Greek News
Phi Gam’s Seth Meyers to Become Host of NBC’s Late Night in 2014
NBC-TV has announced that 12 year Saturday Night Live comedian and head writer Seth Meyers (Phi Gamma Delta at Northwestern University) will replace Jimmy Fallon as host of Late Night on February 24, 2014 when Fallon replaces Jay Leno on the Tonight show. Meyers will stay on as SNL's head writer and news anchor through the fall 2013 season.
Two Greeks Chosen for the College Baseball Hall of Fame
The College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas announced its 2013 induction class and two alumni from NIC member fraternities have been selected. Third baseman Sal Bando (Phi Gamma Delta at Arizona State University) led the Sun Devils to two College World Series appearances and was named Most Valuable Player at the 1965 CWS tournament. Following a stellar big league career, he was named to the College World Series Legends Team in 2010. John Winkin (Sigma Chi at Duke University) was head coach at three schools and, during 22 years at Maine, led his club to six CWS tournaments and was National Head Coach in 1965. He won the Lefty Grove Award for contributions to the game and the ECAC Distinguished Achievement Award. Winkin came out of retirement to serve as head coach at Husson College where he recorded his 1,000th career victory. The College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Lubbock in early July.
The NFL Draft and Beyond
Only a few Greeks were selected in the recent National Football League college player draft but several other Greeks signed free agent contracts within two weeks after the draft's three day event ended. The 16th player selected was quarterback EJ Manuel (Pi Kappa Alpha at Florida State), who was picked by the Buffalo Bills. A surprise first round pick offensive lineman Kyle Long (Pi Kappa Alpha at Florida State), who played last season at Oregon, was the 20th player drafted. He was selected by the Chicago Bears. The only other Greek draftee we're aware of was Nick Moody (Pi Kappa Alpha at Florida State), a sixth round selection by the San Francisco 49ers. Free agents who signed with NFL clubs after the draft included fullback Lonnie Pryor (Pi Kappa Alpha at Florida State) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, kicker Spencer Benton (Kappa Alpha Order at Clemson), wide receiver Ryan Spadola (Chi Psi at Lehigh), quarterback Mike Hermann (Theta Chi at R.P.I.) with the San Diego Chargers and punter Scott Lopano (Delta Tau Delta at Pennsylvania) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If other Greeks from NIC member fraternities were drafted or signed as free agents, please notify the NIC so their names can be added.
Delta Sigma Phi’s Streelman Ties for Second at The Players Championship
Kevin Streelman (Delta Sigma Phi from Duke University) continued his excellent play this spring by tying two other golfers for second place at The Players Championship, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He shot a four round total of 277 and won $709,333, which elevated him to third place among money winners on the 2013 PGA Tour.
George Pyne of Theta Delta Chi to Become First Inductee into new NFF Leadership Hall of Fame
The National Football Foundation has announced the creation of the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame which will recognize individuals who have led their organizations to the highest levels of success and share a passion for the NFFs mission of building leaders through football. The first inductee will be George Pyne (Theta Delta Chi at Brown University), IMG Worldwide's President of Sports and Entertainment. The selection of Pyne as the first inductee was announced by NFF chairman Archie Manning (Sigma Nu at University of Mississippi). A former captain of the football team at Brown, Pyne spent 11 years as Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR before going to IMG Worldwide. Under his leadership, IMG entered the collegiate business in May of 2007 with the acquisition of the Collegiate Licensing Company and subsequent purchases of Host Communications and ISP. Pyne will be officially inducted into the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame at an event at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on September 10th.
USA Today Features Lambda Chi Alpha’s Charley Trippi as the Oldest Living Number One Draft Pick
The front page feature story in USA Today spotlighted Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Trippi (Lambda Chi Alpha at University of Georgia), who is now 91 and the oldest living former number one draft choice of the National Football League. The former All-American halfback was drafted first by the Chicago Cardinals in 1945 after getting out of the service. But he returned to Georgia for the 1946 season, won the Maxwell Award and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. As a 26-year old NFL rookie, he led Chicago to the 1947 NFL championship and was an All-NFL selection. Trippi played nine seasons with the Cardinals and coached briefly before having a successful career in real estate. The NFL begins its modern-day draft spectacular on Thursday night, April 24th, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Two Greeks Tie for Third at PGA’s RBC Heritage Event
At Hilton Head, South Carolina over the weekend, two alumni from NIC member fraternities, Luke Donald (Sigma Chi at Northwestern University) and Kevin Streelman (Delta Sigma Phi at Duke University), each won $336,400 for a third place tie at the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage tournament. Both had four round totals of 277, seven strokes under par.
Two Greek Coaching Greats Chosen for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2013 induction class on April 8th and two of college basketball's coaching greats were named for induction. For Rick Pitino (Lambda Chi Alpha from Massachusets-Amhest), the last 10 days have been great. He became the first head coach to ever win an NCAA national championship at two schools (Kentucky in 1996 and Louisville in 2013); his son was named head coach at Minnesota; and he was chosen for the Hall. After 28 seasons as a head coach, his career mark is now 664-239. Also selected was Guy V. Lewis (Sigma Nu from Houston), who led his Houston Cougars squad to 592 victories and five Final Four appearances over 30 seasons (1957-86). The induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 8th, in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Announcing the 2013 All-Fraternity All-American Basketball Team
The North-American Interfraternity Conference is pleased to announce its annual All-Fraternity All-American Basketball Team made up of players from all NCAA Divisions and the NAIA. Our Coach of the Year (for the second straight season) is Rick Pitino of Lambda Chi Alpha, who led his 35-5 Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA championship. Nominations of standout players and coaches came from fraternity headquarters, Greek advisors, sports information directors, Greek alumni and undergraduates.
The selection committee included Greek sports enthusiasts Jay Langhammer (Delta Tau Delta), Jon Williamson (Lambda Chi Alpha), Charlie Barnes (Pi Kappa Alpha) and Bill Simpson (Theta Chi).
Click here to review the 2013 All-Fraternity All-American Basketball Team.
Two Greek Golfers Among the Leaders at the Brazil Open
At the Web.Com Tour's Brazil Open this past weekend, Wes Roach (Kappa Alpha Order from Duke) placed fifth with a four round total of 269, including a third round 63. Scott Dunlap (Delta Tau Delta from Florida) tied for sixth with a 271 total, including a best of 65. Roach won $27,000 while Dunlap earned $21,853.
