JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Excitement reached its zenith in Florida on Monday as fans and families geared up for the national championship clash between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers at Hard Rock Stadium.

In Jacksonville, many are cheering for a familiar face—Carson Beck, the former Mandarin Mustang who led the team to a state victory in 2018. At that time, Toby Bullock was serving as the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator. Today, Bullock has taken on the role of head coach while remaining one of Beck’s most ardent fans.

“I feel like I’m the one playing, I’m such a bundle of nerves,” Bullock confessed.

Bullock reminisces about coaching Beck during his high school days, noting that Beck’s potential was apparent even then.

“His talent in high school was truly remarkable,” Bullock remarked. “He has a natural gift for throwing the football and an innate understanding of the game, so his success comes as no surprise to me.”

The 2018 Mandarin Mustangs stormed through the season, winning the state championship and earning Beck the highest honor in Florida high school football, the Mr. Football award.

But Bullock says Beck’s greatest strength isn’t just his arm, but his willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

“If Carson had to run the ball 75 times a night to win, he’ll run the ball 75 times a night to win,” said Bullock. “If he has to throw 70 times to win, he’s gonna, he’s gonna do what it is. When we won in ’18 with him, we had one particular play that I told him, I said, we’re gonna keep running until they take it away. He goes, not a problem, and they never took it away, and he ended up throwing a state record.”

Mandarin High School has had a lot of top-tier talent come through over the past several years, but Coach Bullock says he still gets nervous watching his former players take the field.

“I’m actually probably a little bit more nervous watching him play than I am coaching high school football,” said Bullock with a laugh. “It just, you know, I get more nervous watching him just because I don’t know what’s coming so it’s a little…I don’t do well in the games, watching the games.”

So instead of going out and watching the national championship game with other Miami supporters, Coach Bullock said he’ll be at home, watching the game with his wife, proudly representing his Mustangs.

“It’s pretty awesome to be a Mandarin Mustang right now,” said Bullock.