Can the Hurricanes Capture the National Championship?

What this episode is about

The Miami Hurricanes are surprisingly on the brink of competing for a national championship, a journey fueled by strategic recruiting and the leadership of head coach Mario Cristobal. With a renewed sense of optimism and talent, the team's transformation has sparked excitement among fans and insiders alike as they contemplate the potential for championship success at home.

Key takeaways

• Incredible how a coaching switch transforms fortunes; Mario Cristobal is Miami's secret sauce for success.
• Underdog mentality fuels this Miami team, proving that chips on shoulders can become chips on trophies.
• Talent wins games, but resilience against doubters earns championships; this Miami squad embodies both principles.
• From playoff outsiders to championship contenders, Miami’s journey highlights the unpredictability and thrill of college football.
• Who needs luck? Miami’s relentless spirit and depth showcase that a well-rounded team is built to win.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Host (Host) · 20 min speaking
• Gabby (Guest) · 13 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Hard Rock Stadium
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Indiana, Alabama
3. 10:00 – 15:00: Indiana
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Indiana
5. 20:00 – 25:00: Indiana, Alabama
6. 25:00 – 30:00: Hard Rock Stadium, Indiana, Christopher Columbus High School

Notable quotes from "Can the Hurricanes Capture the National Championship?"

• Miami Hurricanes will be playing for a national championship. And not only a Natty, but a Natty at the Rock. One of the most insane feelings in the world. But today, I got to share that experience. I got to share that feeling.

  about Hard Rock Stadium · at 0:12

• They're basically saying right now, if Indiana wins, they're one of the best teams in college football history, which is crazy. But the question I want to ask you, obviously, you've seen them.

  about Indiana · at 6:30

• And there's no school there's no place that loves this match up more than Christopher Columbus High School. Let's like there's no place that loves it more than the C I'm a C pride guy. I love.

  about Christopher Columbus High School · at 29:56

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

Companies & orgs

• Indiana — Company · Competitor · 19 mentions · first at 6:08
  The opposing team in the national championship game discussed in the podcast.
• Alabama — Company · Competitor · 3 mentions · first at 6:10
  A team defeated by Indiana, discussed as part of Indiana's path to the championship.
  Right? And you have to be on it and they can expose you and they've proven that. to go and beat Alabama the way you beat Alabama, I don't care what you think about Alabama…

Places & events

• Hard Rock Stadium — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 0:16
  The venue for the national championship game.
• Christopher Columbus High School — Place · Referenced location · 1 mention · first at 29:59
  Christopher Columbus High School is mentioned as a place with significant interest in the game.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 What is going on, Kane's fam? The time is almost upon us. Who would have thought, you know, six months ago, eight months ago, five years ago that the Miami Hurricanes will be playing for a national championship. And not only a Natty, but a Natty at the Rock. One of the most insane insane feelings in the world. But today, I got to share that experience. I got to share that feeling. And today, we got my boy Gabby from 247. What's going on, Gabby? Welcome to the show, brother. Thank you for joining me to share this experience with me.

0:36 You're you're hyping me up, man. I appreciate you having me. I'm ready to Man, it's it is wild just being in this situation. Uh, you know, just Miami playing for a national championship. I was just talking to my boys and it's just like, dude, it it still doesn't feel real to me that this is happening. So, uh, man, just so so pumped about all of this. And I mean, dude, it's it's funny because you have had, you know, your experience seeing this from a different level than the fans. Obviously, you've been, you know, pretty involved in the program, seeing that program build up to the level it is. You know, is this something you saw coming or is this something that you felt coming? Did you think that this will happen this year? I mean, kind of go through because you've seen obviously from your end, you've seen this team develop, you've seen the guys you're bringing in, the character, all that

1:18 good stuff. you know, how have you seen kind of this culmination of talent, coaching, everything kind of come together to put us in this position right now?

1:25 Yeah, it starts with Mario Crystal. You know, just going out and getting him from Oregon was the key to all of this, right? And he's just a maniacal recruiter. We saw that from day one. And there was no question that when he got here, the talent on the roster was going to be better. That there was no doubt the this was just going to be a better team. It was just going to be a matter of time. And uh saw it coming for sure just because I'm in the talent acquisition space, right? So, I'm all up in the weeds of the recruiting and the transfer portal and all that stuff aside from the day-to-day stuff that go on with the team. So, you definitely saw that this roster was super talented.

1:56 This team was just getting more and more talented. And I think as you kind of start to started to watch this team prepare for this season, you're like, man, this team is deep, right? That's the way that we described this team was just like it's just so well-rounded. Like it's hard to poke holes in this roster because they had that really bad defense in 2024, that elite offense, and this year it felt like they cleaned up the defense and maybe not quite as elite of an offense, but it just felt like it was so complimentary. And man, this roster was built to win. And we felt like this was a college football playoff team going into the season. Uh we felt like this was an ACC championship caliber team going into the season.

2:28 Obviously, there were some hiccups along the way, but to me, there was never a doubt about the overall talent on this roster. There's no doubt about Mario Crystal being the right guy to put all these pieces together and build it towards a championship caliber roster. That's what this is. This is truly is a championship cal caliber roster that's just firing on all cylinders right now. Watching them play right now is just a lot of fun cuz you're seeing that talent not just on paper and looking and being like this team should be one of the best in the country. It's like no this team is one of the best in the country.

2:56 They're going to have a chance to prove that they're the best team in the country. And uh it's been amazing man. It's been amazing to watch it. to say I expected a national championship appearance this year, I would be lying to you. But I definitely thought that this was a team that was good enough to make the playoff. And as we saw, man, you get in and anything can happen.

3:10 I mean, brother, just the fact that we got the opportunity to get in there and then, you know, it wasn't an easy road for us. Obviously, we had to go to Kyle to Kyle Field, play against Texas&M over there, the winds, the weather that was over there. Then you have to go to the cotton bowl, play against Ohio State, one of the favorites from the national championship. Then you have to go against Miss with the storyline obviously Trinidad Chamblas. they didn't care that whole sc that whole thing going on and then you go through all that you kind of you know did you did you see this are did you see this team get stronger through those victories and through those games and through you know having to deal with being you know for the most part the underdogs and all the stories outside of miss you know they were you know no one really picked us to be here so did you see that kind of personality being undertaken I mean I

3:50 think a lot of people have seen especially on Instagram that this team is like please pick against us

3:54 because you have to strap it up you have to put on the chin strap you have to put on the pads you Do you think that's just a, you know, how do you think that team's kind of like embodied that feeling of, you know, in my the way I call it is [ __ ] you football, you know? How do you think they kind of embodied that?

4:08 Definitely. I mean, I think this team is the perfect embodiment of that. They they love that underdog mentality and uh they were favorites all year, right? I mean, in every game they played this year, except the Notre Dame game, uh they were the favorites and they were expected to win. And I think you got they they got into the playoff and then everyone kind of just started to throw dirt on them like this team doesn't really have a chance to compete and uh Texas&M came out firing from the hip say with the offensive tackle saying like oh like Ruben Bane's not going to be an issue and man this is a team full of alphas man like truly like this team is these guys are dogs like like Kee Scott, Ruben Bane like they they will take any like it doesn't take anything to fire them up but any little you give them they're going to use that as rocket fuel man to just go and just and and just pocket that and use that as motivation

4:54 to just go. And I think they've they've they've shown that every step of this way. The track to get to this point for Miami is insane.

5:01 Yeah. Like you said, you had to go and beat Texas A&M who two weeks before that was like the number two team in the country, right?

5:09 They were they were a top five team all season. You go to you have to play Ohio State who's the defending national champions. They were number one all season and they were number two because they barely lost in the Big 10 championship game. and truthfully a game that they should have won that they really gave that game away and then you have to go play Miss who's just like Cinderella storyline with all these things awesome quarterback and you have to go and beat a third top 10 team that miss team was 11 12 and one to that point like that team was really good had beaten top 10 in the in the in the three top 10 teams exactly and and you and you handled all three of those opponents to get to this point and they've done that really with an underdog mentality I think even in the miss game there was I don't know if there was really like an underdog mentality, but I was at the stadium and it felt like there was a lot

5:54 of Miss fans and it felt like almost like an miss environment, like a pro miss environment. So, there was kind of like an underdog nature with the environment. And this team has been awesome in responding to those situations. And look, that's the way they're talking about Miami now, right? They're talking about Miami. This Indiana team has just has just blown the smoke out of everyone. They, you know, destroyed Alabama and Oregon, and they're going to do the same to Miami and the eight and a half point spread. And it's like, brother, not this team, man. This team's different. And I'm really excited to watch them play on Monday.

6:22 No. And like, listen, let's get right into this game. Obviously, Miami, I think right now, correct me if I'm wrong, we're about seven and a half, eight and a half point underdogs against this Indiana team.

6:30 They're basically saying right now, if Indiana wins, they're one of the best teams in college football history,

6:34 which is crazy. But the question I want to ask you, obviously, you've seen them have very impressive wins, dominating wins over the likes of Bama, the likes of Oregon. Is this Indiana team just built to bring out the worst in teams? Are these teams just bring having their worst games possible against an Indiana team that just, you know, is very good? You can't have those kind of games against them.

6:54 I mean, Indiana is super well coached and fundamentally sound and Curt Signetti is is the hype is real and his coordinators that he's been with for a while, those guys are legit and they play a different style of football, right? And you have to be on it and they can expose you and uh they've proven that. I mean, to go and beat Alabama the way you beat Alabama, like, I don't care what you think about Alabama, that's impressive. And to beat Oregon the way that they beat Oregon, regardless of how you feel about Oregon, and their offensive coordinator is a head coach of an SEC school, and the defensive coordinator is a head coach at an ACC school. And they got a lot going on, too. Like, regardless, you got to go out there and you got to play. And Oregon and Bama both have some big boys. So, I mean, I have the utmost respect for Indiana and what they've done to get to this point. And they are extremely

7:34 extremely impressive and worthy of being considered the number one team in the country. And so, they've been great. Um, but I I I do think that just with this Miami team, it's it's just a different type of matchup for them. And uh I I think Miami, you go back and you watch, you know, some Indiana stuff from, you know, throughout the season, they they're they're human, right? This isn't some like in like they're talking about them being the best team of all time and it's like I think that's kind of crazy when you consider like

7:59 I mean obviously I'm biased but the 2001 Miami Hurricanes you can't I don't think you can put them in that discussion. I think even 19 LSCU team like there's there's teams

8:08 that you know have that you know have that right to call themselves one of the best teams and look if they do it they're going to be impressive because the path to doing it would be as impressive as anybody's but I don't know if I'm ready to call that team regardless of how this looks like the best college football team of all time.

8:24 No 100%. Let's take a pause. Did you just pin him on the thing? Put press the pin on there and then the layout might have changed. Dave might have jumped out. So, just go to layout and just put up the the one screen. Okay, we're back. Yeah. Is it I think it should be already pinned.

8:40 Okay. All right. My bad, brother. The two Bucks change up. Um, so so yeah, exactly. I mean, obviously Indiana very impressive, but I think the most interesting thing about this game is that we have a common opponent. I think people are very easy forgetting that that we both played Ohio State. And you know, I don't want I mean, I don't know if you heard it, but I don't want people to think that, oh, Ohio State lost to you. They're not that good. They're frauds. Like, listen, brother, they were favorites to win this thing.

9:07 And we have a common opponent. We saw them, you know, win, but obviously Ohio State missed field goals, missed that, missed opportunities, you know, did all these things. Miami goes in there, and I think that was the best My American performance I've seen in my lifetime. Just going in there and just giving belts to to Ohio State. But obviously they had their 14 point, but we are in control that whole game. So you look at that, you know, do you do you take a lot of that into account when you're looking at this game and how Miami can match up against Indiana through that common opponent or is this just you have to wipe all that out because this is essentially the last game of the season.

9:39 It's a lot of this the last game for a lot of these guys playing out there today or during the game. No, I I I think I think that there's definitely stuff you you take from that and I think we kind of, you know, just in my world like I kind of did the same thing when we were when we were discussing Texas A&M, right? These are all just data points, right? Like you know, you watch you don't say Miami beat Ohio State and Ohio State had a close game with Indiana, so Indiana's better than or Miami is better than Indiana. I feel like you see like the style like stylistically, right? Exactly. You see that there's a formula to how how did Ohio State limit Indiana? Does Miami have similar personnel to Indiana? I I mean to to Ohio State in in in different contexts, right? And I think when you watch that Indiana and Ohio State game, I think you see that there are ways where Miami can frustrate Indiana if

10:24 they're able to execute obviously cuz because you saw the way Miami executed against Ohio State. And I would personally argue that Miami performed better against Ohio State than Indiana performed against Ohio State. That was a 13-10 game. I thought Miami was way more dominant. I thought Miami was way more in control. I think they did a way a way better job of limiting Ohio State. Look, you mentioned Ohio State missed a field goal. They also went for it on fourth and one. They read a QB sneak from like the 5 yd line. Originally called it a first down. They had to review it and Julian Sain's knee fell down a little bit short. But like those are like miniature decisions where if they just elected to kick it, uh, you know, they maybe tie the game there and maybe it's a totally different game or if they just run a handoff or if they get that inch that gives them a first down or so, like it's totally different game. So, I feel

11:09 like that game was that Indiana Ohio State game was truly a game of inches. And uh and I think when you watch Miami and the way Miami matched up with Ohio State, I think they were way more dominant. Uh especially on the line of scrimmage than Indiana was against Ohio State. And I think that Indiana I think that Ohio State defensive front, which kind of struggled against Miami, gave that Indiana offensive line way more trouble than they gave that Miami offensive line. So, I think the the trenches is going to be a huge factor in this game. And everyone talks about Indiana and the way that defensive line twists and turns and picks and stunts and all that stuff and they do all those things. They do it extremely extremely well. But I think this Miami offensive line is also a little bit different than anything that they've seen. Not just just because you were talking about oh the size difference. I'm not saying it

11:51 because they're bigger. I just think it's because they're better and I think it's just because they're like I think they're well coached and very disciplined. So

11:57 yeah. I mean look I'm a big Canadian guy and I love our trenches. I mean when you tell me hey we're going to win through the mud through the gutters I'm like I love it. I love being the trench bullies of college football, but this whole misconception of like, hey, Indiana's small. They're not that good. I'm like, listen guys, we saw Aaron Donald run the NFL for a couple years and he's an undersized D lineman and he's about to be a first battle hall of one of the best D linemen in history. But, you know, you you go like you said, you give those kind of like, you know, we've seen a lot of good D lines throughout the year. You've seen a lot of good defenses throughout the year. The&M's, the Ohio States obviously, and you saw that they were able to control them, which leads me to our next point. You know, where do you think or what position group do you think is really going to be the spearhead in this game for the

12:40 Hurricanes? And where, you know, what position group do you think you're really going to lean on? It can be a whole unit as a whole, or it can be one side of the ball, but what unit is it that's really going to be that kind of X factor in this game against Indiana?

12:52 For me, it's the defensive line. Uh, I think the most important thing that Miami needs to do in this game is make Fernando Mendoza uncomfortable. He's he's an absolute surgeon with the football. Uh, he's the most efficient and effective quarterback in the country. Uh, he's he's the best. I mean, he's the Heisman Trophy winner. It's extremely deserving. He's as good as everyone says he is. And I think the way that you contain him is by you got you got to get to him. You got to rattle him up. And he's not very easily phased. and he can make throws in the face of pressure, but you got to hit him. That's the only way to get to him. Again, you kind of go back to the Iowa game. You go back, you go back, you watched the Penn State game, you go back and watch the Ohio State game, and it's just like those the moments that you're able to get him and kind of get him off his track and make him have to second

13:37 guessess himself and run around a little bit. That's that's how you limit and contain for Nano Mendoza. going to get his and he throws those back shoulder balls that will drive you absolutely crazy because he's so elite at delivering those back shoulder balls and his receivers are so good at going out and getting them and uh you know receivers man those receivers go and get those things man

13:56 they're good they're really really good balls man they really they go up there and they grab they snatch him

14:03 yeah man I mean Elijah Sarat is elite at that Omar Cooper is really good at that Cam Becker has emerged as a huge huge weapon for them

14:10 had a two jump ball and he caught it in the back like in the end zone falling back. Yeah, man. Crazy. They're super super talented. I mean, again, I don't care what the stars say. People talk about, "Oh, they have no five star." Like, that's a really good football team, man. Like, that's a really good experienced older football team, which it wins. That in college football, older team win. Older teams win. But look, Miami is really I I wrote this earlier in the week uh on our site, like Miami's not obviously not as experienced as Indiana, but Miami is pretty pretty experienced. Like, Miami is no

14:40 slouch. We got battle wins for sure. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Like from a snap standpoint, it's really not like this huge gap as far as just like how experienced Indiana is versus Miami. So, man, it's going to be an interesting game, but I think the Dline, man, because I think this has to be, you know, Ruben Bane and and Ake Meador were like quote unquote quiet against Miss. It's because they get the ball out fast and Trinidad Chamblas was was awesome. Um, but this needs to be one of those games where it need where it needs to be like the Ruben Bane Ake Meador games where it's just like

15:08 this is this is it, man. This is it's they got to empty the tank and it's got to be four quarters of just making Fernando of chasing Fernando Mendoza around the yard. That's the only way that Miami is going to contain this Indian.

15:18 No, I mean and you look at some of the plays even in that Oregon game. I mean he fumbled the snap, ran around, I mean and he recovered his own fumble, but I mean you talk about a play that could have easily changed. I think they're down 14 to seven at that point. They could have recovered that fumble, made it a tie game, you know, and completely changed how that game would have happened. Obviously, he recovered his own foam, whatever. But I do agree that putting Fernando Mendoza and I think that goes for a lot of quarterbacks. If you put them in a bind, you make them uncomfortable. You know, eventually they're going to go make mistakes. But I mean, for me, I also look at and a lot of people are looking at obviously this Miami run game. You know,

15:49 do you want to run it every single down? Do you want to give Carson Beck his his chances to throw? You know, how do you kind of see this game happening? Do you see this really leaning on this run game or after seeing how Carson Beck has really kind of, you know, been playing these last couple of games, you know, playing really good football, especially that Old Miss game, that last drive was a Carson Beck clinic. you know, people don't give him enough credit for that. And Ohio State wasn't amazing on the stat sheet, but he played a hell of a game, made some big throws. So, do you really think that or do you see, you know, this offense really just say, "Hey, Carson, go out there and lead some drives for us, man. We're going to obviously run the ball like hell, but we trust you enough to go and sling this thing around and get us some scores using your arm."

16:29 Yeah. No, I think Carson Beck needs to definitely be on, you know, he's going to get his opportunities to make plays in this game. He has to uh Miami wants to run the ball. There's no doubt. Miami is a physical front. They're going to run the ball behind that big offensive line. Uh Mark Fletcher has been playing some of his best football, but Carson Beck is going to have his chances to step up in some big moments. I mean, we saw that in the Old Miss game. We've seen that throughout the playoffs. Like people can take this the wrong way, but I think Carson Beck has been just an excellent game manager. Yeah. Uh throughout this playoff run really since it's not a knock on him at all.

17:02 No, it's not. It's not. He's protected the football. He's He's made the ball. He's helped Miami move the sticks. He's been great on third down. He's helped Miami sustain some of these really long drives. I think, you know, you you run the ball and I think for Miami especially, I think it's just about dictating the tempo, right? It's dictating terms. And we saw Miami do that against Miss. Miss led the country in plays run per game or were way up there. And Miami ran almost 90 plays, which is insane. They held the ball for over 41 minutes. It was crazy. It was crazy. It was insane. And so like I think that run game and leaning on it is about just controlling the football, you know, eating up clock, tiring out that defense. So in the fourth quarter when you need it and the game's on the line, you're running plays, you know, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and that defense is exhausted. That defense has been on the

17:46 field for way too long and you can go march down the field to win that game because that that defense is playing on empty. So I think that run game, especially early on, it's just about establishing the physicality and the identity of the team. and then Carson Beck stepping up and and moving the sticks and hitting his guys when there's opportunities to move it when they when you see the matchups kind of open up. And um they even use that kind of like screen game as like an extension of the run. How they use Malachi Tony on those screens to get them like that's basically just their version of an outside run, you know, and it just hits and it pops because Malachi Tony is unbelievable. Yeah. And um but they do a lot of different things to get Carson Beck involved and get the receivers involved that you know Carson Beck's going to be a huge factor in this game and the way that he plays is gonna

18:26 determine whether Miami has a chance to win it or not. Yeah. And you talk about matchups, you know, obviously you know one of the matchups that I'm very interested to see is how we're going to deal with Xavier Lucas being suspended for that first half of the football game. Obviously going to that corner room, but correct me, I don't I don't maybe I'm butchering his name, but uh Antoine number 16

18:47 uh Antoine came in made a hell of a break up. You know, how do you see that corner room kind of dealing with this this wide receiver room, which is really, you know, I think the biggest weapon on this Indiana team. Those receivers are just physical. Get in, you know, get those balls in space. You know, what matchups do you see the Hurricanes, you know, really having to step up in the face of, you know, you know what, maybe they might have a slight edge on us, but you guys have the talent to compete. You know, where do you see what what's like the biggest matchup you're going to be looking at in this game for the Hurricanes?

19:17 Yeah, have not having Xavier Lucas for the first half, it sucks. Uh, you know, that's a super subjective call that has really long I mean, really big consequences in a national championship game. I think it's ridiculous,

19:29 which I think is crazy. I don't know how they even allowed that. I mean, it wasn't even like we can talk about that.

19:34 Exactly. Yeah, that's a whole I we could have a whole podcast talking about that

19:37 about targeting calls and how there's no targeting. Right. Exactly. No sports. No, it's ridiculous. But nonetheless, Miami will be without him. And thankfully, look, they're they're like four deep at cornerback. They haven't had Deari Brown for this run.

19:52 You know, he's been dealing with some like foot like turf toeish type of thing. I think that there's a chance that maybe he plays and if you get him back, that's huge cuz he's a big physical corner. OJ Frederique, I think, should be able to play in this game. He's a big physical corner on the outside that you and you didn't have either one of those guys in that miss game. So, that was a big problem. And then you got Jabari Antoine who's stepping up and they've been talking about him. And look,

20:13 this is game number 16. So, like this kid's not a true freshman anymore. He's been here since January. He's been he's been at Miami for over a year at this point. And uh so, you know, and he's someone that they're really excited about. Uh just a young corner that's ready to answer the call. And I think that play he made on dribbling was one of like the unsung plays of the game on defense. What a break up that was. He's he's someone that I think they trust and in a situation where they have to play him, I think they're willing to play him on the outside. Uh but you got Ethan O' Conor who's been playing awesome football for them, too. He was excellent against Miss. He's a really, really good quarterback that they got from Washington State who's been awesome for them. So really Miamiy's four potentially four and a half, five deep at corner right now. And those guys are going to have to really step up because

20:56 again, those back shoulder balls are really difficult to defend. Those receivers are elite at getting them. And again, those are older guys, especially Serat and Cooper on the outside that want to be physical and uh you know, and limiting them and and breaking up some of those plays is going to be big uh in the efforts of this defense to get that Indiana offense off the field.

21:14 Yeah. No, 100%. Like I think our corners have been amazing. I mean, obviously you saw it against Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith, we knew he was going to get his, but Carninal Tate was a no-show for the performance. Obviously, Miss playing from behind, trying to catch up, you know, doing their thing. and you know they made some big time throws and credit to that team. But I do see this team, you know, really honing in on that physicality and I I think that's one thing that I think people are noticing is that we are bigger on the on the outside. You know, we have some size to really combat against it, but I mean I saw the Oregon game and I was impressed.

21:43 I mean, it was impressive to see those guys, but looking now at a game as a whole, you know, what do you think are the biggest keys to this game, right? Because right now the notion isn't so much, you know, how can Indiana win this game, it's like how can they lose this game? But I believe it's a lot more evenly matched. So what do you think are the key kind of moments or key facts that you know are going to give the Canes a chance to be crowned national championships once those 60 minutes are up?

22:10 Yeah, for me I think Miami is again I think Miami is good enough to win this game. I I like I don't view Miami as an eight-point underdog. a slap in the face again. I mean, we didn't against Ohio State, they messed up bad. Whoever picked Miami plus seven and a half made a lot of money on us. So,

22:25 right. And I think it's similar to that where it's just like the perception and the reality are just not really lining up and I felt that. I mean, the Ohio State game, I understood it more in this game. I don't quite understand it. I think it's just a little bit too much of everyone kind of getting caught up in in the moment of all of all of this and kind of forgetting who Miami kind of is. game one, you're like, Jesus, if Oregon, if they did that to Oregon, you know, Miami which

22:49 Miami's Miami is better than Oregon and Miami is better than and Miamiy's better than Alabama. I think it's totally I think they're honestly totally different teams. Um, so for me, I think the key to this game is Miami playing football. I think we've se what we've seen in this playoff is that if Miami doesn't shoot themselves in the foot, they're really, really hard to beat. Yeah. And look again in this Old Miss game,

23:13 they shot themselves in the foot over and over again, right? Early in the game, they're driving down the field and even just like third and one and you give you go into the Wildcat when you're running the ball well and it's just like that's a play that, you know, I think they wish they would have had back considering how well they were throwing. So, it's just like decisions like that, the flea flicker, you're kind of going for the kill, but you're running a play in positive territory when you're driving and that ended up setting you back 15 yards. You have to punt instead of getting points there. the penalties.

23:37 Yes, the penalties, the false starts, the this, the it like Miami loses this game, that miss game a lot during the season. Like that was very reflective of the SMU game and

23:48 the way we described it. We played a C plus game and won. Right. Exactly. So, if Miami plays if Miami plays an an A minus game, I honestly think that they win. Like I think if Miami plays clean football, I think if Miami is low on penalties, I think if they're efficient with their opportunities to score and maximize those opportunities and uh take advantage of their red zone situations and don't try to get too cute and just continue to kind of dictate terms, I don't know if this Indiana team can hang with Miami for four quarters just because I they've proven that when they do play well, they're just they're just really really hard to beat because they're so good, especially on the lines of scrimmage, which that those that's where games are won over the course of four quarters. It's just to me hard to imagine Miami losing if they play well.

24:33 Like just straight up getting beat by this Indiana team. And look, it's on the table. But to me, the biggest thing that Miami needs to do on Monday night is just play a clean brand of football. And if they play a clean brand of football,

24:44 I think that they're going to be crowned national champs, which listen, we've seen them do it. So they have it in them against Ohio State. It was the cleanest football I've seen Miami play in a long time. So I know they have it in them. But I mean, man, it's just crazy that we're here talking about this game still. Like, I'm still trying to like soak it in. Like, it's been a couple days since the Old Miss game and you're here, man. And then I mean, we'll I want to dive a little bit into it because I think I think it's just insane. But this has to be one of the hottest tickets in Miami sports history, right? I've never seen the amount of craziness for a freaking sporting event in Miami like this one ever. Like, I think everyone wants to be at this game. I think there's fans from other teams that want to be at this game right now. Like it seems like it's like one of the craziest matchups that's ever

25:23 hit hard rock stadium. Yeah. I mean, what are what are the odds that Miami is hosting the national championship and then Miami actually gets to the national championship game in that season? I mean, it it's it's it's it's a destiny type of story. Everyone's talking about like this Destiny Cinderella story for Indiana. What about Miami, man? Like, how cool would it be if Miami as a 10 seed came out and won the national championship on their home field? And dude, this has got to be the hottest ticket in South. I mean, I know someone that told me that they paid more for a nosebleleed seat for this game than they did to sit in the lower bowl during the LeBron Miami Heat era. So, like that tells that tells you a lot. Obviously, those Heat tickets are a little different cuz there you get multiple games in a final, but still, man, there's this is this is got to be one of the most these are Super Bowl

26:09 these are like insane Super Bowl prices. Like, I feel like I've never really seen anything quite like this. I don't know. Maybe you guys might I'm not like super in tune with like all all the Super Bowl prices or anything like that, but it's just like this this has to be one of the craziest most expensive tickets in Miami history. Like I imagine like American sports like this is this is nuts what I've seen.

26:28 It's got to be and it's a college game at the end of the day. It's a college game. It's crazy cuz I had the conversation with myself like man the in Miami. How crazy would it be if we make it all the way and we go there? But we're here now. It's about to happen. We're prepared. I think these boys are battle battle ready. So before we start wrapping things up, I need to get from you. What is your score prediction for this game?

26:51 I haven't really cooked it up. So this is going to be off the dome. Let's go off the dome. Off the dome.

26:55 Off the off the dome. Looks I I think that this is going to be like a I I think this is going to end up being like a 24 type of game. Like I think it's going to be close. I think it's going to be

27:07 Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's where I'm at with like probably Miami winning. I don't know what the overunder is on this thing. Uh, but I think this is going to be a grind, man. This is going to be a war,

27:15 but Miami is built to win these things, man. Miami's built built to win games just like this one. And they've won them to this point. And uh, man, you know what? I I I get everything about I just I can't imagine, you know, knowing a lot of people in this program, you know, being around Mario Ball, being around Miami, I can't I I don't see it, bro. I don't see them I don't see them like squandering an opportunity to win a national championship at Hard Rock Stadium. Uh so I'm I'm rolling with the Canes, man. Just everything inside of me believes that they're going to win this game.

27:46 And no, even going off of that, man. I mean, this is what Crystal Ball said. And he even said when he came in, give me three years, right? Give me three years to build this thing up. And now we're in year four and here we are, right? With everything that's gone on, obviously the loss, the bad losses, you know, not making AC championship, we're here. So, he's been, you know, a guy that promised this sort of success and now we're here. I mean, what an opportunity to kind of, you know, cement yourself in history to win this game and to do everything. But when I look at this game, I see it being a, like I said, a grudge match. Bloody knuckles, mud all over everyone's like everyone's face. I see it being a 20 to10 game, man. I see it being a lowscoring 20 to 10 game. I think we up seven late. We're going to kick a field goal to hit the dagger and that's going to be it. I think that's I think that's how the

28:30 game's gonna end. It's going to be 17-10 in the fourth quarter. Maybe you score one late in the fourth quarter and then we kick a field goal to ice it late with like three minutes left and then that's all she wrote.

28:40 That's I'm here for that. I'm here for that. I'm here for that. And listen man, people people don't like lowscoring football games, but listen, I think those are good games. A lower scoring game is a great game. Those those those fights in the trenches and those wars on the line of scrimmage that that's that's football, man. That's Miami football. So that's a

28:59 that's a football Oh, that game had me on the I feel like those games watching it on TV is probably more frustrating than being there in person cuz in person you just know that like this game is one play away. Like like one play away changes this game. Like one play changes this game. And it's not like oh you know if they score then they're probably going to score and all that stuff. It's like nope. Like who's going to who's going to break through here? And I think this could definitely be one of those types of games where it's just like, man, like at any moment this thing could teeter totter one way or the other. And I bet there's going to be a handful of plays that we look back at and be like, those were the difference. Like that that's why this game finished the way that it did.

29:31 All right. Yeah, bro. Listen, man. I'm excited. I think all of Miami is hyped up. Even people that don't watch football, they're like, uh, I think I'm going to cheer on for you on this game. Might as well.

29:39 Oh, bro. People are people are super hyped up everywhere I go. I mean, I'm going to Publix and it's like Kane stuff. Cane stuff. Everyone's got flags on their car. Everyone's everywhere. My daughter's school is doing spirit day tomorrow. So everyone's all the kids are wearing M stuff to school tomorrow. It's just like it's awesome. Like this is the best man.

29:56 And there's no school there's no place that loves this match up more than Christopher Columbus High School. Let's like there's no place that loves it more than the C I'm a C pride guy. I love this game. I went to Columbus. Like I like I I'm all for this man. Obviously we got a lot of C pride blood in this game. They're then they're they're they're obviously super excited having guys on both sides of the ball which is a crazy thing to think of too. You have guys on both sides from your high school. So I'm excited, man. Obviously Fern, he was on our podcast. Like I said, man, obviously he's on the he's on the other side of the of the opposition, but you know, so much credit to him and what he's done. But look, man, I'm excited. I'm hyped. I know you're hyped.

30:33 So to wrap this up, I'm going to end with a couple rapid fire questions for you. Okay,

30:36 let's do it. So first and foremost, what's your naughty fit, bro? Cuz this shirt right here, I've worn it all playoffs. I've worn this shirt and hat combo all playoffs and I've not taken it off. I've worn it every single game and every single game I've worn this combo. We have won. So, I'm sticking with this. That's why I'm wearing it right now. I need to keep the superstition going of this.

30:56 So, I I I'm working, right? So, I sit in the press box. So, I have to go neutral, unfortunately. So, I I I don't know, man. I probably I I'm a quarter zip guy. I'll probably wear one of these quarter zips.

31:06 You got to wear something underneath. Yeah, I got to wear I'll probably wear I have like this white uh Miami Adidas polo, so I'll probably wear it under like I'll just have the white collar under, but you got to know that I'm repping it right on my heart, bro. I got the logo right here, bro.

31:17 Hey, bro. That's crazy. I forgot. Damn, that's crazy. You're going to be the press box. That you know,

31:21 I'll be the press box, bro. I remember I remember being at a couple games and like when I was at cuz I went to too. I'm I'm a lum. I used to cover the games back in the day and like I was on the sideline for the Nico Perry comeback against FSU when I couldn't celebrate and I wanted to run to the field and like start like, you know, high-fiving guys, but I couldn't. I have to be like so bellow about it. That's right.

31:38 But that's crazy. And then it's tough. Number two. Number two. Who do you think the G ball game ends? Who will be crowned the MVP of this game?

31:48 I think it's going to be Ruben Bane, man. Ruben Bane. I think he's going to I think he's going to be a terror. And uh I think if Miami wins, he's going to play a huge reason in in Miami winning this game.

31:57 I got a hot take, man. I think it's going to be one of our old linemen. I think it's going to be Francis Minoa ready to

32:03 I'm here for that. Hey, man. Got you got to show the big guy some love. Listen, dude. I played O line when I was playing ball back in the day, man. So, I would love to see an O line get MVP. And why not, bro? That guy's been our anchor all year on that offensive line.

32:12 Oh, he's the best. So, he's been amazing. He's been amazing. And then third and last question after we win, right? Because we're positive here. After we win, where's the postgame celebration going to be? I'll be at Laeta. Where are you going to be, brother? brother, if I can make it to LA, if I can make it to Burden 87th, uh, by the time I'm done doing all my stuff I got to do, I'm there, bro. On my way home, I live in I live in Palmetto Bay, bro. On my way home, I'm pulling right off of that exit on top. I'm pulling right off on Bird Road. I'm doing a drive-thru. I'm getting on 87th. I'm booking it back uh, you know, to the to the Palmetto South to get back home, bro. So, if I if we win, I'm definitely driving past Laeta on the way home.

32:51 But listen, man, like you know, like I said, this is just a crazy experience. What a season for the Canes. What a season for Mario Crystal Ball. I don't want to be the jinx, but regardless of anything, what a season for them. And you know, like I said, I'm very confident they're going to wrap things up. So, with that being said, brother, let's wrap this thing up right here, man. I appreciate you being with me today, man. Hopefully, we get you at a postgame celebration pod once this is all said and done, brother. But I do appreciate you taking the time and being with us today, man. Thank you, Mel.

33:20 Thank you for having me, guys. It's been a pleasure. All right, guys. Well, listen, wear your orange, wear your hats, rock the ibis, rock the U. I appreciate you guys for riding with us all season. We got one more game left and I'll catch you after that for the celebrations. Catch you next week, guys.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Can the Hurricanes Capture the National Championship?"?

Host (Host), Gabby (Guest).

What is "Can the Hurricanes Capture the National Championship?" about?

The Miami Hurricanes are surprisingly on the brink of competing for a national championship, a journey fueled by strategic recruiting and the leadership of head coach Mario Cristobal. With a renewed sense of optimism and talent, the team's transformation has sparked excitement among fans and insiders alike as they contemplate the potential for championship success at home.

What is mentioned in this Stay Tranquilo episode?

4 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Indiana, Hard Rock Stadium, Alabama, Christopher Columbus High School. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Can the Hurricanes Capture the National Championship?"?

The episode runs 34 min; the transcript is about 8,297 words in 89 timestamped sections.

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