Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. was preparing for Florida State when tragedy struck his family. His father, Mark Sr., known as “Big Mark,” died at just 53 years old two days before the 2024 rivalry game.

Still, there was no doubt the younger Fletcher would play. Then a sophomore, Fletcher took the field and helped lead Miami to a blowout win over FSU, scoring a touchdown and pointing to the sky in the end zone.

“I miss him every single day,” Fletcher said Tuesday, as UM once again prepares to face the Seminoles. “But just the way he left his legacy, I just have nothing to do but just carry it in the best way, and that’s what I plan to do.”

Fletcher leaned on his teammates in the wake of his father’s death. The entire team attended his father’s funeral, which deeply touched the UM running back.

“I was emotional that whole day, but then when I saw them, that’s when I really broke down,” Fletcher said. “You could ask some players from the team last year. I really broke down. Just threw my shades on, and I was just trying to push through that service.

“But having those guys all show up — not even just a team, but the nutritionists, people I’m close with, the trainers, and, of course, the coaches — that meant everything in the world to me.”

The elder Fletcher made an impact on the rest of the Hurricanes, as well.

“Last year was a sad situation when we went in to play FSU, but just know that Big Mark is always with him,” offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa said. “Big Mark is always here with us. He’s always supporting us. And you know, with that being one of our motivations, it just keeps us pushing.”

UM coach Mario Cristobal said despite the hard times, Fletcher is a constant source of energy for his teammates.

“His energy, his spirit, his heart, his leadership, his care factor is awesome,” Cristobal said. “Mark Fletcher is a special, special young man. Big Mark is watching him from above. I know he’s extremely proud of his son. He’s a guy that you can’t wait to go practice and watch him practice, because he’s gonna bring it. He’s gonna change the energy of the entire team.”

A year later, Fletcher draws on his father’s memory for motivation on and off the field.

“I think about him. That’s my motivation,” Fletcher said. “I think about him to come out here and practice hard every single day on Greentree, in the weight room, anything I do in life, in the classroom. Anytime I’m having a hard time, I just (think), ‘What would my dad tell me to do?’ and I just suck it up and I’m … ready for anything.”

Easily recognizable, Big Mark was a frequent sight at Miami games. Fletcher said fans come up to him now to talk to him about his father.

“He was a people’s person, bigger than life,” Fletcher said. “Never really did anything for himself, always looking out for others. Even growing up — I never thought about this — but growing up, he would pick 10 kids up and drop them off for practice. I’m just a kid getting in the car with him, just going to practice. We drop them and all, my younger teammates, off, (and) I’m just thinking about my goodness, that gas money, shoot — just things like that. He was just a great person, great role model, great father.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/30/hurricanes-fletcher-big-mark/