Mario Cristobal has certainly made waves with the Miami Hurricanes, taking them all the way to the national championship game with Carson Beck leading the charge. This is particularly noteworthy given Beck's previous struggles in playoff games with the Georgia Bulldogs.
At the FWAA/Steve Spurrier awards ceremony on Monday night, Cristobal didn't hold back when responding to a playful jab from Georgia's Kirby Smart. Smart had humorously expressed concern about Cristobal's proximity to Bulldogs defensive back Ellis Robinson IV, given Miami's active NIL program.
Cristobal's response was swift and sharp. After attendees watched a highlight reel of Miami's standout freshman Malachi Toney, who earned Offensive Freshman of the Year honors, Cristobal quipped about Beck's performance under "great coaching."
He wasn't finished there. Cristobal also credited Smart's dominance in the pre-NIL era as a catalyst for the current NIL landscape, saying, “If it wasn’t for all his years of pre-NIL, we wouldn’t have NIL right now.”
Cristobal's comments were both humorous and pointed, showcasing his wit and competitive spirit.
While these remarks are entertaining, they might also serve as motivation for Smart and his Bulldogs. Georgia, after clinching back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, has been quieter in recent years by their high standards. The college football world might not be ready for a fired-up Kirby Smart.
Fortunately, it seems Smart can appreciate the humor in Cristobal's jabs.