Edgerrin James embraces UM Sports Hall of Fame honor

A day after his longtime girlfriend's funeral, one of the University of Miami's greatest football players attended his induction into the UM Sports Hall of Fame, choosing not to elaborate on the sadness but instead to embrace the goodness.

Edgerrin James, now an Arizona Cardinals running back who has a UM football meeting room named in his honor for his $250,000 donation, received a standing ovation Thursday as one of seven athletes in the Hall's newest class.

''This is big because the University of Miami means a lot to me and always has,'' said James, 30, who lost the mother of his four children -- Andia Denise Wilson -- to leukemia last week. ``To be a part of something like this, it's one of my biggest accomplishments ever. This is something I'll look back on and always cherish.

``When you think of the players who have come through this school and have great NFL careers, to be a Hall of Famer at this school, that's probably one of the toughest tickets going.''

The other members of the 2009 class were equally ecstatic, though former UM basketball star Tim James couldn't make it to Jungle Island because he's training for the Army in Austin. Also, 2009 Hall of Fame newcomer Aubrey Huff of the Baltimore Orioles was previously inducted before the UM season opener in February and didn't attend Thursday. Organizers showed a video of Huff thanking UM for the honor.

The 2009 inductees:
• Warren Bogle, a pitcher and power hitter who lettered in 1966 and 1967. He struck out 242 batters in 191 innings for an average of 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings -- still a UM record.

• Davian Clarke, a two-time NCAA national champion and six-time All-American 400-meter runner at UM from 1995 to 1998. He is still the only UM male to win an NCAA individual title.

• Huff, who led the baseball team in 1998 with 21 home runs and a school-record 95 RBI. His .400 career batting average is second all-time at UM.

• Edgerrin James, the only Hurricane to post consecutive 1,000-plus-yards rushing seasons. He ranks second in school history with 2,960 yards in three seasons. His 35 touchdown total is tied with Stephen McGuire for the UM record. He is tied for the record of 14 100-plus-yard rushing games. His biggest UM thrill: 299 yards in the Canes' 49-42 upset victory over No. 2 UCLA to end the 1998 regular season.

• Tim James, a Miami Northwestern High graduate who became the second Hurricane to have his number -- 40 -- retired, joining Rick Barry's No. 24. A 6-7 forward, he is the only player to record more than 1,500 points, 800 rebounds and 200 blocked shots in his career.

• Cathy Morse, a golfer who lettered from 1975 to 1977. Her stroke average of 76.36 was the second-lowest in UM history. In June 1977, Morse won the AIAW national championship.

• Mike Sullivan, a guard/tackle who lettered from 1987 through 1990. Sullivan started every game for four years, setting the school record for consecutive starts at 48. Miami went 44-4 during that span and won two national titles.

Also honored was UM freshman cornerback Brandon Harris, who earned the Walter Kichefski Endowed Football Scholarship for ''his respect of fellow man, loyalty, dedication, sacrifice, motivation and inspiration,'' according to presenter Don Mariutto Jr. Harris, represented by his father, Tim Harris Sr., couldn't attend because he was at the Penn Relays.

(miamiherald.com)