MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Following Miami's 48-33 statement win over No. 23 Texas A&M on Saturday, Miami coach Mario Cristobal couldn't take two steps towards his locker room without being pulled into a picture, spun around for a handshake or hugged by a recruit or one of their family members.
"Bro," he said to one of the dozens of high school players lingering in the bowels of Hard Rock Stadium, "this is the spot for you. I'm comin'."
And he's getting there in only his second season.
While Cristobal conceded after the game the once-storied program is still "nowhere near" where he wants it to be, Saturday's win against a ranked SEC team catapulted Miami back into relevance and showcased a vastly improved offensive line, a star quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke, and a resiliency that helped overcome early mistakes.