JD PicKell: Some people love Miami's turnover chain

The Miami Hurricanes recently made headlines after head coach Mario Cristobal did away with one of the football program’s recent traditions. Cristobal announced late in July that Miami football would no longer use the turnover chain starting this season. Now some fans support the head coach’s move while others are still scratching their heads about his decision. And On3’s JD PicKell explains why some Hurricanes fans loved the turnover chain.

“Mario Cristobal has come out and talked about the turnover chain, and to put it bluntly, he just said it’s not part of our culture,” said PicKell. “Pretty cut and dry about that; pretty much just said it’s not something we do anymore. Not something that I’m interested in us doing anymore, not part of our team culture. What’s the response to this? Because some people love the turnover chain: ‘That’s cool, that’s swag, glitz, and glamour… that’s Miami. That’s the kind of the big-time white-hot kind of vibe in Miami, right.”

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Whether it is loved or hated on the outside by fans is not the concern of Cristobal. The Miami head coach has repeated time and time again, this offseason, his objective is to bring back the winning culture the Hurricanes had in previous decades. And if he feels that the turnover chain distracts from his long-term goal, then it is well within reason for him to do away with that tradition. Especially since that tradition has not produced any significant results for the Hurricanes’ defense.

Mario Cristobal: Turnover chain is ‘not part of our culture’

The Turnover Chain is no more. Miami coach Mario Cristobal is officially ditching the tradition.

Cristobal said the Hurricanes are moving on from the turnover chain, which has been part of the program since 2017. He told The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy about the move and discussed how it fits into the culture he’s trying to build.

Well, more like how it doesn’t fit.

“It’s not part of our culture,” Cristobal told McMurphy.

Miami forced 11 turnovers last season — a stark contrast to the first year the Hurricanes used the chain when they forced 31 in 2017. Those celebrations are now in the past.

Cristobal is getting ready for his first season as Miami head coach after leaving Oregon to replace Manny Diaz over the offseason. After taking over at his alma mater, he got to work on the recruiting trail and has the 2022’s No. 11-ranked class in the country coming in, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.