Humility on display at UM Sports Hall of Fame inductions

At the University of Miami, athletes are famous for coming back home and supporting the school.

Thursday night, some very special athletes came home, and this time it was the University of Miami that was honoring them as they were inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in a dinner ceremony at Jungle Island.

None of them needed that traditional swagger UM is so noted — and criticized — for. They, in fact, were downright humbled about being honored.
Here’s what those eight athletes had to say Thursday night about being inducted and what UM meant to them.

• Ray Bellamy, 63, a wide receiver who was the first black athlete to be awarded a scholarship to UM: “UM was a combination of people, places and time that worked just perfectly for me,” said Bellamy, who became the student body president at UM. “The UM did the right thing by signing me — the UM was the one that did it. Being inducted means everything. I can’t believe this day has come. This school has shown me love.” Bellamy is now an academic advisor at Florida A&M University.

• Ed Reed, 33, a standout defensive back at UM who went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens and has been named an NFL All-Pro eight times and is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, ranked being inducted among his top honors: “It’s special, man, it’s special. To be a part of this family is a blessing. This school was the doorway to the NFL. This school was also the doorway to being a collegiate student. This school prepared us.”

Bryant McKinnie, 32, an Outland Trophy winner who didn’t allow a sack in his UM career and went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings before joining Ed Reed in Baltimore last season: “It feels good, really good,” McKinnie said of his induction. “This is a blessing. UM is like a fraternity, and to be a part of that means a lot to me.” The Ravens now have three UM Hall of Fame members on their roster — McKinnie, Reed and linebacker Ray Lewis, who was inducted in 2006.

Rich Mercier, 36, who had a UM record-tying mark of 48 career starts: “When your name is mentioned in this class, you did something right.” Mercier is now a money manager.

• Robbie Morrison, 35, the UM record-holder for strikeouts per nine innings who now runs an indoor baseball facility near Atlanta: “It’s an unbelievable thing to be inducted. I hoped for it, but only thought I had a chance. Now it’s an awesome feeling.”


(miamiherald.com)