Mario Cristobal feels his first two seasons at Miami were the initial steps toward a gradual return to the top of college football.
Can the Hurricanes ever regain the greatness they experienced in 2001? Vince Wilfork was a standout freshman defensive tackle on the team. Wilfork, a UM Sports Hall of Famer, played at Miami from 2001 to 2003. He only lost three games during his three seasons at Miami. Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots: 2004 and 2014.
Vince joined me and “The Truth Teller” Bruce Warner on my Locked On Canes podcast and discussed a number of issues, including:
-What will it take to return Miami to prominence?
-What made the 2001 national championship team so memorable?
-How the defensive lineman position has evolved in college and the NFL.
-Why it is critical for college athletes to study film and learn from those who came before them. This was a particularly interesting segment of the talk. Wilfork studied the great players who came before him at Miami, including Jerome Brown, Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, and Warren Sapp. He advises college players now to approach situations in a similar manner. It is critical to study films and comprehend football.
“People have to understand that things take time,” Wilfork said of Miami’s ongoing restoration. “Many people lack patience in life. With the Transfer Portal and all of the other stuff going on, being a college coach is becoming increasingly difficult.
“One thing I admire about Mario Cristobal is his discipline. He understands what it takes. He was around winning teams at Miami and Alabama, so he has had success in both his coaching and playing careers.”
Wilfork admires Cristobal’s diligent recruiting efforts.
“He understands how important recruiting is. If we can keep the Florida boys down south. We’ve been away from it for too long. That’s one of my favourite aspects of (Cristobal). He knows where it all starts. I enjoy seeing us try to keep South Florida and Florida recruits at home. I think he’s doing a decent job. Everyone wants fast success, but it doesn’t happen that way.”
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