Miami Hurricanes star-studded running back Mark Fletcher Jr. spoke on the 680 The Fan Podcast during ACC Media Days. Here is everything Fletcher had to say:
On the ACC Media Days event: Man, I've just been taking it all in, truly. Like, just seeing all this, just being able to be in this position is truly a blessing. And I know a lot, a lot of kids would want to be here, so definitely not taking this for granted.
On his mindset after coming back from injury in the playoffs: Deep down, to be honest with you, I knew it wasn't going to be my final run. Like, to be just completely honest with you, put that out there. But the different mindset I had was just to go out there and have fun. Like, you're playing for the Miami Hurricanes, bro. Like, you on TV. Like, a lot of little kids are looking up to you. And I just had to really take more pride in that and go play football how I always played it before, as a little kid, you know, in Optimist. And that's just what I changed, changed that mindset, and just go out there and have fun.
On the day he figured out Miami was in the playoffs: I was sitting on my couch, and I was with my brother and my girlfriend. And shoot, we were turning on the TV, FaceTime a couple of, my guys. We was all in a big group call on offense and defense. And shoot, we were just sitting there waiting. Then when we seen that number 10 pop up, Miami, we was like, oh yeah, it's on, it's on.
On the loss to SMU: I mean, truly, I know for myself, after that game, I was so emotional, so filled with anger of how we, you know, performed. Because I knew we were so much better than that. And for the first time, I seen a couple players, like, big leaders on the team as well, cry. Like, real deal, tears. And we all had a big player meeting the next day. And we said, shoot, if you're not here, like, we just know where you stand at. And everybody showed up. Everybody showed on time. And we just had a deep talk, a real talk. And people was crying in that meeting too. It just meant so much to us. And everybody, that was just like a real deal wake-up call, like I've never seen before. It was nothing fake about it. It was nothing like, nobody was in there talking, like, trying to be a tough guy. Everybody just, everybody put their pride to the side, and that's what allowed us to grow as a team.
On the dominate performance against Texas A&M: Man, I just, what I can say is, losing didn't cross anybody's mind. Like, losing that game, it didn't cross anybody's mind. We were gonna be relentless. We didn't care what the score was. We knew at the end of the day that the Miami Hurricanes were gonna win that game. And you could just go back in that game and watch it, you could feel it. If you're a real football fan, you could feel it and just see how everybody was playing. That's what we truly believed in. That's just what we displayed that day.
On beating Ohio State: I mean, truly, I was just going out there having fun. Like, I was smiling every single play because, shoot, even when I did have a little mishap with the fumble, man, I just smiled after because I knew what was coming after. Like, God, he just allowed us to display so much good things. Man, I was just excited to even be playing for the Hurricanes, playing versus Ohio State. Like, this is crazy that I'm even there. Like, that was, and then the way I played, that's just what was being shown, man.
On the fanbase: I knew hearing from, you know, a few people like, y'all are doing so great, you know, we love you guys. But truly, like, in that playoff run, that's when I truly saw the community coming together any and everywhere, they were talking about the entire team, they wasn't just talking about me. They was talking about the entire team, and people were just happier. Oh, no, it was a different feel in Miami. And just the fact that, you know, we were able to do that through a beautiful game of football, that means everything.
On why he came back to Miami: My heart, my heart. I was truly following my heart. And, shoot, it was a point in time where I thought I was gonna go against that grain, and I was just like, man. And that was like early, like early, early, even regular season, I was thinking that. But, nah, when I truly sat down, talked to God, followed my heart, I knew that this was the right thing to do. And, man, this is for little Mark. It's for little Mark. He always knew what Canes were about, and this is what I always wanted to do. And I'm just thankful, you know, so thankful that I get to come and do it again one more year.
On his mom traveling: Man, possibly, she's still driving. She's still going hard. She'll be sending me pictures sightseeing. For that first game, I know she's gonna leave probably like around a Wednesday, send me some pictures, but nah, she's still doing her groundwork, literally.
On the running back room: Man, it's really so beautiful and so healthy. And like I was talking about this before, it's so rare to have a running back room like that, where everybody just genuinely loves each other, and we compete with each other. It's like extremely healthy. And best believe with that one person on the field, the people on the sideline watching, you have your 110% support and love. And, man, anybody could go in there and do their thing. So, shout out to all those guys, and we're all gonna do great things this year.
On the ACC Media Days event: Man, I've just been taking it all in, truly. Like, just seeing all this, just being able to be in this position is truly a blessing. And I know a lot, a lot of kids would want to be here, so definitely not taking this for granted.
On his mindset after coming back from injury in the playoffs: Deep down, to be honest with you, I knew it wasn't going to be my final run. Like, to be just completely honest with you, put that out there. But the different mindset I had was just to go out there and have fun. Like, you're playing for the Miami Hurricanes, bro. Like, you on TV. Like, a lot of little kids are looking up to you. And I just had to really take more pride in that and go play football how I always played it before, as a little kid, you know, in Optimist. And that's just what I changed, changed that mindset, and just go out there and have fun.
On the day he figured out Miami was in the playoffs: I was sitting on my couch, and I was with my brother and my girlfriend. And shoot, we were turning on the TV, FaceTime a couple of, my guys. We was all in a big group call on offense and defense. And shoot, we were just sitting there waiting. Then when we seen that number 10 pop up, Miami, we was like, oh yeah, it's on, it's on.
On the loss to SMU: I mean, truly, I know for myself, after that game, I was so emotional, so filled with anger of how we, you know, performed. Because I knew we were so much better than that. And for the first time, I seen a couple players, like, big leaders on the team as well, cry. Like, real deal, tears. And we all had a big player meeting the next day. And we said, shoot, if you're not here, like, we just know where you stand at. And everybody showed up. Everybody showed on time. And we just had a deep talk, a real talk. And people was crying in that meeting too. It just meant so much to us. And everybody, that was just like a real deal wake-up call, like I've never seen before. It was nothing fake about it. It was nothing like, nobody was in there talking, like, trying to be a tough guy. Everybody just, everybody put their pride to the side, and that's what allowed us to grow as a team.
On the dominate performance against Texas A&M: Man, I just, what I can say is, losing didn't cross anybody's mind. Like, losing that game, it didn't cross anybody's mind. We were gonna be relentless. We didn't care what the score was. We knew at the end of the day that the Miami Hurricanes were gonna win that game. And you could just go back in that game and watch it, you could feel it. If you're a real football fan, you could feel it and just see how everybody was playing. That's what we truly believed in. That's just what we displayed that day.
On beating Ohio State: I mean, truly, I was just going out there having fun. Like, I was smiling every single play because, shoot, even when I did have a little mishap with the fumble, man, I just smiled after because I knew what was coming after. Like, God, he just allowed us to display so much good things. Man, I was just excited to even be playing for the Hurricanes, playing versus Ohio State. Like, this is crazy that I'm even there. Like, that was, and then the way I played, that's just what was being shown, man.
On the fanbase: I knew hearing from, you know, a few people like, y'all are doing so great, you know, we love you guys. But truly, like, in that playoff run, that's when I truly saw the community coming together any and everywhere, they were talking about the entire team, they wasn't just talking about me. They was talking about the entire team, and people were just happier. Oh, no, it was a different feel in Miami. And just the fact that, you know, we were able to do that through a beautiful game of football, that means everything.
On why he came back to Miami: My heart, my heart. I was truly following my heart. And, shoot, it was a point in time where I thought I was gonna go against that grain, and I was just like, man. And that was like early, like early, early, even regular season, I was thinking that. But, nah, when I truly sat down, talked to God, followed my heart, I knew that this was the right thing to do. And, man, this is for little Mark. It's for little Mark. He always knew what Canes were about, and this is what I always wanted to do. And I'm just thankful, you know, so thankful that I get to come and do it again one more year.
On his mom traveling: Man, possibly, she's still driving. She's still going hard. She'll be sending me pictures sightseeing. For that first game, I know she's gonna leave probably like around a Wednesday, send me some pictures, but nah, she's still doing her groundwork, literally.
On the running back room: Man, it's really so beautiful and so healthy. And like I was talking about this before, it's so rare to have a running back room like that, where everybody just genuinely loves each other, and we compete with each other. It's like extremely healthy. And best believe with that one person on the field, the people on the sideline watching, you have your 110% support and love. And, man, anybody could go in there and do their thing. So, shout out to all those guys, and we're all gonna do great things this year.
