Following in the footsteps of Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Steve Walsh, and Craig Erickson, the pressure cooker was heating things up.
However, in 1992, Gino Torretta filled those lofty shoes placed before him.
The 1992 season was the second season for Torretta as a starter at the University of Miami. The previous 1991 campaign was an undefeated one for Torretta and the Hurricanes as they went 12-0 and shared a national title with the University of Washington. To follow up that successful season in which the passer out of Pinole, California tossed for 3,095 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, Torretta opened up the ’92 season on the road against a pesky Iowa Hawkeyes team that was ranked 23rd in the country at the time. Torretta shredded the Hawkeyes defense to the tune of 433 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
A magical regular season by Torretta included a key 33-yard touchdown pass to wideout Lamar Thomas for the go-ahead lead in a 19-16 win over heated rival Florida State. Later in the season, Torretta torched a West Virginia defense with 363 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-23 home win over the Mountaineers to push Miami’s record to 8-0 on the season.
Wins over Temple (48-0), #8 Syracuse (16-10), and San Diego State (63-17) capped off an impressive undefeated season. Torretta picked apart San Diego State with 343 yards in a game where his closest Heisman competitor (RB Marshall Faulk) was sidelined due to injury. Which meant plenty of Torretta for media voters.
Interestingly, Torretta’s 1992 numbers were eerily similar to his 1991 season. His 3,060 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season in 1992 were a slight drop-off from his junior season in 1991. However, even with his successful season, Torretta’s Heisman campaign was aided by the Hurricanes going 12-0 in the regular season. The season for Miami ended on a dreary note with a loss to Alabama in the National Championship.
Despite the unfavorable ending to the season, Torretta had lofty shoes to fill. In 1992, he did just that.
