Peter Fields' Introductory Remarks for 2008 Wendy's Hall of Fame Ceremonies
9/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
In college athletics, tradition is the tie that binds us all to the school and athletic program we love. You can be a thousand miles away from home and a single line of agate in your local newspaper that reads Montana State 24, Weber State 17 can elicit beautiful autumn colors, interminable classes in Reid Hall, or the way breakfast tasted at Manny's.
That's why this is one of my favorite nights of the year, the time we come together to celebrate Montana State's great athletic tradition. What makes this night special is not championship trophies and statistics and records, it's Bobcats sharing stories, rekindling friendships that began here so many years ago, crossing generations to make new friends. Tradition in college athletics is such a special phenomenon because while Kathleen Monaghan Jorgenson and Doug Hashley probably never saw Mike McCormick or the 1964 Bobcat football team play, they share a special bond. They have common experiences. They are Bobcats, and that's what we celebrate tonight.
In our athletic department, we cherish this event because of the amount of respect we have for our student-athletes. What they do, and what our Wendy's Hall of Fame inductees did while here, is special. And for us, it is also special to be able to welcome you back, long after your playing days are finished.
This year's class of inductees shows the depth of this school's athletic heritage. Mike McCormick was a multi-sport star in a day when kids showed up on campus wanting to play as many sports as possible. He served his country admirably in World War II, and after finishing a fine athletic and academic career here he inspired so many as a life-long education professional. Doug Hashley was a true big man, in every sense of the word, who loved to do basketball's dirty work on the boards and on defense. Kathleen Monaghan Jorgenson's consistent excellence as a distance runner is unparalleled in school history. Joe Bignell's heroics throughout his career, but especially in 1984, remain the stuff of legend. And as enjoyable as it is to bring back individual athletes for induction, inducting teams is an entirely different dynamic. We're thrilled to welcome back members of the 1964 football team, and the 1994 and 1995 women's cross country teams.
So I invite you to enjoy our celebration of Montana State's tradition tonight, but I also invite you to watch this tradition unfold and expand, week after week, year after year. Enjoy the Bobcat football game tomorrow, but come out and watch Sara Schaub’s volleyball team in the next few weeks. This winter, enjoy Tricia Binford's basketball team, and Brad Huse's, and watch Ellie Rudy in the pole vault, all in Worthington Arena. Come watch our terrific tennis programs next spring. These young people are tomorrow's Wendy's Hall of Fame inductees.
That's why this is one of my favorite nights of the year, the time we come together to celebrate Montana State's great athletic tradition. What makes this night special is not championship trophies and statistics and records, it's Bobcats sharing stories, rekindling friendships that began here so many years ago, crossing generations to make new friends. Tradition in college athletics is such a special phenomenon because while Kathleen Monaghan Jorgenson and Doug Hashley probably never saw Mike McCormick or the 1964 Bobcat football team play, they share a special bond. They have common experiences. They are Bobcats, and that's what we celebrate tonight.
In our athletic department, we cherish this event because of the amount of respect we have for our student-athletes. What they do, and what our Wendy's Hall of Fame inductees did while here, is special. And for us, it is also special to be able to welcome you back, long after your playing days are finished.
This year's class of inductees shows the depth of this school's athletic heritage. Mike McCormick was a multi-sport star in a day when kids showed up on campus wanting to play as many sports as possible. He served his country admirably in World War II, and after finishing a fine athletic and academic career here he inspired so many as a life-long education professional. Doug Hashley was a true big man, in every sense of the word, who loved to do basketball's dirty work on the boards and on defense. Kathleen Monaghan Jorgenson's consistent excellence as a distance runner is unparalleled in school history. Joe Bignell's heroics throughout his career, but especially in 1984, remain the stuff of legend. And as enjoyable as it is to bring back individual athletes for induction, inducting teams is an entirely different dynamic. We're thrilled to welcome back members of the 1964 football team, and the 1994 and 1995 women's cross country teams.
So I invite you to enjoy our celebration of Montana State's tradition tonight, but I also invite you to watch this tradition unfold and expand, week after week, year after year. Enjoy the Bobcat football game tomorrow, but come out and watch Sara Schaub’s volleyball team in the next few weeks. This winter, enjoy Tricia Binford's basketball team, and Brad Huse's, and watch Ellie Rudy in the pole vault, all in Worthington Arena. Come watch our terrific tennis programs next spring. These young people are tomorrow's Wendy's Hall of Fame inductees.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
