Mario Cristobal stresses what mentorship from Miami alumni means to players

Since head coach Mario Cristobal took over the Miami Hurricanes job in 2022, he has largely embraced the team’s alumni. That has included former players like Michael Irvin being on the sidelines during games.

Those former players are more than just around the program, though. They also become mentors to the entirety of the current team, which Cristobal stressed is important to the players and is a big reason why so many players come to Miami.

“That’s another reason so many guys came here for so many years was because of that,” Mario Cristobal said. “That type of mentorship is invaluable. Imagine getting mentored by Hall of Famers that have done it at the highest level to the best of what most anyone can remember.”

There are very few college programs around the country that have had alumni in the NFL as successful as the Miami Hurricanes. Some of the biggest names in football history, like Ed Reed, Warren Sapp, and Ray Lewis, played at Miami. In total, 11 former Hurricanes are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are also eight former Miami players in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The value of having those players around the program in recruiting can certainly be felt. In the Class of 2024, which is the last completed recruiting cycle, Miami had the 5th-ranked recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking football Team Recruiting Rankings.

“And it comes from the right place. Comes from the heart,” Cristobal said. “And I think it’s also an indication of how much University of Miami means to the guys that went here, and that they’re feeling very positive about the direction of the program, and that they want to be present and involved.”

For his own part, Mario Cristobal knows firsthand what it’s like to be a player at Miami. He was an offensive lineman on the team from 1989 to 1992 under head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. There, he won two national championships as a player.

Mario Cristobal addresses what Florida State rivalry means to non-local players

Miami is set to take on rival Florida State this week. It’s an important game to the fans and alumni who know the value of beating a local rival. According to Mario Cristobal, even the non-local players know why this game matters so much.

“You’d be surprised how many guys you’d think wouldn’t be familiar with but that are familiar with it. I think it’s important that we always educate our players on the history of the University of Miami, and such an insanely awesome rivalry like we’ve always had with Florida State, and at the same time making sure that the main thing stays the main thing so that we don’t spill over into emotional play. Stuff that doesn’t contribute to winning,” Cristobal said.

“But no, the response and the excitement is what you could imagine. I don’t think the rivalry and the juice and energy behind it will ever change. It’s Florida State-Miami, and certainly looking forward to a great challenge and a great opportunity.”