CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Miami’s spotlight is bright, but Mario Cristobal has his group locked in on Clemson.
The No. 4 Hurricanes will face the Tigers in a primetime ABC matchup on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Cristobal spent the buildup stressing both the challenge ahead and the standard his team has built around.
Clemson, Cristobal said, has already shown the kind of traits that can make trouble as the season unfolds. The Tigers dropped their opener to LSU, then ripped off three straight wins, and their defense has been especially stingy over the last stretch.
In the last 20 offensive drives, Clemson has not given up an offensive touchdown. Cristobal pointed out that many of the points against the Tigers have come from their own mistakes, not clean offensive execution by opponents. He also said the Tigers have another level in the second half that helps swing games.
“Particularly important to mention is their second half,” Cristobal said. “They do a great job adjusting.
In the second half, I don't believe they've allowed a touchdown.They've outscored opponents 42 to 6. So doing a really good job seeing what the results of the first half, tweaking what they're doing, coming out in the second half and doing a great job.
In the second half, important to note also they're averaging over 120 yards rushing before they've taken over games and have won.
“Veteran defense. I believe nine of 11 starters are upperclassmen, but I could go on and on about statistical data, and I'm sure you guys have seen it as well. So looking forward to a great opportunity.”
Miami, meanwhile, brings its own numbers into the game. The Hurricanes own the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense in the country, even while dealing with injuries across the roster. Cristobal said some players are expected back in a few weeks, and one key piece could be available as soon as this week if everything checks out.
On Armondo Blount, Damari Brown, Kellen Wiley status: “Armando was a little banged up, but he's good to go. Damari, I think he's good to go.
Feel really good about that one. Kellen Wiley was supposed to play a little bit banged up, but just has to continue to grow and develop and make the choices and decisions necessary to be a contributor for the University of Miami.”
On Xavier Lucas: “Getting closer, not all the way there yet. Hopefully good news later this week.
There's been a lot of progress, works his butt off, but not all the way there. Hopefully by late tomorrow, Wednesday, early, we'll know.
It’s a possibility.”
Cristobal also returned to the mindset that has driven Miami through its recent run, a simple daily standard built around the idea of being “1-0” every day. For him, that starts in practice and in the way the program handles every moment.
“I mean, we don't bull**** ourselves ever,” Cristobal said. “But we go right at it, you know?
And the best way to go at it is to work really, really, really hard. Like make sure that every moment out there, every practice session has got to be challenging.
Because if it's not, then you will find yourself regressing.”
Miami is 27-6 over the past three years, and Cristobal said the goal is to keep that edge intact by making sure complacency never gets a foothold.
“And I think that galvanizes the team, keeps your mind focused on, I better be on this,” Cristobal finished. “And it keeps everybody on edge. And that's probably the biggest part of my job is to make sure complacency doesn't set in, that the noise is, eh, get out of here, and that we are on edge as a staff, as players, as an organization, it's got to be that way, because we play really, really good football teams in tough environments, and, you know, that's why you come to Miami, playing games like this.”
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