UTEP announces 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class with football, track stars, women’s teams

Fred DeBernardi (monitor and subject), John Furman (football), Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr. (football), Jennifer Smit (keep track of and discipline), the 1974-75 women’s basketball group and the 1974 volleyball group form the 19th induction course into the UTEP Athletics Corridor of Fame. This year’s class will be honored at the Miners’ soccer sport from Boise State on Sept. 23 and in an induction ceremony Sept. 24.

DeBernardi and Furman will be inducted posthumously

Fred DeBernardi was shot place, discus champ

DeBernardi, who competed for the Miners from 1970-72, was winner in the shot set and the discus at the 1972 NCAA Out of doors fulfill. He by no means completed lessen than 3rd position in both party at the NCAA Outside Championships, taking next in the discus in 1970 and 1971, and third in the shot put in 1971. DeBernardi also gained the silver medal in the shot set at the 1972 NCAA Indoor fulfill. He was a six-time All-American. He was a five-time WAC winner in the shot place (four times) and discus (as soon as).

John Furman was Texas Western quarterback

Furman performed quarterback at Texas Western, now UTEP, from 1958-61, before the passing match was in design. Nevertheless, he threw for 3,607 yards and 24 touchdowns. As a senior in 1961, he rated sixth in the NCAA in passing and complete offense. He led the team in passing for four straight a long time, and punting in 1961.

Furman was named Most Beneficial Participant of the Border Conference as a sophomore in 1959 and was three-time All-League from 1959-61. Selected in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft, he performed four yrs in the league with Cleveland. He served the U.S. Military with the 32nd Air Defense Command, earning the Countrywide Protection Services Medal, the Ranger Tab, and the Military Commendation Medal.

Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr. was UTEP football star

Higgins played at UTEP from 2003-06. He capped a spectacular vocation in 2006 by producing two All-The united states teams (AFCA, Related Press). He ranked second nationally in receiving as a senior, averaging 109.9 yards per match.

Tale continues

He was also decided on the Meeting Usa Specific Groups Participant of the Yr by placing a league document for punt return typical (23.4). He proven faculty information for receiving yards (3,218) and touchdown catches (32), and ranks second in receptions (190), 3rd in 100-yard game titles (11) and sixth in points (210). He was selected by Oakland in the 3rd spherical of the 2007 NFL Draft and played 60 games in the league with the Raiders.

Jennifer Smit was countrywide monitor and industry champion

Smit was a member of the Miner monitor and area squad from 1978-82 and was the initial Miner on the women’s group to declare a national title. She won back again-to-back again NCAA titles in the indoor (14.83 m) and outdoor (15.79 m) shot set in 1978. She attained 6 All-American honors in the shot place from 1978-82. She was runner up in the shot place at the 1979 NCAA Indoor Championships, followed by a 3rd-spot end in 1980. Smit is rated second in program background in the indoor and outdoor shot put with tosses of 15.85 m and 15.91 m, respectively. Smit was a member of the only UTEP women’s workforce to earn a countrywide championship (1980 indoor AIAW).

Women’s basketball and volleyball groups

The 1974-75 women’s basketball group and the 1974 volleyball crew — the to start with women’s groups in UTEP Athletics record — are becoming inducted on the 50th Anniversary of the passing of Title IX, which enabled women and females to have the identical alternatives in athletics as boys and guys. The Miner basketball workforce finished 11-5 in its inaugural marketing campaign under mentor Carol Ammerman. The volleyball workforce posted a 9-7 report in its first year below coach Kevin Sherlin. The two squads were being groundbreakers, paving the way for countless prospects for UTEP female university student-athletes in the yrs to arrive.

Additional: How considerably does UTEP spend on women’s athletics as opposed to men’s athletics?

This post initially appeared on El Paso Periods: UTEP’s 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class honors football, monitor stars