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Gino Torretta

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Gino Torretta
Head-and-shoulders photo of Gino Torretta, 23-year-old white male, in sweat-stained heather grey athletic t-shirt.
Torretta in 1993
No. 13
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born:(1970-08-10)August 10, 1970(age 53)
Pinole, California,U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Pinole Valley
College:Miami (FL)(1989–1992)
NFL draft:1993/ Round: 7 / Pick: 192
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts:16
Passing completions:5
Completion percentage:31.3%
TD–INT:1–1
Passing yards:41
Passer rating:35.4
Player stats atPFR

Gino Louis Torretta(born August 10, 1970) is an American formerfootballplayer who was aquarterbackfor five seasons in theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballfor theMiami Hurricanes,where he won theHeisman Trophyin 1992 and was a member of thenational championshipteams of 1989 and 1991. He was selected by theMinnesota Vikingsin the seventh round of the1993 NFL Draftand was a member of several NFL teams, but never became a regular starter as a pro. He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Famein 2010.[1]

Early life

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Torretta was born inPinole, California.He graduated fromPinole Valley High School,where he was a standouthigh school footballquarterback for the Pinole Spartans.

College career

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Torretta accepted anathletic scholarshipto attend theUniversity of Miami,where he played for theMiami Hurricanes footballteam from 1989 to 1992.

1989 and 1990 seasons

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See also:1989 Miami Hurricanes football teamand1990 Miami Hurricanes football team

As a quarterback for the Hurricanes, Torretta spent his first two seasons mostly on the bench behind then starting quarterbackCraig Erickson,with his only significant playing time coming with three starts in 1989 after Erickson injured his throwing hand. During that span, however, the then-unknown Torretta lit upSan Diego Statefor 485 yards, setting a school record for most passing yards in a game that was only broken on September 29, 2012 by Stephen Morris.

Sebastian the Ibis incident

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Prior to an October 28, 1989 game against long-standing rivalFlorida StateatDoak Campbell StadiuminTallahassee,University of Miami mascotSebastian the Ibiswas tackled by a group of police officers for attempting to put outOsceola and Renegade's flaming spear. Sebastian was wearing a fireman’s helmet and yellow raincoat and holding a fire extinguisher. When a police officer attempted to grab the fire extinguisher, the officer was sprayed in the chest. Sebastian was handcuffed by four officers and detained but ultimately released. Torretta, who started that game for Miami, later toldESPN,"Even if we weren't bad boys, it added to the mystique that, 'Man, look, even their mascot's getting arrested.'"[2]

1991 season

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See also:1991 Miami Hurricanes football team

In his first year as a starter, Torretta garnered further attention by stealing the show in a nationally televised 1991 game versus theHouston Cougarsand their Heisman-frontrunning quarterback,David Klingler.As Miami's defense stymied Houston's run-and-shoot offense with relentless blitzing, Torretta put on the performance that many expected out of Klingler en route to a 40–10 victory; Klingler's lone touchdown pass in the game came with three seconds left in the fourth quarter against Miami's third-string defense, long after the game was decided. Torretta went on to lead Miami to a fourth-quarter comeback win on the road versus #1Florida Stateand ultimately to an undefeated season and a co-national championship.

1992 season

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See also:1992 Miami Hurricanes football team

Torretta passed for more than 3,000 yards his senior year in 1992 on his way to winning theHeisman Trophyand theDavey O'Brien Awardthat season. He also won theWalter Camp Award,theMaxwell Award,theJohnny Unitas Trophy,and theChic Harley Award.One of the key games of the season came againstWest Virginiawhen he threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in the 35–23 victory. His career as quarterback at Miami was hugely successful, with Torretta leading the team to 26 wins and only one loss, which came in the1993 Sugar Bowlwhere the Hurricanes were dominated by theAlabama Crimson Tide's defense. Torretta was flummoxed by Alabama's 11-man fronts, and threw three interceptions after only throwing four all season. Alabama won the game, 34–13, and the national championship.

College statistics

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Season Team Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int
1989 Miami 101 177 57.1 1,325 8 8
1990 Miami 21 41 51.2 210 0 1
1991 Miami 205 371 55.3 3,095 20 8
1992 Miami 228 402 56.7 3,060 19 7

Professional career

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1993–1994

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Despite his collegiate-level success, Torretta was not regarded as a high-level NFL prospect; his NFL career was fairly unremarkable. He was not selected until theMinnesota Vikingstook him in the seventh round in the 1993 NFL Draft and then did not play him at all that year.[3]In 1994, Torretta was on the Vikings' roster, and then was picked up by theDetroit Lions.As was the case in 1993, he failed to play at all in 1994, serving the entire season in a backup role with the Lions.

1995–1999

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In 1995, Torretta moved toNFL Europeand was also on the roster for theSan Francisco 49ersandDetroit Lionsbut was again relegated to backup roles. He was cut by the 49ers in 1996 and subsequently picked up by theSeattle Seahawks.His only chance to play in an NFL game came in the 1996 season finale when he came off the bench for the Seahawks against theOakland Raiders.He immediately threw a 32-yard touchdown pass toJoey Gallowaythat put Seattle ahead, leading the team to victory.

In 1997, Torretta was on the roster for Seattle and later theIndianapolis Coltsbut again did not play. After a brief stint with Kansas City in 1999, he retired from the NFL.

Post-football career

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Torretta followed his NFL career with a position atWachovia Securitiesas a senior financial advisor. He is chairman and CEO of Touchdown Radio, broadcasting an NCAA game of the week on national radio. He is also an NCAA football expert onSirius XMchannel 91, College Sports Nation.

Torretta is vice president for GAMCO Asset Management, working with institutional clients nationwide and working out of the firm'sPalm Beachoffice.

References

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  1. ^"Brown, Torretta in new Hall class".ESPN.com.April 30, 2009.RetrievedDecember 17,2016.
  2. ^"The true story of Sebastian the Ibis, a fire extinguisher and a near arrest".October 30, 2019.
  3. ^"1993 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMarch 31,2023.
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