Hall of Fame and other things

The JSU Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are Friday night, and three Hall members will be on hand to personally enshrine the new class.

The Class of 2005-06 class includes Tracy Linton, the Gamecocks' all-time leading rebounder in women's basketball; record-setting pitcher Craig Holman; former quarterback David Gulledge; and All-American defensive back Terry Harris.

Legendary JSU football coach Bill Burgess (Class of 2002-03) will introduce Gulledge, equally legendary baseball coach Rudy Abbott (Class of 2000-01) will introduce Holman; former women's basketball coach Dana Austin (Class of 2004-05) will introduce Linton; and former JSU letterman and assistant coach Ray Emanuel will introduce Harris.

Abbott will be doing double duty at the ceremonies. Besides introducing Holman, he also will be presenting the inaugural Jimmy Bryan Award for lifetime achievement to Glenn Hawkins and Dr. Sam Crawford. Hawkins is a longtime high school official and JSU clock operator. Crawford was a longtime team doctor.


Honored again

Junior return specialist Maurice Dupree was named OVC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after his performance Saturday against Samford.

Dupree finished with 201 all-purpose yards and one touchdown. He scored on a 24-yard reverse as the Gamecocks reverted to some razzle-dazzle to get their offense going and he returned five kicks for 164 yards.

His kickoff return in the fourth quarter was the play of the game. Although it didn't go for a touchdown, it did go for 86 yards to the Samford 8. Two plays later, Shawn Green scored the clinching touchdown.

Dupree was shaken up on the kickoff return and didn't return to the game.

Dupree ranks third nationally in kickoff returns (33.4 yards per return) and fourth in punt returns (13.9). The Gamecocks are second as a team in kickoff returns.



Yellow Hammered

Tennessee Tech has to be glad Samford is getting out of the OVC and Auburn isn’t a regular non-conference opponent.

Together with JSU, the three Alabama teams proved a brutal gauntlet to the Golden Eagles.
Tech played them in three consecutive weeks, taking three losses, giving up 132 total points and 1,445 combined yards.