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Mario Cristobal opens up on what it means to battle Louisville annually for the Schnellenberger Trophy

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•07/25/23
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Sep 1, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) lines up at the line of scrimmage against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half of play at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Louisville defeated Miami 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

It was recently announced that the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals would now face off for the Schnellenberger Trophy starting in 2023. With the ACC’s recent scheduling changes, which will get teams permanent opponents, the two schools we haven’t faced off against one another since 2020, will be tied together in battle from now on.

At the ACC Football Media Day, Hurricanes head coach and former player Mario Cristobal gave his thoughts on playing the Cardinals annually for the Schnellenberger trophy.

“I love Coach Schnellenberger,” said Cristobal. “I was recruited by him. My brother was recruited by him. He spent many, many days and nights at the house recruiting us. I more fond of the pipe than the boots, quite honestly. I think it’s the right type of honor to honor Coach Schnellenberger, what he did for the University of Miami, what he has done for the University of Louisville, what he represents in terms of football.”

“He made the game better. He was a great man. We refer to him a good amount of times, and he is just a significant contributor of the game of football and our community. We’re honored to have the opportunity to honor him.”

Who is Howard L. Schnellenberger

Howard L. Schnellenberger is credited as the man who put the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals football programs on the college football map in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s. He led Miami to its first national championship in 1983, beating the powerhouse Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl 31-30, thanks to the arm of legendary Hurricanes quarterback Bernie Kosar and a star-studded cast of NFL talent.

In 1985, two years removed from his national championship victory with the Hurricanes, Schnellenberger returned to his hometown of Louisville, KY, to head the Cardinals program. Before his arrival, Louisville was anything but a football institution. Football took a backseat to the men’s basketball team. It took him some time, but after three years of cultivating a winning football culture, Schnellenberger turned the Louisville program into one that was respected on the field. His most notable victory at Louisville was their 34-7 beatdown of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl. That season, he led the Cardinals to a 10-1-1 record.

Schnellenberger is still connected with both institutions. Attached to the Cardinals’ home stadium at L&N Federal Credit Union stadium is the Howard L Schnellenberger football complex. And as for the Hurricanes, they inducted him into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame back in 1993.