Dee, the two stories I recall hearing/reading about Fortay -Jersey's Finest -- was that during his home visit, Jimmy and Gary Stevens were with the family in their living room. The father starts trying to really press the guys on what Univ of Michigan engineering degree was worth, yada, yada, etc
And Stevens just blurts out,"Sir, with all the due respect, you let your son get coached by me and he's the #1 pick in four years -- and that pays a lot better." (loved Stevens, my all-time favorite UM OC)
( Thats when Stevens had that unreal run of developing QB as our coordinator)
Then they were in Pinole, CA, talking to Gino Torreta, and Stevens basically says that like his older brother, he'd be a really good backup at Miami. Jimmy was kicking him under the table as he says this
So later on as they leave and get in the car, and Jimmy tells, "Gary, what in the world were you telling Gino?!?!"
"The truth, c'mon, you know Fortay is our guy."
Jimmy goes, "Gary....this is recruiting, we NEVER tell the whole truth!!"
Fast forward to 1991, Torretta beats out Fortay, who transferred and then sued Erickson and the school over certain promises of playing time. I asked Claude Jones a few years ago if there was any doubt about that decision. Claude said it was clear cut-- Gino beat him, no questions asked. Wasn't a question to anyone on that team as they got ready for that season
