Miami travels across the country to take on the California Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1 ACC) on Saturday night at California Memorial Stadium. It will be Cal’s first home game as a member of the ACC.
Miami head coach Marion Cristobal earlier this week shared his thoughts on the match up and his return to the west coast.
On facing an old foe…
"Yeah, they were always, probably the toughest, most physical teams we always faced out on the West Coast,” said Cristobal. “Every game came down to the end. I mean, there was one game that came down to, I believe Cal had eight shots inside the 10-yard line to try to tie or win the game. Not to mention some other ones that came down to the last drives or last couple of drives.”
“I think it's reflected in this year's team as well. They lead the country in interceptions, turnover margin, they're like top three in the country, tops in the ACC. So many defensive categories are still in that realm, being the best in the conference and top 10 in the country. But probably the difference this year is that their offense is performing at a high level. We're very familiar with the quarterback. There's obviously a backstory there. The Mendoza family, played with the dad, high school teammates and whatnot. Exceptional player, exceptional family, and he's complimented by some really good skill players and a running back that was once committed to us at Oregon when I was out there as well. It was all, I think he was first team All-PAC-12 preseason All-ACC. They're explosive. They're fast. The timing of their passing game, I think, is elite. Hit a lot of back shoulder balls, balls out. Quick screen game is great. The add-ons in their run game are impressive. They just find a way to find leverage, angles and numbers in the run game. They extended plays. Quarterback extends plays, does a great job. Their linebackers are absolutely just really, really good players– physical, tough, fast. Cam [Ward] has played against them as well. Coach Wilcox is an excellent football coach, and I think this team reflects him very well.”
On the time change adjustment…
"Well, it's a later game. So the adjustment would be, we got an extra day of rest, which was good for us playing a Friday game. And then as a week goes on, you push things back an hour, hour and a half, where you end up gaining back or pushing forward three hours so that your body feels like you're playing at a normal night game here on the East Coast. But we'll travel out there a day earlier as well. And then, the trip back doesn't matter. Go play your best game and find a way to be 1-0.”
The Miami-Cal game will kickoff at 10:30 p.m. ET. Television coverage will be provided by ESPN, with radio coverage on WQAM-560.
GO CANES!
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