Mario Cristobal reveals the value that Tyler Van Dyke brings to the Miami Hurricanes

Manny Diaz wasn’t fired from Miami because the Hurricanes lacked talent. Miami fired him because that talent wasn’t translating to wins. This meant that new head coach Mario Cristobal found a program with potential. That includes a talented young quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke.

During ACC media days, Mario Cristobal spoke about the value Tyler Van Dyke provides the new staff.

“Well, when you are a new staff, there comes — or change comes with it, and change isn’t always the easiest thing to get accustomed to,” said Mario Cristobal. “So when you are in a program like Miami, and you get to have these unbelievable young men and you spoke about or asked about the quarterback, in particular, being the most important position on the field in terms of operating an offense, it’s a tremendous blessing.”

“We made it no secret, we recognized instantly and from far away because, obviously, you watch college football at every chance you get, is that Tyler Van Dyke in that quarterback room is very special.”

Mario Cristobal praised Tyler Van Dyke thoroughly, saying that he is an incredibly hard worker and a great natural leader. Those aspects of Van Dyke, more so than his physical attributes, are what have been important for the new staff.

“You have a natural leader that’s one of your hardest workers and competing to be recognized as the hardest worker that demands as much of himself as he does of anybody else. That type of mentality and that work ethic he has also displayed in the classroom and the way he approaches community service and everything he does. It’s a tremendous benefit, a huge asset for the university and the program, and certainly makes the adjustment a lot more simple.”

Mario Cristobal is building a new culture in Miami

Players like Tyler Van Dyke are incredibly important to Mario Cristobal and the new Miami staff. It’s the players who need to buy in to change the culture. That includes doing things like getting rid of the Turnover Chain. He simply said that it isn’t a part of their culture.

On3’s J.D. PicKell broke down how Mario Cristobal is resetting the culture in South Florida. Tyler Van Dyke is incredibly important to that new culture. He’s the leader who the rest of the team looks to for an example in this new era.