Miami Hurricanes head football coach Mario Cristobal joined the ACC Kickoff Network podcast inside the Hilton Hotels in Charlotte, North Carolina. Check out everything he had to say below.
On brining in Darian Mensah: Well, I think even before we bring them in, we have to assess if we actually need one. We felt that this was, like, the last year that we're gonna need one, because we feel great about that quarterback room going forward. But, I mean, when he entered the portal, Darian, we felt like, we were in the market for one. We're like, that's exactly what we're looking for on tape. Let's see what he's like as a person. And then being a Miami Hurricane and explaining that, well, an alumni reunion with 400 members showing up, they did a good job explaining it to him. And that didn't scare him away. You know, Michael Irvin didn't kiss him, you know what I mean? It was good. But, yeah, those guys, our alumni do an unbelievable job introducing themselves and bringing those guys into the culture.
On the message towards the team: Yeah, you know, I always, I don't want them to ever feel any pressure from the outside. That's irrelevant. Always has. We're all football guys here, right? No one's ever had greater expectations for ourselves than our own selves. And I think we understand that. And I think it's on us as coaches to conduct our dailys, starting with practice, where all that BS is eliminated with the level of work, with the level of intensity and urgency as it relates to everything, you know? And it takes everybody for everything every single day. And if we stay along those lines of process, we're gonna be just fine.
On the next group stepping up after last year: We have the same philosophy as you had, when you were coaching. The moment we signed Rueben Bain, we knew it. This guy's the dude, and teamed with Akeem and these other guys. So we started that process in '22. You know, and guys like Armando Blount and Marquise Lightfoot and Hayden Lowe and Damon Wilson coming over, Herbert Scroggins. That's just to mention a few. Those guys, they haven't been waiting. They've been working to replace, right? So we feel, and they were in the big moments. You watch the Ohio State game, you watch the A&M game. They're in there, in the big moments. It's their time. And the way we practice, they sure as **** get enough reps, so they'll be ready.
On the leadership standpoint: That's the best part of their legacy. They showed them what it looks like, and, you know, success leaves clues. That's what these guys do. The extra time invested with each other, doing all the things necessary. No BS. You know, a true professional approach to the game and preparation. That stuff is contagious, man, and they've done a great job of that.
On the intensity of practice: There's a bus ticket literally leaving every half hour if you don't want a piece of it, brother. You know what I mean? Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out. I mean, it's still football, and it's college football. We have to develop. And to develop, we need reps. And the line of scrimmage needs physicality on a daily basis with technique and fundamentals, bending at the knees, feet in the ground, hands inside, playing low to high. And if you're not willing to do that, you're not willing to play in December and January for the big games.
On building off of last year success: Oh, physicality and violence on defense and a level of commitment that had taken another step. You know, every year we've gotten better, five, win, seven, 10. And it all was dependent and reliant upon guys willing to do the things necessary to win. And they've left a tremendous impression on our players. Remember, 39 of our 41 new additions were with us in January for two games. So they saw the blueprint in action. They saw the level of commitment necessary to have success, even though we didn't win the last game. So they have a pretty good idea. And, like, we're practicing yesterday, or the players are, they're doing their PLP. Rueben Bain's out there. You want that guy staring down your shoulder and not doing it the right way? So it's, this new wave has now taken the next step in becoming those former players that hold us to a high standard.
On the offensive linemen that stood out this spring: McCoy, Samson, and Ryan, because they've all been there, they've all played multiple reps. They're all in the 325 to 335 range. And they're dogs. They are. And they haven't waited for their time. They've played. They've all played significant amount of snaps. And they know that playing for Coach Mirabal is a different level teacher that's going to hold those guys to a high standard. And he's going to make the callus first and foremost. He's not going to wait till you feel kind and cuddly and want to go in there. He's going to get after your *** and make sure that you are ready to play through pain, through fatigue, and perform at a high level.
On brining in Darian Mensah: Well, I think even before we bring them in, we have to assess if we actually need one. We felt that this was, like, the last year that we're gonna need one, because we feel great about that quarterback room going forward. But, I mean, when he entered the portal, Darian, we felt like, we were in the market for one. We're like, that's exactly what we're looking for on tape. Let's see what he's like as a person. And then being a Miami Hurricane and explaining that, well, an alumni reunion with 400 members showing up, they did a good job explaining it to him. And that didn't scare him away. You know, Michael Irvin didn't kiss him, you know what I mean? It was good. But, yeah, those guys, our alumni do an unbelievable job introducing themselves and bringing those guys into the culture.
On the message towards the team: Yeah, you know, I always, I don't want them to ever feel any pressure from the outside. That's irrelevant. Always has. We're all football guys here, right? No one's ever had greater expectations for ourselves than our own selves. And I think we understand that. And I think it's on us as coaches to conduct our dailys, starting with practice, where all that BS is eliminated with the level of work, with the level of intensity and urgency as it relates to everything, you know? And it takes everybody for everything every single day. And if we stay along those lines of process, we're gonna be just fine.
On the next group stepping up after last year: We have the same philosophy as you had, when you were coaching. The moment we signed Rueben Bain, we knew it. This guy's the dude, and teamed with Akeem and these other guys. So we started that process in '22. You know, and guys like Armando Blount and Marquise Lightfoot and Hayden Lowe and Damon Wilson coming over, Herbert Scroggins. That's just to mention a few. Those guys, they haven't been waiting. They've been working to replace, right? So we feel, and they were in the big moments. You watch the Ohio State game, you watch the A&M game. They're in there, in the big moments. It's their time. And the way we practice, they sure as **** get enough reps, so they'll be ready.
On the leadership standpoint: That's the best part of their legacy. They showed them what it looks like, and, you know, success leaves clues. That's what these guys do. The extra time invested with each other, doing all the things necessary. No BS. You know, a true professional approach to the game and preparation. That stuff is contagious, man, and they've done a great job of that.
On the intensity of practice: There's a bus ticket literally leaving every half hour if you don't want a piece of it, brother. You know what I mean? Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out. I mean, it's still football, and it's college football. We have to develop. And to develop, we need reps. And the line of scrimmage needs physicality on a daily basis with technique and fundamentals, bending at the knees, feet in the ground, hands inside, playing low to high. And if you're not willing to do that, you're not willing to play in December and January for the big games.
On building off of last year success: Oh, physicality and violence on defense and a level of commitment that had taken another step. You know, every year we've gotten better, five, win, seven, 10. And it all was dependent and reliant upon guys willing to do the things necessary to win. And they've left a tremendous impression on our players. Remember, 39 of our 41 new additions were with us in January for two games. So they saw the blueprint in action. They saw the level of commitment necessary to have success, even though we didn't win the last game. So they have a pretty good idea. And, like, we're practicing yesterday, or the players are, they're doing their PLP. Rueben Bain's out there. You want that guy staring down your shoulder and not doing it the right way? So it's, this new wave has now taken the next step in becoming those former players that hold us to a high standard.
On the offensive linemen that stood out this spring: McCoy, Samson, and Ryan, because they've all been there, they've all played multiple reps. They're all in the 325 to 335 range. And they're dogs. They are. And they haven't waited for their time. They've played. They've all played significant amount of snaps. And they know that playing for Coach Mirabal is a different level teacher that's going to hold those guys to a high standard. And he's going to make the callus first and foremost. He's not going to wait till you feel kind and cuddly and want to go in there. He's going to get after your *** and make sure that you are ready to play through pain, through fatigue, and perform at a high level.
