Gino Torretta
Encyclopedia
Gino Louis Torretta is a Heisman Trophy winner who played quarterback
for several teams in the National Football League
from 1993 to 1997.
Torretta is best known for winning the Heisman Trophy
in 1992 as the quarterback of the University of Miami
and playing on the University of Miami's National Championship teams of 1989 and 1991. He also won the 1992 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award after his outstanding season.
Gino was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Torretta was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in 2009 and was formally inducted in 2010.
Currently Gino works with his friends Steve White and Noonan at WQAM in Miami. His show airs from 10a-noon on 560 WQAM and WQAM.com
, 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 up San Diego State for 485 yards, setting a school record for most passing yards in a game that has not since been broken.
and their Heisman-frontrunning quarterback, David Klingler
. As Miami's defense cut down Houston's run-and-shoot offense, Torretta was putting on the performance that many expected out of Klingler en route to a 40–10 victory (Klingler's lone touchdown pass in the game would come with :03 left in the 4th quarter, against Miami's 3rd string Defense and the game long since decided). Torretta would go on that season to lead Miami to a 4th quarter comeback on the road versus #1 Florida State
and ultimately to an undefeated season and a co-national championship.
that season. He also won the Walter Camp Award
, the Maxwell Award
, the Johnny Unitas Trophy
and the Chic Harley Award
. One of the key games of the season came against West Virginia
when he threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-23 victory. His career as quarterback at the University of Miami was hugely successful, with Torretta leading the team to 26 wins and only one loss.
In the 1992 National Championship game
, Torretta's Hurricanes were dominated by the University of Alabama
Crimson Tide's defense and Alabama won the game, and the National Championship, 34-13.
took him in the 7th round in the 1993 NFL draft and then did not play him at all that year. In 1994, Torretta was on the Vikings' roster, and then was picked up by the Detroit 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.
and Detroit Lions
but again was relegated to backup roles. He was cut by the 49ers in 1996 and subsequently picked up by the Seattle 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 the Oakland Raiders
. He immediately threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway
that put Seattle ahead, leading the team to victory.
In 1997, Torretta was on the roster for Seattle and later the Indianapolis Colts
but again did not play. After that season, he retired from the NFL.
as a Senior Financial Advisor. He now works in the institutional and high net worth marketing
team of Gabelli Asset Management in the company's Florida
office. He is also Chairman/CEO of Touchdown Radio, broadcasting an NCAA game of the week on national radio.
Gino Torretta splits time between his offices in New York City
and West Palm Beach, Florida
. He also voluntarily serves the City of Coral Gables, home to the University of Miami, on the City's Financial Advisory Board. Gino also has a radio show on Miami's 560 WQAM from 10AM until noon and then followed by Michael Irvin
.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for several teams in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1993 to 1997.
Torretta is best known for winning the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in 1992 as the quarterback of the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and playing on the University of Miami's National Championship teams of 1989 and 1991. He also won the 1992 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award after his outstanding season.
Gino was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Torretta was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2009 and was formally inducted in 2010.
Currently Gino works with his friends Steve White and Noonan at WQAM in Miami. His show airs from 10a-noon on 560 WQAM and WQAM.com
1989 and 1990 seasons
As quarterback at the University of Miami, Torretta spent his first two seasons mostly on the bench behind then starting quarterback Craig EricksonCraig Erickson
Craig Neil Erickson is a former professional quarterback who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 5th round of the 1991 NFL Draft and also by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He is one of the few NFL players to be drafted twice, most famously Bo...
, 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 up San Diego State for 485 yards, setting a school record for most passing yards in a game that has not since been broken.
1991 season
In his first year as a starter, Torretta garnered further attention by stealing the show in a nationally-televised 1991 game versus the Houston CougarsUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and their Heisman-frontrunning quarterback, David Klingler
David Klingler
David Ryan Klingler , is a former American football player. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals after a record setting quarterback career at the University of Houston...
. As Miami's defense cut down Houston's run-and-shoot offense, Torretta was putting on the performance that many expected out of Klingler en route to a 40–10 victory (Klingler's lone touchdown pass in the game would come with :03 left in the 4th quarter, against Miami's 3rd string Defense and the game long since decided). Torretta would go on that season to lead Miami to a 4th quarter comeback on the road versus #1 Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and ultimately to an undefeated season and a co-national championship.
1992 season
Torretta passed for more than 3,000 yards his senior year in 1992 on his way to winning the Heisman and the Davey O'Brien AwardDavey O'Brien Award
The Davey O'Brien Award, officially the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O'Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The...
that season. He also won the Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
, the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
, the Johnny Unitas Trophy
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It was established in 1987 by a foundation named for Johnny Unitas , the Hall of Fame quarterback who played his college career at the University of...
and the Chic Harley Award
Chic Harley Award
The Chic Harley Award is presented by the Touchdown Club of Columbus to the College Football Player of the Year. The winner is selected by a committee of college football coaches, and is named after Ohio State All-America football legend, Chic Harley. It was first presented to Ohio State's Howard...
. One of the key games of the season came against West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
when he threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-23 victory. His career as quarterback at the University of Miami was hugely successful, with Torretta leading the team to 26 wins and only one loss.
In the 1992 National Championship game
1993 Sugar Bowl
The 1993 Sugar Bowl took place on January 1, 1993, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It served as the final game and the National Championship of the 1992–93 college football season. The game featured two unbeaten teams in the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Miami Hurricanes...
, Torretta's Hurricanes were dominated by the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
Crimson Tide's defense and Alabama won the game, and the National Championship, 34-13.
Statistics
| Year | Comp. | Att. | Comp % | Passing | TD | INT |
| 1991 | 205 | 371 | 55.3 | 3,095 | 20 | 8 |
| 1992 | 228 | 402 | 56.7 | 3,060 | 19 | 7 |
1993 and 1994
Despite his huge collegiate-level success, Torretta was not a top NFL draft pick, and his NFL career was fairly unremarkable. He was not selected until the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
took him in the 7th round in the 1993 NFL draft and then did not play him at all that year. In 1994, Torretta was on the Vikings' roster, and then was picked up by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. 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.
1995-1997
In 1995, Torretta moved to NFL Europe and was also on the roster for the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
but again was relegated to backup roles. He was cut by the 49ers in 1996 and subsequently picked up by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. 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 the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He immediately threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway
Joey Galloway
Joseph Scott Galloway is an American football wide receiver. He most recently played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft...
that put Seattle ahead, leading the team to victory.
In 1997, Torretta was on the roster for Seattle and later the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
but again did not play. After that season, he retired from the NFL.
Financial career
Torretta followed his NFL career with a position at Wachovia SecuritiesWachovia Securities
Wells Fargo Advisors, is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the second largest brokerage firm in the United States as of October 1, 2007 with $1.17 trillion retail client assets under management....
as a Senior Financial Advisor. He now works in the institutional and high net worth marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
team of Gabelli Asset Management in the company's Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
office. He is also Chairman/CEO of Touchdown Radio, broadcasting an NCAA game of the week on national radio.
Gino Torretta splits time between his offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. He also voluntarily serves the City of Coral Gables, home to the University of Miami, on the City's Financial Advisory Board. Gino also has a radio show on Miami's 560 WQAM from 10AM until noon and then followed by Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin
Michael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
.