Canes Take Field for Spring Finale

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – For weeks, they’ve practiced on Greentree, learned from their coaches, studied film and worked toward improving in every facet of the game.

And on Saturday afternoon, in front of family, friends, former players, alumni, and season-ticket holders, the Hurricanes had a chance to put it all together and close spring drills with their annual spring game, this one held at Cobb Stadium on campus.

The action on the field was modified – full contact was limited to the first half – but there were still more than a few moments, including an impressive touchdown grab by freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, that elicited cheers from the crowd in attendance.

“It was very exciting,” Toney said of the chance to play in his first spring game. “[Offensive analyst Donovan] Varner and [wide receivers coach Kevin Beard], they gave me the opportunity to come in as a freshman, show my talent and that’s what I’m doing right now. We had a great spring. Now, it’s time to transition over to the summer. Got to keep going.”

The rest of the Hurricanes, including head coach Mario Cristobal, echoed that sentiment.

While Saturday, yes, may have been an opportunity for fans to get their first look at new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman’s scheme and see how much progress freshmen like Toney have made during their first months on campus, the Hurricanes know they still have plenty of work to do ahead of their Aug. 31 season opener against Notre Dame.

Spring practice, and Saturday’s spring game, were just two of the steps on the journey toward the upcoming season and the games that await.

“We feel really good about our spring. We really do,” Cristobal said. “We play football, and we practice football and we’re in pads and the guys did a really good job attacking a very demanding regimen. … A couple guys were held out due to being nicked up or bumped up, nothing major. We don’t see anything major, but overall, just a very, very good spring. A lot of progress and a lot more progress to go.”

Defensive Growth

For the Hurricanes, one of the big points of focus this spring was learning Hetherman’s scheme, given that the defensive coordinator joined Miami’s staff in January.

In Saturday’s game, the defense turned several big plays, including a goal-line stand during the first half that prompted Cristobal – a former national championship offensive lineman – to give the unit some praise – even if it was somewhat begrudgingly.

“As an offensive lineman, what do you think I’m going to say?” he quipped. “I want to projectile vomit on the offensive side. But on the defensive side, I’ll tell you two things – number one, great job from a schematic standpoint, just finding a way to expose certain gaps and timing it up really well. And even more so, a couple guys just hunkering down, putting their feet in the ground and knocking people back. So, you can’t take away from that. … We kind of needed that. … We’ve done short yard [situations], but we haven’t done a bunch of goal line in the spring. … Overall, that was a great job by the defense, so I’ll hold my personal feelings aside.”

Said linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, “I felt like the defensive performance was great. You know, just running basic things, getting our feet wet, making plays.”

Beck Back Soon

The Hurricanes have been without quarterback transfer Carson Beck for much of the spring as the sixth-year redshirt senior recuperated from the elbow surgery he had in December.

But Cristobal told CBS Sports this weekend that the quarterback is cleared to begin throwing on Monday. At Saturday’s spring game, the coach reiterated that, saying the expectation is that Beck will be fully available for any upcoming player-led practices.

Quarterbacks Emory Williams, Luke Nickel and Judd Anderson handled the reps in Saturday’s spring game.

“The good part is, as you know, our PLP – player led practices – [are] coming up. He’s going to be fully cleared for all of those, so he will have the opportunity to have about 16 of those before we even head into fall camp,” Cristobal said. “So, not to mention throwing on his own with the players. So, there’s a lot of opportunity coming up. He certainly took advantage of whatever he could mentally. The physical part begins on Monday, so we’re excited for that.”

“True to the Program”

Before the Hurricanes took the field Saturday, more than a few college football headlines centered around the University of Tennessee’s decision to cut ties with quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

According to ESPN, Iamaleava did not attend team meetings or the Volunteers’ practice on Friday. His unexpected absence came after the quarterback reportedly tried to renegotiate his deal with Tennessee.

On Saturday, Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel told reporters in Knoxville that “no one is bigger than the program” and on Saturday, Cristobal echoed those sentiments when asked about the situation at Tennessee.

“I think you stay real, and you stay true to the program, and make the decisions that are best for the program,” Cristobal said. “Again, we mentioned the other day … everybody’s in the [transfer] portal and the portal’s always open. You don’t want to believe me? It’s always open. Everybody’s in it. So, it all depends on what you’re willing to accept. Where are you going to draw the line in your program? You’ve got to realize something: once you allow that to happen, and you agree to it, well, prepare for a line of 80 guys doing the same thing.

“We’re not going to do that at Miami, and I say that without any hesitation. If anyone’s thinking that and they could be the best player in the world, if they want to play holdout, they might as well play get out. We don’t want to do that, and we don’t want Miami to become that. Too many guys have sweated, bled, [and] have laid it on the line on that field to ever become that type of program. I hope that answers the question.”