Cristobal Apologizes for Blasting Officials After Ruling Erased Lofton's Apparent Tying Touchdown

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Miami coach Mario Cristobal said an Elija Lofton catch should have counted as a touchdown after it was ruled incomplete and upheld on replay review in a 31-24 loss at Notre Dame, per CBS Sports.
No. 1 Miami fell to No. 11 Notre Dame on Saturday night and dropped to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 on Sunday.
Cristobal later apologized for criticizing the officials and said Miami should point fingers only at itself.

One Fourth-Down Ruling Left Miami Angry Deep Into the Night

Mario Cristobal made his feelings clear on Saturday night. After No. 1 Miami lost 31-24 at No. 11 Notre Dame, the Hurricanes coach used his postgame news conference to take aim at the officials. “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. “I’m pissed off. It’s bullshit, 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.”

The Play Behind the Anger

The ruling came on fourth-and-6 from the Notre Dame 18 with under four minutes to play. Lofton, Miami’s tight end, appeared to make a catch near the boundary of the end zone that would have put Miami one extra point from tying the game. Notre Dame safety Luke Talich dislodged the ball as Lofton stepped out of bounds, and the officials ruled the pass incomplete. The call on the field stood after a brief replay review.

Not everyone sides with Cristobal. NBC’s Terry McAulay supports the ruling. His verdict: “It’s incomplete.”

Miami quarterback Darian Mensah saw a touchdown. He sprinted toward Lofton, believing the catch was good. Mensah finished 24-of-43 for 276 yards and three touchdowns, one to Lofton and two to Cooper Barkate, who led all pass-catchers with 10 receptions for 92 yards. “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.”

Cristobal Changes His Tone

Cristobal later apologized for criticizing the officials. “I need to be mature and professional about it,” he said. “Be very honest about my opinion on it, but not point any fingers except at ourselves and go get better.”

The Hurricanes argued long into the night that Lofton had caught what would have been a touchdown, one that could have tied the game with an extra point. The referees ruled he did not complete the catch. It was Miami’s last good chance at the comeback. University President Joe Echevarria, wearing a lapel pin of the school’s famed U logo, spoke quietly as he walked out of the locker room area. “I wish it had been a touchdown,” Echevarria said.

A Game That Slipped Before the Ruling

Miami played without injured receiver Malachi Toney for the first time this season. Toney was hurt in practice on Wednesday and was home in South Florida recovering from ankle surgery. The Hurricanes’ offense did not catch fire until the third quarter, when they trailed 24-3.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr led the Fighting Irish to their signature win, one that moves them closer to the College Football Playoff. It also avenged last season’s 27-24 loss to the Hurricanes, a result that kept Notre Dame out of the playoff. “It’s a special moment,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said after the win. “Enjoy the moment, because tomorrow when you wake up it’s time to get ready for the next one. I know it’s a big one. This is big. This is special. I’m not going to sit here and say this was like the other ones. No, this is different.”

What Comes Next for Miami

Miami’s unbeaten season ended in South Bend. A few hours after the team landed back in Miami, the Hurricanes dropped to No. 5 in the AP Top 25. Next up is Duke in the Hurricanes’ homecoming game, and that matchup carries its own storyline: Mensah and Barkate played for the Blue Devils last season. “Back to work,” Cristobal said.

Other coaches are answering questions of their own. Oklahoma’s Brent Venables faced the press after firing offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle last week.

In Miami’s own conference, Florida State’s president sent a letter to frustrated Florida State fans that left coach Mike Norvell’s future unaddressed.

Cristobal told his players before the trip not to leave the game in the hands of the officials. He said it again after the loss, and so did Mensah. Miami now turns to Duke at home.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.