Hurricanes alumni providing energy, motivation for title run | D'Angelo

5 days ago 2

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Carson Beck had a heavy burden on his shoulders when he walked onto the field at the Cotton Bowl with six minutes remaining and the Miami Hurricanes clinging to a three-point lead over Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinal.

And it had nothing to do with anything his coach, Mario Cristobal, or offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson, said on the sideline.

This was much bigger.

It was a casual, quick conversation with a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest ever to play his position in college or the NFL.

Beck, the Hurricanes quarterback, was watching the defense once again smother the Buckeyes offense when he turned and saw former UM receiver Michael Irvin cheering on his alma mater. OK, that's not unusual. Irvin makes sure he's noticed by everyone on the sideline.

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But is was another former Cane, this one larger than life, that had Beck all googly eyed.

"I look to my left, and it's just Ray Lewis standing there," Beck said. "And I'm like, 'oh, my gosh.' "

Beck's father, Chris, was a linebacker at Navy and Beck actually thought about playing the position before deciding on quarterback. Smart move.

Carson's favorite linebacker was Lewis.

"So I look at him and just shake his hand," Beck continues. "He introduced himself, and he's like, 'Go win us the ball game.'

"And I was like, 'Well, now I have to. We literally have to go score. I can't let this dude down.' "

And he didn't.

Beck led Miami on a 10-play, game-clinching touchdown drive, securing a spot in the national semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl against Mississippi.

But it wasn't just Lewis and Irvin he and his teammates made happy. It was a litany of other Hurricanes legends, including Edgerrin James and Andre Johnson, and coach Jimmy Johnson, who are turning this playoff run into a star-studded reunion.

"All those guys were here winning championships," offensive lineman Anez Cooper said. "They pass on the torch to us. We're just trying to keep on and leave it the way they left it. But it's just good for those guys believing and trusting us."

Miami Hurricanes were most polarizing college team in America

Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian dances with Ray Lewis during the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.

Back in the day, Miami was the program. While winning five national titles from 1983 to 2001 (and finishing No. 2 four times), the Hurricanes developed a cult following similar to the old Oakland Raiders that stretched from coast-to-coast.

And the players had no boundaries. They were very comfortable being the villains, letting the other guys wear the white hats. They spoke their minds, and in most cases were encouraged to do so by their coaches. They ran afoul of the law, which only enhanced their reputation.

Miami was the most polarizing program in the country and was must-see television.

And it was players like Irvin and Lewis and so many others who defined that culture. And now those players are embracing this team that has the program in a spot that was once the norm, until a more-than two decade drought had Miami fans longing for the Bad Boys of the good old days.

"It’s amazing seeing guys like that on the sideline," linebacker Wesley Bissainthe said. "Ray Lewis? Come on, now. That's amazing.

"Just having guys who have been there and done that, just to come back and watch our games and just be there and give us words of encouragement? It's amazing."

Running back Mark Fletcher fumbled in the red-zone late in the first quarter against Ohio State, costing Miami its first chance to score.

Fletcher was met by James when he came to the sideline.

"He came up to me and was like, 'Are you all right? Things happen, it's all good. Just calm down and then let's get back into it,' " Fletcher said. "Then I was able to calm down and get back into the game and just go play.

"Just having voices like that around the building, here at practice, and at the games, it's very helpful for us."

And when one of those voices is the third leading rusher in UM history who holds the single-game rushing record of 299 yards against UCLA in 1998, you listen.

Beck's introduction to UM's past was the season opener against Notre Dame. The Georgia transfer was about to walk into the field for the coin toss when he noticed former UM receiver Andre Johnson, the Hall of Famer who was the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

"Introduced myself," Beck said. "I'm shellshocked. Like, 'Dude, this is Andre Johnson, literally standing next to me, so casually' and I'm about to walk out and play this game."

Receiver CJ Daniels transferred to Miami after playing four years at Liberty and one at LSU. Like Miami, LSU has a rich football tradition and welcomes back its alumni.

But for Daniels, nothing compares to the support he's seen this Miami team receiving from those who came before it.

"There was definitely a lot of people there at LSU," Daniels said. "But here, the guys on the sideline (are) more hands on and more engaged. I think they really got a place in my heart that really gets me going. Just seeing them, just kind of gives me extra fuel and extra motivation."

Michael Irvin makes sure he is seen, heard on sideline

Former Miami Hurricanes players Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin celebrate in the fourth quarter of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Irvin, who won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys after being a part of Miami's 1987 national championship team, has become the face of Miami's famous football alumni.

And if you can't see Irvin, which is highly unlikely, you certainly can hear him.

"Mike Irvin's my guy," Cooper said. "He always greets me. Even when watching us practice, he's just screaming names. I'm just happy for him to just keep doing what he's doing, keep coming to our games and doing all that. That builds us up. We get fired up every time we see him down there jumping up and down, celebrating and going crazy."

Beck, too, has been inspired by Irvin.

"I love him," he said. "The energy that he brings to this team, it's irreplaceable."

Cooper then had one last message for Irvin.

"If you're listening to this, keep on coming to the games, keep doing what you're doing," he said.

Oh, you know he's listening. And you know he will.

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Hurricanes alumni supporting current team during playoff run

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