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December 2021
The Sports Ledger
The Board of Directors of the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the Class of 2022 to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on May 7, 2022. The Class was selected by ballot through a statewide selection committee; votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The newly elected inductees for the Class of 2022 include: DOYLE ALEXANDER, WILLIAMANDREWS, KEITH ASKINS, RUSTY GREER, PATRICK MURPHY, JAKE PEAVY, PHILIP RIVERS, and JUSTIN TUCK Six of the eight to be inducted attended AHSAA member high schools, including Athens High School graduate and former NFL all-star quarterback Philip Rivers, who is currently the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic School in Fairhope. All six selections with AHSAA member school ties were standout at the pro level with Doyle Alexander (Woodlawn HS), Rusty Greer (Albertville HS), and Jake Peavy (St. Paul’s Episcopal) having outstanding careers in major league baseball; Rivers (Athens) and Justin Tuck (Central Coosa) having all-pro careers in the NFL; and Keith Askins, also of Athens High School, who has spent numerous years playing and coaching in the NBA. The other two selectees are formerAuburn University and NFLstandoutWilliamAndrews, from Thomasville (GA), and Patrick Murphy, University of Alabama softball coach who was born in Waterloo, Iowa. He led the Tide to its first CWS National championship. Starting with the first class in 1969, this will be the 54th Class inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The eight newly elected inductees will bring the total number of inductees to 385. The 54th Annual Induction Banquet and Ceremony will be held in the Birmingham Ballroom, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, on May 7, 2022. For more info or to purchase tickets, please contact the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum at (205) 323-6665. CLASS OF 2022 BIOGRAPHIES DOYLE ALEXANDER - BASEBALL | Born September 4, 1950 in Cordova, AL. Over his 19-year MLB career, Alexander played for the Dodgers, Orioles, Yankees, Rangers, Braves, Giants, Blue Jays, and Tigers. Drafted by the Dodgers in 1968, he debuted with the team on June 26, 1971. In 1976, he helped the Yankees win the AL East division and pitched game one of the World Series. In 1984, he led the AL with a .739 winning percentage. He was traded from Atlanta to Detroit during the 1987 season. After the trade, he went 9-0 with a 1.57 ERA and helped the Tigers secure a division title. The next season he was elected to the ALAll-Star team. He finished his career with a 194-174 record, 3.76 ERA, and 1,528 strikeouts. WILLIAM ANDREWS - FOOTBALL | Born December 25, 1955 in Thomasville, GA. Andrews played football at Auburn University from 1976-1978 where he amassed over 1,000 yards rushing. He was drafted in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons with the 79th pick. He played with the Falcons from 1979-1986 and his career started with a bang as he tallied 167 rushing yards in his first NFL game. Andrews broke 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie and was named on the All-Rookie team. In 1981, Andrews led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage and also scored 12 touchdowns. In 1983, Andrews continued to dominate with 1,567 rushing yards and 2,176 scrimmage yards, second in both categories that year. Andrews was selected to the Pro Bowl four times from 1980-1983 and was named first-team All-Pro in 1983 after receiving the honor of second team All-Pro in 1981 and 1982. In total, Andrews amassed 5,986 career rushing yards which was 24th all time at his retirement. KEITHASKINS - BASKETBALL | Born December 15, 1967 in Athens, AL. Askins played forward for the University of Alabama from the 1986-87 to 1989-90 seasons. In 1989, he was named first-team All-SEC Tournament. Askins was a member of three SEC Tournament champion teams and reached the Sweet Sixteen twice. He signed with the Miami Heat in 1990 as an undrafted free agent. He played nine seasons as a reserve and defensive specialist with the Heat. Askins served as a captain for the Heat for four consecutive seasons from 1995-99 and won the team’s leadership award in both the 1994- 95 and 1995-96 seasons. He retired from playing in 1999 with career totals of 1,852 points and 1,428 rebounds. Immediately after retiring, he joined the Heat’s coaching staff as an assistant for Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra where the team won three championships. After 14 years on the Heat coaching staff, he became the organization’s director of college and pro scouting. RUSTY GREER - BASEBALL | Born January 21, 1969 in Fort Rucker, AL. Greer graduated fromAlbertville High School and played baseball at the University of Montevallo. The Texas Rangers drafted him 279th overall in the tenth round of the 1990 MLB Draft. On May 16, 1994 he made his MLB Debut versus the Oakland Athletics. He hit a home run in his second at-bat. In 1996, he had one of the best seasons of his career, batting .332 (fifth in the American League) and recording his first of three 100-RBI seasons. The next season he finished seventh in the AL with a .321 batting average and hit a career high 26 home runs. For his career, he had a .305 batting average and a slugging percentage of .478. Greer spent his entire 15-year career in the Rangers organization. In 2007, he was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. PATRICK MURPHY - SOFTBALL – COACHING | Born November 28, 1965 in Waterloo, IA. Murphy began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Louisiana- Lafayette in 1990. He was hired as an assistant at the University of Alabama in 1996. He was named head coach at Alabama in 1999, taking the team to its first Women’s College World Series in 2000. In 2012, Murphy led Alabama to its first National Title and the first in SEC history. Under Coach Murphy, the Crimson Tide have appeared in 13 Women’s College World Series, won six regular season championships, and won five SEC Tournament Championships. Since Murphy became head coach in 1999, Alabama has made the NCAA Tournament every year. He is a five-time SEC Coach of the Year and his staff has won a NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award and 11 NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year awards. JAKE PEAVY - BASEBALL | Born May 31, 1981 in Mobile, AL. Peavy was drafted out of St. Paul’s Episcopal School by the San Diego Padres in the 15th round as the 472nd pick of the 1999 MLB Draft. He was called up to the major leagues in 2002 where he pitched for the Padres from 2002-2009, before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2009. Peavy played five seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2013. In 2014, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants where he eventually retired in 2016. Peavy was an All-Star in 2005, 2007, and 2012 and won back-to-back World Series with the Red Sox in 2013 and with the Giants in 2014. He was named the National League Cy Young award winner in the 2007 season, where he led the NL in wins and strikeouts and led the MLB in ERA. He was awarded a Gold Glove Award in 2012. Peavy ended his career with a record of 156-126 with a 3.63 ERA and 2,207 career strikeouts. PHILIP RIVERS - FOOTBALL | Born December 8, 1981 in Decatur, AL. Rivers played quarterback for NC State from 2000-2003. He was awardedACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, and ACC Athlete of the Year in 2004. Rivers was also named to the second-team All-ACC team in 2002 and to the first-teamAll-ACC team in 2003. He was selected by the New York Giants as the fourth pick of the 2004 NFL Draft but was traded to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning. In 2008, Rivers led the NFL in passer rating and was the co-leader for passing touchdowns. He led the league in passing yards in 2010 and in completion percentage in 2013. Rivers was a nine-time Pro-Bowler (2006, 2008-2011, 2013, 2016-2018) and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2013. In 2020, Rivers signed with the Indianapolis Colts after 16 seasons with the Chargers. He retired after the 2021 season and currently coaches football at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, AL. JUSTIN TUCK - FOOTBALL | Born March 29, 1983 in Kellyton, AL. Tuck attended the University of Notre Dame where he redshirted his freshman year and played three seasons with the Irish. He set several school records despite struggling with an ACL injury in his final season. His sophomore season he set the school record with 13.5 sacks and 43 tackles for loss. He holds the school record with 24.5 career sacks. In 2005, he was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the NFL Draft. During his career, Tuck won two Super Bowl titles (XLII, XLVI), was a two-time Pro-Bowler (2008, 2010), second-team All-Pro (2010), first-team All-Pro (2008), and was presented with the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2016. He had 510 career tackles, 66.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022
Alabama defensive lineman Phil Mathis (48) helps bring down an Auburn runner during the 2021 annual Iron Bowl. Trailing until the last 24-seconds of the game, the visiting Crimson Tide beat Auburn, 24-22, in four overtimes. It marked the first overtime contest in the 85-game Iron Bowl series. John Metchie III paced Alabama with 150 receiving yards on 13 catches, including the game-winning two-point conversion in the fourth overtime. Jameson Williams followed with 43 receiving yards on two catches before being ejected on a targeting call during a second-quarter punt coverage. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries. Bryce Young threw for 317 yards on 25-of- 51 passing including two touchdowns and an interception while being sacked seven times. Alabama Takes Down Auburn in Four Overtimes Photo by Kent Gidley | Alabama Athletics Eight sports legends from Marshall County have been selected for induction into the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The induction banquet is set for June 4 at 6 p.m. at the Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge. Tickets are $50 each. The individuals in the Class of 2022 are: Buster Gross, Arab; Charlie Jimmerson, Douglas; Paul McAbee, Albertville/Douglas/Arab; Buddy Mack Moore, Albertville/Asbury; Mickey Moore, Albertville/Asbury; Bridget Largen Moorefield, DAR; Jim Rhodes, Guntersville; and Patrick Williams, Boaz. Marshall County Hall of Fame Class of 2022 BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIPS - Albertville High School senior Alex Johnson will continue his baseball career at the collegiate level next year. Alex recently signed a baseball scholarship with Snead State Community College in Boaz. Another Marshall County standout will be continuing his baseball at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, TN. Boaz senior Kylan Hornbuckle recently signed a scholarship with the University. Geraldine's Levi Martin also recently made the decision to continue his career at JSU. ALABAMASOCCER - The University of Alabama soccer team recently signed four student-athletes. The Crimson Tide welcomes Sydney Japic (Frisco, TX); Gianna Paul (Waxahachie, TX); Kaydence Ramirez (Huntington Station, NY); and Maria Vanore (Greensboro, NC) to the 2022 squad. SAND MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN - The University of Alabama softball program will face Jacksonville State University in the 2022 Sand Mountain Showdown on March 30, 2022 at the Sand Mountain Park in Albertville. Mayor Tracy Honea, Crimson Tide head coach Patrick Murphy and Gamecocks head coach Jana McGinnis were scheduled to make a formal announcement for the event at a press conference on Monday, December 13 in Albertville. Be sure to check out future print editions and The Sports Ledger's website at www.thesportsledger.com for more information about the event. PENN STATE HIRES MANNY DIAZ - Penn State Football head coach James Franklin has announced the hiring of Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Nittany Lions. Diaz brings 24 years of coaching experience to Happy Valley, including three years as head coach at the University of Miami. Diaz guided Miami to the upcoming Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl and the Hurricanes finished second in the ACC Coastal division with a 5-3 conference record. Following his departure, Miami named former Oregon Coach Mario Cristobal as the Hurricane's next head coach. Miami has also named Dan Radakovich as Vice President and Director of Athletics. Radakovich, one of the nation’s foremost athletics administrators who helped lead Clemson Athletics’ rise to national prominence, returns to Miami, where he first launched his career. AUBURN BASEBALL - Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson has finalized the Tigers 2022 schedule, which consists of 55 regular season games, including 31 to be played at Plainsman Park. Auburn will take on 11 NCAATournament teams from 2021, including six national seeds, eight super regional participants, and three College World Series teams, including the two that played each other in the championship series. After opening the season against Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas State at the 2022 State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas from Feb. 18-20, Auburn plays 16 of its next 17 games on the Plains, starting with the home opener against Troy Wednesday, Feb. 23. Two season ticket options for the 2022 season are on sale now. Tigers Unlimited season tickets are $335 per seat location and are renewable from year-to-year, allowing fans to build priority in gaining access to some of the best seats inside Plainsman Park. Public season tickets are $215 per seat location and are non- renewable from year-to-year. Fans can reach the ticket office by calling 855-282-2010. JSU BASEBALL - The Jacksonville State baseball program and head coach Jim Case have announced the Gamecocks' schedule for the 2022 season. The new year features 31 home games on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium as part of the 56-game slate for JSU. Highlighting the schedule will be the season-opening weekend series with Kentucky visiting Jacksonville on Feb. 18-20, along with home-and-home dates with Auburn and Alabama. JSU will face off against four teams that played in the 2021 NCAA Baseball Tournament - Alabama, Southern Mississippi, South Alabama and Samford. JSU will travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on February 22. The Crimson Tide will return the visit on May 10. Sports Spotlight
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