Once upon a time, Nick Saban ruled college football at the University of Alabama. Across 17 seasons, Saban not only built dominant rosters but also mentored assistants who became head coaches themselves. One of those is Mario Cristobal, now leading the Miami Hurricanes.
Speaking with On3’s J.D. PicKell, Cristobal reflected on his days with the Crimson Tide and his relationship with Saban, admitting he still teases his former boss.
“Probably didn’t pay me enough for getting him all those players [at Alabama],” Cristobal joked. “…Nah, man, that guy’s a grinder. I call him — he’s an eternal competitor. He doesn’t stop.”
Cristobal credited Saban for being a constant resource, not just for him but for his family.
“He’s a super valuable resource,” Cristobal said. “I’m sure like anybody that coached for him, that reaches out to him — he’s always available. Him and Ms. Terry. They were awesome for myself, my wife and my family. So, very grateful for him.”
Mario Cristobal’s Coaching Tenure at Alabama
From 2013 to 2016, Cristobal served on Saban’s staff as recruiting coordinator, offensive line coach and assistant head coach. During that stretch, he helped Alabama land some of the top talent in the country.
In 2015, the Crimson Tide’s class ranked No. 2 nationally, then followed with the No. 1 class in 2016. Cristobal’s impact was undeniable — he was named 247Sports’ National Recruiter of the Year in 2015 and ranked No. 2 nationally in 2016.
On the field, Cristobal’s offensive line captured the Joe Moore Award in 2015, given to the nation’s toughest unit. His four-year run in Tuscaloosa saw the Crimson Tide go 51-6 overall, with one national championship and another appearance in the College Football Playoff title game.
Mario Cristobal Bringing Alabama Mindset to Miami Hurricanes
Now in his fourth season back at his alma mater, Cristobal is applying the lessons he learned from his time with Saban as he builds Miami back into a national contender.
Four games into the 2025 season, the Hurricanes are ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll, up from their preseason No. 10 spot. Miami’s résumé already includes wins over then-No. 18 South Florida, No. 22 Notre Dame and in-state rival Florida.
Cristobal, however, is determined not to let success cloud his team’s vision — echoing Saban’s famous “rat poison” warning.
“Our guys kept their composure when we got in a rut with the offense. The defense played off-the-charts football again,” Cristobal said after beating Florida. “I love the fact that we are doing a much better job of blocking out the rat poison… We still have miles and miles to go.”
That message hasn’t stopped the hype. With Miami chasing its first national title in more than 20 years, expectations are soaring. At 4-0 and looking like one of the best team’s in the country, everyone keeps saying: The U is back!
“It’s nostalgia theater in this country. Everyone wants to go back, back, back,” Cristobal told Kevin Clark. “Well, we don’t want to go back, we want to go forward and take the principles of that brand of football and take it forward.”
For Cristobal, those principles were shaped under Saban — and now they’re fueling the Hurricanes’ long-awaited return to the spotlight.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Miami’s Mario Cristobal Says Nick Saban ‘Didn’t Pay Me Enough’ for Alabama Players appeared first on Heavy Sports.