Mario Cristobal takes responsibility for coaching blunder vs. Georgia Tech: ‘There’s no way to rationalize it’
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Mario Cristobal appeared on the Joe Rose Show on Monday morning and discussed Miami’s late-game blunder that gave Georgia Tech a crucial final possession on Saturday night.
With under 40 seconds remaining, Miami held a 20-17 lead over the Yellow Jackets and had possession of the ball. The Hurricanes could have taken a knee to end the game, but instead decided to hand the ball off to Don Chaney Jr. The rest is history, as Georgia Tech scored a game-winning touchdown just 3 plays and 24 seconds later.
Cristobal said Monday morning it was the “wrong decision” to run one final play rather than take a knee.
“There’s no way to rationalize it, Joe,” Cristobal said, via Audacy’s AM 560 Sports WQAM. “It’s the wrong decision. Should’ve kneeled it and we didn’t do it. So, press on, man.”
Miami was a big favorite over Georgia Tech, who was coming off of a home loss to Bowling Green as it took on the Canes in Week 6. Miami played well defensively until the final drive, but 4 turnovers (including 3 interceptions from Tyler Van Dyke) kept Georgia Tech in the game until the final seconds.
Cristobal acknowledged that Miami had not played up to its “standard” the entire night, but took accountability for not being able to finish off the win.
“It was a game that we were just not playing to our standard but gave ourselves a chance at the end,” Cristobal added. “But again, like I mentioned before, this entire program is based and founded on accountability. We gave ourselves a chance to win and we’ve just got to make that decision to take a knee. That’s it.”
Miami will now prepare for a tough Week 7 test on the road at North Carolina. That is now a must-win game if Miami is to keep alive any realistic chances of reaching the ACC Championship Game in 2023.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
