MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Mark Fletcher Jr. never considered not playing in Miami’s rivalry game against Florida State, for the simple reason that his father would have wanted him out there.
And it was no accident that Miami’s opening touchdown was his.
Fletcher rushed for 71 yards and a score in Miami’s 36-14 win over Florida State on Saturday night — playing despite the fact that his father, Mark Fletcher Sr., died earlier in the week. Fletcher took a knee in the Hard Rock Stadium end zone after scoring, pointing to the sky.
“Just a shout out to my dad, paying him respect,” Fletcher said. “It’s been a long time since he’d seen Hard Rock this packed. I know he would have loved this, this energy out here, all the seats was taken up. I know he would have loved it. So, I just did this for him.”
Florida State Miami Football
Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of Saturday’s game against Florida Statein Miami Gardens, Fla.
Miami (8-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) rose one spot to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 on Sunday.