. I would say day-to-day, and we’ll have a better idea in the next two or three days, but we feel like they’re progressing at a pretty good rate.”
On Run Defense Adjustments After The VT Game
“Virginia Tech, credit to them. I mean, they executed some stuff really, really well. And we adjusted, but you know, they also played really, really hard. We played hard… I just think our technique, our willingness, has gotten better, and just the understanding of the defense and where your health is allows you to leverage the ball…”
On Ball Security
“Certainly, it’s one of the non-bright spots. We take a lot of pride in that… So, you have to be cautious of that because bodies are going to fly around… ball security… has to be emphasized and accomplished at a higher level. It’s one of the biggest, and I’d say the biggest focal point of us this week.”
On Keeping the Team Grounded
“Right now at this time of year… praise and overpraise is poisonous man. It is absolutely the worst thing you can take in and listen to… you create your own distractions… I think the mentality, the DNA of our guys… has improved.”
On QB Carson Beck
“Schematically, he knows exactly where to go with the ball, where not to go with it. He's put us in great protections in the run game. He has put us in advantage runs. He knows where he's not protected, and he's secured the football. Ball security has been fantastic for the most part. So, that's such a big part of like, what we do, right? We've been efficient when we've been good, I should say we've been efficient on offense, and it all starts with the quarterback. But again, that's like a highly committed, high work ethic guy that people gravitate towards him. And he's kind of him, along with [Francis Mauigoa] and Mark Fletcher, CJ Daniels, Keelan [Marion], they set the tone, man. Alex Bauman. Those guys are like the dudes, and together with Carson. I just think his level of play, complemented by all those guys mentioned, it has generated some really strong offensive performances, and there's a lot to correct on film. We feel like we need to be, and have to be a whole lot better here, going into this game."
On Outstanding Offensive Play
“I just think his level of play… complemented by all those guys mentioned… it has generated some really strong offensive performances…”
On Marty Brown
“He's always been a big part of the equation. He's proven that throughout the course of the year, and Marty is made of the right stuff. He understands what team play and being a great teammate is all about. So there's no flinch in him. There's no hesitation or reservation about him. Every time he's been called upon, he's answered the bell because he knows he's a big part of this, and he knew this was his kind of a game, too. This was one of those physical, knock them, sock them around, type of games, right? The rock fights like we talk about. And he was prepared. He was prepared. And when he got his opportunity, not only did he show up, he showed up strong. And he was a difference maker in the game, both with his catch, with his blocking and of course, the way he finished those runs."
On Facing Explosive Offenses
“Well, I don’t think you ever limit the amount of points that you want to score in any game. So that would never change… And from a game plan standpoint,… certainly they’re an excellent, excellent offense… no one’s really had any success against them whatsoever. So looking forward to the opportunity to compete.”
