CaneSport Message Board Mania: Will Miami Hurricanes Find Their Next Alpha Leader in 2025?

Miami Hurricanes fans have bemoaned a lot of different areas of the team over the last couple of decades as the program has floundered from its once-lofty pedestal atop college football. And as Mario Cristobal & Co. work to get Miami back where it belongs, there’s a paramount piece that’s perhaps has been missing.

It’s not talent, as Miami has landed numerous highly rated classes.

You can argue more player development has been needed over the last 20 years, a fair point, but one that’s perhaps diminished a bit nowadays with the transfer portal able to fill any roster gaps.

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There’s team chemistry and culture, of course, which is something Cristobal continues working to build. And we think that’s coming along well. That encompasses guys getting along with one another, having each other’s back and holding each other accountable.

Something that’s a lot harder than any of the above, because it’s a bit more ethereal? Player leadership.

Why it matters

That’s not something that’s team-wide like the culture component. It’s pretty much something a player is born with, that personally piece that draws people in and inspires them to follow.

Ray Lewis. Michael Irvin. Bennie Blades. Ed Reed.

Miami fans know well what it looks like.

Cristobal has a name for it, too: “Alpha.” It’s how he referred to QB Cam Ward last year.

And it’s something we haven’t seen enough of from these mostly floundering teams of the last 20 years. Miami needs those players who will get in guys’ faces, treat losing like it’s a personal assault on the soul, take winning by only two touchdowns as not good enough, etc., etc., etc.

Cristobal likes to preach “how you do anything is how you do everything” and in-season says the team takes the “next game” approach with everything else dialed out of the side mirrors.

But a coach-led team will only get you so far.

Players have to not just buy in, but make sure their teammates do also. Coaches aren’t around the guys 24/7. Players tend to be around each other a lot more. The whispers in the locker room from the disgruntled are the cancers that coaches must deal with … but which are much better when player-leaders make sure they never even become whispers.

What they’re saying

Which brings us to today’s subject, posted by CANESCANESCANESCANES.

He makes a good point in his thread titled “Who will be the leaders on this team for next year?“

“Who’s the players that are leading this team right now?” he asks. “Winning teams have alpha leaders keeping the team focused through the ups and downs through adversity. Will this team have to have player only meetings again during the season or is the culture stronger? Im most worried about Carson Beck, all the tik tocking and double dates. Is he including his teammates to create team chemistry? It’s not talked enough how Cam Ward was all about football, he was a recluse, was a film junky and at the facility at 5am every day, much like Ken Dorsey operated. The best teams are always player led, Miami greatest teams were always player led.”

As for the answers when it comes to this year’s team leaders? Well, there are only four main returning starters on offense, all linemen, and four on defense (Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Wesley Bissainthe, OJ Frederique). Our perception is out of all the above that the main leader personality-wise is Bain, with the others not quite as fiery when it comes to their styles although certainly they have the potential to lead.

Which makes it so important this spring that some leaders DO step up. Beck was dinged by fans at Georgia who perceived him as not in the leadership mold. That may or may not be the case, we’ll get eyes on how he’s bonding with the team this spring while he works his way back to full health. Some have pointed to red flags as the recent news that his Lamborghini and Porsche were stolen from the $6 million home he was living in with girlfriend Hanna Cavinder. That doesn’t mean he can’t still step up/be relatable to teammates, and other transfer portal older guys may also wind up stepping up as Ward did last year.

Are we concerned about this year’s team leadership level? As of now that would be a yes. But that’s because we have to see how things develop. It’s a work in progress and early days.

A good list of potential leaders was posted in the thread by vivijane: “Mark Fletcher, Reuben Bain, Francis Mauigoa, PoPo and Wes, OJ Fred, Moten, Lyle, Beck, Brantley, Lucas, Patterson.”

Of course, of the above not all have that personality … but could potentially step up. And with so many transfers coming on board we could see several of those new faces ready to take on a major leadership role.

It can’t just be one guy, either. Many have to shoulder it if Miami’s going to have things all come together with a big playoff run.

Remember Ward came in as a transfer and instantly became a bigtime leader … and took the offense and turned it into the nation’s best.

Now the hope is Beck and others on both sides of the ball will answer the bell in 2025.

The final word here comes from Sheldog, in the same thread.

“Cam was unique,” Mr. Dog wrote. “As a newcomer he was able to earn the respect of his team mates particularly the offensive guys. Remember, Beck is arriving from NC type program, Cam did not. Cam didn’t roll up to the Soffer Indoor in a Lamborghini like Beck will. Cam took his OL out for dinner, and later bought them jewelry. Cam does/did have a GF as we found out on social media after the season before the bowl game. I’m hoping Beck’s personality in terms of his team mates and focus on football is similar.”