April 30, 2009

National Football Foundation Release

MIAMI, Fla. - Former University of Miami quarterback Gino Torretta has been selected as a 2009 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame announced by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Thursday. Torretta is the fourth Hurricane player to be selected for induction joining Bennie Blades, (2006), Don Bosseler (1990), Ted Hendricks (1987) and sixth member of the Hurricane family including coaches Andy Gustafson (1985) and Jack Harding (1980).

"This is a great honor for Gino," UM head football coach Randy Shannon said. "He contributed so much to the University of Miami football program as a student-athlete. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and a member of our 1989 and 1991 National Champion Teams. He's one of the great players in Hurricane football history, and we appreciate The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for recognizing him."

From the national ballot of 76 candidates and a pool of hundreds of eligible nominees, Archie Manning, chairman of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, announced the 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) Class, which includes the names of 16 First Team All-America players and two legendary coaches.

Torretta joins Pervis Atkins (HB, New Mexico State), Tim Brown (WR, Notre Dame), Chuck Cecil (DB, Arizona), Ed Dyas (FB, Auburn), Major Harris (QB, West Virginia), Gordon Hudson (TE, Brigham Young), William Lewis (C, Harvard), Woodrow Lowe (LB, Alabama), Ken Margerum (WR, Stanford), Steve McMichael (DT, Texas), Chris Spielman (LB, Ohio State), Larry Station (LB, Iowa), Pat Swilling (DE, Georgia Tech), Curt Warner (RB, Penn State), Grant Wistrom (DE, Nebraska) as well as coaches Dick MacPherson (Massachusetts 1971-77; Syracuse 1981-90) and John Robinson (Southern California 1976-82, 1993-97; Nevada-Las Vegas 1999-2004) in the inductee class.

A key factor in many of Miami's national championship-contending 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 was tapped into Iron Arrow, as one of the University's best ambassadors.  He has also been inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor and the University of Miami Hall of Fame. He is also a Past-President of the National University of Miami Alumni Association, a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, and in 2008 was inducted into the University of Miami's Ring of Honor.

Torretta was drafted in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. The quarterback played five seasons in the NFL and spent time with the Vikings, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts. 

Founder, President and CEO of Touchdown Radio Productions, Torretta currently resides in the Miami area.  He is also the vice president for Institutional Sales with Gabelli Asset Management.

The 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Class will be inducted at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 8, 2009, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in the summer of 2010.