Gino Torretta Rings Opening Bell at NASDAQ

May 13, 2009

CORAL GABLES –

On April 30, former UM football great Gino Torretta was among those named as members of the 2009 class of the College Football Hall of Fame.  That morning, Torretta represented the class and was joined by Steve Hatchell, President and CEO of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, in ringing the opening bell of the NASDAQ exchange.

A member of the 1989 and 1991 national championship teams,  Torretta became one of the most decorated players in college football history, claiming unanimous First Team All-America honors, the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards in 1992.

As a freshman on the 1989 National Championship team, Torretta posted a 3-1 record as a starter while filling in for injured quarterback Craig Erickson.  As a junior, Torretta led the Hurricanes to the 1991 National Championship game and was named the Big East Player of the Year.  During his senior season in 1992, Torretta once again led Miami to the National Championship game and a Big East Championship.  Torretta again took home Big East Player of the Year as well as the 1992 Tanqueray World Amateur Athlete of the Year.  He currently holds the Big East conference record for lowest career percentage of interceptions (1.94), passing yards in a single-game (485) and longest passing play (99) yards, also an NCAA record.  Torretta led Miami to a 26-2 record as a starter and was part of Miami’s NCAA record 58-game home winning streak.

Torretta finished his Miami career with eleven school passing records, including career attempts (991), completions (555), yards (7,690), total offense (7,772), longest pass (99 yards to Horace Copeland vs. Arkansas, an NCAA record) and most passing yards in a game (485 vs. San Diego State).

He becomes the fourth UM player along with Don Bosseler, Ted Hendricks and Bennie Blades to be chosen to the College Football Hall of Fame.  Two Miami coaches, Jack Harding and Andy Gustafson, are also members of the Hall.