Jay Brophy: ‘You can’t take these moments for granted.’ Former Miami greats to be inducted
Former Miami Hurricane and Dolphins linebacker Jay Brophy spoke to the Miami Herald on Tuesday from the inside of his white 2003 Ford Ranger pickup truck “with two inches of snow on the top,’’ he said, noting that it’s “better known as my coaching vehicle.”
Be assured that Brophy, a longtime high school coach outside Akron, is pumped about leaving Ohio for a few days to attend his induction into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night. He will be one of five football players and 13 others from several sports being celebrated in a combined induction ceremony to honor the 2020 and 2022 classes.
“You know, the shock is over as far as getting the call that I would be inducted, but it’s nice to have the opportunity to come down and get together with everyone,’’ said Brophy, 61, in the UMSHOF Class of 2020 and now the coach for the Manchester High Panthers. “You can’t take these moments for granted.
“We always say, ‘Hey, let’s stay in touch,’ and next thing you know another five years go by.”
The last UM Sports Hall of Fame Banquet was nearly three years ago in May 2019, and now, like so many other events that were postponed or canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s back. Hall executive director John Routh said a 2021 class was never named because of the pandemic.
“As every year, we’re excited about the class,’’ said Routh, who noted there are still a limited amount of banquet tickets left for the ceremony. “We have some great inductees, many of whom were national champions — from Jay Brophy, our only All-American from the 1983 team, to Brittany Viola Gonzalez, who won two national championships in diving.
Brophy played at UM from 1979 to 1983 and was named a first-team All-American for the late Howard Schnellenberger’s first UM title team. He led the team in tackles that year with 133, with three interceptions. He was drafted in the second round by the Dolphins in 1984, and played four seasons in the NFL.
The other former football players being honored Thursday: running back Cleveland Gary (1986-88), special teams star/cornerback Phillip Buchanon (1999-01), special teams star/receiver Kevin Williams (1990-92), and linebacker D.J. Williams (2000-03).
The rest of the inductees:
Baseball: Jeff Akire (1989-92), Yasmani Grandal (2008-10); basketball: Johnny Hemsley (1996-2000), Jack McClinton (2006-09), Shenise Johnson (2008-12); soccer: Brittney Steinbruch (2007-10); tennis: Laura Vallverdu (2007-10), Conny Falk (1989-91); track and field: Coach Mike Ward (1992-08), T’erea Brown (2007-11), Tim Harris Jr. (2004-08); volleyball: Lane Carico (2008-11); and diving: Brittany Viola (2007-11).
“It’s a great honor,’’ D.J. Williams told the Herald. “Once you’re done you can look back at what you’ve accomplished and appreciate it so much. I’m just thankful to be a part.’’
Said Ward, now the director of running at Carrollton School: “I volunteered for the UM Hall for man years, and basically my premise was to make sure my former athletes would get honored. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to get into it myself.’’
For more information, go to umsportshalloffame.com. Deadline to purchase tickets is 5 p.m. Wednesday.
This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 2:21 PM.
