We’ve Just Got to Keep on Building

Bain, the 2023 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, finished the game with six tackles – tied for the team lead with linebacker Raul “Popo” Aguirre Jr. . Bain also had an interception that was deflected not once, not twice, but three times before he snagged the ball.

That pick, which Bain returned for 12 yards, went on to set up a 38-yard field goal by Hurricanes kicker Carter Davis that gave Miami a 24-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“I was running, looking to see who was going to catch the ball so I could make the tackle,” Bain said of the circus play. “Then all of a sudden, I see it go a little higher than that in the air, next thing it’s in my arms, next thing I’m running.”

Mesidor, meanwhile, totaled five tackles and had 1.5 sacks – with those sacks coming on back-to-back plays on Notre Dame’s final drive.

The two veteran defensive linemen led a Miami defensive effort that included a combined three sacks, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

And while the Hurricanes concede it wasn’t a perfect showing and there are still things to correct moving forward, it was an effort that helped Miami notch its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2017.

And for some of the players who were on the roster last season when the defense endured its share of late-season struggles, Sunday’s performance was a source of pride.

“It means everything. Last year, everybody had something to say about our defense, and I don’t blame them. We were the Achilles heel of this team,” Mesidor said. “But we came back during this offseason, got a new defensive coordinator, got a whole new bunch of guys who just love football and a lot of the guys in the facility want to be there. We just came together, and we just bought into the process, and we saw it tonight.”

Added linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, who had three tackles, a tackle for loss and forced a fumble, “Man, it feels good. We worked hard this offseason and for us to come out here and win this first game after last season, man, it feels amazing. Now, we’ve just got to keep on building and go 1-0 every week.”