The Univ. of Miami and football coach Mark Richt on Saturday "hosted the first ‘U Network’ event, one designed to help link former UM football players with potential employers," according to Christy Cabrera Chirinos of the South Florida SUN-SENTINEL. Richt said, "This event is designed for reunion, connection with all the former football alumni. But it’s also designed to help people find work, if needed, start careers, change careers, whatever it may be. Or if you have a business, it’s just a way to meet new people that might be good contacts to help your business thrive if you’ve already got something on." Richt said that the first event at UM "created plenty of buzz, with plenty of former players and businesses jumping in to participate." Chirinos noted the response was "so great from local businesses that the school didn’t have enough room to house all those that wanted to participate." While Saturday’s event was "designed for former players," Richt would "like to see the event expand in the future so that current players -- namely seniors that will need jobs after graduation -- can participate as well" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/6). In Miami, Susan Miller Degnan noted "at least 130 former UM football players and their families" attended the event. Several businesses "set up booths ... for players to seek information or exchange their own" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/6). The AP's Tim Reynolds noted for the inaugural event, UM had reps from "numerous sides of the business world -- the plumbers' union, the Coral Gables Police Department, builders, roofers, a flooring company, the hospitality industry and others come out to talk to job-seeking 'Canes." Dozens of former players from "different generations and their families showed up -- and at least one got a job on the spot" (AP, 8/6).
