Mario Cristobal 'Trusts' Special Teams Won't Be A Problem Again
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Entering the first round of the College Football Playoff, Miami kicker Carter Davis was nearly automatic in getting the Hurricanes an extra three points.
Davis made 87.5 percent of his field goal attempts going into College Station, which included a mark of 5/7 on attempts between 40 and 49 yards. At the conclusion of Miami's 10-3 win over Texas A&M, he nearly let the Canes down, missing three field goals all in that 40-plus yard range.
Questions ran rampant about the Hurricanes' special teams and whether Davis could be trusted anymore after the performance. Head coach Mario Cristobal still trusts him and reaffirmed that he will remain the starting kicker against No. 2 Ohio State.
"Right now, yes," Crisotbal said. "I don't see a reason to change. I know that was not the best outing. I believe 1-4. I think for all of us that were there at the game, though, I think those conditions were extremely difficult to not only kick but also everything that we've seen in practice, and the conditions in the places we're going to play are more conducive to having the type of success that he has had."
Cristobal is not one to give up on players so easily. The culture he has built is on trust, togetherness, and family, and giving up on him now, after one bad day, isn't in the formula of Cristobal's roots.
"We do trust him," Crisotbal said. "We trust the operation, and we will go forward with him, but we always keep positions competitive because Bert Auburn has done a great job as well. So has Will Rocha, but we will go into this week with our guy starting."
Davis dropped to 75 percent on the year after fighting the typhoon at Kyle Field. Those wind conditions slowed down most of what the Hurricanes could do offensively, as well as outside of running the ball. Against the Buckeyes, those weather conditions won't be a problem. Inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tx, Davis could pull from a Dallas Cowboys playbook, knocking in 50-plus with ease.
Those nine extra points that he missed did not haunt him. He has been clutch all season, and against the Buckeyes, the Canes will need his best. The Cotton Bowl Classic takes place on Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.