MIAMI BEACH — The Hurricanes’ playoff itinerary has taken them to Glendale, Arizona, and to Texas twice. Their last and most important trip is right in their own backyard.
Miami’s preparation for Monday’s national title game against Indiana started with a trip from Coral Gables to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, where the team is staying in the leadup to the biggest game the program has played in more than two decades.
“I think it’s all kind of the same. I do,” UM coach Mario Cristobal said upon arrival to the team hotel. “We appreciate the short bus ride. We do. And certainly seeing our fans line up outside of San Amaro Drive and the support for our players, it’s great for them to see because again, a lot of these guys were here when we got here. We had to endure a 5-7 season that wasn’t your typical 5-7 season, but it is what comes with this. So the lessons learned and seeing, again, how they have inspired our community is great. But quite frankly, the entire focus of this entire organization is on getting to work and finding a way to (go) 1-0.”
Miami has a history of winning national titles on its home turf. In three of their five title-winning seasons (1983, 1987, 1991), the Hurricanes clinched the championship with Orange Bowl victories.
“Well, what I’d like to share with Miami is that their support, their energy, their enthusiasm all year long has certainly been very humbling for us,” Cristobal said. “And I remember as a player when … it changed the city, dynamics of the city, how it galvanized the entire community. And our players feel that. So it’s really, really important for us. Our mood is always the same. We’re always at work. We’re looking to get better. We’ve come a long way and we have a ways to go.”
UM is in the middle of preparation for the undefeated Hoosiers. The perk of playing what amounts to a home game includes getting to practice at their usual facilities on campus.
“They just told me it’s Friday. For us, it’s really Wednesday, in terms of our calendar,” Cristobal said. “I know that sounds a little bit strange, but I see a team that’s just focused, that’s really just motivated, that’s locked in, and that fully understands that nothing but our very best will ever be good enough. So we’re looking forward to getting work.”
