Mario Cristobal loses another coordinator: Is Miami HC the next Scott Frost?

Mario Cristobal loses yet another coordinator at Miami, as he approaches Scott Frost territory.

With Kevin Steele leaving Miami for the defensive coordinator gig at Alabama, Mario Cristobal is well on his way towards becoming the Hurricanes’ version of Scott Frost.

The former Miami offensive lineman achieved great success previously leading the Oregon Ducks. Though College Football Playoff berths evaded him in Eugene, Oregon went to Rose Bowls and competed for Pac-12 Championships under his guidance. However, he went 5-7 at his alma mater in year one, had to fire offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and just saw Steele walk for a better job.

We are years away from Cristobal turning into Frost, but things are getting a bit chilly in Miami.

It sounds absolutely absurd to say this, but could Cristobal be on the hot seat in year two already?

Miami football: Mario Cristobal is turning into Scott Frost before our very eyes

The parallels between Cristobal and Frost are obvious. Both played for college football blue-bloods in the 1990s during their runs of dominance. Neither were can’t-miss NFL prospects, opting to get into coaching after their playing careers ended. Both led their own teams previously in Florida. While Cristobal was only so-so at FIU, Frost won an empty-calorie national championship at UCF.

And while their downtrodden, beloved alma maters came calling, there are vast differences between Miami and Nebraska. Though Frost’s successor Matt Rhule could return UNL to glory, Nebraska is never going to be what it once was. They don’t have a “weight room” advantage. Leaving the Big 12 for the Big Ten crippled recruiting. Ditching the wishbone was blasphemous.

Miami has not been The U since Greg Olsen played in Coral Gables. Financial resources and a so-so commitment to football excellence has put Miami on the downturn for the last two decades. However, the Canes are situated in South Florida where they do not have to leave two counties to get all the players they need and then some. Nebraska is forever at such a disadvantage in this.

Yes, there may be some academic standards to overcome, but it should not be this difficult to make Miami The U again. Even worse, Florida has been chaotic since Urban Meyer retired for the first time. Florida State is just now back up to standard entering Mike Norvell’s fourth year after Jimbo Fisher revealed himself to be a snake oil salesman before burning Tallahassee to the ground.

Also, Frost’s former employer UCF just turned Power Five. The Knights have been the best program in the state of Florida over the last half-decade or so, and they were utterly atrocious under George O’Leary at the bitter end! Bafflingly, it doesn’t really make sense for Miami to be continually rudderless. 8-4 in year one would have been fantastic, but y’all went 5-7 … 5 and 7!!!

Overall, maybe the coordinator hires where the problem for Cristobal? Then again, Gattis won the Broyles Award two years ago at Michigan and Steele is well-respected enough in the profession to be hired by Nick Saban for a third time. Frankly, this falls back on Cristobal’s calling card. He is a recruiter and a CEO-type head coach at his very essence. It is why this may get rough for him fast.

Ultimately, we would love nothing more than for Miami to go 9-3 next year and contend for an ACC title game berth. However, keep in mind this one very important thing. The ACC will now go divisionless. This means the utterly toothless Coastal Miami was supposed to dominate will be no more. Good luck having to beat Clemson, Florida State and others to reach the ACC’s summit now!

No coach was worse in year one than Cristobal. When you have expectations set this high, your team has to perform. Although Dan Radakovich is the newish athletic director at his alma mater as well, you have to wonder what the hell is going on in Coral Gables?! Frost is proof that you can’t always go home. His Nebraska reputation is tarnished forever. Let’s hope Cristobal can save his.

Alabama may be Alabama, but Miami is supposed to be The U, not a sub-.500 ACC football team!

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