The Miami Hurricanes need a big game from quarterback Carson Beck to have any chance of upsetting Ohio State in Cotton Bowl
Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal blocked out all the noise surrounding quarterback Carson Beck.
He paid no attention to what was said about Beck when he transferred from Georgia to UM. Instead, he waited to get to know Beck once he arrived in Coral Gables.
"I really didn't know him until he got to Miami," Cristobal said. "I certainly -- I think all of us saw some of the stuff, some of the noise surrounding the end of his tenure over at Georgia and then him starting his new tenure at Miami. And because he's so quiet and reserved and didn't get much time in front of the microphone, in front of the media, I think some narratives kind of -- they ran on their own. And being around him from day one, one thing that really stands out, he's all about team. He's all about his teammates, and his work ethic is off the charts, which are the qualities you always want in your quarterback. So, I have the utmost respect for him and the utmost trust and confidence in him as a player, as a teammate, and certainly, I think his best days are ahead of him."
Beck handled the outside noise with ease. He has led the Hurricanes to tonight's game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.
“I think the biggest thing is just understanding what it takes to win games like this, to get to this position," Beck said this week in Dallas. The preparation, the work, the week of what it looks like, how to handle this environment, how to handle these type of weeks. And it’s a little bit different now with having the 12-team playoff, having more rounds. But again, just handling the week and handling the preparation, that’s something that I learned being on those teams.”
Beck now is in the position of leading the Hurricanes to their first national championship since 2001. He said it's been quite the whirlwind since leaving Georgia but now has the same opportunity for the Hurricanes.
“It’s been an unreal journey," Beck said. "It’s been a full 180, full circle. I’ve had to work my butt off to get back to this position. I couldn’t have done it without these teammates and these coaches. I’m super thankful.”
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of MiamiRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com