Monday morning with Mario: Miami Hurricanes coach offers no excuses or rationale for not taking knee in final minute
You can dissect the shocking last-second loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday night in a variety of ways. There was subpar play throughout from a Miami team that entered undefeated against a struggling Yellow Jackets team that was routed a week earlier by lower level Bowling Green. There were the three interceptions thrown by Tyler Van Dyke in a very conservative approach called by coordinator Shannon Dawson.
But really, all anyone was talking about after the game was the final minute.
Miami had the opportunity to take a knee the final two plays to run out the clock. Instead the Hurricanes ran the ball, and on the second carry Don Chaney fumbled and Georgia Tech recovered. A 30-yard and 44-yard TD pass later and Miami was on the losing end of a 23-20 game.
On Monday morning, upon further review, Miami coach Mario Cristobal shared his thoughts on 560 AM.
Why not just take a knee?
“There’s no way to rationalize it, wrong decision,” Cristobal said. “Should have kneeled it, didn’t do it.”
Did he talk to offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson before running it at the end, does he have other people in his ear about possibly taking a knee?
Asked that, Cristobal responded, “Like everything we have a process and we got the first down and after that there’s no way to rationalize it
Should have taken a knee.”
Asked if there was a team meeting about the game, Cristobal said, “We treat it with truth, honesty – spend time with people you need to spend time with. We need to play next Saturday. Came up short, could have made a better decision, have to play on Saturday. Take complete ownership and go forward. That’s how we raise our kids, coach our players.
“There’s no ducking when things go wrong. You face it.”
Miami now must regroup quickly with undefeated North Carolina – and highly touted QB Drake Maye – up next.
“The challenge and importance and the opportunity at North Carolina is awesome,” Cristobal said. “Like any game you eliminate noise, don’t allow any to creep in your head when things are going well, not going well. You emphasize details to make sure the game is never put in the hands of officials, you (play hard), go.”
Cristobal added “We pick each other up always when things don’t go well. Obviously we’re upset we didn’t perform to our standard, we didn’t. And that falls on all of us. We want to go get better, prepare to play our best.”
On Saturday night the Miami offense struggled in a way we hadn’t seen previously this year, with QB Tyler Van Dyke intercepted three times. Miami entered with what appeared to be a run-heavy approach, and Chaney led the way with 106 yards on 24 carries. Henry Parrish ran 17 times for 48 yards with a TD.
What was Cristobal’s message to Chaney off the late fumble?
“Tell him shake it off, should have taken a knee, next,” Cristobal said.
In the passing game it was Xavier Restrepo that continues to be heavily targeted He had 12 catches on 13 targets for 123 yards. The next highest targeted receiver was Jacolby George (8 targets, 2 catches for 45 yards). Colbie Young had 56 catches on four catches.
TE Riley Williams also had a big play with a 22-yard TD on which he leaped over a defender and stretched the ball out past the goal line.
But the offense missed several scoring opportunities.
“Offensively we were out of synch but penalties, non-conversions prevented us from scoring,” Cristobal said. “It was a game not playing to our standard.”
Indeed.
Miami had a 453-250 advantage in yards and a 35:26-24:34 edge in time of possession. In fact, the Canes led in most categories (other than penalty yards against, which was 80-67 although Ga. Tech was penalized 11 times to UM’s six).
“Most importantly (we are not) pointing fingers at anybody,” Cristobal said. “There were a few ways to win that game, lose it. Bottom line is we have to be better.”
A final thought from Cristobal?
“This entire program is based on accountability,” Cristobal said. “The entire program is based on accountability and truth and honesty and transparency.”
*In terms of recruiting fallout, Cristobal said, “Like any other business in the world, you don’t stop, ball up, crawl into a hole, shell up. To do this the right way you have to have the guts regardless of an outcome of the game to do your job knowing all that matters is the very next play, minute, part of the process. You take ownership. … It sucks, hurts, is absolutely agonizing. You know what? Get your ass up and go to work.”
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