The Miami Hurricanes have had numerous superstars play for the football program throughout the years. Former Cane Warren Sapp was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining ex-Canes Michael Irvin, Jim Kelly, Jim Otto, Cortez Kennedy and Ted Hendricks in Canton. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will soon join that group. But of all the big names to have played for Miami, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might be the biggest — at least when it comes to the field of entertainment. He certainly has one of the greatest honors — the team’s locker room is named after him.
Miami took some reporters on a tour Friday of the new athletic center, and Michael Casagrande of the South Florida Sun Sentinel took a picture of the locker room, which is named after The Rock:
The new Miami football locker room dedicated to The Rock. http://t.co/QvgadswGxV
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) August 9, 2013
The Rock, who is a pro wrestler and movie star, was a defensive lineman at Miami from 1991-1994. He appeared in 34 games and would have seen more playing time had he not been behind Sapp on the depth chart.
The locker room being named after Johnson was actually one of the conditions of the wrestler’s $1 million donation to the football program in 2007, which was the largest ever by a former Miami athlete to the program. The Rock and his wife, also a former Miami athlete, donated $2 million to the school in 2006 to help fund the construction of an alumni center.
“We are excited to continue this legacy of excellence by making a contribution that will propel our student-athletes to greater achievement, whether on the field, in the board room or on the silver screen,” Johnson said of his 2007 donation. “I have said it time and time again that this program was a launching pad for my success.”
Here is another look at the locker room wall:
@TheRock wall graphics in the Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Football Locker Room pic.twitter.com/syirMBkgab
— Chris Cohen (@canescohen) July 26, 2013
Touring the new Miami athletics center. http://t.co/GTZaxlEDHJ
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) August 9, 2013
The Rock was named an Alumnus of Distinction by the school in April.
I only have one question for those of you who dislike the locker room being named after The Rock:
Helmet smack to Eye on College Football
