Cristobal has a 5-year contract with FIU, and is entering his third year with them.

The following is from a USA Today article:

When Mario Cristobal agreed to take over Florida International's football team after it went 0-12 in 2006, FIU athletics director Pete Garcia says Cristobal asked for an unusual phrase to be inserted into his contract: The athletics director shall have authority for admissions for Cristobal's recruits even if they don't meet university standards.

Such a clause is not known to exist in any other NCAA Division I-A head coaching contract. 

Florida_Owl said

FIUFanatic said

Really?  This coming season?  I don't see how they will "let him go" even if he has a negative record in 2009, especially since I doubt we will finish worse than 5-7 this coming season.

Agree…let me re-think and re-state that:

Falters = 3 wins or less…4 or 5 should get him the last year honored…

Although, I would think the latter is much more likely…losing him to bigger program…

I agree there's a bigger chance a 'bigger' school might get him.  However, the only way a "bigger" schools, in my estimation, will get Cristobal is if FIU wins the SBC and a Bowl game….I would take that this year ;)  Actually, although the chances you have of winning just 3 games is very, very low right now, it would appear to me, I don't think he gets canned regardless…remember, FIU won 0 games the last season Strock coached FIU.

You see, Cristobal's positive influence in FIU Fotball goes a lot further than wins and losses.  Contrary to a factless and erroneous claim here, Mario not only wasn't a part of the brawl fiasco, but has helped clean up the act in every aspect of the program.  They will give Mario until 2010 regardless of W-L this coming season.  Still, I don't see FIU losing more than 7 games this season, being as objective as I can.  

OWLumnis said

When Mario Cristobal agreed to take over Florida International's football team after it went 0-12 in 2006, FIU athletics director Pete Garcia says Cristobal asked for an unusual phrase to be inserted into his contract: The athletics director shall have authority for admissions for Cristobal's recruits even if they don't meet university standards.

That's interesting…

and thanks for the clarification…thought it was 4 years…

I'd be shocked if Mario was let go after this season regardless. I think he has shown improvement and shown he can recruit and he can win. As far as their schedule goes I think they can be a tough team to beat. Especially with Hilton still there. I'd love to beat them again but don't be so sure as to put it down as an automatic W. I think they'll surprise some people this season. Who knows maybe they help us out by beating Troy. Troy is a good team but if they take FIU lightly it can definitely happen. I expect another great game between FAU and FIU this season. With it being at FIU's stadium don't be so sure we'll win

Most if not all FIU fans are really happy with Cristobal's progress. He's done a lot for the team, going from 0-12 to 5-7 with chances at a bowl game. That's something that 2 years ago, were unthinkable. Not to mention, with the stadium and new coaching staff, the players have a whole new morale, there's more energy, there's more excitement. The 2009 season will be great. We may not have a perfect season, but it will be better than last season, and the next even better. FIU's headed for big things and with MLS planning on setting shop at FIU Stadium, the expansion could be rushed. Not to mention the huge field house is nearing completion which has everyone excited. GO PANTHERS!

OWLumnis said

Your correct, it is USF and not Rutgers. I was looking at an outdated schedule.

It is Rutgers people! and they are coming down to Miami.

What is all this predicting about?
If Cristobal gets fired or they win 5 games!
Let FIU decide this on the field and maybe we can talk about this again by December.

No Question that Cristobal has done some good things, he did inherit a program in disarray, and will need a couple of more years to bring everything together.

To say he will be gone after this year regardless of their record is silly, unless the team regresses for some reason and finds themselves at the bottom of the belt - again.

They play: Alabama, Rutgers, Toledo & Florida for their out of conference games with a full slate of SBC games (4 OC & 8 Conference games).

Tell you what, adding WKU as part of the conference really helps baalnce out these tough OC games.  At least it gives teams a better chance to quality for a bowl games every season, which has been has been part of the image problem the Sun-belt has been plagued with.  Especially with the parity that exist within the Belt.

Could this be the year they get their first winning season is the question?