Adrian Peterson Part of Inaugural SoCon Hall of Fame Class

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced today (Jan. 28) the inaugural class for the league’s newly created Hall of Fame. Georgia Southern All-America running back Adrian Peterson was one of the 10 voted into the Class of 2009.

The inaugural class features 10 of the greatest student-athletes to ever compete in the Southern Conference and includes such legendary figures as Sam Huff (West Virginia), Arnold Palmer (Wake Forest) and Jerry West (West Virginia). Megan Dunigan (Furman), Dick Groat (Duke), Charlie Justice (North Carolina), Melissa Morrison (Appalachian State), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern), Frank Selvy (Furman), and Valorie Whiteside (Appalachian State) also were named to be enshrined  the conference’s inaugural class.  The 10 inductees will be honored at a ceremony on May 4 at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, S.C.

“We’re extremely proud of this announcement, one that’s been 88 years in the making,” said Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. “The achievements of this first group of inductees are truly remarkable. These 10 individuals are wonderful representatives of the great history of the Southern Conference.”

Student-athletes who competed for a minimum of two seasons in the Southern Conference were eligible for consideration, along with coaches and administrators who spent at least five years in the league.  A pool of 254 candidates from the conference’s current and former member institutions were nominated for the inaugural class.  The pool of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators was cut down to 45 individuals who comprised the final ballot.  A voting panel of 20 media members and league administrators made the selection of the inaugural class.

Peterson still holds the Eagles’ record for rushing yards in a season (1,932 as a freshman) and career (6,559), in addition to points in a season (174) and career (524). He remains as the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision all-time leading rusher. The former All-America running back helped Georgia Southern win consecutive National Championships in 1999 and 2000, along with a national runner-up finish in 1998 and FCS semifinals appearance in 2001. The Eagles posted a 52-7 career record during his four years.

“We are extremely proud of Adrian being voted into the inaugural Southern Conference Hall of Fame class. There has never been another running back like Adrian. He has made a lasting impression on our football program,” said Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Sam Baker. “As good a player Adrian was, he is an even greater person. Having the distinction of being named to the Southern Conference’s inaugural Hall of Fame Class symbolizes the type of player Adrian was at Georgia Southern.”

ABOUT THE INDUCTEES
Megan Dunigan, Women’s Tennis (Furman, 1999-02) – Megan Dunigan is one just two SoCon athletes to be named SoCon Player of the Year all four years.  She earned first team all-conference honors six times for singles and doubles play.  Dunigan was a 2002 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner and was named to the Furman University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Dick Groat, Men’s Basketball & Baseball (Duke, 1950-52) – A two-time SoCon Male Athlete of the Year in 1951 and 1952, Groat was named the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 1951 and 1952.  He also garnered all-conference honors in baseball for two seasons (1951, 1952).  He went on to enjoy a 14-year career in Major League Baseball and was a part of World Series Championship teams in 1960 (Pittsburgh) and 1964 (St. Louis).

Sam Huff, Football (West Virginia, 1952-55) – The 1955 All-American helped West Virginia post a combined mark of 31-7 during his four years with the Mountaineers, including a berth in the Sugar Bowl in 1954.  He also was named an Academic All-American in his senior season of 1955.  Huff played 13 years in the NFL with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins where he was named All-Pro eight times.  He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, Football (North Carolina, 1946-49) – A two-time All-American, Justice was the 1948 National Player of the Year and helped the Tar Heels earn three bowl bids during his four years in Chapel Hill.  He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1948 and 1949.  Justice was a four-time first team all-conference selection and was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year in 1948 and 1949.

Melissa Morrison Howard, Track & Field (Appalachian State, 1989-93) – Morrison Howard was twice named All-American and helped the Mountaineers earn eight SoCon championships during her four years in Boone, N.C.  A three-time NCAA qualifier, she won 17 individual conference championships and was named the SoCon Indoor Track Championships Most Outstanding Performer in 1992 and 1993 and also garnered the Most Outstanding Performer honors at the Outdoor Track Championships in 1992 and 1993.  Morrison Howard captured two Olympic bronze medals (2000, 2004) in the 100m hurdles.

Arnold Palmer, Golf (Wake Forest 1948-50; 1953-54) – Palmer was the NCAA medalist for stroke play in 1949 and 1950.  He captured the Southern Conference individual championship in 1948 and 1949.  Palmer finished as the runner-up in 1950, the same season Wake Forest won the conference championships.  He went on to win 62 PGA Tour events, including seven major championships, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Adrian Peterson, Football (Georgia Southern, 1998-2001) – The 1999 Walter Payton Award Winner, Peterson was a four-time All-American at Georgia Southern.  He holds 25 game, single season and career records in the league and owns 16 NCAA Football Championships Subdivision records.  He is the NCAA Division I career rushing leader with 6,559 yards.  A sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2002, Peterson recently completed his seventh season in the NFL.

Frank Selvy, Basketball (Furman, 1952-54) – The 1954 United Press National Player of the Year, Frank Selvy was a three-time All-American at Furman and was named SoCon Player of the year twice.  He was the NCAA Division I leader in scoring for two seasons and still ranks fourth all-time with 2,538 career points.  Selvy scored a Division I record 100 points in a win over Newberry on Feb. 13, 1954.  He was the number one overall draft pick by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1954 NBA Draft and spent nine seasons in the league.

Jerry West, Basketball (West Virginia, 1956-60) – A three-time All-American at West Virginia, Jerry West was a two-time SoCon Male Athlete of the Year honoree and was twice named the conference’s Basketball Player of the Year.  He set 17 different records at WVU and helped guide the Mountaineers to three NCAA Tournament berths.  West went on to spend 14 years in the NBA where he helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the 1972 NBA Championship.

Valorie Whiteside, Basketball (Appalachian State, 1984-88) – Whiteside owns the Southern Conference top spot for single-season scoring (776) and career points (2,944). Her 25.4 career scoring average is the best mark in league history.  Whiteside was named first-team all-conference four times and was named the 1988 Player of the Year.  She was inducted into the Appalachian State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
The Southern Conference, in its 88th season of intercollegiate competition, is a national leader in emphasizing the development of the student-athlete and helping build lifelong leaders and role models.  The conference has been on the forefront of innovation and originality in developing creative solutions to address issues facing intercollegiate athletics.  From establishing the first conference basketball tournament (1921), tackling the issues of freshman eligibility (1922), developing women’s championships (1984) and becoming the first conference to install the three-point goal in basketball (1980), the Southern Conference has been a pioneer.  The Southern Conference is the nation’s fifth-oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association. 

The conference currently consists of 12 members in five states throughout the southeast and sponsors 19 varsity sports and championships that produce participants for NCAA Division I Championships.

Category: Athletics

Published on Wednesday, 28 January 2009 00:09