Five UM legends, including Sean Taylor, inducted into Ring of Honor
Five of the greatest football players of all time were inducted into the Miami Hurricanes Ring of Honor on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium during halftime of the Georgia Tech game.
The late safety Sean Taylor, receiver Michael Irvin, linebacker Ray Lewis, defensive tackle Warren Sapp and safety Ed Reed were the UM legends honored.
All five are already in the UM Sports Hall of Fame, and Irvin is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
UM said Reed could not make the event, and Taylor was represented by his daughter Jackie, 11, during the Ring of Honor luncheon on Friday and at the game on Saturday.
“To go into the Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor here, it’s incredible,’’ Irvin told the Miami Herald. “What makes it great is we all have had many conversations about being the very best of what we do. This solidifies it. In an era when we dominated college football – 58 straight victories at home still stands to this day – you are singled out as some of the greatest to ever do it. And when you were part of that era of football, it’s just a phenomenal honor.’’
When asked how she thought her dad would react knowing he was inducted Saturday, Jackie smiled and said, “happy.’’
And this, from Lewis: “I think this group of men speaks about one thing, and that is, whatever you want to go do in life, go do it. This moment speaks volumes about that…Understanding what we all represent.
“Man, I’m overwhelmed. It’s like something you could never dream of as a kid but now I’m sitting here as a man sitting next to my warriors.”
“Just blessed,’’ Sapp said.
On Friday, Lewis and Sapp both mentioned UM Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Gino Torretta as an inspiration. “I was led by Gino Torretta, my Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback,’’ Sapp said at the luncheon. “And they showed me the way of being a Cane. And it was everyday that we were going to go out and build a brotherhood.
“…Because it was a Cane thing. They didn’t understand.”
UM’s Ring of Honor now has 23 former Canes. The newest legends join the Class of 1997 inductees Jim Dooley, Ted Hendricks, George Mira and Vinny Testaverde; Class of 1999 inductees Ottis Anderson, Don Bosseler, Bernie Kosar and Burgess Owens; Class of 2008 inductees Edgerrin James, Jim Kelly, Cortez Kennedy, Jim Otto and Gino Torretta; Class of 2009 inductees Bennie Blades, Eddie Dunn and Steve Walsh; and Class of 2014 inductees Jerome Brown and Russell Maryland.
Miami Offensive Starters
Quarterback Malik Rosier, running back Travis Homer, tight end Christopher Herndon, receiver Darrell Langham, receiver Braxton Berrios, receiver Mike Harley, left tackle Kc McDermott, left guard Trevor Darling, center Tyler Gauthier, right guard Corey Gaynor, right tackle Tyree St. Louis.
Miami Defensive Starters
End Chad Thomas, tackle Kendrick Norton, tackle RJ McIntosh, end Trent Harris, linebacker Zach McCloud, linebacker Shaquille Quarterman, linebacker Michael Pinckney, cornerback Malek Young, safety Jaquan Johnson, safety Rob Knowles, cornerback Michael Jackson.
▪ Making their first career starts Saturday were Langham, Gaynor, Homer and Knowles. Knowles forced a fumble on a kickoff return in the second quarter, but it was recovered by Georgia Tech.
▪ Linebacker Charles Perry set a career mark for a game in the first half with five tackles...Safety Jaquan Johnson led all UM players in the first half with eight tackles.
▪ Travis Homer rushed nine times in the first half for 81 yards and had 116 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries after his 27-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. He also scored on a 17-yard pass in the first half.
This story was originally published October 14, 2017 at 9:07 PM with the headline "Five UM legends, including Sean Taylor, inducted into Ring of Honor."