8 Chosen For Induction Into UM Athletic Hall of Fame

Buy your Hurricane gear online

Visit the UM Sports Hall of Fame

Nov. 3, 2001

CORAL GABLES, FL(www.hurricanesports.com) – Eight former and current standout University of Miami athletes and coaches have been selected for induction into the UM Sports Hall of Fame. The 2001 inductees will be formally placed in the Hall at a banquet to be held Thursday, March 14.

The eight chosen for the award are: golfer Al Besselink, track star Horace Copeland, women’s tennis coach and administrator Isabella Hutchison, Charles Johnson of baseball fame, women’s basketball star Frances Savage, kicker Carlos Huerta, linebacker George Mira, Jr. and former offensive lineman and current assistant football coach Art Kehoe.

The March 14 Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held at the Hyatt Regency Miami (400 SE 2nd Avenue). Cocktails will be served at 6:15 pm followed by dinner at 7pm.For additional information, please contact Ken Lancaster at 305-666-6000 or the University of Miami ticket office at 1-800-GO-CANES.

Selected biographical information on each of the inductees follows:

AL BESSELINK-GOLF

Before graduating from the University of Miami in 1949, Al Besselink twice won the prestigious Southern Invitational Championship. In doing so, he became the first UM golfer to win a national tournament. Following graduation, Besselink played for 20 years on the Worldwide Professional Tour. He later played an instrumental role in the founding of the Senior PGA Tour.

HORACE COPELAND-TRACK

The Orlando native became Miami’s first track and field All-American with a fifth-place finish in the long jump at the 1992 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, TX. Earlier that season Copeland was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 1992 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships after winning the 100-meters and long jump, and anchoring the 4×100-meter relay to victory. Copeland’s winning long jump of 25-10 established a new UM and BIG EAST record, both of which still stand today. Copeland also holds the UM indoor school records in the long jump (25-04.75) and high jump (6-09.50). A two-sport athlete, Copeland was a three-year letterman as a wide receiver on the football team. Was a member of the 1991 NCAA Championship team and started every game in 1991 and 1992. Set the UM record and tied the NCAA record for the longest pass play when he caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from Gino Torretta in the 1991 opener at Arkansas. Copeland ended his UM football career with 84 receptions for 1,424 yards.

CARLOS HUERTA-FOOTBALL

Perhaps the best of all of Miami’s celebrated placekickers, Huerta played for the Canes between 1988 and 1991. Joined the team as a walk-on and went on to become a consensus all-american selection. While in a Hurricane uniform, Huerta set virtually every team kicking record and connected on an NCAA record 141 consecutive point after touchdowns (PATs). Among his records that still stand are field goals, points scored and point after touchdowns. Huerta also distinguished himself as a student receiving a business degree with honors

ISABELLA HUTCHISON-WOMEN’S TENNIS COACH

Isabella Hutchison could easily be called the founder of UM women’s athletics. She came to the University of Miami in 1965 with the mandate of beginning a women’s intramural program. From that beginning, Hutchinson went on to coach tennis, golf, basketball and volleyball. She served as the women’s tennis coach from the early 1960’s until her appointment as Director of Women’s Athletics in 1977. From 1973 to 1977, her tennis teams complied a 75-3 match record. During that years, the teams finished 4th, 13th,tied for 4th, tied for 5th and 4th in the USTA national tournament.

CHARLES JOHNSON-BASEBALL

Charles Johnson was a three-year letterman for the Hurricanes from 1990-92 and a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in his final season. He ranks among the all-time leaders in five offensive categories— Upon leaving Miami in 1992, Johnson was drafted in the first round by his hometown Florida Marlins, but not before playing with the United States National Team at the Barcelona Olympics under his Miami Head Coach Ron Fraser. Johnson played with the Marlins from 1994 through 1998, before a trade sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers during that 1998 season. He then signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles, where he played a season and a half before joining the Chicago White Sox. Johnson returned home as the top free agent acquisition of the Marlins during the 2001 offseason.

ART KEHOE-FOOTBALL

A 21-year veteran on the Miami staff, offensive line coach Art Kehoe has been instrumental in the development of five Hurricane offensive linemen to earn All-America honors including current tackles Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez. Kehoe’s offensive lines have helped produce four of Miami’s six 1,000-yard rushers and his 2000 line was at fault for only three quarterback sacks on the season. Kehoe played on the 1980 UM team which won a Peach Bowl title and has since coached in 16 bowl games for the Hurricanes. Kehoe was a two-year letterwinner and team captain as an offensive guard for Miami in 1979-80.

GEORGE MIRA, JR.-FOOTBALL

An outstanding linebacker for the Hurricanes in the mid-Eighties, George Mira, Jr. led the team in tackles for three-straight seasons (1985-87) and became the first player in UM history to start four consecutive New Year’s Day bowl games. Mira, Jr. shattered the all-time Miami record for tackles by collecting 21 stops (12 unassisted) in Miami’s 24-0 shutout of Notre Dame in 1987. A 1988 graduate, Mira, Jr. ranks second in Miami career total tackles and assists (490) and fourth in fumble recoveries (7). George Mira, Jr. is the son of current UM Hall of Famer George Mira.

FRANCES SAVAGE-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Arguably the finest female basketball player to attend the University of Miami, Frances Savage overcame a serious knee injury to become Miami’s second all-time leading scorer (2,358 points). The 5-9 forward from Fort Lauderdale led the 1991-92 team to 30 straight wins, a BIG EAST title and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen while garnering, among many awards, Kodak/WBCA First-Team All-America honors as well as being named the Sports Illustrated Player of the Year. A 1992 graduate, Savage lays claim to numerous UM women’s basketball records including first in scoring average (23.2 per game), first in free throw percentage (.798) and number one and two in points per season (742/743). Her jersey has been retired by the University.

-30-