Miami Football-The Beast Unleased: Don’t Blame Mario for going to Alabama
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?Eminem-Lose Yourself
They say timing is everything. However, sometimes, there is no perfect time. Sure we’d love our lives to go like clockwork; for the opportunities we desire to present themselves exactly when we are ready for them. If that were the case, there would be no such thing as missed opportunities. There would be no such thing as regret. Instead, we live lives filled with regret and missed opportunities because we all face tough choices at times, and when we make those choices we try to be as logical and mindful as we can, but in the end, the best choice may not be the popular one. Mario Cristobal made the best choice for him and his family by accepting the position at Alabama. And for those of you that are proclaiming him “dead to us,” grow up.
Mario didn’t chose to be blasted out of the FIU gig he passed up other jobs for. Pete Garcia did something almost unthinkable when he told Mario to take a hike. The stars aligned and Mario ended up back at his alma mater. We say in the EJ room and watched Mario smile from ear to ear as he was bursting from happiness and drive as he talked to the media about being back at The U. We all rejoiced. The rejoicing was short lived. Nick Saban came calling.
In any walk of life, in any profession, there are certain jobs, certain opportunities that may arise that just can’t be passed up on. If you’re in politics and the president comes calling, well, you head for the West Wing. If you’re in journalism and the New York Times comes calling, well, you head for Times Square. If you are a college coach, and Nick Saban and Alabama comes calling, well, you get your elephant shirt out and head to Tuscaloosa. Alabama is the creme de la creme of college football right now. They have one of the highest, if not the highest, paid coaching staffs in the country. They have every tool and facility needed to be successful. They have 40 dudes in operations as the backbone to what amounts to the college equivalent of an NFL operation. How do you pass that up?
I know, I know, you’re shouting about loyalty. Well there’s all types of loyalty. There’s no doubt that there’s a special place in Mario’s heart for The U. But shouldn’t he have loyalty to himself, to his goals, to his growth, to his family, and to his future? He’s been at UM. He has that on his resume. He has the bling to prove it. He’s been a head coach. Why should we hold it against him if he wants to go play with the big boys in the best conference with the best program and with arguably the best coach. I’m in radio. Do you think I’d pass up the opportunity if Howard Stern came calling? I mean I’m incredibly loyal to allCanes for their support of allCanes Radio, and CANEINSIDER for their support, and Lincoln Financial Media (The Ticket’s parent company) for giving me the opportunity, but if I get a chance to work with the number one radio host, possibly ever, I’m outtie like Gowdy. Is that being disloyal or is it being smart?
So you mean to tell me that if four or five years from now, if Al Golden takes his talents somewhere else, and Mario’s name comes up for the head gig, you’re going to tell him to back off because he ditched us? PUHLEASE!
Yes he’ll be recruiting against us and taking “our kids” out of South Florida, but it’s business, not pleasure. Being a coach in college athletics means you have to resume build every chance you get. I’m sorry folks, but right now having that Elephant on your resume does a lot more for you than having That U stamped there. I’m sure Al is pissed off. I don’t doubt that. The timing does such, but if Al Golden were in the exact same situation, he’d be nuts not to do the same thing. Why does Al Golden want to be at The U? He wants to be here because if he’s the guy that brings this program through the fog and gets it back on top, he can name his gig. After a few years in Tuscaloosa, Mario Cristobal will be able to name his gig too, and it might be back here in the 305. Yes Hurricanes fans, you have a right to be upset now, but don’t hold a grudge. You never want to hate on family. Especially when you may need to lean upon that family in the future.
So here I go it’s my shot.
Feet fail me not, this may be the only opportunity that I got
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WRONG on all accounts. Yes are you in the minority and will remain there. He would not be welcomed back regardless of whenever Coach Golden decides to leave. If he wanted something bigger and better, he should’ve have taken the U job in the first place. Period. Good luck with convincing anyone otherwise.
Couldn’t agree more. No way is he welcomed back to The U. Nice try Beasty.
My concern in agreeing with Stat1124 and Sarah has to do with character as much as with my love for the U. Mentoring young impressionable but still malleable minds is that character should be as much or more of a consideration as position and wealth. An example is our Coach Golden, when hired he had no idea the U was under very serious scrutiny by the NCAA. Instead of whining and complaining and bolting which he had every right to do Coach Golden knuckles down and begins to build in earnest the best possible football team under the very harshest of conditions. That’s character. My grandchild if he was so inclined and had the talent could play for him. I would kick his little scrawny butt if he ever wanted to play for Mario. And I say that with the thought that Coach Golden could leave for greener pastures and I would still have his back as he has paid with his character. Mario has not!!!
Glad he is gone! Would rather have a coach who is committed to rebuilding our program!
His chair was not even warm when he began contemplating another job. Alabama is on top now, but a few years ago they were a mess. Mario had the chance to build the U back to where it was, and he threw it away. I’m sure you are aware of what this does to his credibility.
I could understand hiim leaving for the NFL, a college head coaching gig, or even a college offensive coordinator job, but to go from position coach at one school to position coach at another is a lateral move, not a step up.
And he will NOT be welcomed back, as Butch Davis discovered.
Diss The U Family, Shame on you, Golden gave you chance to come back home and you accepted but then you let the whole U Nation down. It’s okay though, Just remember this, It’s All About The U.
I mean I understand taking a better opportunity, but the thing that bugs me is he was here, what, a month? These coaches jump from one job to another whenever the wind changes direction, while the kids are the only ones who have little choice. It’s the hypocrisy of the adults that enrages me. It’s like the saying ‘there’s no loyalty amongst thieves’ – they need to add coaches to that. It’s not just with Coach Cristobal – it’s all of them. The fans and the players are the ones left to pick up the pieces and it’s not right. Something needs to change to either have some sort of penalty for a coach to move, or loosen up the rules for the players.