Miami Hurricanes Have Awarded This Coveted Jersey Number | The Significance
When Mario Cristobal took over as Miami Hurricanes head coach in 2022, he said the jersey #1 has to be earned, and can only belong to the "baddest son of a gun" on the team.
In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Miami did not have a number one on its roster. This year, they have two of them. It's been revealed that the Hurricanes have a number one on defense and a one on offense this season. Player numbers became visible Monday during the first spring football practice of 2024.
Senior linebacker Francisco "Kiko" Mauigoa and senior transfer quarterback Cam Ward both wear the coveted #1.
Mario Cristobal was asked about this after practice by Sun Sentinel reporter Adam Lichtenstein.
"I'll monitor it and if a guy doesn't deserve it, I'll take (the number) off," Cristobal said. He noted that Stephen Field, Miami's executive director of recruiting, is now handling jersey numbers. "Jersey numbers are really important to the players and I respect that. We've got to find a way to make it work for them."
Cristobal said Kiko has earned the number. Mauigoa led Miami in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks (tied with Rueben Bain) last season. He wore the number 51 last year.
On Ward, Cristobal said, "Cam has had a great offseason here. Right now, it fits."
1 has been Ward's number for the past two seasons at Washington State, so it likely holds extra significance to him. Ward looked sharp in Miami's first official spring football practice. As Cristobal said, he earned rave reviews through January and February in offseason workouts, too.
