Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal and player reaction post-Virginia
OPINION: You can’t dream up drama like the Miami Hurricanes conjured up in winning at Virginia … OPINION: Longest game in Miami Hurricanes history shows the resolve, resilience Cristobal wants built … 5 Takeaways: Miami Hurricanes at Virginia … CANESPORT TV: The CaneSport Postgame Show 4 p.m. … ANALYSIS: Miami Hurricanes prevail at Virginia, 14-12, in ugly 4 OT game, with run game and PK Andy Borregales leading the way … Grading the Miami Hurricanes: Breaking down the Virginia game … Photo gallery: Miami vs. Virginia … VIDEO: Miami Hurricanes vs. Virginia highlights
HEAD COACH MARIO CRISTOBAL
Opening Statement
“Thank you for hanging in there obviously. I can’t say enough about the resiliency of the team, which was something that we felt certainly needed to be upgraded based on some of the recent things in some of our games for some of our guys. I’m really proud of our guys for effort, toughness, and playing hard the whole way through. The defense, minus some of those third downs, and the quarterback played about as good of a game as you can play. I saw some phenomenal stuff, particularly down in the redzones, particularly the tight red zone and the fourth down stop. Offensively, the best part was that the sideline, no matter what happened they just continued to get together, support each other, push each other and lift each other up. I’m really proud of the support they showed knowing that we’re in one of those games where you might have to win it 3-0 or win it in four overtimes. This is something positive to build on and we’ll be getting right back to work tomorrow.”
On this game as a confidence builder
“The mental approach definitely got stronger. The ability to tune out any stuff that can deter or harm performance was big. And, they had fun. They really enjoyed playing the situations which is what I’m seeing from the sidelines. When the guys came to the sidelines you saw a group of players very motivated regardless of whether it was 3rd-and-goal at the two-yard line or 1st-and-10. They were just very driven and motivated to perform at the highest level and work hard.”
On things Miami could’ve done better
“We had a couple of shots where we didn’t connect but it was right there, designed well and we were open. One time it was overthrown, and another time we just missed. A few other times we were just out of sync, out of phase. They looked good during the week, and other things show up a little better in practice than the passing game did today but obviously we’ve got to get back to work.”
Miami Running Back Henry Parrish Jr.
On having an injury during the game but still performing
“For sure. It felt pretty good, getting back into my groove. I [was] excited to get back to work with [my guys] and it paid off.”
On some issues that you saw that wasn’t quite clicking
“I’ll say the run game. We kind of struggled in the first half, we just had to stick to it and just work. It was gonna open up and [we] just had to take advantage of every opportunity.”
On his experience during the overtime periods
“It was pretty tough, but you just got to put your head down and work. These are the moments you work for. All the OTs and all the hard work you put in the off season, it showed up today. You just got to get back to the field and correct the mistakes and get back to work.”
Mitchell Agude, Sixth-Year Redshirt Senior, Defensive Line
On success against Virginia’s offensive line
“I think everyone just had the mentality of dominating. We came into the game knowing that it’s gonna take grit and you’re gonna take fight from every single player. We wanted to out-will every player, every down. That’s why we had such good production.”
On goal-line stands
“It was just never quit. Every down, keep playing your hardest. Just keep fighting. In football, it’s about inches. If you can keep them out of the end zone, you can win the game.”
On two-point conversions
“Just don’t let them score. Simple as that. Don’t let them score no matter what. I’m very proud of our defense, never quitting and being resilient. I think that’s that just shows Miami football.”
Freshman Quarterback Jake Garcia
On the last play of the game:
“There was a lot of praying for me going on the sideline during the two-point conversion plays. We called that play and we had worked it a couple of times in practice. I was ready for it and we talked through it together. Coach [Mario] Cristobal said, ‘You have to make a play. You’re going to have your ‘flat’ right there or you can hand the ball off.’ I stepped back to read what was going on. I saw my ‘flat’ guy, Kahlil Brantley, and it looked like he was going to trip me. Knowing how my day was going though, I was like, ‘I see the piling right there, I am running this ball. I’m right here’. Khalil blocked for me, and we made the play happen.”
On the team’s feeling following the win:
“It was a great and surreal feeling to see it there and to know that you are walking away with a win after everything. I would like to give huge props to our coaches, offensive line, running backs, and our defense. Our defense did a great job holding it back today. It was a great feeling to know that we ended the game like that today.”
On his first start
“It felt like a normal day. I’m always trying to prepare myself like I am a starter. Whether that was last year, throughout high school, and this year, it felt normal. Prior to this game, I went and tried to mentally prepare myself. I told myself that I had to lock in, and it felt normal to me. Obviously, however, there was a little bit of excitement. The ball got out of my hands a couple times earlier on in the game. I just have to get better with that. We have to stick to what we know and execute that.”
Sophomore Kicker Andres Borregales
On the last kicks
“I wasn’t nervous because of my kicking experience last year playing Virginia. I am on a ‘make or miss’ mentality. It’s natural human instinct to be nervous, but it comes down to trusting the guys in front of you. I trust Mason Napper our long snapper and Lou Hedley our punter. They trust me to put through the lines, I trust them to make sure that protection is good. I owe all my glory to them, all ten guys in front of me.”
On the win
“I ran straight to him [Jake Garcia]. I was so happy for Jake Garcia because I know that this was his moment and his spotlight. He was my first roommate coming into Miami. We have a good relationship, and I am just so happy for him.”
VIRGINIA HEAD COACH TONY ELLIOTT
On the offense’s performance today:
“We just needed to make one more play than they did. And they made a play there at the end and we didn’t make a play. But it seems like that’s been the theme with us offensively, is we’re just leaving points on the field. There were several trips to the red zone. That’s why you always tell them, guys like Lavel [Davis Jr.] he’s trying hard but man find a way to keep your feet and score a touchdown. [Grant] Misch, he had the ball, got on him quick, and find a way to make the touchdown. Mike [Hollins], get the ball in the endzone. We knew coming into this game, and I challenged the guys offensively, the defensive line that Miami has is pretty good. They’re pretty stout. They’ve played a lot of football, they’re experienced. I knew that it was gonna be a challenge to run the football and we were going to have to do a good job to be able to protect, but there were some plays there. I think maybe the first or second play we got [Dontayvion] Wicks open, we got to make those plays. The guys continue to strain and continue to fight, I thought that overall, the team made progress. You look at two weeks ago versus Louisville, we were trying to give the game away early. Then we came back and battled through adversity. And then now we’re in a four quarter overtime game all the way down to the end. So definitely not the outcome that we wanted and the guys are going to be sick when they watch those four or five, maybe six plays that would have made a big difference in the game that we didn’t make.”
On the difficulty of preparing for overtime situations:
“That was a tough situation there because you don’t know if you’re gonna go first. You don’t know if you’re gonna go second. You’re kind of seeing if you need a touchdown. We knew that in our kicking situation we couldn’t lose any yards; but at the same time too, we don’t want to end the game by putting the ball in the air in some of those earlier overtime situations. And to a point you work on it [overtime situations] on Mondays, you work on it on Thursdays, and then there’s gonna be some time on Wednesday, when you work all your redzone stuff to be able to have a plan for your overtime and you carry probably six or so, maybe seven plays that you feel good about in the low red, so it’s not just two point [conversion], but it’s third and three from the from the three, starting four from the four. So you’re going to practice those plays all throughout the course of the week.”
On the improvement the defense has seen over this season:
“I think as I’ve said, the influx of the guys on the D line has just brought competition. Competition and camaraderie. So when we go to the movie the night before [the game], I see Chico [Bennett], I see Kam [Butler], I see Paul [Akere] all sitting together. Those guys right there, if they’re sitting together, and they’re having fun, they’re joking and they’re competing on the field you’ve got a chance to have great chemistry and then it flows over to the linebacker spot and then you’re seeing that the safeties are becoming more confident and then our corners are doing a good job of covering on the on the back end. They have found a way to stay hungry amidst the success so they’re doing a good job of handling this success. I’ve got to do a better job of getting the offense and the special teams to play more complimentary football. I think if we can get that done, then what you’re gonna see is a different outcome on the scoreboard and these guys in the locker room are going to see what they’re truly capable of.”
