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Dec. 10, 2007 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics is now accepting applications for UMES Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2008. The inductions of the 2008 Hall of Fame Class will be affiliated with the University's Homecoming, held the week of February 18, 2008. "We want to recognize all deserving Hawks who competed athletically," said Keith Davidson, Director of Athletics. "The Hall of Fame committee wants to look at all Hawks worthy of this great honor and wants our fans, friends, alumnus and supporters to fill out a nomination form; then the committee can look at the pool of applicants and make the best selections based on the criteria they have set forth." Nominations are due back to the Department of Athletics by December 21, 2007 and the class will be announced in February 2008. Nomination forms can be located on the UMES Official Athletic website at umeshawks.com or by calling 410-651-6496 and having one mailed out. Sponsorship forms are also available and can also be obtained via the website or by calling the Department of Athletics.
Download the Hall of Fame nomination form here.
Download the Hall of Fame Sponsorship Form here.
UMES HALL OF FAME CAPTAIN ART SHELL IS HIRED AS RAIDERS NEW HEAD COACH
Feb. 11, 2006
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - Al Davis had grown sick of watching his rivals beat up on the Oakland Raiders, outplaying, outcoaching and even out-toughing his team. The swagger that once made the Raiders the NFL's most intimidating team and contributed so much to his mantras of "Commitment to Excellence" and "Just Win Baby" had long left the franchise. After suffering through three straight losing seasons for the first time since joining the franchise more than four decades ago, Davis reached back into the past to try to restore that aura. Davis introduced Art Shell as his new coach Saturday, bringing back his former Hall of Fame offensive lineman and head coach to turn his struggling organization around. "It may take us a short while, but we'll get that nastiness of the Raiders back," Davis said. "That's one of the reasons I'm going to depend on the great Art Shell to help us get that done." Davis admitted Shell was the team's second choice after Louisville coach Bobby Petrino turned down an offer. And Shell will have a tough job ahead of him. The Raiders have won just 13 games the past three seasons, including only one against division rivals Denver, Kansas City and San Diego in coach Norv Turner's two years at the helm. Davis talked about how much the Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers hate the Raiders and he wants a coach who can instill the importance of that rivalry into his players. Shell is ready for the challenge. "When you walk out there, when you into that stadium, you walk out there with a presence. Mr. Davis called it a swagger," Shell said. "I just want to get back to the point where when we walk into a stadium, they know the Raiders are in town. And when we walk into the Coliseum, the Raiders are here. ... We've got to create that attitude, and that's what I expect to do." Shell hasn't been a head coach since the Raiders fired him following the 1994 season and hasn't worked on the sidelines at all since leaving his job as an assistant with the Atlanta Falcons five years ago. Even though he has spent the last five years in the NFL office, Shell is confident the game has not passed him by. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is staying with the team and Shell will have to hire an offensive coordinator after Jimmy Raye left to take a job with the New York Jets. Shell's style will be a familiar one, harkening back to the Raiders' glory years. "Everybody has a way of doing things. The Raiders have a way of doing things. We're about winning. And we will win," Shell said. "We will be tough. We will be power. And I want the ability, as always to strike from anywhere on the field. That's important to me." He has the personnel to do that with a strong-armed quarterback in Kerry Collins and one of the game's best deep threats in Randy Moss. The Raiders still have to decide whether to stick with Collins, who will count $12.9 million against the salary cap next season. Turner's inability to maximize Moss' ability played a big role in his failure as coach. One of the biggest areas of improvement needed for the Raiders is at offensive line. The team averaged only 3.8 yards per carry, allowed 45 sacks and committed far too many penalties from the offensive live. That's Shell's strength. He played in eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls in his superb career. He coached the lines for the Raiders, Chiefs and Falcons, winning another Super Bowl with the Raiders and helping Atlanta get to one as well. "I'm excited about having a coach. I'm even more excited having a former Raiders player as coach," linebacker Danny Clark said in a phone interview. "He has been in that locker room, played for that owner and knows what it's like to be in silver and black." Davis said he has "never forgiven myself" for firing Shell. He has gone through five coaches in 11 seasons since firing Shell, possibly scaring some candidates away from the job. Shell had a 54-38 regular-season record with the Raiders, leading them to the AFC championship game following the 1990 season. The Raiders have had only three winning seasons since Shell was fired - one less than he had in five full seasons as coach. "As I said at the end of the season, changing the coach staff won't do anything if the players don't want to go out there and play," safety Jarrod Cooper said in a phone interview. "It's on us to get this done." The first black head coach in modern NFL history when the Raiders hired him in 1989, Shell only got a handful of interviews for another chance over the years despite his record. Several other coaches, including Turner, got second chances despite having losing records in their first stints, a practice advocates for minority coaches attribute to a "double-standard." Cyrus Mehri, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer who partnered with the late Johnnie Cochran to pressure the NFL into establishing minority hiring guidelines for teams after the 2002 season, has spotlighted Shell's situation in the past. "He definitely has the fire in the belly to get back in coaching," Mehri said. "We had him as one of the people we thought deserved serious consideration because we know how much he's ready to get back into this." Shell becomes the seventh black coach currently in the league. Of the 10 openings this offseason, the only other black coach hired was Herman Edwards, who was traded from the New York Jets to the Kansas City Chiefs. UMES' ART SHELL AMONG CIAA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Jan. 19, 2006 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - A former UMES football standout is among the 2006 class of inductees into the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA) McLendon Hall of Fame. Art Shell will be formally installed at the John B. McLendon Hall of Fame Luncheon during CIAA tournament week in Charlotte, NC on Friday, March 3 at the Westin Hotel, 11:00am. Also to be inducted are William "Bill" English (basketball) of Winston-Salem State, Hal Jackson (benefactor), Mike Davis (basketball) of Virginia Union, and Sandra Shuler (volleyball) of North Carolina Central. Shell is known as the first African-American Head Coach to coach in the NFL when he took over the Oakland Raiders job. He of course was also known as a player, and an NFL Hall of Famer, playing 16 seasons, including two Super Bowl wins. He earned a third ring as a coach with the Raiders. Shell was drafted out of then Maryland State, now UMES, in the third round of 1968's NFL Draft by the Raiders and was a two-time All-American. As a player in the NFL, Shell, 57, played in 207 regular season games and 21 play-off contests not including two Super Bowls (XI& XV) and eight Pro Bowls. His career lasted 16 years where he was named First or Second Team All-Pro six consecutive times from 1973-78. He was elected to the N.F.L. Hall of Fame in 1989. As a player at Maryland State, Shell came out of Bonds Wilson High School in Charleston, SC and played four seasons from 1964-1968. He earned back-to-back All-American honors in 1966 & 1967 and three times All-CIAA honors. He was elected to the UMES Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. Since 2002, Shell has worked for the National Football League supervising all NFL football operations and development. He was named Senior Vice President of NFL Football Operations & Development in 2004. UMES HALL OF FAME BANQUET SPONSOR AND ADVERTISING FORMS NOW AVAILABLE
Jan. 3, 2006 Princess Anne, MD - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is proud to announce that all of the forms and information you need to be a part of the 2006 Hall of Fame induction are now available. Please click on the appropriate link below to dowload the form for your use.
Dowload the Invitation Letter here.
Download the Advertising Form here.
Download the Banquet Sponsorship Form here.
UMES ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES 2006 HALL OF FAME CLASS
Nov. 30, 2005 Princess Anne, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the newest members of the 2006 Hall of Fame Induction Class and information on the induction ceremony and induction banquet. UMES will be enshrining 12 former athletes, coaches and supporters into the Hall. The twelve represent some of UMES' greatest teams and accomplishments from football, basketball, baseball, track and field and their first inductee from the Hawk's men's soccer team. The list includes:
Clifton "Cappy" Anderson--Coach (Track & Field, Football) The banquet will also feature the presentation of the Athletic Spirit Award to Debbie Edwards on behalf of her late husband Corsley "Punch" Edwards and the recognition of the 1966 CIAA Champion Baseball Team who went undefeated that season, a mark that still stands today. The formal banquet recognizing these great Hawks will be held on February 17th, 2006 in conjunction with the University's Homecoming. The induction banquet will be held in the Student Services Center (SSC) Ballroom at 7:00 PM after a Hall of Fame reception at 6:00 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room of the SSC. The reception is limited to invitation only. Ticket information will be forthcoming. Stay tuned to www.umeshawks.com for more details regarding this great event.
Bios: The fist nominee is no stranger to the Hawk faithful as cross-country meets, numerous events and even the football field are named after him. Clifton "Cappy" Anderson will be enshrined as a coach for football and track and field. He started his career in 1960 and coached at UMES for 18 seasons. He coached such track legends as Russ Rogers and Charlie Mays, winning and NAIA National Championship. On the gridiron he oversaw Art Shell and Carl Hairston during their record-breaking seasons. Kimandi Binns is the most recent Hawk to have played. The soccer star holds the record for most goals, assists and points in UMES history. He played in the Pan-American games and was a qualifier on the world cup and Olympic teams. He was honored in his home country of Bermuda as the teen athlete of the year. He played at UMES from 1993-1997. The only hardballer in this class is Charles Bush who played on the CIAA Championship Baseball team of 1956. Bush hit .350 as a shortstop over two seasons and was part of the Triple Crown Championship year in 1955-56 where the Hawks won the crown in Baseball, Football and Basketball. On the hardwood the Hawks will induct James Hough, who played on the CIAA Championship team of 55-56 as a guard. Huff is another member of the triple crown team who played under Hall of Fame Coach Nat Taylor. On the gridiron UMES will honor four players who laced them up Saturdays during the prime of the UMES football years. Cal Davidson played both offensive and defensive end as well as special teams. The three-way player was a force covering punts and kick-offs. Reggie Ennis was one of the last Hawks to play football at UMES. He was All-MEAC in 1979 and still holds records for the running back position. He led the team in rushing during his All-MEAC season of 1979. James Freeman was another player that was on both sides of the ball. The Oklahoma native played offensive and defensive tackles from 1948-1950 under the Hall of Fame coach Skip McCain. Playing both football and track and field was Howard Nicholas who started four seasons as the punter on the team and received MVP honors his freshman year on the track. He was also the named the Most Outstanding Athlete for track and field during his final year in 1978. Other track and field athletes being nominated include Richard Davis, who was part of the 1964 NAIA National Championship Team competing in the 120-yard high hurdles and 220-yard low hurdles. His teammate, Raymond "Pack Rat" Jackson will also be inducted as he competed that season in the 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs as well as the mile run. He was noted for being the last man to defeat Olympian Billy Mills at the Quantico Relays. Another track athlete, one of the recent stars, was Greg Thomas who was All-MEAC in 1981 and 1982. Thomas set a new record in 1982 at the Penn Relays with a first place finish in the 4 x 400 meter relay. He was also a National Association For Equal Opportunity In Higher Education (NAFEO) inductee. Last but certainly not least is Wardell Thomas who will be inducted as a supporter and athletic trainer. Wardell was a life-long supporter of the Hawks and served as a trainer for the Hawks in the mid-1950s. He served in other capacities as well for the Hawks but the Hawk faithful most fondly remembers his dedication and work as an athletic trainer.
March 3, 2005 Greensboro, N.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) most recent entry into the NFL is also UMES's most recent entry into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Hall of Fame. Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, a football standout at UMES from 1973-1975, is set to inducted as one this year's class into the MEAC Hall of Fame. MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas announced the 2005 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Inductees on Tuesday evening, February 22, 2005. Vince Coleman, Diana Pitts, Larry Stewart, Coach Robert Johnson (posthumously), MEAC Administrator Brenda H. McCoy and Hairston make up the 2005 Class, as selected by the11-member Selection Committee, which represents each MEAC institution. The Class of 2005 was selected from 15 finalists out of a total of 51 candidates. The six new members add to the overall total of 73 MEAC Hall of Fame Inductions, dating back to the first ceremony in 1981. Hairston played for UMES for three seasons, 73-75, and transferred to the school during his freshman year, having played his first campaign away from Princess Anne. During those three years he was also known as "Mr. Defense." He amassed well over 200 career tackles and was a three-time All-MEAC performer. In 1975, his final season at UMES, Hairston compiled 113 solo tackles and 56 assisted tackles through eight games, including two MEAC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. Hairston picked up his first weekly award after recording 20 solo tackles and nine assists against Johnson C. Smith. Four weeks later against Morgan State, he recorded 28 tackles, including 18 unassisted, two sacks and one interception. Selected to the UMES Hall of Fame in 1999, Hairston enjoyed a stellar 15-year professional career after leaving the UMES campus. As a defensive end, he was a seventh round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played eight seasons with the Eagles (1976-83), serving as captain from 1979-1983. He went on to spend six with Cleveland (1984-89) and one with Arizona (1990). Hairston finished his NFL career with 1,141 tackles and 94.0 sacks through 224 games, 184 of which were starts. He was named team MVP five times with Philadelphia and four times with the Browns. He won the Ed Black Memorial Award in 1986 and the Miller Light Lineman of the Year Award in 1988. In 1979, he led the Eagles and the NFC with a career-best 15.0 sacks. A year later, Hairston served as a starting defensive end for Vermeil's Eagles in Super Bowl XV against the Oakland Raiders. That was the Eagles only Super Bowl appearance up until this season. In total, the Martinsville, Virginia product participated in 15 career playoff contests, including four conference championship games ('80 NFC, `86 AFC, `87 AFC and `89 AFC).
"Big Daddy" retired in 1990 taking a job as a scout with the Cardinals and has held coaching positions with the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams. Hariston rejoined the Chiefs, where he still serves as the defensive line coach, following a four-year stint ('97-00) as the defensive line coach for St. Louis under head coach Dick Vermeil. Ironically, Hairston began his pro playing career with the Eagles in 1976 under Vermeil, who was a rookie NFL head coach that season. Since that time, Hairston and Vermeil have been virtually inseparable as Hairston has been on the field as either a player or an assistant coach for every game of Vermeil's illustrious NFL head coaching tenure. During the Rams 13-3 season in 1999, when the club claimed the Super Bowl XXXIV title, St. Louis tied Jacksonville for the league lead with 57.0 sacks, thanks in large part to Hairston's front four on the defensive line. When Hairston began his coaching career as the defensive line coach under then-Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer in 1995, he accomplished quite the feat. In his two years on the Chiefs staff (1995-1996), Hairston helped guide one of the fiercest defensive fronts in football. The Chiefs compiled a 13-3 record and won the AFC West title in 1995, ranking second in the AFC and third in the NFL with 47.0 sacks. Hairston returned to UMES to receive his Bachelor's degree in 1985. His two children, Crystal and Carl Jr. are both students at his alma matter. Enshrinement ceremonies will be held at the Marriott Hotel on March 10 at 10 a.m., during the 2005 MEAC Basketball Tournament in Richmond, Va. The following is a list and biographical information on each of the other four inductees: Vince Coleman, one of the most versatile athletes in Florida A&M University history, was a star centerfielder for the Rattlers baseball team from 1979 to 1982. Blessed with speed, quickness and great instincts, Coleman stole 109 bases, while hitting a career average of .352 for the Rattlers with 13 doubles, 15 triples, two homeruns and 65 runs batted in through 110 games played. In 1982, he set an NCAA single-game record for stolen bases with seven steals vs. Alabama State. Coleman was also a standout on the gridiron, where he was a two-time All-MEAC selection as a punter (1980-81), averaging 41.3 yards per kick in 1980 and 41.1 yards per kick in 1981. He also served as the Rattlers' placekicker from 1978 to 1981. In 1979, Coleman kicked a 34-yard field goal with under four minutes to play to give the Rattlers a stunning victory over the University of Miami. Coleman went on to enjoy a successful career in Major League Baseball, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors after stealing over 100 bases. His MLB career included stops with the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers. Coleman finished his career with nearly 900 stolen bases. Diana Pitts enjoyed a success four-year career at Coppin State in Track and Field and Cross Country. One of the most successful track athletes in Coppin State history, Pitts earned All-American honors in the 800 meter run in 1993 and 1994, becoming Coppin's first women's track and field athlete to win such honors. Pitts won MEAC crowns in the 200m, 400m, 800m 1500m and 3000 meter run. In fact, her time of 2:11.96 in the 800 meters in the 1991 MEAC Indoor Championship remains the fastest time in that event. She also holds MEAC Outdoor Track and Field championship records in the 800 meters (2:08.56); and the 1500 meters (4:45.19). Pitts also led the Lady Eagles to three MEAC Cross Country Titles from 1991 to 1993, earning Outstanding Performer honors in 1992. Pitts was named Coppin State's Female Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1994. She currently holds school indoor records in the 500, 1000, 1500 and mile run, and outdoor records in the 400, 800, and 1500 meters. A two-time All-MEAC Player of the Year and Coppin State Male Athlete of the Year (1990, 1991), Larry Stewart set his mark on the Coppin State men's basketball records books shortly after setting foot on the campus in Baltimore, Md. Stewart led the Eagles to two MEAC regular season basketball titles, one tournament title and a 39-9 MEAC record during his three-year career at Coppin State. Stewart is the Eagles all-time rebounder with 1,052 career rebounds, and is second all-time in scoring with 1,824 points. In 1990, Stewart led the Coppin State to its first NCAA tournament berth. The following season, he received the 1991 John B. McLendon Trophy as the top player at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU), after averaging 23.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, while leading the Eagles to an NIT berth. Stewart averaged 20.0 points and 11.6 rebounds in his career at Coppin State. Stewart left Coppin State after the 1991 season and in 1992 as member of the Washington Bullets, he became the first undrafted player to earn NBA All-Rookie honors. In 1994 Stewart's jersey was retired, becoming the first and only Coppin State athlete to have his jersey retired. The late Robert "Jet" Johnson began his coaching career at South Carolina State in 1973 until 1991, serving as the school's men and women's Track and Field coach, and as an assistant coach on the Football staff. During his coaching tenure, Johnson became one of the most successful coaches in the history of the MEAC and S.C. State, as he amassed over 20 Coach of the Year honors and 24 conference championships. In track and field, Johnson won 10 MEAC men's Outdoor Championships, six (6) women's Outdoor Championships, and five (5) men's Indoor Track and Field Championships. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment came in 1982, when he guided his track team to the AIAW Division II national title. As an assistant football coach under Willie Jeffries, Johnson helped the Bulldogs to over 50 wins, five MEAC titles and five post-season appearances. Johnson was also an assistant under the late Bill Davis, who guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1981 and 1982. A Benedict College graduate, Johnson was inducted into the Benedict Hall of Fame in 1989 and the South Carolina State Hall of Fame, posthumously in 1998. Veteran conference administrator Brenda H. McCoy has been a major part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's growth and success since 1974. McCoy, currently serving as Director of Championships, is in her 30th year with the MEAC, having held several positions within the conference including Assistant to the Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator. McCoy also served as the interim Commissioner in 1996 and 2002, after the departures of former Commissioners Kenneth Free and Charles Harris. McCoy's major area of focus is in the coordination of the MEAC's annual sports championships, league meetings and special projects. It has been her untiring efforts, allegiance and persistency as a staunch believer that, "It can be done." McCoy has served on several NCAA committees and committees within the conference structure. Along with innovative associates, she played an integral role in the birth of the Bicentennial Bowl (matching the CIAA and MEAC Football Champions), which is presently known as the Gold Bowl, the Freedom Bowl All-Star Classic and the Heritage Bowl. The Heritage Bowl was the first and only NCAA Division I-AA sanctioned post-season game. Portions of this story appear courtesy of the MEAC Media Relations Office. View the Offical MEAC release here View the MEAC's Hall of Fame Page here View the Official Invitation to the MEAC Hall of Fame Induction Program here
HAWK HALL OF FAME NOMINEES HIGHLIGHTS, PART TWO THIRTY-TWO FORMER-HAWKS NOMINATED FOR 2004 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION, PART ONE OF HIGHLIGHTING SERIES
Hall of Fame
Nominees for 2004 Induction Charles Bryant N.I.T. Basketball Team Jack Bryant Basketball Granville Cannon N.I.T. Basketball Team Michael Casey N.I.T. Basketball Team Rubin Collins N.I.T. Basketball Team Ian Dailey Track Leslie "Shakey" Donaldson Football Ralph Esquillen Football Alan Faulks Basketball Anthony Ferguson N.I.T. Basketball
Team Doug Goodwin Football Billy Gordon N.I.T. Basketball Team Kim Hall Baseball/Basketball Kirkland Hall Baseball/Basketball Gordon Harris (deceased) Football/Basketball Tyrone Johnson (deceased) N.I.T. Basketball Team James LeSane Football Howard Lindsay Track Rodney Massey N.I.T. Basketball Team Frank Mowery Basketball Ernie Neal N.I.T. Basketball Tommy Nelson (deceased) N.I.T.
Basketball Team Joe Pace N.I.T.
Basketball Team Robin Petitt Softball/Basketball Cedric Roane N.I.T. Basketball Team Paul Shuford Football Kenny Simmons Basketball Talvin Skinner N.I.T. Basketball Team Ira `Dude' Smith Baseball Leslie Stanton N.I.T. Basketball Team Willie Vanderhorst N.I.T. Basketball
Team Jesse Williams Basketball |
