Striving for, Achieving, and Acknowledging Excellence

Remarks: UMass Athletic Hall of Fame
Class of 2001
January 4, 2002
Campus Center Auditorium

One of the true pleasures of participating in an event such as the one this evening is the opportunity to pause, reflect, learn about yet more of the many excellences that constitute this University we affectionately call UMass. You all probably know about the genesis of the Athletic Hall of Fame—that it was established in the 1960’s by the Varsity "M" Club to recognize individuals who have performed with extraordinary levels of excellence and brought honor and distinction to his or her team, the athletic program, and UMass.

Between 1969 and 1982, there were 24 inductees into the Hall of Fame from the ranks of student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. After an hiatus of some 15 years, the Hall of Fame was re-instituted in 1997 with the encouragement of our AD and through the energy, passion, and generosity of Attorney George "Trigger" Burke—himself a Hall of Famer. Under the leadership of Athletic Director Bob Marcum we are all urged to remember that excellence deserves recognition and support and that first impressions make an impact. Thank you, Bob.

And so we are here tonight to acknowledge the seven inductees of the Class of 2001—one posthumously, bringing the total now to 55 members. I want to speak their names, though they and their accomplishments are listed in the program:

• Dorothy Leonard (posthumously)
• Pam Hixon
• Patrick Keenan
• Garry Pearson
• Bill Prevey
• Jeff Spooner
• Rodger Twitchell

What these inductees have in common is a sustained striving for excellence and the rigor and discipline that results in the accomplishment of the "extra-ordinary." I also want you to know that the Intercollegiate Athletic program at UMass continues to thrive. UMass has the highest total of student athletes named Atlantic 10 All-Academic six times in the last seven years since the conference began giving out such distinctions. In fact, UMass holds the record for most selections in a single academic year with 35 in the 1996-1997 season. Our student athletes typically graduate at a rate just over 5% higher than the student body as a whole.

Athletic success on a national scale is often judged by a school’s finish in the Sears Directors’ standings, the survey that annually recognizes the nation’s top sports programs. For eight consecutive years, UMass has finished in the top third in the nation’s all-sports sweepstakes. UMass is the only A-10 institution that can make that claim.

I could enumerate—as others have and will—a list of impressive acknowledgements for our student-athletes in both academic and athletic accomplishments. My purpose tonight, however, in mentioning the thriving nature of Intercollegiate Athletics, is to help you understand better the context in which these seven new inductees were identified, reviewed and forwarded for acceptance. Their accomplishments had to be extraordinary! Nothing less!

Last September during New Student Convocation, I wanted to introduce the students to some members of the UMass Family—the family they had chosen to join. Two of the seven I mentioned were student-athletes (choosing which two proved tougher than I had imagined, but I decided there would be ample opportunities to profile more student-athletes in the "family album.") I wanted the new students to know that as a family member they would have responsibilities during their tenure as students and after graduation as well. That responsibility is to the "family name:" UMass!

Well, the seven we are here to honor tonight have indeed brought honor to the family name. Their demonstrated excellence is ample testimony that athletic competition teaches the participants discipline and the physical and mental skills so necessary for their full and valuable participation in and contribution to society.

My congratulations to all of you and my deepest gratitude for that special patina—that special shine—you bring to the family name: UMass. You do us proud. Go UMass!