College football is in a monumental seismic shift right now with the CFP underway, winter portal underway, roster retention, bowl preparation, opt-out management and talent acquisition all underway this week.
And let’s not forget Christmas.
With all of this happening at the same time, the life of a college coach is hectic to say the least. However, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal took time out of his busy schedule to appear this week on The Joe Rose Show on WQAM-560.
On the arctic pace of this off-season…
“You really do just block out the entire day and you attend to things in an organized manner, but it is non-stop and it is a different job than it was four or five years ago, but it is all good," said Cristobal. ”You find a way to get it done and do what is best for the team.”
"You just go!”
On preparing for the Pop Tarts Bowl…
“You do your best to win the football game and put guys in the game that have earned playing time,” said Cristobal
"That is the bottom line…"We have a good roster intact and expect a lot of our guys and we are ready to roll.”
On Cam Ward playing in the bowl…
“I wasn't surprised," said Cristobal. "We have unfinished business. You saw Shedeur Sanders of Colorado doing the same thing. People don't realize and players don't realize the value of postseason games as it relates to the amount of scouts that attend and the amount of general managers that attend to get another crack and evaluating a guy and bumping up increasing their own value.”
On talent acquisition priorities…
“You always want to develop the core of your team from the high school level," said Cristobal. "We think the best way to build a team is to have guys come in from day one and develop, work hard, and grow really attached to your place.
“Then as things happen with injuries or departures, you will want to go get some transfer portal guys that are driven and motivated and can step in and provide maturity and experience. That combination has been good for us.”
Will Miami pursue a transfer quarterback in this cycle?
"We won't discuss what we are doing in public and won't be putting our business out there," said Cristobal. "We feel great about our roster and we are going to make the moves that are best for the University of Miami football team.”
GO CANES!
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