Seven former Florida student-athletes and one former University Athletics Association employee were the Class of 2009 inductees into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame Friday night on the eve of the annual Orange and Blue Debut spring football game.
The eight honorees were football players Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard and Tom Kelley, soccer player Erin Baxter McCorkle, women’s golfer Cheryl Morley Pontious, women’s basketball player Murriel Page, track and field athlete Mike Cotton and ticket manaer Bill Holloway.
The ceremony took place in the Holloway Touchdown Terrace at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Ben Hill Griffin Awards, honoring the top male and female athletes, were also presented. Junior quarterback Tim Tebow was the male recipient and senior right-handed softball pitcher Stacey Nelson was the female award-winner.
Tebow will be in action Saturday in the Orange and Blue Debut game, while Nelson will pitch for No. 1 Florida Saturday in its SEC doubleheader at Louisiana State.
Here’s a brief look at the eight Hall of Fame inductees:
Reidel Anthony: A member of the 1996 national championship football team and three SEC championship teams. … Won All-America honors in 1996 and was a first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997.
Ike Hilliard: A teammate of Anthony on the national championship team and three SEC title teams. … An All-American in 1996 and a first-round draft choice in 1997 and currently a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tom Kelley: A member of the 1960 All-SEC sophomore team and Blue Key recipient. … F Club president for 2006-07. … An engineering consultant for cities and counties in central Florida. … served on the Gator Boosters’ board in 2005-06.
Erin Baxter McCorkle: Co-captain of the 1998 national championship women’s soccer team and a three-time All-American. … The 1998 Tracy Caulkins Award winner and a GTE Academic All-American.
Cheryl Morley Pontious: A member of the 1986 national championship team and the program’s only four-time All-American. … Played professionally on the Futures Tour and was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Hall of Fame in 2000.
Murriel Page: The second women’s basketball player at Florida to earn first-team All-America honors in 1998. … She was a finalist for the 1998 Naismith Player of the Year and Wade Trophy.
Mike Cotton: The 1993 NCAA pole vault champion. … Held the Florida pole vault record of 17 feet, 6 inches for 14 years. … A member of the 1976 USA National Team.
Bill Holloway: Served the UAA for over 25 years as the Assistant Athletics Director – Ticket Operations. … Well-known for his customer service efforts in addition to his various duties in the Gator Ticket Office.