Greek News
Four Greeks Chosen for PFRA’s Hall of Very Good
The Professional Football Researchers Association has announced the selection of 10 former pro stars to join their Hall of Very Good, which honors outstanding players who have not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The newest PFRA class include four men who became members of NIC member fraternities: longtime NFL head coach Don Coryell, a member of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Washington; two-way lineman Gover "Ox" Emerson, a member of Delta Chi at the University of Texas; former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Bob Gain, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Kentucky; and Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Ken Riley, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha at Florida A&M.
Sigma Chi Great Earns College Baseball Hall of Fame Selection
The College Baseball Foundation has announced the 2011 class for induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. Included among the seven men to be inducted is shortstop Dick Groat, a member of Sigma Chi at Duke University who was a two-time All-American selection in 1951-52 for the Blue Devils. A two sport star, he also earned All-American honors in basketball twice before playing 14 seasons in the major leagues. The induction ceremony will take place in Lubbock on July 3rd.
Two Greek Greats From the Past Are Basketball Hall of Fame Finalists
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame recently announced their 2011 finalists for induction. Dick Motta, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha from Utah State University, had a career in the National Basketball Association that spanned 25 years and he ranks among the all-time top ten in coaching victories. His teams were the Chicago Bulls (1969-1976), Washington Bullets (1977-80), Dallas Mavericks (1981-87, 1995-96), Sacramento Kings (1990-92) and Denver Nuggets (1997). The other Greek finalist is Morice "Tex" Winter, a Sigma Nu from Oregon State University who later played at USC. His college head coaching stints included Marquette (1951-53), Kansas State (1953-68) and Washington (1968-1971), Northwestern (1973-78) and Long Beach State (1978-1983). He was also head coach of the NBA Houston Rockets (1971-73) and assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls (1985-98) and Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2008). The 2011 induction class will be announced on April 4th before the NCAA championship game.
NIC All-Fraternity Basketball Team - Watch List
With the 2011 college basketball season heading toward the Final Four, the NIC is taking nominations for its annual All-Fraternity All-American Team. Check out who has already been nominated via this link.
Texas Tech Delt Mike Kunstadt Featured in Wall Street Journal Story
The February 16th edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled "How Texas Basketball Rose From the Dust", with a sub heading "Thriving College Teams Should Thank Mr. Kunstadt". The feature references Mike Kunstadt(Texas Tech University, 1964), who has been a leading expert on high school basketball talent for many years and is a past president of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He is the founder and president of TexasHoops.com, which provides statewide rankings of leading boy and girl players in the state and is highly respected by college coaches across the nation. The newspaper story describes how men's and women's collegiate teams in Texas are now highly ranked and that the state is leading the way with the most top prospects from any state. The February 16th story says Kunstadt, as far back as 1984, started urging that Texas high schoolers be permitted to enhance their development by playing in summer basketball leagues and camps, as allowed in other states. Eventually, the University Interscholastic League of Texas heeded Kunstadt's proposal and, today, more than 200 Texas recruits each year receive NCAA college basketball scholarships. Many of the most talented players are choosing to stay in their home state, which has elevated the overall caliber of play in the Southwest.
Sigma Chi Director Shadyac on the Comeback Trail
The February 18th issue of Entertainment Weekly features a four page story on famed motion picture director Tom Shadyac, a member of Sigma Chi from the University of Virginia, titled "What Ever Happened to Tom Shadyac?". After directing major films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty, he was in a 2007 bicycle accident which led to multiple physical complications and changes in his life. Shadyac recently returned to film making and his documentary, I Am, will be shown in selected theaters on February 18th.
Beta’s Marino Has Second Big Finish on 2011 PGA Tour
Less than a month after tying for second at the Sony Open, University of Virginia Beta Theta Pi Steve Marino has earned another big payday on the PGA Tour. At the PGA Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California, he tied for fourth place and won $277,200, running his two tourney total to more than $761,000.
Two Greeks Win Top Honors at the Grammy Awards
Charles Kelley, a Lambda Chi Alpha from Georgia, and his group, Lady Antebellum, were among the big winners at Sunday night's Grammy Awards telecast from Los Angeles. He was one of four writers on "Need You Now", which won Grammys for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Country Performance by a Duo or Group. Jon Stewart, a Pi Kappa Alpha from William & Mary, won the Spoken Word Album Grammy for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook).
Phi Gam Les Richter Chosen for Pro Football Hall of Fame
Greeks Involved With Super Bowl Teams
Sunday's 45th Super Bowl Game in Arlington, Texas will see Greek executives, players and coaches on both sides of the field. Serving as President/CEO of the Green Bay Packers is former NFL player Mark Murphy, a Theta Chi from Colgate. The Packers' defensive coordinator is Dom Capers, a member of Alpha Tau Omega from Mount Union, while the club's offensive coordinator is Joe Philbin, a Lambda Chi Alpha from Washington & Jefferson. Two additional Packers coaches are members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Jimmy Robinson from Georgia Tech and Dave Redding from Nebraska. Starters on offense for the Packers are wide receiver Donald Driver, an Alpha Phi Alpha from Alcorn State, and offensive tackle Chad Clifton, a Pi Kappa Alpha from Tennesse-Martin. Seeking his second Super Bowl championship is Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi from William & Mary. On his coaching staff is running backs coach Kirby Wilson, an Iota Phi Theta from Illinois. Players on the Steelers squad are quarterback Charlie Batch, a Phi Beta Sigma from Eastern Michigan; offensive tackleMax Starks, an Alpha Phi Alpha from Florida; and wide receiver Hines Ward, a Phi Beta Sigma from Georgia.
