Revisiting Mario Cristobal's playing career at Miami: What to know about 1989, 1991 national title teams as a player

Revisiting Mario Cristobal's playing career at Miami: What to know about 1989, 1991 national title teams as a player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The process of hiring Mario Cristobal in 2021 was a bit messier than Miami might have liked — the Hurricanes pursued him before firing coach Manny Diaz, and leaks made it obvious — but their efforts to bring a Miami man back home were successful.

Cristobal left Oregon after four seasons to become Miami's next head coach because it was a dream job. That dream began decades earlier, when he joined the Hurricanes as an offensive lineman after growing up in Miami. 

After starting his coaching career at Miami and later returning for another stint as an assistant, Cristobal gained control of the program ahead of the 2022 season and hasn't looked back, channeling some of the championship mentality the 'Canes had when he was a player. 

Here's what you need to know about Cristobal's playing career and championship history at Miami. 

MORE: Why Mario Cristobal decided to leave Oregon

Where did Mario Cristobal go to college?

Cristobal spent his college days right where he is coaching today: the University of Miami.

A Miami native from birth, Cristobal attended Christopher Columbus High School, which was also the alma mater of Fernando Mendoza, NFL QB Brian Griese and Duke standouts Cameron and Cayden Boozer. MLB great Alex Rodriguez also spent part of his high school days at the school.

After high school, Cristobal played at Miami from 1989-92, earning one All-Big East First-Team honor and winning two national championships under coach Dennis Erickson.

"I was a nobody on an unbelievable team with insanely good Hall of Fame teammates," Cristobal told ESPN, calling his experience as a player something that "shaped my DNA, everything I believe in."

MORE:How Mario Cristobal, Fernando Mendoza went from same high school to title game

What position did Mario Cristobal play at Miami?

Cristobal was an offensive tackle at Miami, earning all-conference honors once and serving as a key cog on the offensive line of Hurricanes national championship teams in 1989 and 1991.  

How tall is Mario Cristobal?

Cristobal stands at 6-4. He was listed at 280 pounds during his playing days at Miami.

Mario Cristobal's Miami playing career

1989

Cristobal was recruited by Jimmy Johnson, but he played for Erickson after Johnson left to coach the Dallas Cowboys. Before Cristobal joined Miami, his older brother, Luis, also committed to the school.

"When that dream became a reality for us, it was a special moment," Luis told ESPN.

Cristobal has memories of NFL legend Michael Irvin, then a player for Miami, from his recruiting visit to the school.

"I swear, Michael Irvin — I remember being on my official visit, thought I was going to get, you know, a nice, royal treatment and whatnot. Man, it was one of those feelings like, 'Brother, you better come here. We’re going to kick your butt. It’s that easy,'" Cristobal said in 2022, adding that he was enthralled by seeing Irvin and teammate Bennie Blades "running one-on-ones looking like a Super Bowl overtime matchup."

Cristobal arrived on campus for the 1989 season, and his true freshman campaign ended with a national championship as Miami defeated Alabama in the Orange Bowl.

MORE: Explaining Miami's 'The U' nickname and history behind odd logo

1990

Miami's only multi-loss season during Cristobal's time as a player, the Hurricanes fell to BYU in their opener and later to Notre Dame but finished the season with a resounding 46-3 Cotton Bowl win over Texas. 

1991

Cristobal was a stalwart of Miami's offensive line during an undefeated national championship season in 1991. The Hurricanes defeated Nebraska 22-0 in the Orange Bowl to capture the national title.

1992

Cristobal finished his Miami career with an All-Big East First-Team selection at offensive tackle, but his career wrapped up with a Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama with a national championship on the line. Cristobal was only part of four losses in four seasons with the Hurricanes.

After his college career, Cristobal signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent but did not make the roster and spent two seasons with NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals. 

MORE:How home-grown players led Miami's revival

Mario Cristobal national championships at Miami

Cristobal won two national championships as a player at Miami, winning as a freshman in 1989 and a junior in 1991.

Cristobal lost only four games in four seasons with the Hurricanes, and only a Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama separated him from finishing his career with a third national title in 1992.

Mario Cristobal-Jimmy Johnson relationship

Cristobal never played under coach Jimmy Johnson, who left to coach the Cowboys just before the current Miami coach's freshman season, but the two became close during the recruiting process. Johnson recruited Cristobal and his brother, and Cristobal has been open about how much he appreciated the time he put in during that process.

"He changed our lives, my brother and I," Cristobal said of Johnson after Miami's playoff win over Ohio State. "We were still kind of a nobody ... He offered my brother and I scholarships." 

Cristobal credited Johnson for setting "such a high standard" at Miami and expressed his appreciation for the legendary coach still standing on the sideline decades later to support the team. 

After Miami upset Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Cristobal shared a moment on the field with Johnson as their story came full circle.