Mario Cristobal Postgame Press Conference After Loss to #11 Notre Dame

[0:00] Obviously tough loss to take, certainly proud of our players for their resilience and toughness [0:11] they showed the whole way through. We didn't do very well in the first half and the opening drives [0:16] of the second half, found ourselves down 24-3 but battled back and found ourselves in possession [0:22] of the ball down by seven. We got a pick down by 14 again then made a seven point game again [0:27] then had the ball again and then you know really really disappointed that they negated Elijah [0:35] Lofton's touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in bounds. But like we told our team [0:40] before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials because that's what you're going [0:44] to get out here. So aside from that, a very hard fought game. Congratulations to Notre Dame for [0:50] winning the game and very disappointed in the way that was called with the game on the line [0:56] and clear possession of a football inbounds. So anyways, questions please. [1:02] Did the referees give you any? Zero. Zero. Did Damon come over and talk to you? [1:09] Zero. Explanation. Zero. There's another one where Jalen Upshaw pretty roughed up in the end zone [1:17] as well. Yeah. And I don't know how you guys saw that one, but Damon called that one either. [1:24] You know, I could sit here and go all day. I know the games get called back and forth with certain [1:28] plays that determine certain games when you have instant replay. And you know I'm pissed off, [1:34] so I mean, what do you want me to say? I mean, it's bullshit. And I'll leave it at that. And again, [1:38] that's the way it was seen by them. So I got to live with it and respect it. And our players got [1:43] to live with it and we got to do better. And you know what? Again, don't leave it in the hands of [1:46] the officials. Play better, coach better, find a way to win. But again, I don't need to be [1:52] criticizing officials. I just need to move on. [1:54] It's an ACC officiating crew. Doesn't that make it worse? [1:58] It doesn't really matter. You know, it's again, really proud of our players for fighting back the [2:05] way they did because we really started poorly. We couldn't convert on third down. [2:09] We had just a tough time offensively and our defense had a tough time getting their cleats in [2:13] the ground. But one play at a time, we gained the momentum back and found ourselves with the ball, [2:18] with possession a couple times to either tie the game or tie it and maybe try to go up or try to go for [2:25] two there at the end. So, you know, aside from that, obviously down when we were tight and we [2:31] kicked the field goal, we got hit with Bear double A. So we got knocked back there and we're trying to [2:37] punch that ball in on the sneak. And so we tried to run the ball outside with Darren. That didn't [2:41] work out. So we took points. But you'd like to get that ball in the end zone. You know, certainly [2:46] you can't give away points in a game like this. But credit to them. Their quarterback's a really good [2:50] player. They got a really good football team and, you know, they play tough and physical as well. So [2:55] cannot take away credit from the opponent. I wouldn't disrespect football like that either. [2:59] So, again, pardon me for my comments. You know, I am. I'm beyond upset. But that's not the way to go [3:05] here. I need to just I need to be mature and professional about it. You know, be very honest [3:10] about my opinion on it. But, you know, not point any fingers except at ourselves and go get better. [3:15] Mario, you talked about how they just bounced back in the second half tonight. But they've dealt with a lot [3:27] the last four days of emotion. Yeah. Well, you know how much Mallory means to us. I mean, [3:30] he means the world. And, you know, he's he does so much for us. And then it's compiled when you lose [3:37] him on a Wednesday because you really don't have time to to do everything you want to do. You have to [3:43] kind of you got you don't wing it. But it's it's not the same as having a full week of practice without [3:49] somebody. So but that being said, I thought I thought everybody stepped up. Everybody did [3:56] and everybody fought their tails off. That locker room is is is in a lot of pain. [4:05] And we also acknowledge that again, we as a as an organization, we got to coach better. We got to [4:09] play better. You know, you put yourself in a hole like that against a team like that, [4:13] that's got to be tough sledding. You got to be near perfect, right? And the margins become that much [4:18] more thin. But again, you know, so that's going to be the focus of what I talk about going forward [4:24] because on the other subject matter again, final play was was but lofting all game Cooper all game [4:34] knowing that again, you need to find more guys. Just how do you see the two of them specifically [4:40] take advantage of the extra reps? You know, they they live in man coverage. So you really have [4:45] you have to win, you know, and I think we drew two or three pass interferences or two pass [4:50] interferences and one holding and whatnot. And I'm proud of our guys second week in a row were [4:56] less penalized than the opponent. So but I thought those guys worked their coverage, [5:00] the defenders covering them really, really well. And I thought they made the contested catches [5:03] necessary to give us an opportunity to win the football game. Really proud of them. I thought [5:08] they blocked well also. And there's, you know, a couple opportunities in there as well. You know, [5:13] we end up having to throw the ball a lot, right? Live and drop back, which is hard against [5:17] the front like that. But the combination of everybody just working hard to give us gave [5:21] us a great chance and possession and the ball and ball in hands, you know, with our feet in the ground [5:26] in the end zone to to get it done. But again, did you think about going forward on fourth and goal [5:35] when you came up to short on in the first quarter in the first quarter on the goal? Well, we didn't [5:39] lose yardage. You know, I thought we were really, really close where you're in four down. But now [5:43] it's pushed back, you know, one and a half to two did not like what we were seeing inside as it relates [5:48] to the front and double become double barrels, double A's. And so that's why we try to get [5:55] the ball outside and we lost some yardage and we were down two scores. I didn't want to come out [5:59] of there without any point. So well, you always think about it, you know, and I felt that we could [6:03] have at least maintain the same yardage, you know, those things become exponentially more doable, [6:08] you know, depending on the yardage down there. So what do you see changing? Did you see, [6:13] have you looked at a replay of Elijah's play? Just on the big screen, just on the big screen. [6:21] So I thought it was clear. But, you know, that was the only time I saw it. What do you see change [6:27] from the defense that in like car was having, you know, a lot of success, especially in the first half [6:32] row, the second half, then he was able to kind of start clicking, get some stops? Yeah, you know, [6:36] I mean, even the first play of the game, we had a chance to pick off the ball. You know, [6:39] I thought our coverage was was more snug. You know, we were tighter in both man and in zone. [6:44] I thought we held our disguise better. You know, the, you know, cars are really good quarterback. [6:50] And if he sees what's coming, he gets into an advantageous play, right? Leverage numbers and [6:56] whatnot. And he got us early. And also they protected well, you know, I thought they protected well, [7:02] and he had time to move around and work his progression, because a lot of times he hit the [7:07] third guy in his progression. And also thought that, you know, on their touchdown drive before [7:12] before the half, the one scramble, when we had him pinned back, he got away, circled around, [7:18] and then hit his, I forget who it was he hit on that third down, was a chance for us to get off the [7:22] field and get the ball back in good field position. That certainly was a big play in the game. [7:28] But just thought that as it went, I thought Coach Heatherman just and staff made some really, [7:33] really good adjustments. And I thought we leveraged the ball really well. We got good knockback at the [7:37] line of scrimmage, did a really good job against the run game again, and then started just playing [7:43] better coverage. You mentioned the hurt that's in that locker room right now. Just how do you [7:47] turn that into fuel or whatever you need to with, again, everything still in play for? How do you [7:52] not let this sink in and seep in and let it potentially linger? Right. Well, it needs to sink [7:57] and it needs to hurt. I don't think we should ever leave a stadium without feeling, you know, [8:00] making it very painful. Because at the end of the day, you still have an opportunity to affect the outcome [8:05] more, right? All of us, starting with myself. And also acknowledge what we always say. Just [8:11] because we're pissed off doesn't mean we're going to come out next week and play good football. We [8:14] play against an excellent team that's been playing great football the last several weeks. [8:18] And now we're back in a conference play, right? So this is, we're in playoff football, [8:22] the bottom line. The entire conference is, I believe there's eight teams that are alive [8:27] for a spot. And every single week matters. And everybody's banged up. And we got to get our best [8:32] from everybody. We played all our games on the road at night. I think we're the only team in the [8:35] country to do that. So we got to get back. We got to get to work right away because this game on [8:40] Saturdays at noon. So it's a quick turnaround. How concerned were you for your player safety [8:45] when the fans started running onto the field? You know, it's player safety. My sons are out there as [8:52] well. Like, it's something needs to be. I'm all for fun and everything else. But when people start [9:00] infringing on, brother, you better get back. You know, it'll be pretty for you. You know, [9:05] like something has to be done about that kind of stuff. Let the fans have a good time. If the [9:11] fields involved, that's great. But do not antagonize people. That's college football. I have [9:16] no issues with it. Now we got to make our way in. And how we make our way in, it is what it is. [9:20] But look, great atmosphere. Tremendous credit to them. There's no bitching about that part on this [9:26] side. I'm not complaining at all. It was a big night for them over here. You know, [9:32] we didn't get it done. So that's their right to celebrate how they want to celebrate. [9:36] How much does procedure go? And is there a timeline? [9:42] Yeah, timeline is, you know, as soon as four, four and a half weeks from procedure time went great. [9:47] You know, very unfortunate, very like, you know, I've seen Malachi for a long time. He's like an [9:54] alley cat. He always lands perfectly on his feet, no matter what body position he contorts himself [10:00] into. And one of those freakish, you know, during a Wednesday practice and shells when you're not [10:08] right, like that when the ball's in the air, you're not even touching people. So, but, you know, [10:14] unfortunately, got a little bit tangled up and felt awkward. It was going to be all right. He'll be back. [10:21] Last one. You lose Malachi, obviously. You lose this game. What do you want the edge of this group [10:27] to be like going forward? How do you want the process that you do? [10:31] Like a grown man. Like a grown man. Understand the reality that comes with life and football, right? [10:39] You know, a week ago, the entire world is, you know, trying to jump the bandwagon, telling you how [10:43] great you are. And now, you know, everyone on the outside is going to spend their energy trying to rip [10:50] everybody apart in there. And who gives a shit, right? Like that ain't, the outside world is not [10:56] part of our process. And getting young people to understand that I think is really important. [11:01] That's the work that we do, the hours that we put in, the times that we are, you know, required to be [11:07] in there. Those are the people and the things that matter. And those are the things that should [11:11] drive you. And they have driven this team to do some really, really good things. And it's going to [11:16] drive us to do even better things going forward. But it's important. You know, you can't let the rats, [11:21] right? The rats get in. Does that make sense? Want to know everything? Press on.