Miami QB Gino Torretta (jersey retired Saturday) reflects on Tyler Van Dyke, UM season

The most decorated University of Miami football player in history knows a bit about the quarterback position.

That player, 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta, had his jersey No. 13 retired during the Hurricanes’ final home game at noon (ABC) against No. 9 Louisville (10-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), and spoke to the Miami Herald about the honor as well as UM’s season heading into the game.

The Canes were 6-4 (2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) before the game, but dropped to 6-5 and 2-5 after the 38-31- loss to the Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium.

“They’ve improved from last year, no question,’’ Torretta, 53, said. “There’s a solid nucleus to build from that Mario [Cristobal] will continue to improve with the next recruiting class. Sometimes you may not be the best team but you have to find a way to overcome and win. They’re learning that now.

“The importance of going 6-7 or 9-4, that’s a vast difference,’’ Torretta said of UM’s possible records should they lose their two remaining regular-season games and a bowl game or should they win all three. “Vast difference. Winning would not only help recruiting, but it also reflects the mental makeup of the team when you’re disappointed where you’re at but still able to turn the switch and finish strong.

“It’s important not only team-wise but individually for all of them to show what they can do these next three games.”

UM fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has had numerous physical ailments this season, including torn ligaments in the index finger of his throwing hand and injured right knee, ribs and back.

“He had ligament damage in his finger before the season, so I thought that would be difficult,’’ Torretta said. “Even if it’s not that painful, you’re probably altering how you’re throwing. It looks like sometimes his release is a little bit different from what it was. That issue, and then getting banged up in the middle of the year, which everybody does, and trying to overcome those kinds of injuries [is tough].

“When that happens, as a quarterback especially, you need the other 10 guys to step up around you. Just play better, play harder, do things to help the quarterback. That’s what great teams have done. ...No matter how hard it is for fans, it’s a lot harder for the player dealing with it.”

Van Dyke was benched as a starter in last week’s loss at Florida State. Was Torretta, who redshirted in 1988 and played from 1989 through ‘92, ever benched?

It happened to Torretta as a redshirt freshman in 1989, after starter Craig Erickson fractured the index finger of his throwing hand on Sept. 30 at Michigan State. Torretta started four games in a row while Erickson was healing. But in his third start at Florida State, UM’s only loss in that national title season, Torretta threw four interceptions. He started the next game against East Carolina and shared duties with Erickson, who took over the rest of the way.

“If I hadn’t thrown the four interceptions, it would have been a different discussion on whether I kept starting as a redshirt freshman or not,’’ Torretta said. “Yeah, I’ve had bad games. As a quarterback you’ve got to have a short memory.”

Torretta, who lives in Coral Gables with his wife, Bernadette, a former UM track athlete, is already in the College Football Hall of Fame, UM Sports Hall of Fame and UM Ring of Honor. He posted a 26-2 record as a UM starter and won the two national titles in ‘89 and ‘91, and would have won another had 11-0 Miami beaten Alabama in the Jan. 1, 1993 Sugar Bowl.

Torretta does a national radio broadcast of a college football game every Saturday for his company Touchdown Radio and finished his UM career with 11 school records. He also won the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards, as well as being named the Walter Camp Player of the Year.

His 18-year-old daughter Aria, other family members and lots of former teammates joined him for the halftime honor. Only four other former UM players have had their jersey numbers retired: No. 10 George Mira, No. 14 Vinny Testaverde, No. 42 Jim Dooley and No. 89 Ted Hendricks.

Two UM players — wide receiver Michael Redding III and defensive end Chantz Williams — currently wear No. 13 and will continue wearing the number, with a commemorative patch on their jerseys honoring Torretta.

“I’m honored and humbled,’’ Torretta said. “It’s awesome that I’m going to see some teammates that I haven’t seen in a while. It will be great to relive a lot of memories with those guys.”

Davis back as starter

Jaden Davis returned from a one-game absence and started at his usual spot at cornerback for Miami on Saturday. The defensive back missed the Hurricanes’ loss to No. 4 Florida State last Saturday after he got hurt the previous week in Miami’s loss at NC State.

Running back Henry Parrish Jr., who started four games early in the season, also returned to action after sitting out last week in Tallahassee.

Linebacker Keontra Smith and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, however, did not dress due to unspecified injuries.

Senior Day

The following Hurricanes were listed as participating in Senior Day: Punter Fred Potter, defensive back Souleymane Bangoura, linebacker KJ Cloyd, linebacker Corey Flagg, guard Javion Cohen, defensive back Te’Cory Couch, cornerback Jaden Davis, defensive tackle Branson Deen, cornerback Luis Gutierrez, receiver Tyler Harrell, punter Will Hutchinson, linebacker Keontra Smith, center Matt Lee, defensive tackle Jake Lichtenstein, tight end Josh Neely, receiver Chris Pastora, linebacker Lucas Peterson, linebacker Ryan Ragone, linebacker Rocky Shelton, receiver Jefferson Walls, offensive lineman Chris Washington, defensive end Chantz Williams.

Schnellenberger Trophy

The game was to be the first in which Miami and Louisville players competed for the newly created Schnellenberger Trophy, featuring the bronzed western dress boots worn by Howard Schnellenberger, who coached both programs and led UM to its first national title in 1983.