Is this the biggest coaching game of Marios career?

[P-Tizzle]

Absolutely. This game has conference title implication and national title implication. Though Mario had games at Oregon with the former, not the latter implication though. Good post @cway313

 

[TheEye]

A lot of people would say that if any coach in any power conference had just won out in most seasons, they too probably would have a natty.

Exactly.

 

[WeBallinBoyz]

Yes because of the expectations.

Mario has always been a coach whose main shortcomings are centered around the inability to take care of weaker competition. Too often, seasons are derailed via losses to significantly inferior opponents.

This is exactly that scenario. The path is clearly defined - win and you’re in the ACCCG, with a 90+% chance to make the playoff (barring getting blown out by SMU, which I don’t foresee happening).

You lose this, as a double-digit favorite with clearly the most talented roster + QB tandem in the entire conference, a year that FSU imploded, Louisville was decent but nothing spectacular, Clemson tripped up…I mean there’s no excuses. Roster is 95% healthy. Syracuse has clearly defined weaknesses. Good teams and good coaches that understand the implications, can and will punch them in the mouth, and keep their foot on the pedal for 60 minutes.

I expect to win, and I expect to beat SMU in the ACCCG.

 

[cway313]

Pretty cut & dry IMO. You have an opportunity to get to the dance, all you have to do is beat a team that you are 1000% without a doubt more talented than.

But, I think the same question could be asked next week if we beat SU. It’s a chance to do something that has never been done here, and earn yourself a useful bye.

But to answer your question, for this game, yes.

I was thinking that at first. Next week will have a lot more uncertainty. We are still alive imo with a title game loss. I can't say the same about this week.

Edit: We can also finally put the "Same Old Miami" mantra to bed. We know what has happened before in this spot.

 

[k9cane]

my view was coming into the season that the Florida opener was because of the optics and momentum that would be created from it. Miami and Cristobal knocked it out of the park

Now, fast forward, now it's the Cuse game -- and then if they come out of the Dome alive, it then shifts to the ACC title game the week after (knock on wood)

And if they win the ACC and get a first round playoff by, Mario is now playing with house money. This season is a success and he put together the season he needed in 2024 to set this program up for the next decade

All or nothing. Time to burn the boats...

 

[305407cane]

cancelling officially visits to focus on coaching is the opposite of Mario-like. Guy lives for recruiting. He knows he will be crucified if we lose

 

[hurricaneman]

The mood on this board for the next 9 months if we lose...

 

[Ironmanfootball]

exercised

My demons love to exercise

 

[k9cane]

Yes because of the expectations.

Mario has always been a coach whose main shortcomings are centered around the inability to take care of weaker competition. Too often, seasons are derailed via losses to significantly inferior opponents.

This is exactly that scenario. The path is clearly defined - win and you’re in the ACCCG, with a 90+% chance to make the playoff (barring getting blown out by SMU, which I don’t foresee happening).

You lose this, as a double-digit favorite with clearly the most talented roster + QB tandem in the entire conference, a year that FSU imploded, Louisville was decent but nothing spectacular, Clemson tripped up…I mean there’s no excuses. Roster is 95% healthy. Syracuse has clearly defined weaknesses. Good teams and good coaches that understand the implications, can and will punch them in the mouth, and keep their foot on the pedal for 60 minutes.

I expect to win, and I expect to beat SMU in the ACCCG.

Exactly, Mario/Miami go their mulligan in Atlanta. Get the doggone thing done on Saturday...

 

[BS85]

Need a "Yes & Mope" option please

 

[bdcane4eva]

At this moment..100% yes.
Imagine a loss...all I can say to add clarity to the yes...

 

[DrNovaCane]

Year 3 has been the stated plum line, since he arrived here, that was supposed to show or provide a real sense of the trajectory and progress of the program (or the lack there of) and here we are. So Yes, it is…

 

[E1k]

Mope!

 

[caneman73]

Coaching career or Muami coaching career? OP need to clarify. Miami career yes other no

 

[cway313]

Coaching career or Muami coaching career? OP need to clarify. Miami career yes other no

Career

 

[Yoyo82]

Although I think Hunter has it wrapped up, to have any chance for Cam t/w the Heisman, he needs to have a huge game and come away with a W. Hard to overstate how valuable it would be to the program to have another Heisman winner — and a major feather in Mario’s fedora. Then there’s the conference realignment game, and what it means for Miami to “be back” playing for championships. So much riding on this game.

Cam gets 2 chances to impress the Heisman voters. Their votes are due on 12/9. He'll be playing on 12/7 on championship weekend and if he has a "wow" game against SMU while Travis Hunter is sitting at home that could sway the votes.

 

[Yoyo82]

I think this is by far the biggest game of his Miami career but as a standalone game, the Pac 12 Championship was bigger.
The ACCCG will be the biggest game of his career for sure and then every game after that will be as well.
But I don't think this rises to that level YET because if he wins this game then loses the next game he hasn't won anything.

 

[The canesman]

This game is not an automatic win. A lot of reputations and the rebuild of the U along with coaching all on the line.

 

[Kempo Cane]

Nope when he breaks the sec over his knee after a natty I'll say yeah ,till then we still building.

 

[Negro-Wan Kanobi]

I voted mope cause it was funny asf to me to vote mope.

So, two people you may know voted mope.