TCU announces 2007 Lettermen's Hall of Fame class
6/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
June 20, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas - Five former standout TCU student-athletes will comprise the 2007 TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame class. The honorees - Jamie Dixon (men's basketball), James Maness (football and track), Al Paschal (baseball), David Roditi (tennis) and Mike Sullivan (football) - will be inducted on Thursday, Sept. 20.
"This is a stellar class of honorees and the TCU Lettermen's Association should be proud to present them," Lettermen's Association president David Rascoe said. "When you talk about All-America selections and record holders, this class of inductees is filled with them. We'll definitely have a packed house at this year's Hall of Fame banquet."
Dixon, a four-year letterman on the hardwood for the Horned Frogs, may be best remembered for his half-court shot at the buzzer to defeat Texas, 55-54, in a February 1986 game. In addition, he helped the Frogs post back-to-back league championships (1986, 1987) and reach the second round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament.
As a senior, Dixon led the Southwest Conference in assists at 5.4 per game and was named all-SWC and academic all-conference. He was drafted by the Washington Bullets and played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association.
For the past four years, Dixon has served as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh. The Panthers have posted 20-plus wins and reached the NCAA Tournament each season under Dixon.
Dixon's 105-30 record is the second all-time best four-year start to a Division I coaching career in NCAA history. It is also the first time in school history that Pitt has advanced to four straight NCAA Tournaments. Dixon has also guided Pitt to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances.
Dixon received the Frog O' Fame Award from his alma mater in 2005.
Maness was a two-sport standout who claimed All-America honors in both track and football. In track, he earned All-America distinction in two different relay events. In 1983, he anchored the 4x100 relay team that earned a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The following year, Maness participated on the 4x400 relay team that also placed sixth at the NCAA finals.
As a wide receiver, he was a third-team All-America selection in 1984 after registering 871 receiving yards, the second-highest single-season total in TCU history. An all-SWC performer his junior and senior years, Maness' 2,171 career receiving yards rank fourth in school annals. In addition, he holds a Frog record for longest reception, a 99-yard touchdown catch.
Maness was a third-round draft choice by the Chicago Bears in 1985 and played eight games in the National Football League (NFL) for the Super Bowl champions.
Paschal was an all-conference and All-America selection in 1956 after leading the Southwest Conference in batting (.424) and stolen bases, as well as fielding percentage among shortstops. He became just the fifth baseball All-American in school history and remains the only TCU shortstop ever to be honored nationally.
A three-year letterman (1954-56), he served as captain of the 1956 squad that boasted a 13-2 league mark and won the school's second-ever SWC championship. Paschal was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played six seasons in the minor leagues, reaching Class Triple-A.
Roditi ranks first in TCU history in combined singles and doubles victories with 250 over his four-year career. A three-time All-American in doubles (1994-96), he also ranked among the nation's top 100 singles players each of his four seasons.
Additionally, he was a three-time SWC singles champion (1993-94, 1996) and two-time doubles champ (1995-96). Roditi helped the Horned Frogs to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including an appearance in the national semifinals in 1996. The Frogs won SWC Tournament titles his final three seasons, and he was named all-Southwest Conference in both singles and doubles on each occasion.
Other collegiate highlights include three college Grand Slam titles and the 1994 ITA All-America Doubles Championship crown. Following college, Roditi joined the ATP tour in May of 1996 and achieved a career high doubles ranking of 41. He currently works as national men's coach for the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Sullivan, an offensive guard, was an all-Southwest Conference selection in 1989 and 1990. A four-year starter (1987-90), he played in 44 games, making 41 consecutive starts. A team co-captain in 1989 and 1990, he won the team's Abe Martin Award his senior season.
The Sporting News named Sullivan to its Freshman All-American First Team in 1987. In addition, he was named to TCU's All-Century Team by both Dave Campbell's Texas Football and Greatest Moments in TCU Football.
--www.GoFrogs.com--
