Gino Torretta

NFL player


Caption=Gino Torretta in 1993
ImageWidth=150pix
DateOfBirth=Birth date and age|1970|8|10|mf=y
Birthplace= Pinole, California
DateOfDeath=
College=University of Miami
Position=Quarterback
Jersey #=13College
DraftedYear=1993
DraftedRound=7
DraftedPick=192
Career Highlights=Y
Awards=1992 Heisman Trophy
1992 Davey O'Brien Award
1992 Johnny Unitas Award
1992 Maxwell Award
years=1993
1994
1995
1996-1997
1997
teams=Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts
Stats=Y
NFL=TOR699174
DatabaseFootball=TORREGIN01
CollegeHOF=

Gino Louis Torretta (born August 10, 1970 in Pinole, California) is a former Heisman Trophy winning American football quarterback for several teams in the National Football League from 1993 to 1997.

Torretta is best known for winning the Heisman Trophy in 1992 as the quarterback of the University of Miami and playing on the University of Miami's National Championship teams of 1989 and 1991. He also won the 1992 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award after his outstanding season.

University of Miami career

1989 and 1990 seasons

As quarterback at the University of Miami, Torretta spent his first two seasons mostly on the bench behind then starting quarterback Craig Erickson, with his only significant playing time coming with three starts in 1989 after Erickson injured his throwing hand. During that span, however, the then-unknown Torretta lit up San Jose State for 486 yards, setting a school record for most passing yards in a game that has not since been broken.

1991 season

In his first year as a starter, Torretta garnered further attention by stealing the show in a nationally-televised 1991 game versus the Houston Cougars and their Heisman-frontrunning quarterback, David Klingler. As Miami's defense cut down Houston's run-and-shoot offense, Torretta was putting on the performance that many expected out of Klingler en route to a not-even-that-close 40-10 victory (Klingler's lone touchdown pass in the game would come with :03 left in the 4th quarter, against Miami's 3rd string Defense and the game long since decided). Torretta would go on that season to lead Miami to a 4th quarter comeback on the road versus #1 Florida State and ultimately to an undefeated season and a co-national championship.

1992 season

Torretta passed for more than 3,000 yards his senior year in 1992 on his way to winning the Heisman and the Davey O'Brien Award that season. One of the key games of the season came against West Virginia when he threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-23 victory. His career as quarterback at the University of Miami was hugely successful, with Torretta leading the team to 26 wins and only one loss.

In the 1992 National Championship game, Torretta's Hurricanes were overmatched by the University of Alabama Crimson Tide's defense and Alabama won the game championship, 34-13.

=NFL career=

1993 and 1994

Despite his huge collegiate-level success, Torretta was not a top NFL draft pick, and his NFL career was fairly unremarkable. He was not selected until the Minnesota Vikings took him in the 7th round in the 1993 NFL draft and then did not play him at all that year. In 1994, Torretta was on the Vikings' roster, and then was picked up by the Detroit Lions. As was the case in 1993, he failed to play at all in 1994, serving the entire season in a backup role with the Lions.

1995

In 1995, Torretta moved to NFL Europe and was also on the roster for the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions but again was relegated to backup roles. He was cut by the 49ers in 1996 and subsequently picked up by the Seattle Seahawks. His only chance to play in an NFL game came in the 1996 season finale when he came off the bench for the Seahawks against the Oakland Raiders. He immediately threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that put Seattle ahead, leading the team to victory.

In 1997, Torretta was on the roster for Seattle and later the Indianapolis Colts but again did not play. After that season, he retired from the NFL.

Financial career

Torretta followed his NFL career with a position at Wachovia Securities as a Senior Financial Advisor. He now works in the institutional and high net worth marketing team of Gabelli Asset Management in the company's Florida office. He is also Chairman/CEO of Touchdown Radio, www.touchdownradio.com, broadcasting an NCAA game of the week on national radio.