Ghosts of Miami Hurricanes’ past always loom large over this proud and once-great program and with Florida State week underway, rest assured past greats are going to again chime in.
Two-time national champion and Heisman-winning quarterback Gino Torretta is first up this week, unloading some Motivation: 101 via a recent phone interview with the Miami Herald.
Torretta knows a little something about the Seminoles, having played them four times in his career and amassing a 3-1 record against the Canes’ modern-day arch-rival.
Filling in for injured starter Craig Erickson in 1989, true freshman Torretta was blitzed all day en route to a 24-10 loss at Doak Campbell. Erickson eventually returned and Miami rolled to an 11-1 season and the program’s third national championship, regardless.
A year later Torretta helped lead Miami to a 31-22 victory at the Orange Bowl. From there, two of the most-memorable games in the rivalry’s storied history—Wide Right I and Wide Right II.
The second-ranked Canes knocked off the number one Seminoles, 17-16 in Tallahassee by way of a missed game-winning field goal—paving the way to a fourth national title. A year later, a 19-16 victory at the Orange Bowl when another kick sailed wide. Miami reached the championship game yet again, but were rolled by Alabama.
Having been such an integral part of many huge games at Miami—three against Florida State—Torretta had some choice words for this year’s squad.
“At some point in time you have to take over the game yourself as a player and you have to hate losing so much that you do whatever you need to do to get in the end zone,” Torretta told the Herald. “The players are the ones who have to execute.
“Look at all the great teams. There are certain times the offensive line, or whomever, says, ‘Hey, the game’s on us. We’ll take over.’ Or defensively, ‘Hey, the game’s on us.’
“You need that on any successful team. You have to hate losing that much that you can’t be denied scoring, converting a third down, stopping a third down — whatever.”
Scary as this next statement will come off; not one current Hurricane was alive during the Torretta year’s at Miami so lest any jump on social media and take shots at “old dude” for not knowing what he’s talking about, buckle in for a quick history lesson.
Instead of jumping on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to respond—roll on over to YouTube and dig up some highlights from that 1992 showdown between No. 2 Miami and No. 3 Florida State.
Down 7-0 after Tamarack Vanover housed the opening kickoff, the Canes’ defense held the Noles in check with nine points over the next 59 minutes.
A huge Ryan McNeil interception early, courtesy of defensive line pressure by Mark Caesar. Jesse Armstead with some monster hits. Kevin Patrick all over Charlie Ward, as well as Damon Bethel with his one-handed takedown of the quarterback.
Darren Krien with the huge fumble recovery—forced by Patrick, playing for the injured Rusty Medlars (Next man in!) Paul White with a late interception that gave the Canes’ offense time to get something going. Donnell Bennett keeping those legs churning on offense, doing his part in what ultimately proved to be a field position, defensive battle.
Micheal Barrow earned his place in this rivalry’s folklore—silencing Vanover with a monster hit (and salute) that has been played over and and over—but some of the game’s most-defining plays came from the quarterback in this article doling out some pre-game words of wisdom.
Torretta rolling right early and hitting a wide-open Coleman Bell on a fake reverse, giving Miami a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter. There was also a third down pass to Daryl Spencer in the fourth quarter—the Canes trailing 13-10 and 1-of-11 on third down conversions on the afternoon.
The drive didn’t result in points, but damned if that Miami defense didn’t get another stop—Darrin Smith stripping running back Clyde Allen at the Noles’ 20 after a big gain.
Trailing 16-10 with 8:17 remaining, Torretta—hardly the most mobile quarterback in Miami’s history—picked up a first down with his legs. With 6:57 left in the contest, the offensive moment of the game—giving the Canes the lead and eventually the victory.
Florida State blitzed two, Torretta prepped to get clobbered, released the ball in two seconds—throwing off his back foot—and dropped a 40-yarder into the mitts of receiver Lamar Thomas as he crossed the goal line.
The rest is history. Extra point sailed through for the one-point lead, defense continued to hold it down, Barrow’s monster hit and a special teams miscue by the Noles spotted that the Canes two points.
Florida State got within field goal distance, Bobby Bowden played for the tie and Dan Mowery played this year’s Gerry Thomas; keeping the universe in order with another world-class Nole kicker choke-job.
While another missed kick ultimate defined the 36th meeting between these two foes, in hindsight Torretta’s recent words ring true as the reason Miami found a way to win this back-and-forth showdown.
At some point Hurricanes players did take over the game and did whatever they needed to do to get into the end zone. Guys on both offense and defense stepped up, put the game on their shoulders—as a unit and as individuals—with that, “the game’s on us” and “we’ll take over” mentality.
Miami coaches are (deservedly) getting crucified these days, but Torretta is quick to remind that much of this onus remains on the players.
“The players have to play,” Torretta told the Herald. “I’m not going to put it all on Al — or on the players. But at some point you need to make plays to win a game. You have to close the deal.”
Regarding some confusion late at Cincinnati: “It seems like there’s indecision with bread-and-butter plays because when you’re calling two timeouts in the red zone that means there’s miscommunication either from the sideline to the quarterback in what you want, or you’re not that confident in what you want to do,” explained Torretta.
There’s going to be a lot of blah-blah and rah-rah this week and while much of it can arguably be dismissed, Torretta is talking a talk that he in the past walked.
Instead of coaches tossing on some inspirational flick to get the kids riled up on Friday night, what say they take it over to YouTube and let the events of October 3rd, 1992 re-unfold.
IN OTHER NEWS: Speaking of Torretta, the quarterback great will be at our allCanes’ #RallyInTally on Friday night, broadcasting live from The Moon.
Torretta’s SiriusXM College Sports Nation show will be recorded live from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET. Listen in and get involved.
allCanes still has some RSVP spots left at RallyInTally.com, while day-of walk-ups are certainly welcomed and encourages. Spread the words to Canes Nation that The Moon will be the only orange and green spot in town on Friday night!
#CanesFam