Mario Cristobal on what has changed, what has remained the same at Miami

Mario Cristobal made his long awaited return to Miami following the 2021 college football season. Now in his fourth stint with the program as either a player or coach, Cristobal has been a part of multiple eras throughout Hurricanes history.

Heading into the 2022 season, Cristobal isn’t worried about the past or how the program has changed since his last departure in 2006.

“I don’t get caught up in nostalgia theater, I don’t, because times change and things change,” Cristobal said. “What remains the same is that Greentree Practice Field, that the work done on there for decades, for decades, the best football players in college and professional football blood, sweat, and tears out there every single day.

“The camaraderie of the alumni and the current players was something that was always really strong and was a big reason why I wanted to go to Miami. I did. I loved going to practice and watching all these former players come back. They looked like assistant coaches. They would be jumping in there and coaching up guys. Probably upsetting the coaches that they were teaching probably a little bit better than some of them, but the amount of passion and true brotherhood behind it was something I was really attracted to.”

Since taking over the program, Cristobal has helped lead the Hurricanes to the No. 12 ranked national recruiting class in 2022, according to the On3 Consensus. Not only that, but the Florida native helped lure several transfer portal commitments from multiple offensive weapons, such as former Clemson receiver Frank Ladson and former Ole Miss running back Henry Parrish.

Cristobal, who previously held the Oregon job before this year, has now proved his ability to recruit well in several regions throughout the country, while still utilizing transfer portal to fill in the gaps.

While he wants to rid himself of the nostalgia that comes with returning to his former university, Cristobal will still want to rebuild the winning culture he was a part of during his multiple tenures with Miami. It seems the culture is trending in that direction – and it starts with the team he’s put together.

“I was attracted to the level have competition on the field. That field looked like game day. Practice looked like an absolute knock-out, drag-out championship game,” Cristobal said. “I loved that. I was attracted to that. We want to attract guys that are attracted to that as well and that understand the balance that comes with being a great student and being a great member of society as well.”