CFP national championship game: Miami vs. Indiana, 7:30 p.m., Monday; TV: ESPN
Donald Trump will be at Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game. In another life, Mario Cristobal could be working the President’s security detail instead of prowling Miami’s sideline.
The former Hurricanes offensive lineman comes from a family with law enforcement in its blood, and Cristobal studied and trained to be a Secret Service agent. He passed the rigorous exam and visited Washington D.C. to explore the possibility. The first time he was offered the job, he declined in order to complete a Master’s degree at Miami. The second time, Cristobal’s brother Lou — who is a police officer — received a 911 message on his beeper while testifying in a criminal trial and received permission from the judge to exit the witness stand for a family emergency.
“He says, ‘There are two Secret Service agents outside my door and they’re telling me I have to make a decision right now,” Lou Cristobal told the Tuscaloosa News. “What do I do?’”
The older brother told Mario to make his own decision.
“But I think you were born to coach,” Lou added.
The football bug stuck, and Cristobal will lead his alma mater Monday against Indiana at Hard Rock Stadium with a national title on the line.
‘It was something that I kind of always envisioned myself doing, working for the Federal Government,’ Cristobal said at Sunday’s coaches news conference. ‘I loved every aspect of it. My family has always been in law enforcement, law enforcement, teachers, construction workers. That’s kind of what you do. Come to this country, take two jobs, go to night school. Not me, my parents, obviously.
‘But I wanted to be in (football), and I honestly took the GA job hoping that I could coach one day. But not knowing. It’s almost like, man, I’ll never have a shot to do so. Once you’re in, you get your first taste of it, and back then there was only one GA. Now there’s 44 analysts on each side of the ball. Back then you had to do every card. I had done every single ounce of film, making about $1.70 an hour, working 22-hour days and a glutton for punishment. I loved it.
‘I remember being at the Gator Bowl with a bunch of the players, Young — you might know these names — Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Ed Reed. Those guys were young pups. And back then didn’t have a cellphone, got a pager, call so-and-so special agent, assistant to the special agent, Secret Service Miami for your appointment to come on in and join, and that’s when it hit you, like whoa.
‘But slept on it. I woke up in a panic. I love football. I’ve always loved football. Didn’t really play for anybody else or want it for anybody — I just loved it. And I wasn’t willing to let that opportunity go again. By the grace of God, I was able to move my stuff back to my GA office, which (Butch) Davis and Larry Coker took me back and gave me the opportunity.’
The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, contributed to this story.
Mario Cristobal coaching record
Here’s a look at Cristobal’s record as a head coach:
2007 (FIU): 1-11, 1-6 Sun Belt Conference
2008 (FIU): 5-7, 3-4 Sun Belt Conference
2009 (FIU): 3-9, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference
2010 (FIU): 7-6, 6-2 Sun Belt Conference
2011 (FIU): 8-5, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference
2012 (FIU): 3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt Conference
2017 (Oregon): 0-1
2018 (Oregon): 9-4, 5-4 Pac-12
2019 (Oregon): 12-2, 8-1 Pac-12
2020 (Oregon): 4-3, 3-2 Pac-12
2021 (Oregon): 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12
2022 (Miami): 5-7, 3-5 ACC
2023 (Miami): 7-6, 3-5 ACC
2024 (Miami): 10-3, 6-2 ACC
2025 (Miami): 13-2, 6-2 ACC
Career: 97-78
When is 2026 CFP national championship game? Indiana vs Miami start time
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 19
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
The CFP national championship game between Indiana and Miami will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.