Mario Cristobal Reflects On His 4-Year Miami Rebuild: From Ground Zero to No. 2 in Nation

With the Miami Hurricanes off to a hot 4-0 start and ranked No. 2 in the nation, the grind continues with the team on a bye week before traveling to face a resurgent Florida State team in a nationally televised night game Oct. 4.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal sat down recently on “This Is Football with Kevin Clark” and reflected on the process that was needed to rebuild this Cane program when he came in four years ago. The coach said the building process mirrored what he called the “atomic explosion” he saw when he was starting “from ground zero” at FIU … or when he went in to take over an Oregon program that had gone 4-8.

“This one was as bad as we’ve been around in terms of the roster itself and the culture,” he said.

Cristobal reflected on his initial thoughts when he was flying into Miami after accepting the job and started watching the team on his iPad.

“As I’m watching more and more film that feeling in your gut (is) `Holy crap, buckle up brother,’” Cristobal said.

So yes, this program has now come a long, long way. Cristobal says he “started to see” the program start to look like it was supposed to last season.

And that’s continued into this year with an assist from the portal and continued recruiting/development.

“We’re seeing those young guys we recruited who are now in their third year take off,” Cristobal said, adding that “At the end of the day every really good coach has really good players.”

Cristobal has built this Miami team from the trenches out. And he says “big, powerful athletic guys that can flat out run and play with physicality” are key. “Guys that can think, lead,” he adds.

Cristobal also pointed to how this team still “has a long way to go” even with all the progress. And he says watching mistakes on film and working hard in practices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in practices prevents the Nick Saban “rat poison” of everyone thinking they are as good as they need to be.

“Just watching the film we left two dozen opportunities out there that could have really created separation (vs. Florida),” Cristobal said. “We have to better the technique, fundamentals, schematic changes, development of some of the younger guys. A lot of work to do.”

Oh, and don’t tell Cristobal that Miami “is back.”

“That statement – back during that time, Miami was so damn good and also irritated a lot of people with style of play that it was a special place in time engrained in everyone’s head as memories of really dominant play with some arrogant moments,” Cristobal said. “Those guys are iconic in so many ways. Everyone wants back, back, back. We don’t want to go back. We want to go forward. … we don’t want to go in a time capsule and go backward. We want to go straight ahead and make it happen now.”

*DE Rueben Bain is considered a high NFL Draft pick, and he and fellow end Akheem Mesidor have dominated. They helped combine to give Florida the worst pass-blocking grade in the history of Pro Football Focus at 2.3 percent. So what does Cristobal have to say about Bain? In addition to his ridiculous football skills, Cristobal says “He’s even a better person, harder worker and his football IQ is through the roof. … He has some of the heaviest hands you will ever, ever see. He’s 275 pounds and runs like he’s 225 pounds. And you have to yank him out of the game, he will not come out. … Rueben Bain has separated himself as one of the best if not the best player in the country.” Cristobal also said Mesidor “is playing really, really good football.”