Liberty Set to Start Athletics Hall of Fame
1/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Liberty University Director of Athletics Jeff Barber has announced that the Athletics Department will be starting a Hall of Fame this year, with the inaugural class set to be inducted on Sept. 26, 2009.
"Liberty athletics is replete with outstanding individuals who, through great service, commitment and effort, have participated in the foundation and ever-growing success that has allowed us to be the Division I athletics program we are today," stated Barber. "It is time to recognize these student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other key individuals who have contributed so much to this great University."
The class will be honored during Hall of Fame Weekend and officially inducted at a special halftime ceremony during Liberty's football match-up with James Madison at Williams Stadium.
Nearly as old as the University itself, Liberty's Athletics Department fielded its first athletics team in 1972, when Dan Manley guided a junior varsity men's basketball team to a 7-1 record. Football followed the next fall, with Lee "Rock" Royer coaching the Flames to a 3-3 mark.
The Athletics Department has quickly grown over the past four decades, moving from its affiliation with the National Christian College Athletics Association during its infancy, to gaining full-time NCAA Division I status on Sept. 1, 1988.
On July 1, 1991, Liberty joined the Big South Conference and has since dominated the league, capturing 85 conference championships and six Big South Sasser Cup awards.
The Athletics Department Hall of Fame committee, comprised of nine members from the University and Athletics Department, will be looking to honor those who have stood out from among the rest during the last 37 years, helping the Flames quickly join the highest level of intercollegiate athletics competition.
The committee is comprised of the following members: Kevin Keys, Associate Athletics Director – External Operations, who chairs the committee; Mickey Guridy, Senior Associate Athletics Director; Meredith Eaker, Senior Woman Administrator; Bob Good, Assistant Athletics Director for Development; Todd Wetmore, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications; Dr. Bill Gribbin, Faculty Athletics Representative; Brenda Bonheim, former Women's Basketball/Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator; Dr. Linda Farver, Liberty Kinesiology professor and former Women's Basketball Coach; Ed Gomes, Football Director of Spiritual Development and former Liberty basketball player.
The committee had its first planning meeting in November and is currently finalizing the Hall of Fame constitution and selection process, which will begin with open balloting from the general public in February. At that time, an official nominating ballot will be made available on LibertyFlames.com, the Athletics Department's official web site, with guidelines for submission.
The Hall of Fame committee will then narrow the pool of nominations down during several rounds of voting during the spring, with an announcement of the inaugural class set for May.
"Liberty athletics is replete with outstanding individuals who, through great service, commitment and effort, have participated in the foundation and ever-growing success that has allowed us to be the Division I athletics program we are today," stated Barber. "It is time to recognize these student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other key individuals who have contributed so much to this great University."
The class will be honored during Hall of Fame Weekend and officially inducted at a special halftime ceremony during Liberty's football match-up with James Madison at Williams Stadium.
Nearly as old as the University itself, Liberty's Athletics Department fielded its first athletics team in 1972, when Dan Manley guided a junior varsity men's basketball team to a 7-1 record. Football followed the next fall, with Lee "Rock" Royer coaching the Flames to a 3-3 mark.
The Athletics Department has quickly grown over the past four decades, moving from its affiliation with the National Christian College Athletics Association during its infancy, to gaining full-time NCAA Division I status on Sept. 1, 1988.
On July 1, 1991, Liberty joined the Big South Conference and has since dominated the league, capturing 85 conference championships and six Big South Sasser Cup awards.
The Athletics Department Hall of Fame committee, comprised of nine members from the University and Athletics Department, will be looking to honor those who have stood out from among the rest during the last 37 years, helping the Flames quickly join the highest level of intercollegiate athletics competition.
The committee is comprised of the following members: Kevin Keys, Associate Athletics Director – External Operations, who chairs the committee; Mickey Guridy, Senior Associate Athletics Director; Meredith Eaker, Senior Woman Administrator; Bob Good, Assistant Athletics Director for Development; Todd Wetmore, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications; Dr. Bill Gribbin, Faculty Athletics Representative; Brenda Bonheim, former Women's Basketball/Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator; Dr. Linda Farver, Liberty Kinesiology professor and former Women's Basketball Coach; Ed Gomes, Football Director of Spiritual Development and former Liberty basketball player.
The committee had its first planning meeting in November and is currently finalizing the Hall of Fame constitution and selection process, which will begin with open balloting from the general public in February. At that time, an official nominating ballot will be made available on LibertyFlames.com, the Athletics Department's official web site, with guidelines for submission.
The Hall of Fame committee will then narrow the pool of nominations down during several rounds of voting during the spring, with an announcement of the inaugural class set for May.
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