Wesley Bissainthe believed in Mario Cristobal's vision early, enduring rebuilds to chase a championship and fulfill a lifelong Miami Hurricanes dream.
The Miami Hurricanes have completely turned around compared to when Mario Cristobal was first hired as the head coach, finishing with a 5-7 record after the 2022 season. After years of rebuilding, the program has an opportunity to secure its sixth National Championship. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe was one of the few core players to have been through the ups and downs from the beginning.
However, the Miami native was confident that this would eventually happen.
"When Mario first got here, he had a vision," Bissainthe said at Media Day on Saturday. "I just wanted to be a part of it. I committed to "The U," and we just went to work. Look where we're at now."
The 21-year-old has been impactful, especially for the Hurricanes' outstanding defense, recording 63 total tackles, 34 solos and 29 assists, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and a critical sack that came in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The opportunity for the Hurricanes to compete for a National Championship in their home stadium, which is a first in the Bowl Championship Series/College Football Playoff era, from 1998 to now, means something more for a few of the players, including Bissainthe.
"It feels like a dream," he added. "Just a local kid growing up in Miami, being able to play the National Championship in Miami, there's nothing else I could ask for. I'm very excited for this moment."
Bissainthe and the rest of the Hurricanes' defense have a heavy task at hand with quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers' offense. They're one of the least penalized teams in the nation, who are difficult to disrupt. However, the Hurricanes have proven to overcome great challenges all season long, including this College Football Playoff run.
This will be the biggest game in program history in over two decades. It's a familiar feeling for Cristobal, who was a member of two Hurricanes National Championship teams as a player. Having that quality is what makes him the perfect leader in Bissainthe's eyes.
"It's in his blood," he said. "He came home with a vision and knew what he wanted the Miami Hurricanes to be. I believed in his vision. We just put our heads down, we grinded, and now we're at the National Championship."
The legacy of the program lives on, but adding to it has been a challenge in recent years. Bissainthe and the rest of the team have a chance to be a part of Hurricanes and college football history.
"E.S.V," he said. "Excitement, swarm, and violence."
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our RoundTable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
More Miami Hurricanes News: