Mario Cristobal made yet another poor late-game decision on Saturday night and it almost cost Miami the game. One particular college football fan’s reaction says everything that needs to be said.
The Hurricanes went ahead 7-0 in the first quarter but Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers scored 17 unanswered points in the middle 30 minutes to take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter. Miami was able to counter with a flurry of scoring before the end of the quarter.
This is where Mario Cristobal comes into question, again. Just like it did with his decision to run the ball instead of take a knee against Georgia Tech. Just like it did dating back to his time at Oregon.
Mario Cristobal made a mind-numbing late game decision.
Clemson punted with 91 seconds left to give the home team the ball back at their own 28-yard-line. There was 1:26 on the clock.
Cristobal chose to be conservative. He had a timeout in his pocket with a chance to win the game, and chose to be conservative.
The sequence went as follows:
- Pass complete — six yards — Miami 34-yard-line — 0:53
- Run — four yards — Miami 38-yard-line — 0:26
- Pass incomplete — 0:21
- Run — four yards — Miami 42-yard-line
Thee Hurricanes let the clock run out.
Cristobal had a timeout, and the ball near midfield, with 21 seconds left. He ran the ball and took the game to overtime instead.
A long field goal could have won the game. Cristobal ran the ball. The clock ran out. He had a timeout.
This guy sums it up:
Miami held on to win in double overtime. Cristobal saved himself from a lot of scrutiny. Rather, his team saved its head coach from a lot of scrutiny. A win is a win is a win.