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Hurricane football greats Alonzo Highsmith, left, and Melvin Bratton will host the 6th annual Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys/University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Fishing Tournament.
The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is offering UM employees a 50 percent discount on social tickets to the 6th Annual Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys/UM Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Fishing Tournament, which will be hosted by Hurricane football greats Melvin Bratton and Alonzo Highsmith from June 24-25 in Islamorada in the Florida Keys.
To receive the discount, simply present a valid UM ID (’Cane Card) at the registration table at Founders Park (Mile Marker 87), and you’ll receive a wristband to gain entry to the event. The discounted price is $12.50 for Friday, June 24, and $25 for Saturday, June 25, with admission including dinner and two drinks each day along with the opportunity to mingle with Hurricane greats.
The tournament weekend will begin Friday evening with a kick-off party, silent auction, and captain’s meeting, followed on Saturday by a full day of fishing, a weigh-in, awards dinner, and auctions featuring unique sports memorabilia, fishing gear, trips, artwork, and a variety of gift packages.
This is the only fishing event of its kind that matches participants with former Miami Hurricanes sports stars for the competition. Cash prizes and trophies will be presented to anglers in eight categories, with a portion of the tournament proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, Coastal Conservation Association, and the UMSHoF.
“As we prepare for our sixth annual fishing tournament, we’re pleased to announce our renewed partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys and the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis,” said Gerard Loisel, president of the UMSHoF. “We also welcome this year’s hosts Melvin Bratton and Alonzo Highsmith. This event will once again provide fans with a unique opportunity to fish alongside some of the greatest athletes to have worn the orange, green and white, while raising funds for the UM Sports Hall of Fame and our partners.”
Prior to Saturday’s weigh-in, Loisel will conduct a presentation on dangerous marine animals, geared toward children between the ages of 8 and 15, at Founder’s Park at 3 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend. The program will help kids separate fact from fiction regarding many so-called “dangerous animals” and will not only focus on sharks, stingrays, and barracudas but will also include information on fish that can sometimes be dangerous when consumed. Preserved specimens will be used in the program.
Check out the entire schedule of tournament events at http://canesfish.com/schedule.html.
Former Hurricanes sports stars scheduled to participate include NFL Hall of Famer and 2012 tournament host Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders), NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks (Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders), Clinton Portis (Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins), Brett Romberg (Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons), Gary Dunn (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Damione Lewis (St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Houston Texans).
For information about tournament participation, including boat entry or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.canesfish.com, call 305-667-0399, or contact tournament director Judy Layne at [email protected]. Follow the tournament on Facebook at www.facebook.com/canesfish.
To book accommodations at one of the local hotels, visit http://canesfish.com/accomodations.html.
For questions, call John Routh, executive director of the UMSHoF, at 305-284-2775.
