Miami coach sends clear message to referees

The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes nearly pulled off a huge comeback against Notre Dame on Saturday night, rallying from a 21-point deficit to give themselves a chance to tie the game late. But a controversial call in the end zone ended those hopes, and Miami fell 31-24 for its first loss of the season.

After the game, head coach Mario Cristobal didn’t hide his anger about the decision. Cristobal ripped the officials for not awarding his team a touchdown, saying that he was “pissed off.”

Miami’s First Loss

Miami entered Saturday’s game in South Bend without star wide receiver Malachi Toney, who suffered an ankle injury in practice earlier in the week and underwent surgery. Cristobal said after the game that Toney is expected to be out about four weeks.

Without Toney, the Hurricanes struggled early. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw for just 49 yards in the first half, and Notre Dame built a 24-3 lead early in the third quarter. The matchup had been billed as a major test for Miami, and Urban Meyer had even issued a warning to Notre Dame ahead of the game.

But Miami fought back. Mensah threw three touchdown passes to Cooper Barkate and Elija Lofton to cut the deficit to 31-24 with 9:53 remaining. After Notre Dame missed a 53-yard field goal, the Hurricanes got the ball back with a chance to tie.

On 4th-and-6 from the Notre Dame 18, Mensah lofted a pass to Lofton in the corner of the end zone. Lofton appeared to come down with the ball and two feet in bounds, but safety Luke Talich knocked the ball loose as Lofton stepped out of bounds. Officials ruled the pass incomplete, and the call was upheld after a brief replay review.

‘I’m beyond upset’

Cristobal opened his postgame press conference by blasting the decision.

“Really, really disappointed that they negated Elija Lofton’s touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in bounds, but like we told our team before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials because that’s what you’re going to get out here,” Cristobal said, via ESPN’s Andrea Adelson.

“I’m pissed off. It’s bulls***, and I’ll leave it at that. That’s the way it was seen by them. So I got to live with it and respect it, and our players got to live with it, and we got to do better. Again, don’t leave it in the hands of the officials,” he continued.

Cristobal later apologized for letting his emotions take over, though he didn’t back down from his opinion on the call.

“I’m beyond upset, but that’s not the way to go here,” Cristobal said. “I need to be mature and professional about it. Be very honest about my opinion on it, but not point any fingers except at ourselves and go get better.”

Mensah, meanwhile, said that he thought it was a touchdown at first and ran over to celebrate.

“I didn’t even see him knock the ball out at the end, so I thought it was a touchdown,” Mensah said. “You can’t leave it up to one play. Can’t leave it in the hands of the officials. I’ve got to play better.”

Needless to say, it was a tough way for Miami’s perfect season to come to an end.

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