Even though Manny Diaz and Duke have publicly tried to put the Darian Mensah situation behind them, the wound remains fresh for the Blue Devil faithful. On the first day of ACC Media Days, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal made sure to pour a little more vinegar on it.
Mensah had just guided Duke to an ACC title and a Sun Bowl victory over Arizona State, and he was widely expected to return to Durham to fulfill the second season of the two-year contract he signed after transferring from Tulane. Instead, Miami effectively lured him into the portal with a financial package that was simply too attractive to ignore. A legal dispute followed, but in the end, Mensah was permitted to join the Hurricanes after repaying Duke an undisclosed amount of money.
His exit left Diaz and the Blue Devils in a tough spot. They managed to bring in Walker Eget, a seasoned quarterback from San Jose State, but replacing Mensah is no small task. Down in Coral Gables, Mensah is set to lead an ACC favorite, with many projecting Miami to be firmly in the national title conversation.
When Cristobal was asked about the decision to go after Mensah, he couldn’t resist reframing the narrative:
“We were in the market for a quarterback and when Darian was in the portal, we felt this is a guy we would love to pursue, watching the crossover tapes, w/so many (ACC) opponents we had faced. We saw his level of talent, but what took us by surprise is what an incredible young man he is & his levels of leadership,” Cristobal said, per Brett McMurphy.
It’s clear that Mario Cristobal’s version of events doesn’t exactly line up with what Duke fans remember.
When Mensah was in the portal, Mario? WHEN?
It must be pure coincidence that the moment his name appeared, everyone already knew Miami was his destination. Nothing shady about that at all.
I’m fully aware of how college football operates these days. Programs tamper left and right to land elite talent. Miami just happens to be among the most brazen offenders. Just ask Kirby Smart.
Or ask former Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who had no problem admitting that the Hurricanes dangled $6.5 million in front of him to enter the Transfer Portal rather than declare for the NFL Draft. It was that failed pursuit of Simpson that ultimately steered Cristobal and Miami toward Mensah.
Naturally, Cristobal can’t openly admit that Miami tampered for Mensah without facing penalties. But he could at least spare everyone the insult of pretending otherwise with such tone-deaf remarks.
Duke fans and every other fanbase out there know exactly how this actually played out.
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