Mario Cristobal on coaching in the NIL era: ‘We have not ever changed’

“People that want to get better, they want a truth-teller. And we haven’t come across that where, there’s an issue of that sort of thing. … Bill Belichick [said] I think it was to Tom Brady, ‘No sacred cows.’ Can you imagine if that existed, knowing what comes with this?”

Mario Cristobal: ‘Ball is still ball’

When it comes to players cashing in on their name, image and likeness, Mario Cristobal said he encourages his players to be smart with their money. They still have to perform on the field, though, which is why the approach at Miami is staying the same even as the new era continues to evolve.

“People making money, I’m all about it, as long as they’re responsible and know what to do with it,” Cristobal said. “Don’t flash it, throw it all over the place. I mean, ball is still ball. And when we come here, coach and player, I don’t care what you make. You’re making what you’re either earned, what you settled for, negotiated. I don’t care.

“But when we’re in here, I don’t want to hear jack about money. We’re going to do [it] the Miami Hurricane way and things that have been done here for a long, long time. So far, it’s worked for us really well. We’ve just got to make sure we keep getting the right kind of people that believe in that.”