Mario Cristobal Isn’t the Hurricanes’ Question, He’s the Answer

20 years of false starts, false hopes, false dawns.

The Hurricanes’ fan base has been subjected to more scandals (real or imagined) than wins of significance since Terry Porter’s egregious pass interference flag in the 2002 National Championship game forever altered the trajectory of the program.

And yet here we are, still standing. If perseverance strengthens, then the Canes are steel.

This weekend, many will make the drive north, exiting South Florida and entering whatever the rest of this state is. Whether their motivation is true belief, habit, or misplaced loyalty, the Canes’ Fans still show up.

But will the team?

Skepticism

I’m not Charlie Brown blindly swinging my leg at the football hoping that this time, for some reason, Lucy won’t pull it away. I understand that some, so weathered by years of losses, cannot conjure up the strength to rise up in hope this time.

But to them I simply say this team is not responsible for the failings of the last 20 years any more than they deserve credit for the successes of the 20 years prior to that. Each year brings with it a new opportunity to erase the vestiges of the yesterday and focus anew on the successes of tomorrow.

And so this Canes team will do just that, taking this road show to Gainesville, not just hoping for success, but having put in the work to enable success.

The Canes enter the 2024 season with the ACC’s best roster. This didn’t magically happen. Several years of roster building have put the Canes in a position to finally play the style they want to play, and more importantly, to finally overwhelm opponents.

The main reason for 20 years of false starts, false dreams, and ultimate disappointment is that the team flatly wasn’t good enough. The U on the helmet doesn’t win football games. And while the Canes might have had better players (and I do mean “might”) than some of the teams they have been losing to, there was not a significant talent gulf. The great programs outclass a majority of their opponents. Not all, but a majority. That has always has been and still remains the goal.

And the Canes have finally arrived at that talent-rich destination where they can accomplish that goal.

What About the Coaching?

Well, what about it?

Have their been some high profile missteps? Sure. Mario Cristobal has had to let go of multiple coordinators after his first year and in his second year infamously didn’t kneel the ball against Georgia Tech, which one could argue not only lost the Canes that game but also derailed the entire season.

While those are visible mistakes, there is no doubt that his overall track record prior to arriving at Miami has proven his ability to build programs. He did so at FIU and again at Oregon (check the record of those schools in the year prior to his takeover as head coach).

There is no reason for trepidation. None. It’s almost as if the entire fan base is afraid to believe for fear of disappointment.

But I ask you in what universe would the Canes having a poor season not be disappointing? To care about something is to risk disappointment. And if you’re still supporting this program no amount of pretending that the team is going to stink is going to soften the blow of losses.

So why not be optimistic instead?

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller

This program was birthed in trying circumstances and has been repeatedly told what it can’t do, what it can’t achieve.

Stop worrying about what the Canes can’t do and look at what they can do.

Stop worrying about what the opponent is going to do to Miami and think about what they’re going to do their opponents.

Mario Cristobal has been building the program to reach this point, upgrading the talent, preparing it to dominate. It hasn’t always been smooth, but if you look at the roster without a negative lens, it is one of the most impressive 2-year roster rebuilds we’ve ever seen.

I do not believe in the fairy tale or magical thinking that wins will automatically arrive.

But I also do not believe in the contrary, that the program is cursed and forever destined to fail.

What I do believe in, ultimately, is the University of Miami.

It’s okay to believe, I assure you.

Give this team the opportunity they have earned through years of program building and they will make Miami proud.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a show host and writer for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes Football for @SixthRingCanes Miami Hurricanes Basketball for @buckets_canes , and Miami Hurricanes Baseball for @CanesOnDeck as part of the @5ReasonsCanes Network. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003