'The Rock' To Make Pre-Game Appearance Saturday
Oct. 25, 1999
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Three-time World Wrestling Federation champion”The Rock”, a former defensive tackle at the University of Miami (1991-94),will make a pre-game appearance at the Hurricanes October 30th BIG EAST gamewith West Virginia at the Orange Bowl.
The Rock, formerly known as Dwayne Johnson when he suited up for theHurricanes, will sign autographs from 10-11:30 a.m. in Touchdown Alley.Prior to the game, The Rock will be given the microphone just before the’Canes take the field to excite the fans and introduce the team in histypical WWF fashion.
Known as the “People’s Champion”, The Rock was part of theHurricanes 1991 National Championship team. For his UM career, he recorded78 tackles and 4.25 sacks in four seasons at Miami. He spent two yearsbacking up Warren Sapp, who went on to win the Lombardi Award as thenation’s top lineman.
As a highly athletic recruit and avid weight lifter from FreedomH.S. in Bethlehem, PA, then-Johnson came to Miami with a bench press of 415pounds. He redshirted the 1990 season rehabilitating a shoulder injury.During UM’s 1991 National Championship season, Johnson earned his firstvarsity letter recording nine tackles, including three solo stops. The 1992season saw Johnson record seven tackles shoring up the defensive line behindMark Caesar.
As a junior in 1993, Johnson recorded 34 tackles and two sacks playingbehind All-American and current NFL All-Pro Warren Sapp. He earned hisfirst start that season, in a win against Georgia Southern. The victoryover the Golden Eagles was UM’s NCAA record setting 58th consecutive homewin at the Orange Bowl. During the 1993 season, Johnson recorded threetackles against Florida State and had UM’s only sack on eventual HeismanTrophy winner Charlie Ward.
In his final season with Miami, Johnson recorded 27 tackles playing behindSapp. He recorded four or more tackles in four games that season,highlighted by a season high five stops against Pittsburgh.The only way to be admitted into Touchdown Alley for The Rock’s autographsession is to have a ticket for the game. Tickets are still available andcan be purchased by calling the UM Ticket Box Office at 1-800 GO-CANES or305-284-CANES in Miami-Dade County.
