Jim Kelly is so closely associated with the Buffalo Bills franchise that one has to be of a certain age to remember his days of gridiron glory down at Miami.
Well, one can prepare to relive those illustrious Hurricanes teams of the early 1980s after the school announced on Wednesday that the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and recent cancer survivor would be the Homecoming Grand Marshal and serve as an honorary captain the week of the North Carolina at Miami game.
"The University of Miami was and remains an important part of my life," Kelly said in a release. "My family and I are honored and we look forward to being Grand Marshal of the Homecoming Parade and Honorary Captain for the Homecoming game."
Kelly was diagnosed with cancer back in 2013 and later had part of his jaw removed. He underwent aggressive chemotherapy and said in early September that he was finally cancer free.
The Bills legend is considered to have jump started the winning tradition at Miami, as his arrival in Coral Gables was coupled with the hiring of famed coach Howard Schnellenberger. Kelly was eventually inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame and has a spot in the football team's Ring of Honor.
"Jim Kelly to me is as much responsible for rescuing the University of Miami football program and athletic department as anyone," said longtime Miami offensive line coach Art Kehoe in the release. "So many people have been important to this program, but Jim Kelly was a guy that took us from being ready to drop football to being a national championship contender and having prominence again. He was such a tough guy and such a leader. That's how he was the whole time he was here. He always wanted to fight and scrap, always trying to compete and win. For me, no one can be the Grand Marshal of our Homecoming ceremonies better than Jim Kelly."
Kelly is best known for operating the high-flying Buffalo Bills offenses in the 1990s that went to four consecutive Super Bowls. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2002 and recently returned to Canton earlier this year for teammate Andre Reed's induction.
The festivities at Miami are set for October 31 through November 1, when the Hurricanes host the Tar Heels at Sun Life Stadium.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
