For Miami offensive lineman
Jalen Rivers, one of the seniors who endured all the challenges Cristobal referenced, Saturday’s game against the Cyclones (10-3, 7-2 Big 12) is one more chance to line up with the teammates who have become family.
That, he said, made it imperative he play Saturday – especially if he can help give the Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2 ACC) their first bowl win since 2016.
“I feel like we have a really good culture at Miami … and I think a lot of us realized we want to be here with our brothers because this is really the last time we’re going to experience all of us together in this building, in this hotel, in this game with each other,” Rivers said. “We want to finish with our brothers and the biggest thing is we want to finish strong. We know we didn’t end the year off like we wanted to [in the College Football Playoff], but this is a great opportunity and that’s what a lot of us are talking about, to finish strong and get this win. … We have another opportunity to go 1-0.”
“We want to leave out on a good note so next year, you can start on a high note,” Rivers said. “It’s very important for us as seniors to do that. … It’s important for us to set the precedent of winning bowl games. I haven’t won a bowl game. … It’s important for us to start that and that should be the standard from now on.”