If this season’s performance wasn’t enough for Miami fans, there’s yet another piece of heartwarming news coming up. The University of Miami has announced that it will be commissioning life-sized statues of the Hurricanes’ only two Heisman winners, Vinny Testaverde and Gino Torretta. These statues will be permanent and public tributes that will be standing just outside the Schwartz Center on campus, where players, recruits, and generations of fans can dip their sights into history and the Hurricanes’ pride.

And all of this is being made possible courtesy of a longtime Hurricanes fan, Max Chira. Chira is the one who has gifted $1.8 million for this project. When asked about his motivation and the reasoning behind this project, he said, “As a fan of Miami for the past 57 years, I’ve always felt that our two Heisman Trophy winners deserved a lasting tribute.” And now, thanks to a fan who has supported the team through every high and low, the memory of the program’s greatest players is permanent. It shows how much meaning the achievements of players hold for a program’s longtime fans.

Chira continued, “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.” The two players Chira has referenced are the pillars of Miami’s highest highs. Vinny Testaverde was the Hurricanes’ first Heisman winner, lifting the award in 1986. He logged big numbers during Miami’s 11-0 regular season and went on to become an NFL pro and a college football Hall of Famer. Gino Torretta was the 1992 Heisman winner who also led a dominant run for the Hurricanes. 

The contract for these statues has been given to Philadelphia-based sculptor Zenos Frudakis. Frudakis is a veteran artist who has already proved his mettle by working on similar statues. He was the hand behind the statue of legendary coach Ron Fraser,which stands outside Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field. The project entails the statues that will be lifelike yet still larger than life. They will catch the eyes of every passing recruit, student, and fan while serving as a reminder of the rich history of the program.

These statues are a statement. These are the committed donors’ wishes to make the two players’ legacies permanent. Miami will be building a bridge from its storied past to the promising present, which they are living in right now. The project and its timing are poetic. The Heisman winners are being celebrated while a quarterback is writing his own story and making the journey to the Heisman ceremony. If Carson Beck wins the Heisman trophy and gets Miami a natty. The duo of Testaverde and Torretta won’t be the only ones standing outside the Schwartz Center.

Miami’s raids heat up

Miami is gearing up for the Gators, but that’s not the only battle they’re a part of right now. They are also attacking the recruiting board by poaching from the SEC and Big Ten elite Edge supplies. And this news is about five-star Anthony “Tank” Jones, a freak athlete who has pledged to Dan Lanning. But that relationship is already under stress. A national analysts put the odds at 50-50 as he said, “With all the buzz surrounding the program. I mean, it’s definitely a place where it’s intriguing. It’s a program that’s building. So, I definitely see Tank Jones continuing to be on the radar for the Miami Hurricanes.” And that’s exactly what Cristobal is planning on.

The second target of Miami’s attack is No.3 DL Nolan Wilson, who has already been to Coral Gables, where he was treated like a priority. On him, the analyst said, ”I would definitely, you know, take a visit to Miami or take multiple visits to Miami. Who wouldn’t?” The gravitational pull is the development, the culture, and especially the season that’s going on. “Especially with Jason Taylor as one of the staff members of the Miami Hurricanes. He’s a Hall of Famer. That’s always intriguing for any recruit to be taught by a guy with a gold jacket.” 

A&M is the thorn on the road that Miami has to fight for Jones. But both Jones and Wilson might be in the building when Miami faces Florida, so the weight of that matchup increases tenfold. If the Canes do against Florida what they’ve been doing these past few week, it won’t take a lot of time to change those 50/50 odds that keep Oregon and others sweating.