Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club to Induct Five into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame
9/15/2016 11:00:00 AM | Baseball, Football, Softball, Men's Track & Field, Wrestling, General, E-Club
Ceremony will be held Friday, Oct. 28, in the atrium of the Convocation Center
Click Here to Register Online.
Download the Invitation (PDF).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, has announced the addition of five new members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2016 will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony Friday, Oct. 28, in the atrium of the Convocation Center.
The Class of 2016 includes: Steve Brown (wrestling), Lional Dalton (football), Connie Miner (softball coach), Fabian Rollins (men's track & field) and Greg Ryan (baseball).
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the E-Club will present Robin Baun with the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was first presented at the 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony to Oestrike. The award is voted on by the E-Club Executive Board and is presented to individuals that have been instrumental in assisting the E-Club.
This year's class will mark the 41st anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center followed by the ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. The Class of 2016 will then be recognized during the EMU football game on Saturday, Oct. 29, against Miami University.
Reservations are $45 and include the evening reception and ceremony as well as a plated dinner and beverages. To register online using a credit card please visit emich.edu/alumni and click on event registration. For questions please call the Office for Alumni Relations at 734.487.0250.
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2016 inductees follow below...
Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2016 Biographies
Download the Invitation (PDF).
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, has announced the addition of five new members into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2016 will be honored at the Hall of Fame ceremony Friday, Oct. 28, in the atrium of the Convocation Center.
The Class of 2016 includes: Steve Brown (wrestling), Lional Dalton (football), Connie Miner (softball coach), Fabian Rollins (men's track & field) and Greg Ryan (baseball).
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, the E-Club will present Robin Baun with the Ron Oestrike Distinguished Service Award. The award, named after former EMU baseball-coaching legend Ron Oestrike, was first presented at the 2008 Hall of Fame ceremony to Oestrike. The award is voted on by the E-Club Executive Board and is presented to individuals that have been instrumental in assisting the E-Club.
This year's class will mark the 41st anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center followed by the ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. The Class of 2016 will then be recognized during the EMU football game on Saturday, Oct. 29, against Miami University.
Reservations are $45 and include the evening reception and ceremony as well as a plated dinner and beverages. To register online using a credit card please visit emich.edu/alumni and click on event registration. For questions please call the Office for Alumni Relations at 734.487.0250.
The biographies for the Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2016 inductees follow below...
Eastern Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame 2016 Biographies
STEVE BROWN
Wrestling…Earned four letters in wrestling from 1983-1986, 1987-1988…Three-time Mid-American Conference Individual Champion in 1984, 1986, and 1988, and was runner-up in 1985…Only wrestler in program history to win three MAC Championships…Part of an elite group of just 54 wrestlers in MAC history to win three or more championships…Four-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988…First EMU wrestler in program history to be named MAC Outstanding Championship Wrestler (1988)…Is one of four student-athletes in school history to be named MAC Wrestler of the Year…Leads the EMU record books in career wins (117), career points scored (514.50), career near falls (134), career reversals (54), near falls in a season (55 in 1986), and points scored in a season (186.50 in 1986)…Also ranks third in the EMU record books for single season take downs (97 in 1986), third in single season wins (41 in 1986), fifth (133.50 in 1988) and eighth (117.50 in 1985) for single season points, fourth in career take downs (256), and fifth in career escapes (120).
Wrestling…Earned four letters in wrestling from 1983-1986, 1987-1988…Three-time Mid-American Conference Individual Champion in 1984, 1986, and 1988, and was runner-up in 1985…Only wrestler in program history to win three MAC Championships…Part of an elite group of just 54 wrestlers in MAC history to win three or more championships…Four-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1988…First EMU wrestler in program history to be named MAC Outstanding Championship Wrestler (1988)…Is one of four student-athletes in school history to be named MAC Wrestler of the Year…Leads the EMU record books in career wins (117), career points scored (514.50), career near falls (134), career reversals (54), near falls in a season (55 in 1986), and points scored in a season (186.50 in 1986)…Also ranks third in the EMU record books for single season take downs (97 in 1986), third in single season wins (41 in 1986), fifth (133.50 in 1988) and eighth (117.50 in 1985) for single season points, fourth in career take downs (256), and fifth in career escapes (120).
LIONAL DALTON
Football: Nicknamed Jelly Roll...Earned three letters in football and one letter in track from 1995-1997…Started three seasons for EMU as a defensive lineman…Two-time Mid-American Conference First Team Selection in 1996 and 1997…Served as a team captain in 1997…Awarded the John E. Borowiec, Most Valuable Defensive Player Award in 1997…Chosen to play in the post season Hula Bowl after his senior season…Finished his collegiate career with 116 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles…Played nine years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens (1998-2001), Denver Broncos (2002), Washington Redskins (2003), Kansas City Chiefs (2004-2006) and the Houston Texans (2006)…Earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens…One of 15 players to receive the Unsung Athlete Award at the 2001 Super Bowl…Earned the NFL's Phil Sims Iron Man Award in 2002…Played in a total of 120 games in the NFL and started on the defensive line 53 times…Finished his NFL career with nine sacks, 110 tackles - 30 tackles-for-loss and three forced fumbles
Football: Nicknamed Jelly Roll...Earned three letters in football and one letter in track from 1995-1997…Started three seasons for EMU as a defensive lineman…Two-time Mid-American Conference First Team Selection in 1996 and 1997…Served as a team captain in 1997…Awarded the John E. Borowiec, Most Valuable Defensive Player Award in 1997…Chosen to play in the post season Hula Bowl after his senior season…Finished his collegiate career with 116 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles…Played nine years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens (1998-2001), Denver Broncos (2002), Washington Redskins (2003), Kansas City Chiefs (2004-2006) and the Houston Texans (2006)…Earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens…One of 15 players to receive the Unsung Athlete Award at the 2001 Super Bowl…Earned the NFL's Phil Sims Iron Man Award in 2002…Played in a total of 120 games in the NFL and started on the defensive line 53 times…Finished his NFL career with nine sacks, 110 tackles - 30 tackles-for-loss and three forced fumbles
CONNIE MINER
Softball: Head Softball Coach from 1987-1996…Finished as EMU's all-time leader in wins with a 269-254-2 record over nine seasons…Led the team to a pair of runner-up Mid-American Conference finishes in 1988 and 1990 while earning Mideast Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1988…Teams collected regional rankings in 1988, 90, 91 and 94 with the 88 and 91 squads being nationally ranked…Under her tutelage, Melissa (Drouillard) Bater was named MAC Player of the Year in 1996 while Angie Fielder earned All-American honors in 1988…In addition, Miner had nine Mideast regional selections, 18 All-MAC selections and 22 Academic All-MAC selections…Coached many EMU Hall of Fame athletes including: Nanette Push, Angie Fielder, Melissa (Drouillard) Bater (also was inducted into the Metro Detroit ASA Softball Hall of Fame), Sara Seegers, Marci Kelley, Dawn (Godfrey) Heck, and Linda Milholland…Currently, serves as the head softball coach at Oakland University leading the Golden Grizzlies to the program's first Horizon League regular season and tournament title in 2015 and going on to NCAA postseason play…Also served as head coach at UC Riverside (2004-12) and San Jose State (1997-00) along with assistant head coaching duties at North Carolina (2002-03) and UC Riverside (2000-2002).
Softball: Head Softball Coach from 1987-1996…Finished as EMU's all-time leader in wins with a 269-254-2 record over nine seasons…Led the team to a pair of runner-up Mid-American Conference finishes in 1988 and 1990 while earning Mideast Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1988…Teams collected regional rankings in 1988, 90, 91 and 94 with the 88 and 91 squads being nationally ranked…Under her tutelage, Melissa (Drouillard) Bater was named MAC Player of the Year in 1996 while Angie Fielder earned All-American honors in 1988…In addition, Miner had nine Mideast regional selections, 18 All-MAC selections and 22 Academic All-MAC selections…Coached many EMU Hall of Fame athletes including: Nanette Push, Angie Fielder, Melissa (Drouillard) Bater (also was inducted into the Metro Detroit ASA Softball Hall of Fame), Sara Seegers, Marci Kelley, Dawn (Godfrey) Heck, and Linda Milholland…Currently, serves as the head softball coach at Oakland University leading the Golden Grizzlies to the program's first Horizon League regular season and tournament title in 2015 and going on to NCAA postseason play…Also served as head coach at UC Riverside (2004-12) and San Jose State (1997-00) along with assistant head coaching duties at North Carolina (2002-03) and UC Riverside (2000-2002).
FABIAN ROLLINS
Men's Track and Field: Graduated in 1999 and 2003…Earned several letters in Men's Track and Field…Posted a 46.50 in the 400m (outdoors) and 46.52 (indoors), seventh and fifth respectively, on the EMU all-time lists…Member of six Mid-American Conference Championship relay teams…Notched an incredible number of MAC runner-up finishes, and placed twice in the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 400m…Claimed All-American status twice (1997 distance medley and 1998 400m dash)…Ran the 400m hurdles infrequently, but had a time of 53.56, which is in the top-25 of EMU's all-time list...Placed several times at the MAC Championships in the 200m, running 21.25, which is also in the top-25…Ran on two MAC Championship 4x400m relay teams…Ran in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia on Barbados' 4x100 relay team and in the 400m.
Men's Track and Field: Graduated in 1999 and 2003…Earned several letters in Men's Track and Field…Posted a 46.50 in the 400m (outdoors) and 46.52 (indoors), seventh and fifth respectively, on the EMU all-time lists…Member of six Mid-American Conference Championship relay teams…Notched an incredible number of MAC runner-up finishes, and placed twice in the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 400m…Claimed All-American status twice (1997 distance medley and 1998 400m dash)…Ran the 400m hurdles infrequently, but had a time of 53.56, which is in the top-25 of EMU's all-time list...Placed several times at the MAC Championships in the 200m, running 21.25, which is also in the top-25…Ran on two MAC Championship 4x400m relay teams…Ran in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia on Barbados' 4x100 relay team and in the 400m.
GREG RYAN
Baseball: Graduated in 2000…Earned three letters in baseball from 1996-1998…Awarded EMU's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997…Named to the Mid-American Conference All-Academic Team in 1997…Lead the MAC in batting average with .447 in 1997…All-MAC First Team Selection in 1997…First EMU baseball player to achieve MAC Player of the Year (1997)…Earned NCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors in 1997…Ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with .447 batting average in 1997…Leads the EMU records books for a single season in doubles with 25 (1997) and second best in single season batting average with .447 (1997)…Ranks in the top 10 all-time EMU single season records for hits (88 in 1997), runs scored (56 in 1997), and doubles (18 in 1996)…Finished career in the top 10 all-time records for batting average (.370 ), doubles (59) and runs scored (152)…Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 51st round of the 1995 MLB June Amateur Draft from Divine Child High School (Dearborn, Mich.) and by the Texas Rangers in the 39th round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft from EMU.
Baseball: Graduated in 2000…Earned three letters in baseball from 1996-1998…Awarded EMU's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997…Named to the Mid-American Conference All-Academic Team in 1997…Lead the MAC in batting average with .447 in 1997…All-MAC First Team Selection in 1997…First EMU baseball player to achieve MAC Player of the Year (1997)…Earned NCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors in 1997…Ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with .447 batting average in 1997…Leads the EMU records books for a single season in doubles with 25 (1997) and second best in single season batting average with .447 (1997)…Ranks in the top 10 all-time EMU single season records for hits (88 in 1997), runs scored (56 in 1997), and doubles (18 in 1996)…Finished career in the top 10 all-time records for batting average (.370 ), doubles (59) and runs scored (152)…Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 51st round of the 1995 MLB June Amateur Draft from Divine Child High School (Dearborn, Mich.) and by the Texas Rangers in the 39th round of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft from EMU.
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