I disagree. Numbers are numbers but there is context to be applied. Mario has been a HC three times. He was at FIU the longest (6 years). Every stop he’s been at has been a complete rebuild. If you adjust his overall record/winning pct (84-76, 52.5%) to power 5 football (Oregon and Miami) he has a 57-19 record with a 75% win pct. Now if we separate the power 5 programs and re-introduce his time at FIU, it is important to understand what FIU’s program has always been, especially at that time. The golden era of the Golden Panthers was with an inexperienced, first time HC in Mario Cristobal.
I’m a Mario supporter as I’ve said on here a bunch of times. I think he is a much better coach than people, especially our fan base, gives him credit for. He has undoubtedly elevated our program in every facet. As a supporter, what I will say is, he needs to take the next step. We all say “we’d be happy consistently winning 10 games and just being competitive” but that’s a load of crap.
He has recruited better than the rest of the conference 3 years in a row now. He needs to take the next step and, at absolutely bare minimum, get to the ACCCG and the playoff. At some point the question of just how much talent he’s going to need to accrue to beat people with inferior talent to him will come in to play. I hope he turns it around just like I’m hoping the success of our baseball team continues and JD remains for the same reasons as Mario.