Hurricanes Heisman Trophy winners to get statues built on UM campus
The Miami Hurricanes’ two Heisman Trophy winners will soon be immortalized on campus.
UM announced Thursday that Max Chira, a UM fan, has made a $1.81 million donation that will be used to construct life-sized statues of Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta on campus outside the Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence.
“As a fan of Miami for the past 57 years, I’ve always felt that our two Heisman Trophy winners deserved a lasting tribute,” Chira said in a press release. “This project will not only honor their incredible legacies, but also serve as a powerful recruiting tool for the future of Miami football. I’m proud to help create a space where future generations can admire and be inspired by their achievements, right outside the Schwartz Center — and we hope to add more statues for future Heisman winners in the years to come.”
Philadelphia-based sculptor Zenos Frudakis has been commissioned to create the statues, according to UM. Frudakis previously sculpted the statue of legendary Miami baseball coach Ron Fraser, which was unveiled outside Mark Light Field in 2015.
Testaverde won Miami’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1986 after leading the Canes to an 11-0 regular season record. He threw for 2,557 yards and 26 touchdowns that season. Testaverde also won the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards that season.
Torretta won the trophy in 1992 after leading the Canes to an 11-0 regular season record. He threw for 3,060 yards and 19 touchdowns that season. Torretta also won the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award that season.
“This is such a special honor, and I’m proud to share it with my family and my friend, Gino Torretta,” Testaverde said in a press release. “I’m deeply grateful to the University of Miami, Max Chira for his generosity, and Zenos Frudakis for bringing this vision to life. I can’t wait to see the statues come together and celebrate with our amazing fans, alumni and the U community. It truly means a lot.”
Added Torretta: “It is humbling, and to be commemorated on campus is a tribute not just to our individual achievements, but a testament to our teams, coaches, and the Hurricane fans who made it all possible. To me, this tribute represents the countless hours of determination, sacrifice, and effort my teammates and I poured into each game, as well as the pride of the community that rallied behind us on every play during a truly great time at the University of Miami.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM.
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