Chris McKeon, athletic director of Columbus High School (Florida), home of the Explorers, understands the importance of the seven representing the school when miami And Indiana Compete in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday.
He did not anticipate that these connections would lead others to believe that game tickets would magically appear on their tables.
“Oh man, they’re coming from everywhere thinking they have me,” McKeon said. “I didn’t have a better chance than anyone else to get tickets to that game. We’re proud to be represented so well on such a big stage.”
The school is 5 miles from the University of Miami and 20 miles from Hard Rock Stadium.
indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza The addition of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Miami assistant head coach Alex Mirabal includes five players who once patrolled the gridiron for the Explorers.
All five players won state titles in Columbus, including the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and his brother, the Hoosiers’ backup quarterback. Alberto Mendoza. Miami rounds out the quintet of former Explorers with a defensive back bryce fitzgeraldoffensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez and backup quarterback vinny gonzalez.
Further strengthening the Explorers’ CFP title game connection, Cristóbal and Mendoza’s father, Fernando Sr., were teammates in Columbus.
The web of South Florida connections doesn’t stop there.
Another Miami-area event also has ties to the CFP title game. miami quarterback carson beck’s high school team, the Mandarin Mustangs, defeated Columbus in the 2018 Florida 8A State Championship game – a matchup that included Mario Cristobal’s nephew Luis Cristobal Jr. on the field for the Explorers.
A year later, the Explorers regained the title by winning the state championship with Indiana’s current quarterback on the roster.
“It’s great to have so many ties in the national title game,” Columbus football coach Dave Dunn said. “I coached all five of my players in the game. Coach Cristobal’s son is on our team. I worked with Coach Mirabal at Columbus and Marshall and had three of his nephews play for me. It’s like a family. It’ll be fun to watch.”
Dunn isn’t just saying this because he managed to score tickets to the game. He’s already committed to walking into Hard Rock Stadium decked out in Columbus gear.
“I was lucky enough to get a ticket through connections, so it’ll be a fun experience,” Dunn said. “Sure, it takes more people asking for tickets, but we’re having a watch party, so that helps.”
Fans will be able to watch the ‘Canes and Hoosiers on the Explorers’ scoreboard on the football field without having to worry about a potential late-night finale as Columbus will be closed to students in honor of the big game.
“They can stay up late and enjoy the game and not have to worry about coming to school the next day,” McKeon said. “The president and principal thought it would be a good thing to do for everyone because of our involvement.”
On the other hand, it is because of Columbus’s involvement that McKeon and Dunn cannot – for the life of them – choose a side.
Dunn compared it to picking a favorite child, while McKeon said that relationships alone “wouldn’t even put me on the path to rooting for a particular team.”
“The relationship is very close and very deep,” McKeon said. “The best thing is that at the end of the game, whether it’s the Canes or the Hoosiers, it will be the Explorers. This is a game we can’t lose here in Columbus, and it’s a game we’re all excited about.”
