EUGENE -- Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens interviewed four candidates for UO's head coaching position this week, but said he ultimately came away impressed with Mario Cristobal's recommendations from across college football.

"Something separated Mario from the group," Mullens said Friday, in introducing Cristobal at a news conference.

It's true -- none of the other candidates would have received an endorsement from The Rock.

Dwayne Johnson, the former professional wrestler and one of the world's highest-paid actors, overlapped with Cristobal as a Miami lineman in 1991, when the Hurricanes won a national championship, and 1992. Cristobal played on the offensive line, while Johnson played defense.

A quarter-century later, Johnson gave Cristobal's promotion from co-offensive coordinator to head coach a thumbs up on Twitter to his 12.2 million followers, calling UO's decision "phenomenal."

Phenomenal choice by @oregonfootball tapping @coach_cristobal as Head Football Coach.



Coach Cristobal and I had many bad ass, tough battles on the field and in the weight room as we were teammates at @univmiami.



Smart, tough and motivating. Championship DNA. Congrats brother! https://t.co/pY7P9RnC9w — Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 9, 2017

-- Andrew Greif