Testaverde Named Sixth Miami Player for College Hall of Fame

The University of Miami has flourished since its

beginnings in 1925, turning out professionals in

every industry. Its football program began just a

year after the college’s birth.

The Miami Hurricanes built over the coming years a

dynasty of collegiate gridiron glory that University

of Miami t-shirts would boast of for years to come.

Among its most notable accomplishments, the

Hurricanes secured 5 AP national championships in

1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001.

They also currently rank fourth on the list of All-time Associated Press National Poll Championships.

They are not easily forgotten in the NCAA.

U of M’s players are the ones that have made these accomplishments possible over the years. Every

team has fought with power and determination to bring honor to this school.

University of Miami’s NCAA History

Two won the Heisman trophy. Six have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, among

those, the recent addition of Vinny Testaverde.

Some may remember Vinny as the promising recruit from Fork Union Military Academy. There he spent

time preparing for college and honing his quarterback skills in preparation for an athletic scholarship in

the year to come.

He did the Hurricane’s proud, breaking records and earning titles without breaking a sweat. In his junior

year, he threw 352 passes for a 216

completion rate.

Although he suffered 15 interceptions, he

landed 3,238 yards for 21 touch downs, not

bad for his first year starting. This was only

the beginning though as the next year would

prove the most instrumental.

It was his senior year that everything started

happening for him. In 1986 he became a

consensus first-team All-American.

He broke the school record for career touchdown passes with forty-eight over four years. He secured

the hearts of the nation when he was nominated and declared the rightful winner of the Heisman

Trophy that year.

He led his team to the 1987 Fiesta Bowl against Penn State. Although he wasn’t able to land the team a

championship, he was able to get himself a future in the NFL.

Testaverde’s Professional Career

He would go on to become the first overall draft pick in the 1987 NFL draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

believed in him and spent his time growing into the increased skill level of NFL players.

In 1992 he left to find the team that worked best with him. He didn’t search long.

He quickly signed with the Cleveland Browns. Over the next 4 years, he led this team to the playoffs and

himself to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

His time with the Browns (that became the Baltimore Ravens) came to a close though as he made his

way to New York to Play for the Jets. In the first year, it looked like

New York was Testaverde’s home.

He flourished there. In his first season, Testaverde lead the Jets to

a 1998 AFC East Title and a chance for the title.

They made it all the way to the AFC Championship game that year

before they lost. He wasn’t done though.

He brought them back to the playoffs for another go in 2001. They

met another unfortunate defeat there.

Although he never won a Super Bowl, his career was nothing if not

successful. His work with the Hurricanes and NFL made for a great

career, and he’s not the only one to think so.

His accomplishments were recently recognized when Testaverde

was inducted into the College Hall of Fame. Where once the University of Miami t-shirts proudly

displayed support for a Heisman deserving quarterback, fans can now be changed to remember what

college football would consider one of its greatest players.

Photo Credit: Aaron Webb, Steven Martin, xploitme